Cotopaxi
Allpa Olive 26 L Backpack
The Cotopaxi Allpa 26L is a travel daypack made from recycled polyester. It offers 26 liters of capacity with padded compartments for a tablet and laptop, a front pocket system, side water bottle pockets, and an adjustable sternum strap. User reviews note that it is comfortable for everyday carry and travel, but its dimensions may be too tall for strict airline underseat use and the front pocket can compress main compartment space.
- Color
- Olive
- Material
- Recycled polyester fabric
- Gender
- unisex
- Style
- casual, travel-friendly
- Category
- Luggage & Bags > Backpacks
Specifications
Cotopaxi Allpa olive 26L travel backpack made from recycled polyester with multiple compartments for organization and comfort.
Padded compartments for laptop and tablet, two elastic water-bottle pockets, adjustable padded straps with padded mesh back for ventilation, and a loop for attaching to rolling luggage.
- Color
- Olive · olive
- Material
- Recycled polyester fabric
- Style
- casual, travel-friendly
- Occasion
- travel, vacation
- Gender
- unisex
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Dimensions
- 11x6x18.5 in
- Category
- Luggage & Bags > Backpacks
Additional Attributes
- recycled polyester fabric
- main compartment with zip closure
- padded zip compartments for tablet and laptop
- inner pockets
- elastic water-bottle pockets
- adjustable padded straps
- padded mesh back
- rolling suitcase loop
- adjustable belt with buckle
Product Insights
The Cotopaxi Allpa Olive 26 L Backpack is a lightweight (1.875 lbs) travel backpack made from 100% recycled polyester, reflecting a strong sustainability commitment. Its core promise is serving as a personal item on non-budget airlines thanks to a 6-inch depth, but its 18.5-inch height fails budget airline sizers. The main tradeoff is that the half-zip opening and front drop pocket compress the main compartment, limiting space for thick items and requiring careful packing, while also hindering access to lower items. The carry is comfortable under 10–12 lbs but lacks a padded hip belt and ample back padding, and the laptop sleeve has insufficient padding. Its weather resistance handles light rain but is not waterproof. Overall, it is a lightweight, eco-conscious choice for underseat travel on non-budget airlines, with compromises in organization and laptop protection.
Verified claims
- Capacity
- Front drop pocket compresses the main compartment, so the bag may be too small for thick books and binders when that pocket is packed.
- Underseat fit
- The 26L's 6-inch depth makes it pass as a personal item on non-budget airlines, but its 18.5-inch height fails strict budget sizers.
- Opening style
- Half-zip saves 6 oz over clamshell and external water bottle pockets add hydration access.
- Organization
- Front drop pocket and internal sleeves add organization, but the main-compartment layout makes reaching items at the bottom difficult; internal compression straps stabilize the load.
- Front pocket compression
- Front drop pocket reduces main compartment depth when fully stuffed.
- Laptop sleeve
- Laptop compartment is padded, but the false bottom lacks sufficient padding to protect a 15-inch laptop from drop damage.
- Carry system
- Users find the carry comfortable for loads under 10–12 lbs, with no padded hip belt and minimal back padding.
- Carry feel
- Weighs 1.875 lbs, is 6 inches deep, and uses compression straps to stabilize loads.
- Travel fit
- Fits under seat on non-budget airlines, but a packed front pocket reduces main-compartment capacity.
- Size
- At 18.5 x 11 x 6 in, the 26L is 3 inches shallower, fits under most seats, but can feel similarly bulky when lightly packed.
- 18L comparison
- At 18 x 10 x 7 in and 1.5 lbs, the 18L fits underseat on budget airlines, but holds 8L less and lacks compression straps.
- Care
- Spot-clean with a damp sponge and mild soap and avoid heat, bleach, and alcohol.
- Water resistance
- Weather-resistant TPU-coated panels shed light rain but are not fully waterproof; no rain cover included.
- Warranty
- 840D ripstop side/bottom panels are 87% thicker than main body and contain tears, surviving airport floor drag.
- Weight
- Weighs 1.875 lbs (0.85 kg) — notably light for a 26L daypack compared to travel-oriented models.
- Laptop padding
- Community feedback indicates the laptop padding is insufficient; adding a separate padded sleeve is recommended for extra drop protection.
- Recycled content
- Shell is 100% recycled polyester; production uses 59% less energy.
