Allpa 42L Travel Pack

I jam-packed the hell out of my Cotopaxi for a 4 week trip to Europe at Christmas, carry on only. Bulging at the seems with layered winter clothing. No issues, comfort or otherwise. Great bag. I love any excuse to buy a new bag but for plane travel, there’s not really anything I’d prefer of the Coto

The Allpa 42 is 22 x 14 x 11in (56 x 36 x 27cm). That’s 2”-3” too deep for most of the airlines overhead carry on limits. It’s too bad it doesn’t have compression straps. Packhacker shows 1% compliance with their database of 145 airlines: https://www.packhacker.com/travel-gear/cotopaxi/allpa-42l-tra

Check the Decathlon Forclaz Travel 500 backpack, it comes in two sizes nowadays (30L and 40L) and works the way the Cotopaxi travel pack does. Can be a cheaper option new than most Cotopaxi used.

Personally I hate suitcase style bags, I don’t like having the space split up like that, it feels less flexible to me in terms of how I pack. That said, that’s just, like, my opinion man, so you do you. I will say if carry comfort is important look at Osprey, I currently travel with the the Farpoint