6 Cotopaxi Allpa Alternatives Compared on Specs and Price
The Aer Travel Pack 3 (35L) is the only other 35L pack in this set. It is listed at $249, against $200 for the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L. Trecklist's data gives three reasons people look elsewhere. They are straps past 25 lb, a colorful look that reads less business, and price differences. Each of the six alternatives below carries its listed price, size, laptop fit, and strap note where the data gives one.
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180 degree full clamshell, ventilated suspension back panel
Cotopaxi Allpa 35L (baseline)
Trecklist guide label: best value
$200
Full clamshell, included rain cover, lifetime warranty
Why Shoppers Look Past the Allpa 35L
Trecklist's data gives three reasons people look elsewhere from the Allpa 35L: straps past 25 lb, a colorful look, and price differences. The Allpa's listed cons say its straps are only OK for long walks past 25 lb. Its bright colorways read less business than the Aer. The Allpa costs $200, while the six alternatives range from about $75 to $350. The list also gives the Allpa strengths that keep it in the comparison. The Trecklist guide labels it best value, it is a full clamshell that organizes like a suitcase, and it includes a rain cover and a lifetime warranty. For Cotopaxi against another brand, see Cotopaxi vs Patagonia.
Size, Carry-On Status, and Capacity
The Allpa 35L is carry-on legal in the US and most of the EU. The Aer Travel Pack 3 (35L) carries the same status, and the Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L is carry-on legal in all of the US plus the EU. Carry-on status is not listed for the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L, Amazon Basics pack, or PGYTECH OnePro. The Osprey Farpoint 40 is listed as tight against the strictest EU budget airlines. The US carry-on limit is 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Ryanair's large carry-on is 21.6 x 15.7 x 9.8 inches. The Trecklist guide advises skipping packs over 40L, and no pack in this set is over 40L. The Allpa's dimensions are not listed in the Trecklist guide, so its fit against those two limits is not published. For more carry-on packs, see the carry-on backpack guide.
Strap Load Past 25 Pounds
The Trecklist guide says adjustable hip belts matter past 25 lb. Five of the six alternatives carry a strap note in the Trecklist data, and only two of those notes are positive. The Osprey Farpoint 40 is listed as comfortable up to 30+ pounds. The Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L has an excellent shoulder and hip strap system. The Aer Travel Pack 3 (35L) straps are OK but not great past 25 lb. The Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L straps are unremarkable past 25 lb. The Amazon Basics pack has lower-quality straps. The PGYTECH OnePro carries a ventilated suspension back panel instead, with no strap note. For loads past 25 lb, the Osprey and the Tortuga are the two alternatives with positive strap notes. For other Tortuga options, see Tortuga travel backpack alternatives.
Laptop Fit and Organization
Three alternatives take a laptop up to 16 inch: the Aer Travel Pack 3 (35L), Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L, and PGYTECH OnePro Ultralight Backpack 30L. The Allpa, Osprey Farpoint 40, Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L, and Amazon Basics pack list 15 inch laptop fit. The Trecklist guide lists the Aer with excellent laptop and tech organization. The Peak Design pack has a side-access laptop compartment, and the Trecklist guide picks it as best for organization. The Tortuga has a dedicated laptop compartment with quick access. The PGYTECH has a side quick-access pocket plus a hidden AirTag slot. The Allpa organizes like a suitcase, and the Amazon Basics pack has a decent layout. Among the 16 inch packs, the Tortuga is the only one with a listed dedicated laptop compartment. For Peak Design against other packs, see Peak Design travel backpack alternatives.
Price Spread and Warranty Terms
The Allpa 35L is listed at $200. The Amazon Basics pack is about $75, which is $125 less. The Osprey Farpoint 40 is listed at $165 to $175, which is $25 to $35 less. The PGYTECH OnePro is $230, which is $30 more. The Aer Travel Pack 3 (35L) is $249, which is $49 more. The Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L is $289, which is $89 more. The Tortuga is $250 in the carry-on guide, which is $50 more, and $350 in the nomad guide, which is $150 more. The nomad guide and the carry-on guide list different prices for the Osprey and the Tortuga, so both figures appear. The list gives a lifetime warranty for two packs, the Allpa and the Osprey Farpoint 40 with its All Mighty warranty. It lists no warranty terms for the other five packs. Skip the Amazon Basics pack if zipper and strap quality matter. Skip the Aer and Peak Design packs if loads regularly pass 25 lb. Skip the Tortuga if price is the main concern.
Each Alternative, In Depth
1
Aer Travel Pack 3 (35L)
Best for: Buyers who want a 35L pack with 16 inch laptop fit and tech organization
$249
The Aer Travel Pack 3 (35L) is the only other 35L pack in this set, at 3.9 lb. It is carry-on legal in the US and most of the EU, the same status the Allpa carries. Its laptop fit runs up to 16 inch, against 15 inch for the Allpa. The Trecklist guide picks it as best overall for nomads.