- Social responsibility
- Certified B Corp that donates 1% of revenue to poverty alleviation and repurposes fabric scraps.
- Access
- Half-zip opening and front drop pocket compress main compartment, making lower items harder to access than clamshell packs.
- Versus 28L
- The 26L is 6 oz lighter and 3 inches shallower than the 28L, but lacks the 28L's clamshell opening and padded hip belt.
- Sustainability
- 100% recycled polyester shell, B Corp certified, limited lifetime warranty — a sustainability advantage over typical competitors.
- Warranty and repair
- Cotopaxi covers manufacturing defects for the lifetime of the Allpa 26L and offers a paid repair service for wear-and-tear damage after the warranty period.
- Chest strap durability
- Several users report the chest strap detaching after a few months, though Cotopaxi honored warranty replacements.
Product record
- Title
- Allpa Olive 26 L Backpack
- Brand
- Cotopaxi
- Price
- 210 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Buying Guide
1 comparison · 24 sourcesUses
Everyday carry with quick-access front storage
A 26 L backpack for carrying daily items, with a main zip compartment, front zip pockets, and an interior organizer panel with card and pen slots, a mesh pocket, and an orange zip pocket. Reviewers liked the front drop pocket and comfortable carry, though some found items in the main compartment harder to reach, and thicker items like a pencil case or binder were difficult to fit when the front pocket was full.[1,2,6,7]
Carrying a laptop or tablet around town
With padded zip compartments for a tablet and laptop, this 26 L pack works as a daily carry for commuting or day trips with devices in tow. Per the retailer, the compartments close with zippers; a Reddit commenter notes the laptop sleeve sits inside the main compartment rather than opening from the outside. The same commenter, after about a month of use, felt the compartment's false bottom needed more padding — you can hear a laptop hit the hard surface if it's slid in quickly — though they found the carry comfortable overall.[1,3,6]
Daypack with room for two bottles
The Allpa 26 L has two elastic pockets on its sides for carrying water bottles, a detail one reviewer highlighted as a plus compared with similar packs. The open side pockets are sized to hold a bottle or a small item, per a review of product photos, though fit isn't a manufacturer specification.[3,6,8]
Cabin personal item on full-service airlines
Travelers report this 26 L pack can work as an airplane personal item on domestic non-budget airlines that rarely check bag sizes, though its roughly 20.5 x 13 x 9 inch size makes it taller than a typical under-seat bag. A loop at the back lets you slip it over a rolling suitcase handle when moving through the airport.[4,5,6]
Everyday carry with padded, ventilated comfort
For daily wear where the bag stays on your back for a while, the Allpa 26 L pairs adjustable padded straps with a padded mesh back intended to improve ventilation, plus an adjustable belt with a plastic buckle. One reviewer who used it for about a month found the carry comfortable, while another commenter felt the pack was somewhat bulky even when not full and noted it has no hip strap.[1,3,6]
Product comparison
Compared within this brand.
| Allpa Olive 26 L Backpack: Choose this if you want a 26-liter everyday or travel daypack with padded zip compartments for a laptop and tablet, two elastic water-bottle pockets, a padded mesh back, and a loop for attaching it to a rolling suitcase, all in a 100% recycled polyester shell. Users report comfortable carry and like the front drop pocket and hidden quick-access pocket, and one commenter says it works as a personal item on non-budget domestic airlines, though it may feel bulky even when not full. Be aware that the laptop sleeve sits inside the main compartment (one commenter believes it cannot be reached from outside), the main-compartment organization runs along the back making items below harder to reach, a filled front pocket can crowd thicker items, the false bottom could use more padding, and there is no hip strap.[1,2,3,4,6] | Allpa 28l Backpack Del Día Collection - Assorted And Random Colours: Choose this if you want a 28-liter carry-on-style travel backpack with a suitcase-style clamshell that opens wide and lays flat for packing, built-in mesh organization, padded laptop and tablet compartments, and lockable YKK zippers. Reviewers found it comfortable for smaller frames and report it fits under airline seats even when packed full, though it weighs about 1.4 kg empty, which one commenter noted can matter on carriers with weight limits. Each Del Día pack is one-of-a-kind, sewn by a single maker with random assorted colours, so the bag you receive will not match the photo, and the bottle pockets fit slimmer bottles better than thick insulated ones.[9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18] | Allpa 35l Backpack Del Día Collection - Assorted And Random Colours: Choose this if you want a 35L carry-on travel pack with suitcase-style organization: padded zip compartments for a laptop and tablet, zip and mesh inner pockets, two side water-bottle pockets, padded adjustable straps, a removable hip belt, and a luggage pass-through loop. Users report it fits overhead bins on airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, and AerLingus and holds up well over years of use, and the Del Día design made from repurposed fabric scraps means every bag's colors are unique (you will not receive the bag shown in the photo). Note that some owners find it uncomfortable when fully loaded or on long walks, the clamshell opening requires opening the whole bag to reach items, and it lacks structure and compression when underpacked.[19,20,21,22,23,24] |
Image Analysis
3 images- 01
Product
Front-facing olive-green backpack with top zip compartment, branded front panel, a lower front pocket with blue vertical trim and a narrow orange accent, visible top carry handle and side pockets.
