Cotopaxi Kapai 1.5L Hip Pack (Del Dia) Review

We love the vibrant, sustainable colorways and ecosystem the Cotopaxi Kapai 1.5L Hip Pack offers; however, we can’t be sure its modest size will work for travel. Let’s dive in and find out! Or, considering its depth, we probably shouldn’t dive. Let’s wade slowly into this one!

External Components

We got this sling from the Del Dia collection, a line from Cotopaxi crafted from 100% deadstock nylon, preventing oodles of materials from entering landfills unnecessarily, which is an excellent shout from a sustainability perspective. No two bags are the same, either, and you can’t choose a specific colorway, which we think is fun. If you meticulously plan colors, this might not work for you, but throwing random vibrancy into your packout can bring spontaneity to your next trip. The materials feel durable and have held up in rain and snow, too, though we’d recommend heading for cover if you’ll be in bad weather for more than a few minutes.

The zippers are from YKK, one of the best brands in the business. They’re easy to operate, and the tracks are so short that you can open them fully at a moment’s notice. Per usual with YKK zippers, there’s nothing negative to report here.

The buckle is from Woojin and is the only plastic adjuster on the entire pack. We’ve had no issues with it, and it feels as durable as other buckles we’ve tested from the brand. So far, so good!

The crossbody sling has a small top handle, which we dig on all bags, even one of this size. It makes it easy to grab out of your travel backpack or rolling luggage and is a solid way to hang it up by your hotel or Airbnb door.

The exterior of this pack has little going on, but you’d never guess that by looking at it. The colors are vibrant and highly visible, which might not be for everyone, but we dig the splash of color.

Fit Notes

The back panel is just ripstop nylon without padding or aeration. As long as you don’t pack odd-shaped or pointy items in the rear of the main compartment, it remains fairly comfortable. The sling is just 1.5 liters, so you can fit a ton of gear inside here, negating a real need for a thick back panel.

The strap is thin and also lacks padding or aeration; however, this isn’t an issue again due to the size of the sling. It has strap keepers, which keep things organized and ensure the straps aren’t flailing in the wind.

You can wear this bag as a crossbody sling or waist pack; it feels comfortable either way. We prefer to wear it as a crossbody because we think it looks better and enables us to be more active; however, you’ll look rad no matter how you carry it.

Overall, we find the sling very comfortable. Even if you fill it with rocks, we don’t miss the padding or aeration you’d see on a larger sling. It’s small enough to stay comfortable no matter what you stow inside, and we’re here for that. But what can you fit in it?

Inside The Sling

There’s a small front pocket so tiny you can’t use it to hold a standard-sized iPhone. However, this is a solid spot to stow a snack, minimalist wallet, keys, or other small objects you want quick access to. If you aren’t bringing your wallet, you can stow a few cards and an ID here, so long as you won’t be in a tight space where someone might try to sneak their hand inside.

The main compartment is relatively small, too, but there’s more space here than in the secondary pocket. There’s no organization inside; however, you can stow larger items, like a phone, packable hand towel, passport, or a pocketable emulator to play retro video games. There isn’t much to this compartment, but it will fit your daily essentials well.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, the Cotopaxi Kapai 1.5L Hip Pack will fit what you’d typically keep in your pockets. Or, if you’re going to be out all day, you can keep those items in your pockets and bring a few extras, like a packable tote for the local market, a small battery bank, a few cables, and a small first aid kit inside the sling to stay comfortable and safe on your journey.

If you’re trying to save space in your backpack, you can use this tiny sling as a mini tech pouch on the way to your destination. Once you’ve arrived, load the tech into a safe place in your hotel room or Airbnb, and use the sling for daily adventures. On the way home, load it back up and stuff it inside your bag again.

When not in use, this sling takes up very little space. It isn’t packable, but you can easily stow it inside a small daypack or a larger sling. It’s a handy piece of gear to have with you, especially when you’re traveling abroad and don’t want to carry a backpack.

Overall, the Cotopaxi Kapai 1.5L Hip Pack is what you make of it. Some users might want more space, but where’s the fun in that?