Pros
Urban silhouette
Excellent laptop and tech organization
Water bottle pocket plus luggage passthrough
Cons
Straps OK, not great, past 25 lb
Premium price
2
Osprey Farpoint 40
Best for: Buyers who carry up to 30+ pounds and want a lifetime warranty
$165 (nomad guide) to $175 (carry-on guide), prices vary
The Osprey Farpoint 40 is a 40L clamshell at 3.2 lb. Its straps are listed as comfortable up to 30+ pounds, and it has a zip-away hip belt. The list describes a hiking silhouette and a laptop sleeve less padded than the Aer's. Its price is $165 in the nomad guide and $175 in the carry-on guide, so prices vary.
Pros
Comfortable up to 30+ pounds
All Mighty lifetime warranty
Zip-away hip belt
Cons
Hiking silhouette
Laptop sleeve less padded than the Aer
Tight against the strictest EU budget airlines
3
Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L
Best for: Buyers who want a side-access laptop compartment and a camera-cube ecosystem
$289
The Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L shares the set's smallest listed capacity, 30L, with the PGYTECH OnePro. It weighs 3.1 lb and takes a laptop up to 15 inch. It is carry-on legal in all of the US plus the EU. It costs $289, which is $89 more than the Allpa.
Pros
Side-access laptop compartment
Camera-cube ecosystem
Weatherproof shell
Cons
Small for a long trip's clothing capsule
Straps unremarkable past 25 lb
4
Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L
Best for: Buyers who want a suitcase-style full clamshell with an excellent strap system
$350 (nomad guide) or $250 (carry-on guide), prices vary
The Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L is a 40L full clamshell with a laptop up to 16 inch. The list says it packs like a suitcase, the same suitcase-style organization the Allpa has. Its shoulder and hip strap system is listed as excellent. Its price is $350 in the nomad guide and $250 in the carry-on guide.
Pros
Packs like a suitcase
Excellent shoulder and hip strap system
Dedicated laptop compartment with quick access
Cons
High price
Larger silhouette than the Aer at cafes
5
Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack
Best for: Buyers who want the lowest listed price in this set
About $75
The Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack is the lowest-priced pack in this set, at about $75. It is a 40L clamshell with a 15 inch laptop sleeve, and it weighs about 3.0 lb. The list calls its layout decent and its carry-on size a plus. The list says its zippers and straps are lower quality and that it won't last as long. Buyers who need zippers and straps that last should pick a different pack from this set.
Pros
Cheap
Decent layout
Carry-on size
Cons
Lower-quality zippers and straps
Won't last as long
6
PGYTECH OnePro Ultralight Backpack 30L
Best for: Buyers who want a 180 degree opening and a hidden AirTag slot
$230
The PGYTECH OnePro Ultralight Backpack 30L is a 30L pack with a 180 degree full clamshell. Its 180 degree opening shows the whole pack, and it takes a laptop up to 16 inch. It costs $230, which is $30 more than the Allpa.
Pros
180 degree opening shows the whole pack
Ventilated suspension back panel
Side quick-access pocket plus hidden AirTag slot
Cons
Camera-gear focus costs more than a plain travel pack
Included rain cover ships only with the 30L and 40L sizes
Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
Ranked for a buyer leaving the Allpa 35L by listed strengths: first the Aer Travel Pack 3 (35L), which Trecklist guide picks as best overall for nomads, at $249. Second the Osprey Farpoint 40, for loads up to 30+ pounds, at about $165 to $175. Third the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L, for its strap system, with prices varying from $250 to $350. The Peak Design, PGYTECH and Amazon Basics packs suit narrower needs. The Allpa stays a fair pick at $200, since the guide labels it best value. For a wider set of nomad packs, see the best backpack for digital nomads guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L?
The Trecklist guide picks the Aer Travel Pack 3 (35L) as best overall for nomads, and it is the only other 35L pack in the set. It is carry-on legal in the US and most of the EU, the same as the Allpa, and it costs $249 against the Allpa's $200.
Is there a budget alternative to the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L?
Yes, the Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack is the lowest-priced pack in the set, at about $75. That is $125 less than the Allpa's $200. The list says its zippers and straps are lower quality and that it won't last as long.
Why switch from the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L?
Trecklist's data lists three reasons people look elsewhere: straps past 25 lb, a colorful look that reads less business, and price differences. The Allpa's own cons say its straps are only OK for long walks past 25 lb.
Which alternative suits loads over 25 pounds?
The Osprey Farpoint 40 and the Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L are the two alternatives with positive strap notes past 25 lb. The Osprey is listed as comfortable up to 30+ pounds, and the Tortuga has an excellent shoulder and hip strap system.
Does the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L meet carry-on size limits?
The Allpa is listed as carry-on legal in the US and most of the EU, but its dimensions are not listed in the Trecklist guide. The US carry-on limit is 22 x 14 x 9 inches, and Ryanair's large carry-on is 21.6 x 15.7 x 9.8 inches. Measure the pack against those figures before buying.
Which alternatives take a 16 inch laptop?
The Aer Travel Pack 3 (35L), Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L, and PGYTECH OnePro Ultralight Backpack 30L each take a laptop up to 16 inch. The Allpa, Osprey Farpoint 40, Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L, and Amazon Basics pack list 15 inch laptop fit.