Matador 35L Global Travel Pack Review

The Matador 35L Global Travel Pack marks a new direction for Matador. Rather than continuing to expand its lineup with increasingly specialized bags, the brand is simplifying its travel collection with versatile packs designed to cover a wider range of trips. The 35-liter version sits squarely in the sweet spot for one-bag travel, offering enough capacity for weeklong adventures without becoming unwieldy for daily transit. Although the version we tested was a pre-production sample and minor details may change before retail release, it gave us a solid look at what Matador is aiming to accomplish with its redesigned travel series.

We spent two weeks testing the Matador 35L Global Travel Pack, including a week-long trip to London during an unexpected summer heatwave. From airport transfers and train stations to hotels and city streets, we put every feature through real-world use. While the bag isn’t perfect, its thoughtful balance of comfort, packing efficiency, and understated organization made a strong impression. Instead of relying on flashy features or endless compartments, Matador focused on getting the fundamentals right—and in many cases, they succeeded.

External Components

The Matador 35L Global Travel Pack keeps its exterior relatively clean while quietly packing in a surprising number of useful features. The shell is constructed from 420D nylon, a material that strikes a nice balance between durability and weight. It feels substantial enough to inspire confidence without making the bag feel unnecessarily heavy before you’ve even started packing. Throughout our testing, the fabric shrugged off the bumps and scrapes that naturally come with international travel, and its understated appearance makes it equally comfortable in an airport terminal or a hotel lobby.

Weather protection also receives plenty of attention. The bag uses reverse-coil laminated water-resistant DuraGlide zippers, developed in partnership with Zoom Zippers (not the videoconferencing company). Regardless of the branding, the important takeaway is that these zippers glide smoothly. Even after filling the bag to capacity, we never experienced excessive resistance while opening or closing the main compartment. That’s an underrated characteristic, especially on travel backpacks where overpacking is practically inevitable.

The front panel features a stretch bungee cord system that’s become something of a signature for Matador. Admittedly, this won’t be a feature everyone uses every day, but it’s one of those additions that’s incredibly handy when the situation calls for it. A lightweight jacket, hoodie, damp rain shell, or even an extra pair of shoes can be secured externally without stealing valuable space inside the pack. During airport travel, having somewhere to quickly stash an extra layer instead of carrying it by hand is always appreciated.

Carry options are equally well executed. Both the side and top grab handles are generously padded, though they serve slightly different purposes. The side handle is particularly comfortable for lifting the pack into overhead bins or pulling it off a luggage cart, while the top handle offers plenty of support when grabbing the bag from the floor or maneuvering through tighter spaces. Neither feels like an afterthought, which is something we always like to see on larger travel backpacks.

One of our favorite travel-friendly additions is the integrated luggage pass-through. This simple feature allowed us to slide the backpack over rolling luggage whenever the opportunity arose for a welcome break from carrying it during long walks through airports. It’s not a flashy innovation, but it contributes significantly to overall travel comfort.

Small attachment points are scattered around the exterior for clipping accessories or securing additional gear. These loops don’t dominate the design, which keeps the bag looking relatively streamlined, but they’re available when needed. We appreciate that Matador resisted the temptation to overload the exterior with unnecessary webbing. Everything feels intentional.

Both sides of the bag feature large stretch water bottle pockets made from Matador’s familiar elastic mesh. They’re deep enough to securely hold bottles up to approximately 1L, though we primarily used smaller bottles that sat comfortably without shifting around. The generous depth also opens the door for carrying tripods or other long accessories when needed. Small pull loops near the pockets make it noticeably easier to insert larger bottles, adding another subtle quality-of-life improvement.

Moving to the back panel, we find one of the more interesting security features on the bag: a hidden pocket tucked beneath the back panel itself. Matador refers to this as a “smuggler’s pocket,” though we’d simply call it one of the better hidden passport pockets we’ve seen. Because the zipper lacks an obvious pull tab and sits directly against your back while wearing the bag, it remains effectively concealed from casual observation. Passports, emergency cash, or other flat valuables feel significantly more secure here than in many external quick-access pockets.

