Matador Globerider 45 Travel Backpack Review

Imagine waking up at some point and never having the ability to dwell inside your own home. Some critical water injury and, later, mould compelled me to maneuver out of my apartment. Living out of a bag turned my actuality. Thankfully, as a gear tester, I had no scarcity of duffels and baggage to cram all my belongings into.

Still, on that first day, I had completely no clue how I’d pack to be away from house for an undisclosed timeline. What on earth would I have to deliver? At the very least, the naked necessities. But additionally issues like books, paperwork, kitchenware, additional toiletries, ski gear, attire for the altering season, my toolbox — even a 30-pound bag of pet food.

I wanted a bag to handle each day wants but additionally haul loads of extras. And it wanted to assist maintain me organized. And simply within the nick of time, Matador supplied a check pattern of its newest do-everything journey bag, the Globerider45.

In brief: While the Globerider45 has a fairly excessive price ticket, it delivers on high quality and design. Packing this bag full for a wide range of journey (a ski journey, highway journey, mountaineering journey, winter cabin trip, and non permanent dwelling state of affairs), I used to be amazed at how a lot area and group it gives. Matador made positive its dimensions meet “carry-on” dimension, but it surely appears to carry tons extra. Things just like the padded again panel and shoulder strap design, its sturdiness, in addition to the zipper and pocket system all stood out, not like another journey pack I’ve used. This pack made it from my home to my automobile to the three others locations I’ve arrange basecamp and down miles of trails, and continues to be standing robust.

All informed, the Globerider45 ($350) has traveled with me over 1,100 miles and counting. Did I check it for sturdiness? You betcha.

How It Fares for Travel: Matador Globerider45 Review

When it involves testing something designed for journey, you actually should go all in. Matador pitched its Globerider 45 to me as “the brand’s first foray into a generalist travel bag” — however combining the design of a conventional journey pack with supplies usually used within the backpacking sphere.

The finish aim? Create the last word main backpack for journey journey.

So how did I’m going all in? I packed it and re-packed it a dozen instances. It got here with me in every single place. I lived out of this bag for 3 months (truthfully, I’m nonetheless dwelling out of it now!). I used it as baggage, as a highway journey duffel, as a bag to stash ski and climbing gear, and naturally, schlepped it throughout, each on pavement in journey mode and trails in backpack mode.

I’ve used this bag backwards and forwards for a number of completely different highway journeys throughout Colorado. It arrived in November, proper across the time I needed to transfer out of my house and subsequently dwell out of a bag. Needless to say, the Globerider got here on the good second. This isn’t a pattern I examined as a result of I discovered the design intriguing in comparison with what’s in the marketplace (OK, that is sort of true). But actually, I examined this out of necessity.

The first couple of days I had this pack in my possession, I frolicked familiarizing myself with its design. It’s type of like visiting somebody’s home for the primary time — it’s important to determine your means round.

For me, that didn’t take lengthy for 2 causes. First, this pack’s design is intuitive and never overly sophisticated. The pockets and zippers are well-placed and straightforward to make use of (extra particulars later). Secondly, I instantly put this pack to make use of. This wasn’t a pack I examined out on just a few events; I’ve used it almost every single day since receiving it.

After testing, the three greatest execs that stood out had been the Globerider45’s capability and total packability, excessive versatility, and the plethora of seize handles and pockets. For months I used to be displaced from my house, and didn’t actually know what gear or attire I’d want or when. Some days, I simply wanted an in a single day bag that would additionally carry my work laptop computer and equipment. Other days, I wanted a succesful, waterproof bag for winter journey. And on others, I simply wanted a option to carry every little thing that got here with me each day — my life necessities — on my again. (I journey pretty mild, however nonetheless, that is no small ask.) Over the course of weeks and months, I’d want a bag that would seamlessly do all three.

Now, this pack isn’t light-weight — it weighs simply over 4 kilos and is sturdy due to the aluminum body. The body and again panel, with the added padding, is an important a part of the design success of this bag. It’s comfy to hold, even totally loaded.

The load strap lifters additionally adjusted effectively to individuals of various heights. If something, there’s perhaps an excessive amount of padding on the middle again panel. But the hip belt and shoulder straps are padded simply sufficient to offer consolation with out being cumbersome. And this bag has an entire lot extra execs than the straps and match.