- Overall shapeUpright rectangular backpack with a rounded top and slightly curved bottom seen from the front.
1 region
x 0.08 · y 0.03 · w 0.84 · h 0.94 (high) - Main material and finishSmooth matte woven fabric covering the front panels, uniform olive-green color with minimal visible texture.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.08 · w 0.76 · h 0.74 (high) - Top zip pocketHorizontal zippered pocket near the rounded top with a visible zipper track and a short fabric pull tab on the left side.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.06 · w 0.76 · h 0.14 (high) - Top carry handle and zippersSmall fabric carry handle at the top center with bright blue webbing visible; two metal zipper heads sit behind the handle.
1 region
x 0.38 · y 0.00 · w 0.24 · h 0.08 (high) - Front logo and wordmark“Light-colored stylized llama head icon above the lowercase wordmark 'cotopaxi' centered on the upper front panel.”
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.22 · w 0.28 · h 0.18 (high) - Lower front pocket flapA horizontal flap separates upper and lower front compartments; its lower edge shows a very narrow orange piping accent along the seam.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.46 · w 0.64 · h 0.12 (high) - Blue vertical trim on lower pocketBright blue narrow fabric trim runs vertically along both sides of the lower front pocket opening.
2 regions
x 0.13 · y 0.56 · w 0.12 · h 0.38 (high); x 0.75 · y 0.56 · w 0.12 · h 0.38 (high) - Side pocket panelsRibbed or textured side panels in a darker olive tone forming side pockets that attach to the lower body.
2 regions
x 0.02 · y 0.52 · w 0.18 · h 0.36 (medium); x 0.80 · y 0.52 · w 0.18 · h 0.36 (medium) - Bottom panelDarker reinforced bottom panel in a deeper olive shade with slight padding visible at the base.
1 region
x 0.14 · y 0.86 · w 0.72 · h 0.10 (high)
Other
Studio product shot centered on a light gray seamless background with soft shadow beneath the backpack and even overhead lighting.
- Shot compositionBackpack centered vertically and horizontally with even margins on both sides; entire front face visible.
- BackgroundUniform light gray studio background with a subtle cast shadow under the backpack.
- Lighting and shadowSoft diffuse lighting with minimal glare; gentle shadow below the bag indicating a light source from above.
Colors
olive green· main body panels#6F785Bpale mint· logo and wordmarkbright blue· vertical pocket trimorange accent· accent pipingdeep olive· bottom and side panels#43432C- Overall shapeUpright rectangular backpack with a rounded top and slightly curved bottom seen from the front.
- 02
Product
Rear view of an olive-green backpack showing padded back panel, twin padded shoulder straps with blue webbing loops, a bright orange adjustable sternum strap, and a side stretch pocket; visible hardware includes buckles and zipper pulls.
