Cotopaxi Chumpi 35L Duffel Bag – Reviewed & Tested

Cotopaxi’s Chumpi is colourful, sustainably made, and multi-use. But is it a good bag for your buck? Explorer Claire put it to the test to find out.

If I had to personify my style as an outdoor brand, I’d pick Cotopaxi. The dopamine-inducing designs make gear exciting and refreshing (and also visible, which is great for safety and not getting lost on the luggage belt).

So I was thrilled to try Cotopaxi’s Chumpi 35L Duffel Bag on a few camping and interstate trips over three months.

I’ve been flogging a pretty heavy, leather duffel, which is great for looking important at the terminal, but not so much for when I actually want to pack things under that 7kg carry-on limit.

Could the Chumpi fix all that?

Let’s see how it went

Why am I the right person to do this review?

If I’m not throwing a duffel into the car for camping trips near Sydney, as a good Gold Coast expat, I’ll travel back to Queensland to visit friends and family (Mum, please take this as a sign to visit me instead, thanks!). When I’m not up north, I’m visiting the Goldie expats who moved to Melbourne.

I absolutely do not travel in style, nor do I travel with many things. I’ll opt for the cheapest flight possible, which never includes checked baggage. This means I frequently indulge in the philosophy of ‘Can I get away without packing this?’.

I need a bag that’s lightweight because, of course, I don’t own a suitcase. Much too heavy!

Read more: Top Tips For Travelling Faster (and Comfier!) With Carry-On Only

Quick Specifications

Weight: 765g
Dimensions: 51cm x 27cm x 27cm
Fabric: 100% repurposed 600D polyester body
Colourway: Del Día
RRP: $179.99

Performance

Versatility

Being able to transition between duffle mode and backpack mode is one of the biggest drawcards of this bag, but one I think it falls a bit short of.

The Cotopaxi Chumpi 35L is first and foremost, a duffel, featuring a short and long strap option. The short straps are large enough to be thrown over a shoulder, while the padded sling is removable, which I kept off pretty much the whole time. I’ve never liked any duffel’s long strap –  all my items thudding against my hip while walking sends me into a tizzy.

When you transition into backpack mode, the short straps are stuffed under a buttoned compartment near the main zip, where you’ll swap out for the backpack straps.

And here’s where I think the Cotopaxi Chumpi falls a bit short.

Backpack mode seems more like a bonus rather than a standalone feature. As the frame is soft, you really need to have the bag full to comfortably wear it as a backpack over a long period of time, as everything falls quite low, even when adjusting the straps.

However, this hasn’t stopped me from using it as a backpack while walking around the city or riding my bike. I don’t have a general everyday backpack and this fills the hole well enough while doubling as a duffel. So I still think I scored!

Durability

The Cotopaxi Chumpi 35L Duffel has experienced an array of situations during its time with me – hanging out in tents, crammed in the back of the cars, jostling in overhead luggage, and examining the state of airport, hotel, or guest room floors. Lucky Chumpi.

Through it all, there hasn’t been one fray, tear, or hole. It’s held up incredibly well.

The details are impeccably done

The 100% repurposed 600D polyester body is supremely dependable (‘D’ stands for Denier, a unit of measurement to assess fibre thickness).

The stitching on every seam looks tight and tidy, while the buttons and zips feel high-quality and tough.

I have no doubt the Chumpi will endure many more compromising positions in the future.

Comfort

Overall, the Cotopaxi Chumpi 35L Duffel felt comfortable and well-made in the hand. The buttoned clasp to hold the short straps doubles as a bit of padding, which is a thoughtful feature.

My only gripe was the comfort of the backpack straps.

The fuller the bag, the more of a backpack it becomes

The padding is on the thinner side, which is helpful to keep the backpack light, but not so much for commuting over long periods of time. My shoulders felt some tension.

This is also why I think the backpack feature is definitely meant to be more of a secondary option rather than the Chumpi’s primary use.

Design

Aesthetic

The out-there, bright, and unique identity of Cotopaxi is entirely up my alley, so, of course, I fell in love with the look of this bag. Which is a surprise, by the way!

The Chumpi is part of the Del Día colourway, meaning that each design is one of a kind and picked at random. I personally love that, it built anticipation as a consumer.

Because I already adored Cotopaxi’s designs, I knew that whatever it looked like, I’d be happy with.

I reckon I lucked out with the colour scheme

As a bonus, the Del Día colours are designed and picked at random because they’re part of Cotopaxi’s RePurpose™ initiative. Leftover fabric from other companies is given to workers who have creative control over its final look.

