I travelled with Matador's new 35L Global Travel Pack, and it's the most thoughtfully engineered travel backpack I've tried

Few brands have influenced modern travel bags quite like Matador. The company has built its reputation on ultralight, highly packable gear that appeals to frequent travellers, hikers and one-bag enthusiasts.

I’m one of these people and have been using the company’s bags for years. One of my favourite travel bags is the Matador SEG30 Segmented Backpack, which has a compartmentalised approach that lets you keep your stuff separate while travelling. I’ve also been a huge fan of the packable and lightweight Freerain28 backpack.

Rather than resting on the success of its existing range, Matador has gone back to the drawing board and redesigned its entire lineup, creating a more cohesive ecosystem while retaining the minimalist philosophy that made the brand popular in the first place.

The bag I’ve been using for the last few months is the successor to one of Matador’s newer bags, the GlobeRider35 Travel Backpack. Called the 35L Global Travel Pack, Matador says it’s the best option for those who “jump time zones with everything on their back.“ It’s a carry-on-friendly model with smart organisation, comfortable shoulder and hip straps and classic Matador design.

The brand sent me the pack a few months ago, allowing me to put it through its paces properly. I’m used to only being able to test things for a couple of weeks, so it was a nice change of pace to actually use the Global Travel Pack on multiple occasions. My latest trip with it was to Tokyo, where it functioned as a large carry-on.

Travelling light, carrying more

As the name suggests, the 35L Global Travel Pack offers 35 litres of storage while remaining carry-on friendly. It measures 53 x 36 x 25cm, weighs 1,673g and uses a dual-access design that lets you either load it from the top or unzip the entire front in a clamshell configuration.

There's also a large external laptop compartment with room for virtually any laptop, a separate padded tablet sleeve (in the same compartment), an admin pocket with integrated key tether, plus internal mesh dividers and high-visibility lining to make smaller items easier to find.

The backpack features a breathable padded back panel, cushioned shoulder straps and a removable hip belt, all supported by a lightweight composite frame to help spread heavier loads.

The weatherproof construction combines recycled 420D Bluesign-approved nylon with waterproof fabrics and sealing zippers, while anti-theft zipper loops, a hidden RFID-blocking pocket and a dedicated tracker compartment add extra peace of mind when travelling.

Other thoughtful touches include stowable shoulder straps for overhead lockers, external water bottle pockets, a removable shock cord stash system, luggage handle pass-through and grab handles on every side of the bag. Long story short, if you can think of a travel bag feature, the 35L Global Travel Pack probably has it.

Tokyo stress test

I was genuinely surprised how spacious the bag felt. On my most recent trip to Tokyo, I did the classic thing of taking nothing with me on the way out and having full bags on the way back, which is probably the only reason I managed to bring so much back from Japan.

The main compartment swallowed two pairs of headphones, my Fujifilm camera, the Insta360 Luna Ultra, DJI Osmo Pocket 4P, books, notebooks, snacks, a water bottle, a hat and various smaller bits besides, and it still wasn't full.

I also travelled with a surprisingly bulky lumbar support pillow (see first picture) to help keep my sciatica at bay during the 14-hour flight, which I managed to tuck neatly beneath the removable front shock cord instead of it eating into the main compartment.

There is a handle on the back panel which can also be used to attach the bag to your suitcase. I took my large Db Ramverk Pro suitcase with me, and the two worked together perfectly. The fact that I could tuck away the shoulder straps made it all the easier to pop the backpack on the suitcase.

There's always a trade-off

If there's one compromise, it's that the Global Travel Pack doesn't compress down when partially loaded. That's fine when you're moving between airports and hotels, but once I've reached my destination, I generally switch to something much smaller.

If I were on a proper backpacking trip, going from one location to another and needing to have all my kit with me, it would be different. But generally speaking, I prefer to take a smaller backpack or a tote bag with me when I’m out and about, as something like the 35L Global Travel Pack feels like overkill.

One minor gripe concerns the zip pulls. I expected them to work with Matador's own BetaLock travel carabiner, but the loops on the main compartment aren't quite large enough. It's a surprising oversight given how security-focused the rest of the design is.

The 35L Global Travel Pack won't replace every bag I own, but I don't think it's trying to. It's designed for travellers who want to carry everything on their backs without compromising organisation or comfort, and in that role it excels. After months of use, I genuinely think it's the best travel backpack Matador has ever made.

As mentioned above, the bag is best suited for those who prefer to have their gear on them at all times or those who prefer a backpack over a carry-on suitcase.

I love the bag, even though I don’t think I will be using it on all my trips. I can see it being a good choice for journeys when I need a smaller duffle, which sounds exactly like the kind of adventure travel the 35L Global Travel Pack was designed for.