The harness system deserves much of the credit for making the Matador 35L Global Travel Pack comfortable despite its relatively large carrying capacity. Thick shoulder straps provide ample cushioning without feeling overly bulky, and the back panel includes enough foam to soften pressure from packed gear while maintaining decent airflow. Even while traveling during unusually hot weather, we never felt the back panel itself uncomfortable. Of course, no backpack completely eliminates perspiration during a heatwave, but the padding prevented hot spots and pressure points from developing.

Load lifters sit at the top of the shoulder straps, and they’re among the most valuable features on the entire harness. Once adjusted, they pull the upper portion of the pack closer to your back, reducing the sensation that the bag is dragging you backward. We frequently adjusted them depending on how heavily we packed, and they consistently improved the overall carry.

The removable hip belt also performs exceptionally well. Rather than serving as little more than a stabilizer, it genuinely transfers weight onto the hips, taking considerable strain off the shoulders during longer carries. If you prefer not to use it, the belt can be tucked behind the back panel for a cleaner appearance, though it can be somewhat fiddly with the bag fully loaded. Additionally, the stored belt creates a slight bulge against your back. Since we found the belt so comfortable, we generally preferred leaving it deployed.

Our primary criticism centers on the sternum strap. Unlike systems mounted on adjustable rails, this design relies on fixed attachment loops. While functional, it doesn’t offer enough vertical adjustment to accommodate every torso comfortably. On our tester, the strap consistently sat lower than preferred. It’s hardly a dealbreaker, especially because the load lifters and hip belt do so much of the heavy lifting, but it’s the one aspect of the harness we’d most like to see refined in future iterations.

Fit Notes

On a medium-built torso, the Matador 35L Global Travel Pack feels very much like the upper limit of what we’d personally consider comfortable for everyday one-bag travel. Fortunately, the bag wears smaller than its capacity might suggest, thanks to excellent weight distribution. The load lifters allow the pack to hug the back closely, preventing the top-heavy feeling that often accompanies larger travel backpacks. Even when fully packed for an international trip, the backpack remained balanced and predictable while walking through airports, train stations, and city streets.

The overall carry experience is impressive, largely because the straps work together as a complete system. The hip belt effectively shifts weight off the shoulders, while the padded straps remain comfortable during extended wear. Although we consistently wished the sternum strap sat higher, we rarely depended on it because the rest of the suspension performed so well. For travelers with larger frames, the bag should still provide a comfortable fit. Those closer to our tester’s size will likely find 35 liters to be an ideal compromise between generous packing capacity and manageable portability.

Inside The Backpack

The Matador 35L Global Travel Pack opens with a true clamshell design, making it easy to pack and unpack, whether you’re living out of the bag in a hotel room or simply grabbing something during a layover. Wide-opening travel backpacks have become the standard for one-bag travel, but Matador executes the layout in a way that feels intuitive. Once the zippers are fully open, both halves stay out of the way, giving you an unobstructed view of everything inside rather than one flap constantly falling back over your gear.

The main compartment is split into two distinct sections. On one side, you’ll find a large open bucket designed for clothing and bulkier gear, while the opposite side features three zippered mesh compartments of varying sizes. Rather than overcomplicating the organization with numerous dividers, Matador lets you decide how structured you want your packing system to be.

During testing, we skipped packing cubes altogether to see how well the internal layout functioned on its own. Surprisingly, we didn’t miss our trusty cubes. The large mesh divider kept clothing compressed and secure throughout the trip while still allowing us to to find everything quickly. We packed multiple shirts, several pairs of pants, layering pieces, sleepwear, a dress, and even an extra pair of sandals without running into serious space limitations. For a weeklong trip, the bag never felt cramped, and with a slightly more minimalist wardrobe, we could easily see it supporting two weeks of travel.

Perhaps the biggest compliment we can give the main compartment is that it genuinely feels like a true 35-liter bag. Some travel packs advertise their capacity only to lose usable space to thick padding or overly segmented interiors. That isn’t the case here. Nearly every inch of available volume feels usable, making it easy to maximize your packing without feeling like the organization is working against you.