Size

35L sits at that mid-size for a duffel, and when I received it was shocked at how small it looked. It’s about 50cm long. Will it really fit everything I need for a week-long trip? Well, the answer is yes.

I took the Chumpi to Victoria for a week without sacrificing anything pertinent. While I travel pretty bare (allergic to paying for extra luggage), I still kept all my normal toiletries, clothes, an extra pair of shoes, a laptop, and other random bits and bobs. It even fit my friend’s hiking sleeping bag that she left in Sydney.

There’s an external zip pocket which is helpful for separating dirty clothes, but I would’ve preferred an internal pocket as well or at least instead of the external one – just for organisation. But that’s not really a dealbreaker.

Read more: It’s Time To Spring Clean Your Outdoor Gear – Here’s How

The external pocket is quite sizeable

Handles

I do have to mention this quickly – the handles on either end! What a great decision! Honestly, why don’t more duffels have this?

They’re brightly coloured so you can always spot them, but it was truly revolutionary for me while flying.

Seriously, I will not shut up about this

I get that I sound overly excited about something seemingly dull, but getting to yoink the Chumpi swiftly out of overhead luggage minimised the anxiety of the entire plane watching me fumble for my bag, or worse, stepping in to help me (I sit a tad below the required height to be hired as cabin crew).

The end handles make grabbing and going seamless, and they’ve grown to be a feature I really, really admire.

Portability

Its soft, lightweight design means that Cotopaxi’s Chumpi can fit into the tight nooks of my travels without encroaching on any 7kg carry-on – it only weighs about 765g. It’s what I reach for most when I’m flying domestic, and as a result, I stuff much less into my pockets at the gate! Just kidding (sort of).

It’s a great all-rounder bag that can accomplish a lot without taking up lots of space.

Curls up easily in a corner

Sustainability

Cotopaxi is known for its colourful items, but they fly some green flags when it comes to sustainability.

As mentioned, their RePurpose initiative keeps excess fabrics out of landfill and transforms them into their cheerful Del Día colourway. It’s pretty smart to make each item one-of-a-kind instead of tailored to a certain design, as more fabric can be accepted.

Read more: Cotopaxi’s Del Día Collection Creates One-Off Gear That’s Good for People & Planet

The gear is handmade in the Philippines, where employees are free to select the rolls of fabric and accessories and sew them together. There’s a video on the Del Día process if you want to know more.

Just like us, Cotopaxi is a B Corp! It aligns with best-in-class social, environmental, and economic standards. Additionally, it’s also Climate Neutral Certified for the fourth year in a row.

Overall, Cotopaxi has a tonne of info on its commitment to sustainability, which is a great sign as a consumer. You’ll know where your item comes from, what it’s made of, and what the brand values as a producer.

Price

The Cotopaxi Chumpi retails for $179.99, which seems pretty standard for the bag’s size and the brand’s stature in the market. Generally, a comparative 35L duffel sits around the $150-$220 mark.

The Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC 30L Duffel retails for $329.95 and is 5L smaller – ouch!

All in all, I feel the price is reasonable

I think it’s a fair price for the quality, features, and how the bag is made. I use it quite a lot and it holds up very well through any adventure. I’m not someone who likes to sling a backpack on every day, but having the option (even if a little underwhelming) is still worth it for me.

I find this bag more valuable than its price tag.

Final Thoughts

I’m often travelling domestically or going on weekend trips, so the bag I bring is pretty important to me. It needs to be durable enough to handle a variety of conditions, be on the lighter side for plane trips, and have a design I’ll love to look at for years to come.

Very safe to say that the Cotopaxi Chumpi 35L Duffel absolutely fulfils that, and throws in some extra bonuses that I love as well.

I find multi-use gear incredibly valuable, and the Chumpi is a great bag for your buck.

Cotopaxi Duffel Bag FAQs

Where are Cotopaxi bags products made?

All backpacks and bags from Cotopaxi are made in Bataan, Philippines. Read more about Cotopaxi bag manufacturing.

Can I put my Cotopaxi duffel in the washing machine?

Cotopaxi doesn’t recommend throwing your duffel in the washing machine; instead, it’s recommended to spot clean by hand. Dunk the area or bag in cold water, and use your finger to remove dirt. For tougher stains, use a mild detergent and a soft-bristled toothbrush.

See The Other Bags We’ve Taken for a Spin

• Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack – Del Dia – Reviewed & Tested
• Red Paddle Co Waterproof Tote Bag 33L
• Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag 40L
• Shimoda V2 Explore 35 Camera Bag – Reviewed & Tested