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When I pulled out my Cotopaxi Allpa 35L backpack before a three-day trip for my friend’s wedding in Utah, I was skeptical that everything I needed to bring would fit. In theory, a weekend’s worth of clothes shouldn’t be a problem for one of our recommended weekend bags, but I was planning to pack heavy. Not only would I need to cram a bulky velvet bridesmaid dress, several pairs of heels, every hot hair tool I own, and my entire stash of toiletries into the Cotopaxi Allpa, but I also needed to pack clothes warm enough for the snowy forecast at my destination.
Somehow, after I packed all the essentials, I still had space leftover—so much that I was actually able to toss a few books in (and all hardcovers, at that). In the year since I’ve had my Cotopaxi Allpa, I’ve consistently been in awe of the amount of stuff it’s able to hold.
The deceptively roomy backpack, with its two zippered compartments and hidden pockets, has a capacity of 35 liters. Before I started using this delightful bag, I found it hard to visualize what exactly that meant in units of vacation outfits and travel essentials. Now I know it means everything I’d need to fulfill my bridesmaid duties with room to spare.
Last year was an especially hectic one for me: I traveled around the country to attend seven weddings, along with the associated engagement parties, bachelorette weekends, and bridal showers. As a result, I spent a lot of time navigating flight delays, layovers, and connections, and the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L, which I took on five of those trips, made the airport experience a little more tolerable.
Traveling with a backpack isn’t for everyone. Some folks prefer cross-body duffles or roller bags—and while it’s true that these kinds of weekend bags can sometimes hold more than the Cotopaxi Allpa, I find them incredibly frustrating to use, especially as a frequent solo traveler. A duffle or carry-on suitcase might be fine for car or train travel, but for me, actually maneuvering them through the airport is a struggle—especially if I don’t have a travel buddy who’s willing to look out for my things when I run to grab a snack or take a preflight bathroom break. Anyone who’s tried to fit a roller bag into a bathroom stall or walk through the food court with a giant duffle bouncing against their hip knows it’s a hassle.
The Cotopaxi Allpa’s clamshell design, which opens like a suitcase, combines the roominess and structure of a suitcase with the hands-free convenience of a backpack. Its built-in packing cubes take the stress out of organizing your things, and the hidden laptop sleeve keeps your electronics safe and snug. And because the pack has contoured shoulder straps and a removable hip belt, it’s comfortable to wear during a long day of travel, even when it’s stuffed to the gills with velvet gowns and sparkly shoes.
The Cotopaxi Allpa’s clamshell design makes organizing your things simple. The straps let you easily wear this durable bag on your back or carry it in your hand while you’re on the move.
With the Cotopaxi Allpa, you have the freedom to travel how you like. You can wear the bag like a backpack if you want, but you also have the option to tuck those straps away if you want to carry it like a briefcase. Handles on all four sides of the bag make it easy for you to pull it down from the overhead bin or yank it out from under the seat in front of you. The only flaw I’ve found with the Cotopaxi Allpa is one that Wirecutter has already identified: This bag offers no place to store the items you’d need to retrieve quickly at the airport, so it’s best to pair with a fanny pack to have easy access to your ID, passport, cash, and headphones.
The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L helped me stay organized and sane through a particularly busy year of travel, but I know that not everyone wants to wear all their belongings on their back. These other bags (all Wirecutter picks) are durable, well suited for frequent travel, and meet airline carry-on size limits.
This story was edited by Catherine Kast and Annemarie Conte.
Elissa Sanci is a senior staff writer for Wirecutter’s discovery team based in Denver. Her byline has appeared in The New York Times, Woman’s Day, Marie Claire, and Good Housekeeping. When she’s not testing TikTok-famous products or writing about car garbage cans, you can find her hiking somewhere in the Rockies or lying on the couch with a bowl of chips balanced on her chest. There is no in-between.
Book Bags Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).