Cotopaxi Allpa 35L vs. Kathmandu Cotinga Kid's Pack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Cotopaxi Allpa 35L
| Capacity | 35 L |
| Weight | 1.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 51×30×20 cm |
| Airline fit | 80% |
| Price | $200 |
Feature by feature
| Cotopaxi Allpa 35L | Feature | Kathmandu Cotinga Kid's Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | S |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 4 | Opening | 4 |
| Y | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| H | Backpack | S |
| R | Hip Belt | N |
| S | Sternum Strap | N |
| Inside | ||
| 15 | Laptop | 0 |
| 3 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 0 | Water Bottle Holder | 1 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 1680D ballistic nylon paneling | 100% Polyester |
Kathmandu Cotinga Kid's Pack
| Capacity | 20 L |
| Weight | 0.42 kg |
| Dimensions | 41×27×20.5 cm |
| Airline fit | 68% |
| Price | $60 |
We're going to hit the road here with two packs designed for travel, carry-on style: the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L by Cotopaxi and the Kathmandu Cotinga Kid's Pack by Kathmandu. The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L gives a healthy 35 liters of storage, made sturdy with 1680D ballistic nylon panelling. She'll carry quite the payload, coming in at 20 inches tall, 30 inches wide, and whopping 51 inches deep, making for a weight of 1.5 pounds. For the tech traveller, this pack includes a laptop compartment fitting a 15-inch laptop, and is compatible with 80% of all airlines. As for the Kathmandu Cotinga Kid's Pack, it's lighter at 0.42 pounds, narrower and shorter with 20.5 inches in height, 27 inches in width, and depth at 41 inches. It offers a humbler carrying capacity of 20 liters, built from 100% polyester. Noticeably, it lacks a laptop compartment but makes up for it with a higher airline compatibility at 68%.
Now, digging into the specifics, let's sum up the comparison:
- The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is significantly bulkier and offers more storage than the Kathmandu Cotinga Kid's Pack, with extra space for a 15-inch laptop.
- Material-wise, the Allpa 35L uses 1680D ballistic nylon while Kathmandu Cotinga is crafted entirely from polyester.
- The Cotopaxi design is slightly heavier at 1.5 pounds, while the Kathmandu Cotinga is a featherweight at just 0.42 pounds.
- Although the Cotopaxi beats the Kathmandu for compatibility with airline restrictions, both models comply with the majority of airlines.
Reviewers have heaped great praise on the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L, with one stating: "It's the perfect graduation gift for the budding world traveller". Others describe it as "smartly designed" and particularly commend its comfort and ease of use, as well as the internal organization - possibly the best configuration one reviewer had used so far. As for the Kathmandu Cotinga Kid's Pack, the ergonomic harness was a hit for reviewers seeking comfort, coupled with fine craftsmanship from recycled polyester, and functional internal organization.
These packs have their respective merits. On one hand, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L comes with different deterrents against the elements, a comfortable and adjustable strap system, and extra bags for organising your belongings. On the flip side, the Kathmandu Cotinga Kid's Pack offers comfort via ergonomics, enviable craftsmanship from recycled materials, and a dose of practicality in its internal organization. Both packs guarantee a combination of form, function, and quality. Fair to say, they both have something to bring to the table.