This pack hasn’t simply hauled garments and footwear for a highway journey. It’s hauled my work gear for the week, my rotating gear-testing wardrobe, meds and toiletries, birthday playing cards for mates, mountaineering gear, a bunch of authorized paperwork, and a bunch of different issues I can’t recall.

So how is that this bag that holds every little thing I want extra “versatile” than the remaining?

Perhaps this pack’s greatest promoting level is its thoughtfully designed inner group.

Pockets and Intelligent Storage

This isn’t a one-compartment bag. If you might be simply glad with a easy, U-shaped, dump-it-in duffel, then this bag isn’t for you.

I discovered myself utilizing each single pocket recurrently, and the identical goes for the assorted seize handles on the entrance, prime, and sides. And all of them serve a function. If I used to be packing or accessing objects from the highest of the bag, standing up, the highest seize deal with was useful. If I used to be loading the Globerider right into a automobile, roof rack field, or overhead compartment, the facet seize handles had been there. When you stow the backpack straps away, the seize handles nonetheless make it very simple to carry, toss round, and carry.

Though Matador claims this pack is a bit “overbuilt,” I wouldn’t say so in relation to its carry choices. I used all of the seize handles, the backpack straps, and the bag’s duffel mode (stowing the straps and hip belt away behind the again panel).

Stowing all of the straps and elements was harder than I anticipated as a result of it match very tightly within the compartment, zippered behind the again panel. But as soon as it closed, I used to be joyful. It reduces a variety of the outside options which might be simple to catch and snag on issues in journey.

As for group, I used the inner zippered pocket (above) a ton. Designed for footwear or soiled laundry, I discovered it good for separating out gear and used attire. It’s a terrific dimension to stash not simply sweaty garments but additionally one thing like my subsequent day’s journey outfit.

Or, you may reserve it for objects you don’t want entry to in the primary compartment — i.e., as typically.

The prime “admin pocket” is one other I used fairly often. It packed away issues like a pockets, glasses, sun shades, headphones, lip balm, snacks, journey first assist equipment, multi-tool, writing pens, and extra in a neatly organized means. And, in a greater means than another journey pack’s easy one-slot mesh group pouch. Finally, the padded laptop computer compartment in the direction of the again match my laptop, labored effectively, and supplied loads of safety.

If you journey typically and search for essential elements like inner and exterior pockets, laptop computer storage, and backpack and hip straps, contemplate the Matador Globerider45. It’s a novel design in that the Globerider45 appears to have all of it — each function I’ve wanted up to now, each dwelling out of it and in my travels — in a fairly packable dimension. And one which isn’t only a duffel however converts to a backpack mode. I actually loved its adaptability throughout a variety of completely different journey makes use of.

The cherry on prime was how effectively it held up after some super-rugged testing over two-plus months. Testing included stuffing it with two ropes and climbing down over a mile of mountaineering method trails, dropping it in a foot of contemporary snow, sporting it on my again whereas I rappelled 100 ft right into a canyon, shoving it underneath a seat on a prepare, and dragging it throughout a parking zone.

Conclusion

A do-it-all, built-for-anything, not-too-large, moveable journey bag? The Globerider45 is strictly what I wanted. During the previous few months dwelling out of this bag, I’ve solely used one different piece of bags (not counting two daypacks for climbing and snowboarding). Heck, I’ll most likely evaluate that baggage too, but it surely’s nice for very completely different causes.

Otherwise, the Globerider45 has solely carried me — and my attire, footwear, belongings, canine’s belongings, work stuff, and equipment — by way of an unanticipated stint of vagabonding, which is fairly badass. I’ve been dwelling with out entry to my house workplace/desk, kitchen, dresser, gear closet, and numerous storage programs at house … and I’ve discovered a option to make do with this bag.

I can’t converse extremely sufficient about this backpack. Yes, it’s over $300. But for me, that worth is effectively price what the Globerider gives.

I look ahead to the day once I don’t have to dwell out of a backpack and might use this just for enjoyable and journey. Wherever the open highway takes me subsequent — particularly if the journey requires a variety of gear but additionally the power to be versatile and moveable — you may wager the Matador Globerider45 can be accompanying me.