How The Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Made Backpacking Europe Easy
Trying to decide what backpack is best for your Euro Summer Vacation? Keep reading to learn more about my top pick: the Cotopaxi Allpa 42L! I’m also sharing exactly how I scored mine for way less AND how I packed it for a full month in Europe without sacrificing style.
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1. Why I Chose to Backpack Europe
– The Dilemma
– Fashion Meets Function (Hopefully)
2. Finding the Right Backpack (and Why Size *Does* Matter)
– How I Chose the Right Backpack Size
– Why the Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Was The One
3. Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Review: Pros, Cons & Hidden Perks
– Price & Compartments
– Shape & Fit & Colors
– Features & Bonus Perks
4. Is the Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Carry-On Friendly?
5. My Packing Strategy for a Month in Europe
6. Packing Cube Breakdown
– What Goes in Each Packing Cube?
– Where Each Packing Cube Goes
7. Would I Recommend the Cotopaxi Allpa 42L? Absolutely. Here’s Why
Why I Chose to Backpack Europe
The Dilemma
Let’s face it. Everyone dreams of curating the perfect Euro summer wardrobe. However, no one wants to pay the ABSURD Ryanair fees for a checked bag, especially if you’re planning a vacation longer than two weeks.
Last year, I found myself faced with the same dilemma. I wondered what the best luggage choice would be for me and how I would make it work for a whole month! I was determined to keep costs low and minimize the potential for any additional fees, but I still didn’t want to sacrifice variety in the outfits I was planning for my month-long European summer.
Fashion Meets Function (Hopefully)
I had always thought that backpacking through Europe couldn’t be fashionable or easy. However, I had heard horror stories of travelers purchasing carry-ons through their airlines, only to find they didn’t fit in the airline’s bag sizer which resulted in even more fees. Because of this, I felt stuck and desperate, even turning to the “famous” Amazon backpack to see if it would be able to hold a month’s worth of belongings (spoiler, it doesn’t).
To quote my own mother 30 years ago, I finally decided, “f it. Let’s backpack Europe.” And boy, am I so glad I did.
Finding the Right Backpack (and Why Size Does Matter)
How I Chose the Right Backpack Size
After deciding that I was keen to backpack Europe, I faced the seemingly daunting task of finding a backpack that was right for me. After loads of research, I decided that a 42 liter backpack was what would best accommodate all that I wanted to bring on my month-long trip. In my opinion, this is the perfect size for around two weeks’ worth of outfits and one laundry trip.
Why the Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Was The One
In terms of brands, there are the tried-and-true like Osprey and REI. And, I mean, I’m sure these are great options but in the end, it really came down to cost. I wasn’t willing to spend a lot of money on a backpack since I already have a small roller and wasn’t looking for a backpack to become my permanent carry-on. Therefore, I opted for a Cotopaxi Allpa 42L and wow, was it exactly what I wanted and then some.
Ok, you may be thinking, “But WAIT Bella? A Cotopaxi Allpa 42L is typically more expensive than comparable bags by the brands you just mentioned?” And you would be correct! But, continue reading to find out how I did it!
Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Review: Pros, Cons & Hidden Perks
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 💸 Price |
New: ~$250 (I know, ouch!) But: I got mine for $90 off via the Cotopaxi Más Vida Resale Program, where you can buy slightly imperfect or gently used bags for a cheaper price. Mine had only a small discoloration near the logo — totally worth it. |
| 🧳 Compartments |
- Opens like a suitcase (clamshell style) - Right : One huge compartment with a mesh zip cover - Left: 2 mesh-covered compartments (bottom square + top rectangle) - Laptop sleeve, water bottle holder (a bit tight), infinite top front pouch |
| 🎨 Colors | Comes in tons of bright and bold colors. My friends and I had different ones and they all looked so fun! |
| 📐 Shape & Fit |
- Flexible sack-style shape (no rigid frame), so you can really cram stuff in. - Adjustable front and hip straps make it super comfortable — especially when you're sprinting to catch a ferry in Ischia like I was. |
| 🔒 Features |
- Anti-theft zippers - Comes with a rain cover - Durable — mine survived a full month of travel and still looks brand new |
| 🌱 Bonus Perk | Buying through Más Vida is not only cheaper, but also more sustainable. |
| 🌍 Cotopaxi’s Mission | They're a certified B Corp and put 1% of their revenue toward addressing poverty and supporting community development. Read more here |
Want to see what all those compartments actually look like in real life?
