Cotopaxi Allpa 100 L Roller Bag

Review by Erin Trail

Cotopaxi’s Allpa 100 L Roller bag is the biggest in the Allpa collection.  It’s a great option for those who need more storage for travel while wanting something sustainably and ethically made.

Technical Details

• Split-case design for easy organization
• Water-resistant, highly durable construction
• Molded EVA back panel
• Top zip accessory pocket compatible with Allpa X Hip Pack
• Multiple grab handles for ease on-the-go
• 2 large, durable wheels to tackle uneven terrain
• Extendable handle that supports a pack with a pass-through strap
• 100L (6100 cu in)
• 29.5 x 16 x 14 in (75 x 40 x 36cm)
• 9lbs 7oz (4281g)
• Made from 100% recycled nylon and polyester

Detailed Review

This poor suitcase went on a JOURNEY during my most recent trip.  I was supposed to fly from Denver to Newark to Porto, Portugal and then drive to Spain for a triathlon race.  What actually happened is that my bag went from Denver to Newark to….. Edinburgh, Scotland, spent the night in Edinburgh (without me) and then continued on to Madrid Spain, then Porto, Portugal before finally being loaded on a courier truck and delivered to my hotel in Pontevedra, Spain SIX days after checking it in at Denver International Airport.

But despite it’s prolonged adventures without me, the bag arrived at my hotel looking as good as new.

I was shopping for a larger suitcase as my old one was old and busted.  I often travel for triathlon races and I need a larger suitcase to bring all of the racing gear with me.  It’s a little obscene how much stuff I pack, but I generally end up using most of it.  This trip to Spain was a part race, part beach vacation, so in addition to my recovery boots, training clothes, and bike tools, I also needed space for some fun beach adventure items.

Packing the Cotopaxi Allpa 100 L Roller Bag is pretty self explanatory.  The suitcase is basically two clamshell halves, with each half zipping closed with netting. The bottom half has a sturdy, hard plastic layer. That’s where I put the heavier, more bulky items, or the things that might get squished. The top half is backed by waterproof rubber, and is therefore a bit softer on the outside. I used this half for my clothes, all packed neatly into storage cubes.

I would highly recommend using packing cubes with the Cotopaxi Allpa 100 L Roller Bag.  Besides the interior halves and exterior smaller pocket, there are no other small pockets or partitioned areas.  The half where I had a hodgepodge of things eventually became fairly disorganized.  The half where I used packing cubes stayed fairly tidy.  I do wish there were a few small interior side pockets, where I could stash small items for easy access.

Once packed and the interior halves are zipped, you fold the bag together and zip up the zipper along the circumference of the bag.  The bag cinches down further with 2 tie-down straps.  These straps are well designed, having 2 buckle clips per strap, one on each side of the bag.

The small exterior pocket was really handy for stashing smaller items that you may want immediately after landing and retrieving your bag from baggage claim.  I used this area for flip flops, which fit perfectly.

My favorite feature about the Cotopaxi Allpa 100 L Roller Bag is all of the grab handles.  This bag is on the big side and can get fairly heavy.  My bag, fully packed, came in right at 50 lbs. A bag like this can be unwieldy and hard to navigate in and out of vehicles, trains, shuttles, and airports.  But thanks to all of the grab handles, I never struggled to move the bag around. Both cinch straps serve as handles, there’s a handle at the top of the bag by the telescoping handle, there’s a hard plastic handle at the bottom of the bag near the wheel. And one more handle lengthwise along the side of the bag. The handles are all very sturdy, made from heavy nylon webbing with heavy-duty stitching.

The telescoping handle is well made and didn’t show any signs of wear.  Finally, the two wheels at the base of the suitcase navigated just about anything I travelled across.

The rubberized coating on the top is waterproof (I unfortunately did end up testing this out as well).  No scents or stains from the unwanted liquid stayed with the bag after I cleaned it up.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 100 L Roller Bag is also easy to spot, as the trademark Cotopaxi color blocking and logo jump out amongst a sea of other bags.

Closing Thoughts

The Cotopaxi Allpa 100 L Roller Bag is a well made roller bag that’s plenty durable for any adventure you take it on.  It’s made from 100% recycled materials.  The bag stands out from a sea of boring black bags and is really easy to navigate through a travel day, thanks to sturdy wheels and plentiful handles.

Erin Trail