Cotopaxi Allpa 35L vs Timbuk2 Impulse Travel Pack - 45 Liters

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

I love the size, but I probably wouldn't take it on a plane. I prefer to check my bags and just have one regular backpack with me on flights. The Impulse would be better for me on car trips. The material is water-resistant and feels pretty durable

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

The shoulder straps should have been completely removable so all straps could be put in one of the other great compartments in the bag. Two issues with this: 1) the straps can come out of the storage area and be lost or get caught in other things (like airport conveyors), and 2) the uneven storage of the straps are the base under the duffelbag, which are right beneath your computer compartment, potentially damaging the computer if you have a heavy load in the bag. All-in-all, a great bag! Even with the couple of lesser choices TIMBUK2 made for buckles and the strap storage, you can't go wrong with this fully waterproof bag that can be used two ways: backpack and duffel. Highly recommend!

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...

I really love all of the organizational compartments and how waterproof it is without requiring a rain cover option you have to fuss with. Sometimes when you're in the middle of a long cold hike, the last thing you want to do is stop and do more rain prep to keep going. I like that you can remove the straps to use it as a dufflebag if you need to check in the bag for planes. Only real complaint I have is that the little buckle locks sometimes do come undone! If anyone from the company reads this: heeeeelp

-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

Yeah big fault on the zipper and timbuk2 should have used a YKK zipper. What I did was I just rubbed a tiny bit of vaseline on the zipper. Other solutions that I kinda figured out since it's a common problem on some manufacturers design in makita it water resistant, is I stick one finger inside while I'm zipping it to close it tends not to catch the lining inside the bag. But over all I would give it a 4 stars in its style

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 got the small one) the straps in the main pocket serve to hold my laptop In Place excellently, so I've repurposed the laptop sleeve for paperwork. It is likely larger than you think it is, but it's very comfortable. I'd certainly recommend it, I just think it can be improved upon, they did improve the flaws from the last model (ie the bottom hooks on the straps coming lose), however quality pockets and well designed, exactly what I was looking for, keep up the good work!

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.

Frankly, the backpack straps are so comfortable, I'm not sure that's necessary. If, like me, you don't like traveling with a rollerboard, I can't think of a better option that the Impulse. Not only is it thoughtfully designed with excellent organization, the comfort is much higher than I typically find with a duffel, and the build quality - typical of Timbuk 2 - is top-notch. Those who do not travel with a laptop may find the bag over-padded, costing them a modicum of precious cargo space