Here’s a quick annotated photo of my Cotopaxi Allpa 42L with everything labeled:
Is the Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Carry-On Friendly?
My friends and I all opted to pay online before our flights for a carry on bag. Although this is an extra cost, it was much better to pay upfront than pay whatever it would have been if we were to get to the gate without a purchased carry-on and were forced to try and fit our bags in those absurdly small bag sizer. Truth be told, my backpack was definitely larger in both size and weight than the allowed carry-on but because it was a backpack, we were never asked to recheck the size!
GET THESE!!!
(click on the photo for the link)
My Packing Strategy for a Month in Europe
Ok. So you finally have your backpack! Congrats on waiting so patiently for it to become available though the Más Vida program! Your wallet thanks you 😉 But how do you actually maximize the space?
First things first, you NEED collapsible packing cubes. No, not the regular ones, COLLAPSABLE ones. This means that there are 2 zippers: one to close the cube and one to suck pretty much all of the air out of the cube. These guys are lifesavers for both organizing, and saving space. Seriously, if you take anything out of this blog post, it’s this. I got mine off of tik tok shop (no shame) and they still work great a year later.
To find the entire packing list I used for my month long trip to Europe, CLICK HERE!
Packing Cube Breakdown
Yay! You have your compressible packing cubes! Now what? Keep reading to find out EXACTLY how I packed a month’s worth of clothes in just my Cotopaxi Allpa 42L!
What Goes in each packing Cube?
Largest Cube: Dresses, and shorts
Medium cube: Shirts of all types, and whatever shorts don’t fit in the larger cube
Long Rectangle: pjs and bathing suits
Where does each packing cube go?
Right Side Compartment:
The largest and medium sized packing cubes go in the right side compartment on top of folded linens that would otherwise wrinkle pretty badly if rolled. For this reason, I opted to fold mine and place them directly in my backpack in order to keep them as straight as possible. I placed shoes next to the packing cubes on the right (or left) hand side of the section in order to ensure all of the space was used,
Left Side Compartment:
On the left hand side, the bottom compartment held all of my toiletries and my Birkenstocks. However, you could place any additional pair of shoes here. The mesh zipper pocket had all of my undies and socks!
The bathing suit and pj packing cube fit perfectly in the top left compartment.
Additional Storage:
Everything else went into the large top catch all pocket. Literally everything else.
In addition to my backpack, I had my cross body uniqlo that held my valuables like my phone, passport, and kindle as well as a tote bag that I would use for souvenirs or anything extra like my travel pillow. This was honestly enough space that I didn’t even feel like I needed an additional backpack.
Would I Recommend the Cotopaxi Allpa 42L? Absolutely. Here’s Why.
I seriously could not recommend this backpack enough. Its comfy, its large, its durable, and man is it so stinking cute! I know the initial price tag is steep (i also almost had a heart attack) but once learning about the Más Vida program, it really was a no brainer. Not only was I helping the environment by buying second hand, but I even saved quite a bit by choosing to do so!
I hope this guide helped you feel a little more prepared and a lot more excited. And if you’re still debating whether the Cotopaxi Allpa 42L is “the one,” trust me: it is.
If you have any questions (or packing panic), drop a comment below or DM me! I’m always down to help! And, if you want my full Euro Summer packing list, CLICK HERE!
