larger Global Travel backpack<\/a> that can fit everything you\u2019ll need for a multi-day trip, but it\u2019s too big for some overhead bins. The Adventure Pack hits the sweet spot. It\u2019s also small enough to use as a day pack for side missions while you\u2019re on the road. I\u2019ve ditched my clothes in the cabin or hotel room and stuffed the pack with camera gear, a couple of layers, and snacks for day hikes and rides. I even took it on a boat while fishing the Yellowstone River. The size makes it super versatile.<\/p>\nSecond, Matador got a lot of the obvious things right. For instance, the pack has two expandable water bottle pockets. A lot of backpacks only have one, and some have none. Can you imagine? Before the Matador came into my life, I was using a Thule backpack that was great in so many different ways, but it only has one water bottle pocket. With two expandable sleeves working as holsters, I can load one with a reusable bottle and the other with a sandwich for the plane, so I don\u2019t have to buy those expensive snack boxes in the air.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a large top pocket for miscellaneous items, the little things you don\u2019t want in your pockets but need access to all the time, like gum or headphones. Again, some backpacks, like a Yeti pack I used often in the past, skimp on this catch-all pocket, but Matador makes sure it\u2019s large enough. And I love the robustly padded laptop sleeve with a false bottom, so I can throw this bag around and not worry about my money maker crumbling under pressure.<\/p>\n
Matador didn\u2019t stop with the obvious details. They incorporated a handful of smart features that come in handy on the road, like two ways to access the main compartment: a top-loading zipper and a large clamshell zipper that lets you pack the main body like a suitcase. The clamshell zipper also gives you quick access to the middle of the main compartment, so you can organize your gear to grab a book or extra layer on the fly without digging through the whole bag.<\/p>\n
For the extra-cautious traveler, there\u2019s an RFID-blocking, hidden \u201cSmuggler\u2019s Pocket\u201d in the center of the back panel. Unless you know it\u2019s there, you\u2019ll never find it. There\u2019s even a tiny location-tracker pocket for your AirTag if you\u2019re worried about someone stealing your kit.<\/p>\n
The Features That Won Me Over<\/h2>\n
Personally, I like the three burly grab handles that let me snatch the pack from the overhead bin when I\u2019m rushing off the plane to catch a connecting flight. A passthrough sleeve on the back panel lets you attach the bag to a roller bag handle so you don\u2019t have to wear it all the time. It\u2019s also a comfy carry thanks to the well-padded shoulder harness and back panel. I\u2019ve had long days lugging this fully loaded pack through the airport, or running through it, and it never creates hot spots or pressure points.<\/p>\n
Gear protection is a priority for me because I travel with a computer and a couple of cameras, so the recycled waterproof nylon and sealing zippers are really important. It\u2019s not a full dry bag, and you\u2019re not going to use it as a flotation device in case of a water landing, but it will keep your gear dry in a rainstorm\u2014I know from experience.<\/p>\n
Where It Falls Short<\/h2>\n
The only thing I don\u2019t love is the shock cord webbing on the outside panel, which feels a little flimsy. It\u2019s fine if you want to stuff a rain shell or fleece into it, but it\u2019s not robust enough to handle something like a bike or ski helmet. I\u2019m always traveling with helmets, so this is an issue for me.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s a minor complaint that\u2019s specific to the Goldilocks way I travel. Most people wouldn\u2019t think it\u2019s an issue.<\/p>\n
And at $199, it\u2019s not the cheapest pack in the travel category. But considering the waterproof materials which have kept my expensive computer and camera equipment dry in recent months, I personally think the extra expense is justified.<\/p>\n
Who Is the Matador Adventure Pack For?<\/h2>\n
I\u2019ve used this backpack on almost every trip I\u2019ve made in the last four months. Most of that travel has been by plane, and I think it\u2019s the perfect carry-on backpack for frequent flyers, especially if you want a sporty carry that can handle hikes when you\u2019re away from home. It\u2019s too big for an everyday-carry work backpack, unless you want it to double as a work bag\/gym bag so you can get a workout in on your way home from the office.<\/p>\n
For me, it\u2019s my go-to \u201cgo\u201d bag. I have another trip in a week that will have me in multiple airports and living out of a van as I travel through Utah. The Matador Adventure Pack will be my trusty companion throughout.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Matador\u2019s 24-liter Adventure Pack fits any overhead bin and still handles day hikes and overnights. Published October 15, 2026 06:00AM I own a lot of backpacks. It\u2019s an occupational hazard. I have racks of them in my garage, all hanging in anticipation of their specific use case. Long, multi-day hikes through the backcountry? I have<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18162,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wild-living"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18161"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18161\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/18162"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}