- View and orientationRear-facing view of the backpack showing the exterior back panel and shoulder straps, with the base slightly angled toward the viewer's right
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.05 · w 0.76 · h 0.90 (high) - Back panel paddingRectangular quilted padded back panel composed of horizontal padded channels with a textured mesh surface
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.18 · w 0.43 · h 0.68 (high) - Main fabricDurable woven fabric in an olive-green tone covers the pack exterior, with a slightly different ribbed olive panel on the visible left side
2 regions
x 0.12 · y 0.22 · w 0.48 · h 0.68 (high); x 0.12 · y 0.22 · w 0.18 · h 0.54 (high) - Shoulder strapsTwo padded shoulder straps with a textured mesh outer face and smoother webbing along the edges; straps are sewn to the top and run down the back panel
1 region
x 0.33 · y 0.12 · w 0.34 · h 0.80 (high) - Blue webbing loopsShort horizontal blue webbing loops attached to each shoulder strap
2 regions
x 0.54 · y 0.44 · w 0.07 · h 0.05 (high); x 0.66 · y 0.44 · w 0.07 · h 0.05 (high) - Sternum strapBright orange adjustable sternum strap crossing between the shoulder straps and attaching to a dark buckle with metal-looking ladder piece
1 region
x 0.58 · y 0.54 · w 0.28 · h 0.27 (high) - Top carry handleShort top carry handle with a visible blue underside/trim at the pack crown
1 region
x 0.45 · y 0.03 · w 0.18 · h 0.07 (medium) - Side pocketOpen vertical side pocket on the visible left side made from a ribbed olive fabric, sized to hold a bottle or small item
1 region
x 0.08 · y 0.36 · w 0.16 · h 0.36 (high) - Zipper and pullsZipper track visible along the pack perimeter with small blue zipper pulls exposed near the top and left side
2 regions
x 0.34 · y 0.05 · w 0.36 · h 0.12 (medium); x 0.08 · y 0.44 · w 0.08 · h 0.12 (medium) - Lower strap endsShoulder strap webbing extends past the bottom with adjustment buckles on both sides, the left end lying on the surface
1 region
x 0.52 · y 0.82 · w 0.42 · h 0.18 (high) - Brand tag on strap“Small rectangular tag on left shoulder strap with light text that appears legible at this resolution”Partial
1 region
x 0.52 · y 0.45 · w 0.06 · h 0.03 (medium)
Other
Studio product shot on a light neutral background with soft even lighting and subtle shadow below the pack; image is cropped to include full pack and some strap extension.
- Background and lightingNeutral light gray background with even, shadow-reducing studio lighting and a soft shadow beneath the pack
- Shot compositionThree-quarter rear angle centered in frame, image includes full pack height and part of strap lying on the surface in foreground
1 region
x 0.06 · y 0.03 · w 0.88 · h 0.94 (high) - Image qualitySharp focus on the backpack surface textures and hardware; no visible motion blur
Colors
olive green· main body#4D523Cdark olive green· back panel mesh#35392Cbright orange· sternum strapcobalt blue· trim and zipper pulls#034C93- View and orientationRear-facing view of the backpack showing the exterior back panel and shoulder straps, with the base slightly angled toward the viewer's right
- 03
Product
Interior view of an open olive green backpack showing an organizer panel with an orange zip pocket, elastic card/pen slots, mesh pocket, contrasted orange binding, and a visible blue top carry loop; exterior textured olive fabric and black zipper tape are visible at the bag edge.
- Main interior cavityCurved-top interior compartment lined in smooth olive green fabric visible when the front compartment is fully opened.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.03 · w 0.76 · h 0.66 (high) - Organizer panelVertical organizer panel attached to the inside front wall featuring multiple horizontal elasticized slots edged with orange binding and a top zippered pocket.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.30 · w 0.56 · h 0.47 (high) - Zippered pocket and pullTop of the organizer panel has an orange-zipper pocket with an orange cord zipper pull finished with a small knot.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.29 · w 0.42 · h 0.10 (high) - Elastic slots detailThree horizontal elasticized loops or slots with orange binding intended for small items; loops are gathered and stitched at intervals.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.39 · w 0.49 · h 0.16 (high) - Lower mesh pocketA rectangular black mesh pocket sits below the elastic slots, edged with orange trim along the top.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.53 · w 0.56 · h 0.20 (high) - Front flap interiorInside of the front flap is lined with smooth olive green fabric and finished with orange binding around the perimeter.
1 region
x 0.01 · y 0.54 · w 0.66 · h 0.44 (high) - Exterior shell textureVisible external body fabric is a densely woven, slightly textured dark olive material seen along the right side of the image.
1 region
x 0.66 · y 0.07 · w 0.30 · h 0.86 (high) - Zipper tape and pullsBlack zipper tape runs along the compartment opening with a visible greyish woven zipper pull tab on the right edge.
