We got our hands on the Allpa a few weeks ago and have logged a few thousand miles road tripping to Joshua Tree, California and making a few cross-country flights. Through all of our travels, the Allpa has hauled everything from spare river sandals to dress shirts and khakis. The modular packing system of the Allpa is perfect for trips where you’ll be splitting business and adventure. We were able to organize office clothes, off duty boots and hiking pants, and our camera gear separated and arranged for easy access. It opens like a clamshell, giving you access to everything at once. The back panel is one large compartment, perfect for getting your larger items like shirts and jackets folded in. A small pocket is zipped into the side, helping you stash your valuables without fear of discovery. On the opposite side, multiple smaller pouches help you keep smaller items from turning into a mess. We especially liked the two top smaller pouches, as they kept passport and electronics in easy reach.
Related: Cotopaxi Inti Shelter
On the outside, you get a bigger dump pocket on the top. It stows a rain cover for the Allpa, and we found ourselves most often throwing in a few essentials for the day – windshirt, sunscreen, and sunglasses. The pack body is a burly laminated TPU fabric. It stood up to both harsh days in the desert, and more than a few airport baggage handlers without a scratch. Our favorite feature is the stowable harness and hip belt. With a couple of buckles, you can hide the shoulder and waist straps in the pack body itself, making carry-on for your next flight a breeze.
The Allpa will ship with a companion daypack, the Batac. At 16 liters, it will carry everything you need for a day of urban or trail adventures, so you don’t have to carry your Allpa everywhere once you drop basecamp (or grab your hotel room). If you’re looking for understated performance in any environment, you won’t find a better pack system whether you’re heading out for a month in South East Asia, or just a weekend getaway in Jackson Hole. Cotopaxi thought through every minute detail with the Allpa, and their love of adventure travel really shows with this pack.
