Cotopaxi Allpa 35L vs Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 24

but it was just too big and heavy. The material always felt like despite being thick, thorny branches and whatnot would destroy it.

If you want to use this for a quick trip, and so the urban assault line is offered in three sizes, the version that I have here, as I mentioned, is th...

It in theory is international carry on size with detachable waist strap. But holy cow they missed the boat on some CRUCIAL elements, chiefly a complete lack of compression straps and load lifters. If you don't stuff it super full it flops around on your back, but when fully packed it bulges out and down and while the straps are padded and should be comfortable they don't balance the weight at all. Also I'm not a super tall guy (5'10") but the waist belt hits at the bottom of my rib cage when the backpack straps are tight enough to stay on, not a huge deal as its removable but it means there is no help supporting the pack

Bought about a month ago. Love the bag. Loses 1 star due to the left shoulder strap coming loose on its own occasionally.

You might not think it by looking at it, but I got all of my clothes and shoes for an entire two-month road trip, plus a few items I picked up along t...

Less roomy in the main compartment and laptop compartment than expected. I find pulling the top to open more difficult than convenient. I would recommend reversing the direction of the inside mesh pocket zippers on the side flaps of the main compartment as they are difficult to access quickly. Would also recommend a small area of MOLLE and a small area of Velcro on a portion of the exterior of the bag

-Zippers are quite robust and very theft-proof. -Stowable straps. This is potentially a game changer if you want to pass-off your 35L backpack as a personal item at the airport

I also appreciate the aesthetics of it not screaming that it’s military or a similar type design. My only criticisms is it’s a little smaller than I expected but that’s on me. Also, the zipper pulls are fairly basic 550 cord type pulls so I wish they’d chosen a longer lasting part since these tend to always come loose over time but it hasn’t happened to me yet since it’s still fairly new. Overall, I highly recommend this product and I’d buy it again and am also looking to buy another MR pack in the future

- For a hike that is a few miles, I found myself constantly readjusting the straps. I REALLY wish the pack had top straps to bring the top weight of the bag in more. But this could possibly be resolved with what's chosen to be packed in the brain of the bag. I had all of my cooking gear in there

It is super high quality top to bottom. I wanted something multipurpose for EDC, weekend travel, and some light day hiking. The low profile non-tactical styling, numerous pockets, and single main storage compartment was all a great departure from the school book bag style packs I’d previously owned. Its smartly laid out interior, sturdy exterior, and strap adjustability was everything I needed

The internal zip-up compartments are pretty handy for organization and may cut down on a packing cube or two, depending on how you pack -- but I still found myself using packing cubes for organization. The laptop compartment is just right and useful for a secure spot that sits up against your back. The pockets for the straps to tuck into is super handy in the event you have to check your bag and want to protect the straps. The bag itself was a hair bit heavier than I expected it to be, but didn't turn out too bad

I like the laptop compartment and how it’s separate from the rest of the bag. I do however wish the bag was made of a more flexible material to be able to form and shape according to what’s inside. It is a bit stiff and seems to scuff fairly easy. Although the scuffs do give it more of a vintage look so I can’t complain much

I've never used a backpack that strikes such a great balance of comfort, fit, organization, and design. When I travel, all my gear goes in my pack, from my socks to my laptop. I can pack everything comfortably inside my Allpa, get whatever I need when I need it, and even put it under an airplane seat.

The most comfortable pack is typically the one with nothing in it. 😊 Under load though, from my collection it'd be the Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 24.