1 region
x 0.68 · y 0.60 · w 0.26 · h 0.25 (high) - Top carry loopA short webbing top carry loop in bright blue is visible at the inner top edge of the bag opening.
1 region
x 0.47 · y 0.02 · w 0.12 · h 0.06 (high)
Other
Studio product shot cropped tightly on the open front compartment against a neutral light grey background; soft diffuse lighting with minimal shadows.
- Shot compositionTight close-up angled three-quarter view focused on the open front compartment and organizer panel; lower left shows the front flap folded outward.
- Background and lightingPlain light grey background with even, soft lighting and subtle reflections on the fabric surface.
- Image qualityHigh-resolution, in-focus image with clear texture detail and no visible compression artifacts.
Colors
olive green· interior lining#434C34bright orange· binding and zipper trimdark olive· exterior fabric#353A2Cbright blue· top carry loopblack· zipper tape#0D0E03- Main interior cavityCurved-top interior compartment lined in smooth olive green fabric visible when the front compartment is fully opened.
Brand PDP Lookup
- Brand
- Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack
Documents & Data
Reddit Insights
5 threads · r/onebag, r/backpacks, r/ManyBaggersReddit users have mixed opinions on the Cotopaxi Allpa 26L: it is praised for its comfort, lightweight, and water bottle pockets, but criticized for being either too bulky or too small depending on the use case, with some quality-control issues like the chest strap falling off.
While many users find the bag comfortable and feature-rich, complaints about sizing (both too bulky and too small), limited organization access, and a recurrent chest strap issue lower the overall sentiment.
Themes
Use Cases
- Everyday carry / Daypack
- School / heavy loads
- Travel personal item
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Cotopaxi Mente 32L
The Mente 32L was chosen over the Allpa 26L for school because the Allpa was too tight when the front pocket was filled.
vs Aer City Pack Pro (Carry Max EDC)
The Allpa 26L is preferred for EDC/travel over the Aer, but the Aer has better straps and the clamshell opening is missed.
vs Cotopaxi Allpa 28L / 18L
The 26L felt similarly bulky as the 28L; some users found the 18L more proportional and sufficient for their needs.
Source Threads
Critique of Allpa 26L dimensions and underseat suitability
The 26 is 20.5 x 13 x 9 in (55 x 33 x 23 cm). They missed a real opportunity to make an under seat bag there. The specs are doubtful: 20.5”=52cm. They represent a much larger bag even with the correction.
u/SeattleHikeBiker/onebagView thread →
Comparison of Allpa 26L Daypack with 28L, noting bulk and features
The [Allpa 26L Daypack](https://www.cotopaxi.com/products/allpa-26l-daypack-del-dia?variant=42666730618941) was pretty similar to the 28L. Didn’t really feel any smaller, just slightly different. Both of them kind of felt bulky even when not full. Pros for me were the second water bottle pocket. The laptop sleeve was in the main compartment and wasn’t as oversized as the 28L travel packs. But I don’t think you could access it from the outside. Also no hip strap, but that’s not a major factor for me.
u/PebblesEatsPlantsr/backpacksView thread →
One-month review highlighting comfort and organization issues
Following up on this! I purchased the bag and have been using it for about a month. I really like the bag, the carry is comfortable and it’s gorgeous. What I like is the front drop pocket. The organization in the main pocket is not my favorite because everything is on the back of the bag making it harder to access the items below it. The front drop pockets also impedes on being able to access the space towards the bottom in the main compartment. The false bottom definitely needs more support or padding. You can hear your laptop hit the hard surface if you slide it in there too fast. I want to love this bag but its design isn’t fitting my needs. I’m going back to using the Moment Everything 21L backpack. My search for a really good lightweight 26L bag continues.
u/thishumanexperience_r/backpacksView thread →
Comment on features and airline fit
My partner has this bag. The hidden bottom QAP is a neat feature and while it’s far too tall, it does work as a personal airplane item with non-budget airlines (IE the domestic ones that rarely check).
u/piercedhskyr/ManyBaggersView thread →
Experience using Allpa 26L for school, finding it too small
I tried them both out by fitting all daily items I need for school and found that it was quite difficult to slide in a few things that were thicker (like my pencil case, binder etc) in the Allpa when the pocket in the front was filled. I didn't like that so I settled on the Mente!
u/Zynylir/backpacksView thread →