The three mesh compartments offer flexibility for separating smaller items. We primarily used them for toiletries, medication, makeup, and miscellaneous accessories. The largest pocket accommodated a fairly substantial toiletry pouch, though it was admittedly a tight fit. Travelers who use slimmer toiletry kits will likely have a better experience, but larger pouches begin to consume much of the available space.

The shallowest mesh compartment is best reserved for flatter items. Because it shares space with the opposite side of the bag, anything bulky stored there quickly eats into the clothing compartment. This isn’t necessarily a flaw, but it’s something to keep in mind while packing. We found ourselves naturally assigning thinner accessories to the smaller pockets while reserving bulkier items for the main compartment.

One thoughtful design choice is the orientation of the mesh divider itself. Instead of folding awkwardly across the center of the bag when opened, it zips outward toward the edge. That means nothing blocks your view or gets in the way while packing. It’s a subtle improvement that becomes more noticeable after repeated use and makes living out of the bag feel less cumbersome.

The dedicated laptop compartment is another highlight. Located behind the main compartment, it easily accommodates laptops up to 16 inches while providing several inches of false-bottom protection. Throughout our testing, the laptop never pressed uncomfortably against the back, thanks to the generous padding built into the rear panel. That’s something we always pay attention to on travel backpacks, as poorly designed laptop sleeves often become noticeable the moment heavier devices are inserted.

Ahead of the laptop sleeve is a secondary sleeve suitable for a tablet, Kindle, compact keyboard, or travel documents. We used it for an e-reader, though the space is versatile enough to accommodate a variety of flat electronics, depending on your setup.

The front admin compartment is where our opinions become a little more mixed. On paper, the organization looks comprehensive. Multiple mesh pockets, sleeves, a key leash, and dedicated spaces for accessories suggest a highly functional admin panel. In practice, however, the compartment’s usable volume depends heavily on how full the main compartment is.

Once the primary packing area reaches capacity, the admin panel becomes noticeably flatter. Larger accessories begin competing for space, making the organization less effective than it initially appears. We found ourselves using the compartment primarily for softer pouches rather than trying to fill each organizer.

This isn’t necessarily because the layout is poorly designed. Rather, it’s a consequence of prioritizing internal packing volume. We’d rather sacrifice a bit of admin organization than lose liters in the main compartment, and Matador clearly made the same decision. Travelers who already use small pouches for cables, chargers, and travel accessories will probably adapt quickly.

Within the admin compartment, Matador also includes a dedicated AirTag pocket. While clearly labeled and easy to access, it’s perhaps a little too obvious. Anyone intentionally searching for a tracking device would likely locate it without much difficulty. That said, location trackers have become common enough that hiding them completely is increasingly difficult, so we don’t consider this a significant drawback.

The included key leash follows a similar pattern. It’s useful if you’re attaching a single key or something similarly compact, but because the compartment itself remains relatively shallow, we rarely use it. Most of our everyday travel essentials ended up stored inside a separate pouch instead.

The quick-access pocket positioned near the top of the bag proved more useful overall. This became our home for frequently needed travel items, like charging accessories, snacks, an umbrella, headphones, and other in-transit essentials. However, like the admin compartment, the available space changes depending on what’s packed beneath it. Larger items can make the pocket feel surprisingly tight, requiring a bit of experimentation before finding the most efficient packing arrangement.

Fortunately, once we established our own packing system, the various pockets each found a clear purpose. That’s perhaps the best way to describe the overall organizational philosophy of the Matador 35L Global Travel Pack. Rather than forcing a specific workflow, the bag rewards travelers who take a little time to understand how each compartment interacts with the others.

It’s also worth mentioning the hidden passport pocket again because it’s one of the better security implementations we’ve tested. Positioned discreetly behind the back panel, it remains practically invisible while the backpack is being worn. Unlike many so-called security pockets that simply relocate valuables to another exterior zipper, this one genuinely feels concealed. For passports, emergency cash, or other important travel documents, we’d choose this location every time.

Overall, the interior strikes an excellent balance between structure and flexibility. It offers enough built-in organization to keep gear tidy without becoming overly segmented, while the spacious main compartment remains the star of the show. Travelers who prioritize packing efficiency over excessive pocketing will likely appreciate Matador’s approach.