Matador 35L Global Travel Pack Adventure Travel Backpack Review
A clamshell adventure travel pack with plentiful pockets to keep you organized
August 5th, 2026
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Our verdict
The Matador 35L Global Travel Pack is a backpack for the traveler who wants to be organized and efficient on their adventures. With a clamshell opening, tons of travel-friendly features, and a whopping 17 pockets, this pack is my go-to pick for up to weeklong adventure travel that has me hopping around from place to place. This pack's uniquely organized setup helps me stay organized on the go.
My favorite feature of this pack is its ample pocket space that keeps me organized. I also appreciate its solid construction for adventuring outdoors (or getting thrown around at the airport) and adventure-travel-friendly features, like a shock cord external stash, a high-vis interior, and reflective elements on the exterior, an RFID-blocking hidden Smuggler’s Pocket, and many more.
Matador Global Travel Pack
I tested this pack on flights from Denver to New York and Las Vegas, and on road trips throughout Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada. Trips ranged from overnights to 10 days (with help from additional travel luggage) in the early spring and summer. I also used this pack not just as luggage or a carry-on, but as a daypack for hikes or wandering around town for the day. (It’s large for a daypack, but works in a pinch.)
The clamshell opening is helpful for organization purposes, but can make it difficult to retrieve items on the go. This also means it isn’t the best daypack for transitioning from travel days to adventure days, but it certainly still works as one and is an excellent choice for travelers whose top priority is staying organized while traveling light.
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Matador Global Travel Pack Specifications
Price: $279
Volume: 35L (45L available)
Weight: 3 lb 11 oz
Dimensions: 21” x 14” x 10” (53 x 36 x 25 cm)
Materials: 420D bluesign recycled nylon, PFAS free
Hip belt: Yes
Laptop compartment: Yes
iPad/tablet compartment: Yes
Number of exterior pockets: 5
Carry system: Lightweight composite framestay
Luggage pass-through for roller bag carry: Yes
Sustainability: Recycled materials that meet bluesign criteria
Comparison table
| Travel Pack | Carry On? | Available Volumes | Weight | Water Resistant? | Shoulder Straps Stowable? | Hipbelt Stowable? | Exterior Pockets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matador Global 35 L Travel Pack | Yes | 35, 45 L | 3.4 lb | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5 |
| NEMO Vantage 40 L Overnight Travel Backpack | Yes | 20, 26, 30, 40 L | 3.7 lb | Yes | No | No | 4 |
| Cotopaxi Allpa 35 L Travel Pack | Yes | 20, 28, 35, 42, 50 L | 2.9 lb | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4 |
| The North Face Base Camp Voyager 35 L | Yes | 26, 35 L | 3.5 lb | Yes | No | No hipbelt | 5 |
Best for
Carry-on backpack for adventure travelers who fly and travel light
One pack that keeps you organized and transitions well to outdoor excursions
Travelers who want a pack with lots of pockets to stay organized
Travelers who like thoughtful features, like an RFID-blocking hidden pocket and a location tracker pocket
Digital nomads who want a pack that organizes their technology or work-related items separate from clothing
What we liked
17 pockets and a thoughtful setup to help with organization
Transitions from travel to adventure well, with features like two water bottle pockets, shock cord external stash, hi-vis and reflective elements, and construction and materials that hold up in the elements
Lots of thoughtful travel-friendly features, like the RFID-blocking Smuggler’s Pocket, stowable shoulder straps and hip belt, multiple grab handles, anti-theft zipper security loops, and more
What could be better
Clamshell opening isn’t always ideal for on-the-go access
More expensive than similar adventure travel packs
How we tested
I tested the Matador 35L Global Travel Pack on flights from Denver to New York City and Las Vegas. I packed it for road trips throughout Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada, including overnights in the mountains and a 10-day trip in a campervan and crewing the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon. Testing took place during the spring and summer.
While testing, I used the pack’s features, pockets, and tried different organization systems, including where I stowed clothes, toiletries, electronics, and other miscellaneous items. I also wore this pack on my back during long travel days and walking around my destination to see how it handles use in the outdoors.
Additionally, I tested this pack alongside others in our Best Adventure Travel Backpacks guide, particularly comparing pocket/storage functionality, organization, durability, comfort, and more.
Performance in the field
Comfort and fit
The cushioned shoulder straps and back panel are comfortable for all-day travel. The hip belt and shoulder straps are adjustable so you can personalize the fit. When I fly out of Denver, I typically walk about a mile to the train station, so it’s important for my travel packs to feel comfortable over lots of walking. This pack never felt uncomfortable, and while it’s not quite as comfortable as the NEMO Vantage Endless Promise Overnight Travel Backpack (30L and 40L), it’s not far behind.
