Cotopaxi Tarak 20L Backpack (Del Dia) Review

The Cotopaxi Tarak 20L Backpack (Del Dia) is a colorful and bold backpack made of 210D ripstop nylon. Cotopaxi makes this bag with all leftover materials from other manufacturers, making it more sustainable to pack than other bags, and each individual bag has unique colors. You never know the exact color combination you’ll get until the bag arrives at your door, which could be fun for some or less ideal for others. It makes for a great travel daypack or overnight bag but does not do so well if you need to carry gear like laptops and tablets since it lacks storage specifically for tech.

External Components

The 210D nylon is water-resistant and creates a strong construction that looks a bit crinkly, but it holds up to the wear and tear of use. We could toss this bag in the car, on the ground, or anywhere else and didn’t have to worry about ripping or scuffing the material. It wrinkles easily and feels almost like a rain jacket, but the creases and folds match the pack’s overall rugged aesthetic.

This bag can be worn with one or both shoulder straps (although we definitely recommend using both) or carried one-handed with the top handle. The back panel rests comfortably against your back and is made of a breathable mesh with sturdy support material underneath. This allows the backpack to keep its shape and tamps down the dreaded back sweat that can happen while wearing a backpack all day. The shoulder straps are lightly padded, which makes them comfortable but not bulky, with buckles near the bottom to adjust the length of the shoulder straps to your height and preferred fit.

There is a section on the daisy chains that is a bit wider to tuck your water bladder tube for easy access to the drinking valve, and the plastic chest buckle easily slides up and down to place it where it feels most comfortable on your chest. Additionally, the hip belt is highly adjustable to fit many different body shapes, though we wish it had padding, as it can dig into your sides a bit without that extra cushion.

One thing the Cotopaxi Tarak 20L Backpack (Del Dia) doesn’t lack is external straps! Four ½-inch straps flank the sides and crisscross the front off the back with plastic buckles to adjust their length and tension. These are great for cinching down the pack and keeping the items inside from jostling around as well as attaching something long and skinny to the outside. There is an additional flap of material near the bottom of the pack to give any external items extra support.

The main compartment closes with an external drawstring and a top flap. This drawstring opens wide for easy loading and the top flap closes with a one-inch strap that has a very sturdy metal hook, creating a more secure fit compared to the smaller side straps. The one-inch strap is also able to tighten down enough to secure gear in an overloaded pack. We’ve all been there: trying to stuff in just one more item that we know probably won’t fit. With this secure top flap, you can sneak that extra item in without worries! And, just above the drawstring is a small hole with overlapping material to feed a water bladder tube for easy access to hydration while on the go.

Daisy chains run the entire length of the pack from the top edge by the drawstring all the way down to the base on both the left and right sides. Two also run the length of the shoulder straps and are a great place to clip something small for frequent and easy access.

The top of the bag has a triangle-shaped flap that has a screen printed Cotopaxi name and llama logo. Some people call this the “brain” of the pack. It helps cover the opening of the main compartment, preventing water from getting in as well as giving you expanded space to fill out the pack with more items. The top of this flap has an additional zippered storage pouch that consists of the entire top section of the brain, which we’ll get into later.

The top edge has a carrying handle that is secure enough to hold the weight of a full pack without a problem. We loved using this handle for loading the bag in and out of the car. While it’s not padded, we didn’t find ourselves missing it.

Fit Notes

The Cotopaxi Tarak 20L Backpack (Del Dia) is bold and in-your-face due to its bold colors. Imagine your most outgoing, extroverted friend in bag format and this is what you get! This bag is made from leftover manufacturing materials, so each individual bag is unique. We love this feature for its fun colors and commitment to sustainability, but some may not want to be surprised by which color comes in the mail or want to stand out quite as much.

This bag can be carried with both shoulders, one-shoulder, or by the grab handle at the top. For comfort and ease of use, we suggest carrying it with both shoulder straps on your commute, buckling the waist and sternum straps for extra support if needed. If you need to take it off in a crowded subway or bus, the top handle will do well for carrying it temporarily.

Inside The Pack

The main compartment of this pack is a large cavernous space that stretches the entire length of the bag. The top opens wide with a drawstring, making it easy to load. With its 20 liter capacity, there’s plenty of room to store clothing and toiletries when used as an overnight bag. We suggest using packing cubes, as clothing and other items randomly stuffed inside can feel disorganized and get lost in the large open space. One thing we don’t particularly like is how we have to remove everything from the main compartment to reach items at the bottom of the bag. This isn’t a dealbreaker for us, and may not bother some at all, but we think zippers down the side or the ability to open the back of the pack would create easier access.

On the front side of the bag there is a horizontal zipper pouch that is about 6 inches deep. The zipper itself closes tight to prevent water from getting in, and the pouch is made of the same 210D nylon material. It is great for holding items that need to be secured but also easily accessible. Flat items like travel documents or a small notebook fit well here. Anything bulkier interferes with the way the top flap of the pack tightens down.

The brain of the pack has a spacious internal pocket that we used to store medications on an overnight trip. You could also easily store charging cords and other accessories.

Along the entire back of the internal compartment is a sleeve with an elastic top made for a water bladder. If you aren’t carrying a ton of water with you, some medium-sized items such as a notebook or tablet may fit, depending on their size. Due to how the bag tapers towards the bottom, this would not act well as a laptop sleeve, as it becomes too narrow to fit a device. Plus, the sleeve itself does not have a false bottom or padding for protection.

At the top back edge of the internal section is a pouch that is mesh on the front and 210D nylon on the back. It spans the entire horizontal length of the pack and is about 6.5 inches deep. The mesh front allows you to easily see what is in the pouch and also contains a key clip. Within this mesh section is a smaller “sub-pouch” made with a soft, scratch-resistant material that is the perfect place for a cell phone or other electronic device with an easily damaged screen. A downside to this space is that the top flap needs to be unclipped and the drawstring opened if you want to access your phone and keys, which can be a bit cumbersome.

Overall this bag is durable and has a ton of personality. It attracts attention with its bright colors and can hold lots of gear in the main compartment. We wouldn’t recommend it for the daily commute since it lacks a laptop sleeve and internal organization, but it works well for an all-day or overnight bag.