ProView – Cotopaxi Chasqui Cada Día 13L Sling

As my town has started to slowly re-open, I’ve found myself going on more local and urban adventures lately, and I have (cautiously) been enjoying going out and about. The only day pack I have is old and worn and dirty, and I needed a new one for in-town expeditions. I decided to give a new pack a go: the stylish Cotopaxi Chasqui Cada Día pack. I gave it a spin on a local hike, and on a bike ride to the gym and a coffee shop.

Fit/Comfort

The fit was my least favorite thing about this pack. It is comfortable once you get the strap situated correctly, but it does not fit as easily as a two-strap pack. It is quite light (1 pound, 2 ounces) considering how many features are inside the pack.

Features/Construction:

The wrap-around zipper is an awesome feature and is one I’ve never seen in a day pack before. It allows you to unzip the bag all the way around, so that you can open it and lay it flat like a suitcase. This makes it super easy to access everything in your pack without having to dig around blindly. The bright blue and orange zippers are a super cute pop of color too – an added bonus!

Durability:

I haven’t brought this pack into the wilderness to truly test its durability, but I think this will be an extremely durable bag. The zippers are solid, and the fabric is tough and weather-resistant (a big plus for rainy bike rides). 

Earth-Friendliness:

The nylon used on the front and main body of the pack is recycled, which makes me feel good about using it. Cotopaxi is a Climate Neutral-certified company. Here’s a description from the Cotopaxi site of what that means:

“Climate Neutral is a non-profit organization that assists brands in measuring their carbon footprint and becoming 100% carbon neutral. With CN’s help, we’ve undergone the process of measuring our carbon footprint and working to offset those emissions.”

This year they are working to have 100% of their product line be made of non-virgin and responsible materials. They are also working towards eliminating single-use plastics by 2022. This includes their packaging materials, which are a huge contributor to single-use plastics ending up in the landfill. You can learn more about Cotopaxi’s sustainability practices here. 

Room for Improvement:

There are three color options for this pack, and I love the color of mine. However, I wish there were some more brightly-colored options. The fact that it only comes in one size is a bit inconvenient too – not all bodies are built the same, and I believe bags should be made in several different sizes to fit a variety of body shapes, just like clothes. Size inclusivity is important!

The Final Word:

If you’re looking for a sustainable yet stylish commuter bag, look no further. “Cada día” means “every day” in Spanish, and it could not be a more apt name. With the weather-resistant fabric, it is suitable even on the dreariest days. I work from home, but if I were to commute to work, this would be my go-to bag. It fits books and a laptop perfectly, with lots of extra roomy pockets for additional belongings. This is the ideal pack for your urban adventuring!

If I’m being totally honest, I didn’t really expect to like this bag very much. I was a little doubtful of the whole one-strap design and wasn’t sure how I would use it. But after a few uses, I’m a believer!

The functionality of this pack wasn’t great for a day hike. Every time I wanted to access my water, I had to swing the pack around to my front or take it off entirely. The lack of exterior bottle pockets and bladder capability is inconvenient for a hike.

However, this pack was PERFECT for my in-town bike rides. I went for a quick bouldering sesh in the gym, and then to my favorite coffee shop to relax in the sun and sip a matcha latte while finishing my book. I was able to fit my climbing shoes, chalk bag, two books, sunglasses, wallet, phone, and mask without difficulty! The abundant interior pockets allowed me to keep my stuff compartmentalized, which is important to me in a pack. This is the perfect commuter bag for running all your in-town errands in style!

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