Interior organization
The pack has a clamshell opening with a main compartment on the right and three smaller zippered compartments on the left. The main compartment and two of the smaller compartments are mesh, which is great for airflow and potentially odor prevention. The top smaller compartment opens into a pocket that also has external zippered access, which we found convenient—as long as we remembered to only unzip one at a time.
Exterior organization
An external-access compartment on the front of the backpack has a whopping 10 pockets inside, allowing for additional storage and organization options. This is great for digital nomads who want to keep work-related tech and accessories separate from clothing.
There is external access to a pocket at the top of the backpack as well, which is handy for items you want easy access to while on the go, like snacks, keys, medication, or earbuds.
This pack also has two water bottle pockets, one on each side of the backpack. The pockets have enough stretch to fit wide Nalgene water bottles, while the top has less stretch to keep the pocket secure. I never had issues with water bottles falling out of these pockets.
Weight distribution
Because of the plentiful interior and exterior pockets, it’s easy to distribute weight evenly in the pack. No matter the length of my trips—from short car-camping trips in the Colorado mountains to a 10-day road trip through Nevada and Arizona, I was able to pack the Global Travel Pack in a way that felt comfortable on my back.
You can stuff the pack pretty full, which can get heavy. The shoulder straps, sternum strap, and hip belt are comfortable enough that this isn’t a huge discomfort, but it’s not quite as comfortable long term as the NEMO Vantage Backpack. So if you know your pack will often be crammed and heavy, and you’ll frequently have long travel days, you may want to consider the NEMO Vantage as an alternative. On the flip side, if you know you travel light, the hip belt is removable. But in general, this pack is comfortable enough for most occasions as far as weight distribution goes.
Ventilation
The back panel is cushioned and breathable. In testing I felt this did an overall good job at preventing my back from getting too sweaty, but wasn’t quite as comfortable or ventilating as the NEMO Vantage Endless Promise Backpack. On hot and muggy mornings walking a mile to the train station, I didn’t feel super uncomfortable with this pack on my back.
Weatherproofness
The material is waterproof and the pack has sealing Zoom DuraGlide zippers (made from UHMWPE thread chain), but this isn’t a fully waterproof backpack. However, it is among the most weatherproof travel packs we’ve tested and will hold up well on drizzly travel days.
Durability
After having this pack tossed around airports, in the back seat of my car, and around campsites, I have yet to notice any signs of wear or tear. The material and construction holds up well to heavy use, and the zippers are all still functioning well. I will continue testing this pack and update with any durability concerns, but so far this backpack holds up.
Features
Carry-on friendly, though it depends on the airline
Dual Access Architecture means even though it’s a clamshell opening, you can access the main compartment from the top of the backpack (as long as you’ve zipped the dual zippers at the top)
Stowable shoulder straps and removable hip belt both adjust
External access admin pocket with layered organization and key tether is separate from the interior main compartment and provides additional pockets and organization options
Large, padded, external access laptop sleeve fits all laptop sizes and has a false bottom for protection
Additional padded tablet sleeve fits tablets up to 13 inches
See-through mesh internal baffle and internal organization pockets for airflow and easier access
High-vis light-colored interior means you can see it better in low light
RFID-blocking hidden pocket blocks radio-frequency identification and is zippered and hidden behind the back panel
Dedicated location tracker pocket
Shock cord external stash is removable and is a great option for when you’re walking around and want easy access to a jacket
Dual external water bottle pockets with enough stretch to fit wide or thick-insulated water bottles and secure enough they don’t fall out
Lightweight composite framestay
Adjustable load lifters
Reflective paracord in center seam for night visibility
Custom sternum strap hardware optimized for use with Speed Stash accessory (sold separately)
Rolling luggage handle pass-through so you can slide the pack over your roller luggage
Grab handles on top, bottom, sides, front, and back for easy access no matter how your pack rolls around in the overhead bin
Anti-theft zipper security loops on all external pockets are lockable
YKK zippers on internal pockets, and new DuraGlide weather-sealed zippers on exterior
Tail management pockets on hip belt so you can tuck excess straps
Color options: black, juniper (dark green), and garnet (dark red)
Sustainability
The Matador Global Travel Pack is made with recycled materials that meet bluesign criteria. Matador also focuses on efficient supply chain management and carbon offset as part of their sustainability initiatives. For example, their headquarters are Green-e WindSource certified, using renewable wind energy.
Should you buy the Matador Global Travel Backpack?
Buy if you want a carry-on-friendly travel pack that keeps you organized for weekend trips to a week abroad, and is comfortable during long travel days.
Skip if you want a more traditional backpack structure rather than a clamshell opening, or prefer a more conspicuous or colorful design. You should also skip this if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, as even our best upgrade pick, the NEMO Vantage Endless Promise Overnight Travel Backpack, is less expensive.
