Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack

The Allpa 35L is the best overall pick on our travel backpack list because it gets the basics of carry-on-only travel right without much weight or fuss. Cotopaxi designs it for trips of three to five days; with laundry along the way, a week works. OutdoorGearLab ranked it first of 17 travel packs in its August 2026 update, Pack Hacker named it the pick for organization in July 2026, and Switchback Travel gave it its award for easiest interior access.

It suits the traveler who packs once, rides trains and buses between cities, and walks the last mile to the hotel. OutdoorGearLab's testers, from 4 ft 11 in to 6 ft 2 in tall, found the harness fit all of them. It is less suited to anyone hauling heavy camera gear or a full work setup: the testers found the pack loses its shape above roughly 25 lb, and it has few small pockets.

Packing is the reason to buy it. A zipper runs all the way around the main compartment, so the bag opens flat like a suitcase. Inside, one side is a large zippered mesh section and the other is split into smaller zippered mesh sections. GearJunkie describes this layout as working like permanent packing cubes, and it means you can go without buying cubes at all. Clothes on one side, toiletries and shoes on the other, and nothing shifts when you stand the bag up.

Weight is the other strong point. Cotopaxi lists 2 lb 15 oz, OutdoorGearLab weighed 2.96 lb and Pack Hacker 2.93 lb. That is about a third of a pound lighter than the 2026 Osprey Farpoint 40 by Osprey's figure and a pound and a half lighter than the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L. On an airline that weighs cabin bags at 7 or 8 kg, that difference is roughly a pair of shoes.

The harness does more than most bags in this class. The current version has air mesh shoulder straps and a padded hip belt, and Pack Hacker reports that both tuck behind the back panel when you slide the bag into a bin or check it. OutdoorGearLab's testers singled out the hip belt as the feature they valued most on long walking days. A pass-through strap on the back slides over a roller bag handle.

The shell is built for rough handling. Cotopaxi uses TPU-coated fabric with a PFAS-free DWR finish and says it sheds light rain, snow and spills; OutdoorGearLab and Pack Hacker both note ballistic nylon panels and a tough base. The fabrics are now fully recycled, and Cotopaxi backs the pack with a lifetime warranty and repair program.

Depth is the catch. Cotopaxi lists 22 x 12 x 10 in and OutdoorGearLab measured 11 in deep when packed. The major US carriers publish 22 x 14 x 9 in, so a full Allpa can be an inch or two too thick for a strict sizer. It is soft, and a bag packed to about 80 percent usually squeezes in, but it will not pass a gate agent who measures a stuffed pack. On easyJet's large cabin bag limit of 56 x 45 x 25 cm it sits right on the line.

The laptop sleeve opens from the side. Pack Hacker and OutdoorGearLab both point out that you have to lay the bag down or risk the laptop sliding out, which is slow in a security line. The sleeve is rated for 15 in laptops by Cotopaxi, though OutdoorGearLab fit a 16 in model.

Comfort has limits. Switchback Travel notes there are no load lifters, OutdoorGearLab found the back panel runs warm in hot weather, and Pack Hacker reports that some larger testers found the hip belt short. Cable chargers and small tech have few dedicated homes, so bring a pouch.

Against the Osprey Farpoint 40: the Osprey has a LightWire frame, an adjustable torso and a padded hip belt, and at 9.1 in deep by Osprey's figure it is much closer to the 9 in US limit; GearJunkie rated the previous version the best carry it tried. It weighs about a third of a pound more by the makers' figures and has little internal organization. Pick the Osprey if you carry heavy loads for hours; pick the Allpa if you want the bag to keep you organized.

Against the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L: the Peak Design expands to 45 L, protects a laptop and camera gear better and has a more polished finish. It is a pound and a half heavier and costs more. For most week-long trips the Allpa's layout and lighter weight are the better trade.

If you would rather roll than carry, see our carry-on luggage picks.

Buy the Allpa 35L if you want a light, tough travel pack that opens like a suitcase and keeps a week of clothes in order without extra cubes. Keep it at about 80 percent full for strict airlines, and skip it if you need a quick-access laptop sleeve or carry heavy loads every day.