Where to buy the Matador Global Travel Backpack
Matador
The Matador Global Travel Pack is brand new and currently only available at Matador.
Similar adventure travle backpacks
Matador Global Travel Pack vs. NEMO Vantage 40L Endless Promise Overnight Travel Backpack
Capacity: 40 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 20, 26, 30, 40 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? No
Exterior pockets: 4
Weight: 3.7 lb
The NEMO Vantage Endless Promise Overnight Travel Backpack is a thoughtfully designed and super comfortable travel pack. We found this pack performed well for everything from weekend trips to a week abroad, work commuting to adventure travel, a day around the city to 24 hours crewing an ultramarathon in a Mexican jungle.
We tested the 40L pack, which has storage space in the main compartment, so many pockets we kept finding more each time we used it, immensely comfortable shoulder straps and back panel, and NEMO’s Endless Promise (meaning it was made from 100% recycled materials and is 100% recyclable at the end of its life). We love this pack so much we dubbed it best upgrade in our Best Adventure Travel Backpacks guide.
Both this pack and the Matador Global Travel Pack are comfortable to carry on long travel days, though the back panel of the NEMO Vantage is noticeably more breathable and the shoulder straps more plush. Both are durable and well designed. We’d say the Matador Global Travel Pack is best suited for flying, work-related trips, and longer camping trips due to its clamshell opening and organization setup, whereas the NEMO Vantage is a more do-it-all bag for travel, commuting, and days in the outdoors. The NEMO is also more comfortable for long travel days, so if you’ll be walking around a lot with a pack on your back, you may want to opt for the NEMO.
For more, read our in-depth review of the NEMO Vantage Endless Promise Overnight Travel Backpack.
NEMO Vantage 40L Endless Promise Overnight Travel Backpack
Matador Global Travel Pack vs. Cotopaxi Allpa 35
Capacity: 35 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 20, 28, 35, 42, 50 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? Yes
Hipbelt stows? Yes
Exterior pockets: 4
Weight: 2.9 lb
The Cotopaxi Allpa 35 is a spacious, thoughtfully laid out, durable travel pack useful for a range of activities and travel scenarios. We tested the 42L version and found its size and organization ideal for about a week and a half overseas, traveling between airports, towns, buses, and hostels. It’s water resistant and translates well to days in the outdoors, making it useful in a variety of settings and travel experiences. It’s the overall winner in our Best Adventure Travel Backpacks guide.
Cotopaxi’s distinct look is much different than inconspicuous Matador Global Travel Pack—while both have an “outdoorsy” look, the Allpa has Cotopaxi’s signature color blocking whereas the Global Travel Pack has a more simple design with muted colors (we tested black), so you may be drawn to one’s appearance over the other. For more, read our in-depth review of the Cotopaxi Allpa.
Cotopaxi Allpa 35
Matador Global Travel Pack vs. The North Face Base Camp Voyager Travel Pack
Capacity: 35 L
Carry-on compliant: Yes
Other volumes available: 26, 35 L
Water-resistant? Yes
Shoulder straps stow? No
Hipbelt stows? No hipbelt
Exterior pockets: 5
Weight: 3.46 lb
At 35L capacity, The North Face Voyager Travel Pack has the same storage space as the Matador Global Travel Pack. It also offers a lot of organization options with plentiful pockets and compartments. Prior to testing the Matador Global Travel Pack, it was our pick for best organization in our Best Adventure Travel Packs guide. But because the Matador seems to stand up better to heavy use and has more travel-specific features like the RFID-blocking security pocket, it has edged out the Base Camp Voyager. Both are great options. If you prefer a more traditional backpack setup rather than a clamshell opening, you may want to consider The North Face Base Camp Voyager Travel Pack instead.
The North Face Base Camp Voyager Travel Pack
About the author/Why you should trust us
Becca Downs spends a lot of time on the go–from weekend trips on the road to backpacking trips in the mountains, from adventure travel abroad to visiting friends around the country, she’s accustomed to constant packing, unpacking, and repacking. Over the last couple years, she’s tested many travel packs in a variety of settings: commutes from work to trail runs or climbing sessions to happy hour, overnight trips in Colorado mountain towns, crewing an ultra in Mexico, spending a week adventuring around Ireland, and much more.
Becca also ran D1 cross country and track for Indiana University—Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI) and continued racing everything from elite miles to ultramarathons in her post-collegiate years. She earned a USATF Level 1 certification and coached boys and girls high school cross country and track in Indianapolis for four years. Becca then joined the IUPUI women’s distance coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach. Her years as an athlete and a coach included a lot of travel.
You can read more of Becca's work at her website or on her Treeline Review author page.
