Matador Globerider 35L: My Honest, Hands-On Review

For years the Matador brand somehow escaped my attention, despite doing backpack reviews fairly often. I guess you could say I got influenced into buying it, as I saw their packs pop up in a couple of roundups of best travel backpacks. Curious, I decided to purchase one (with my own money – not sponsored) in order to review it here.

Not to seem superficial here, but what mainly caught my eye about the Globerider 35L is the visual design. The typeface branding, reminding me faintly of something like Fender, is done very tastefully. I was also struck immediately by the Garnet colorway, which looks so different from most other packs. Even though I normally go for 40 or 45L size packs for my travels, I went with the 35L version specifically for the color.

Happily, I found that its features are almost as good as its visual looks. The Globerider 35L is a well-rounded backpack that offers a complete one-bag solution. Although not revolutionary, it also has a couple of clever features that make it stand out.

If you need maximum space within carry-on limits, I recommend checking out the brand’s 45L flagship pack. But if you don’t need — or want to carry — that much bag, the 35L is here for you. It keeps almost every feature from the bigger pack (clamshell opening, dual-access laptop sleeve, backpacking-style suspension) and squeezes it into a smaller shell that’s sized for carry-on compliance on most airlines. 

Build and Materials

Matador built the Globerider 35L from 420D recycled nylon with a polyurethane waterproof coating, which gives it real weather resistance rather than the token “water-repellent” treatment found on cheaper packs. 

The zippers are YKK (the industry standard) and each one is finished with a small pull-through tab so you can loop the zipper heads together for basic security while walking through crowded stations or hostels. All the exterior zippers are also sealed against moisture. Since I tested this backpack during a cork-dry summer in Portugal, I never got to carry it in the rain, but it passed the good old ‘shower test.’

Inside, an HDPE frame sheet paired with an aluminum stay gives the pack real structure, closer to what you’d expect from a backpacking pack than a soft travel duffel. This frame is what allows the hip belt to actually transfer weight off your shoulders, but I had hoped it would also help the bag stand upright. 

I was slightly disappointed that no matter how many times I tried to balance the pack on the ground, it would consistently tip over. It’s not the end of the world — how often do you need a backpack to be posed perfectly upright? — but it was occasionally annoying, for instance while waiting in airport security lines.  

Size, Weight, and Carry-On Compliance

Here are the official numbers from Matador:

• Volume: 35 liters
• Dimensions: 20.2 x 12.5 x 9 in (51 x 31 x 22 cm)
• Weight: 3 lb 7 oz (1,560 g) with the hip belt attached, or 3 lb 1 oz (1,390 g) with it removed

The weight doesn’t exactly make this an ultralight carry-on, but it’s around a typical weight for a backpack this size. Most packs I’ve reviewed are either around 2kg for a 45L max carry-on, or around 1.5kg for a 35L, so this tracks with the overall competition.

Matador markets it as carry-on friendly for most airlines, though as with any 35L+ pack, it’s worth checking your specific airline’s sizer if you’re flying a budget carrier with strict enforcement. I can say though that this is far from the largest carry-on, and it was accepted without a hitch even on RyanAir, the fairly stringent European budget carrier. I would be very surprised if the Matador Globerider 35L would not be accepted as a carry-on.

Liters may not be an intuitive metric, but I would say 35 liters is enough to comfortably pack 7 days of clothing, at least keeping it to a basic lightweight wardrobe. It’s perfect for a summer trip or anywhere you can pack fairly minimally, though if you need to bring bulky layers or gear, it will probably be too tight. 

As a travel blogger regularly bringing all sorts of camera gear, hiking boots, and other accessories, I tend to go for a maximum carry-on size plus a daypack. Admittedly, a 45L pack will look very chunky, almost like wearing a whole suitcase on your back. For more flexible, light-on-your-feet travel, this 35L is very well-suited.

Organization and Access

Rather than a single top-loading compartment, the Globerider offers two full entry points: a suitcase-style clamshell opening that unzips flat, and a separate top-loading access point for grabbing something quickly without unpacking the whole bag. 

Something I appreciate is the four different mesh zipped sleeves here, letting you organize smaller items. I know that packing cubes are a very popular way to organize a backpack interior, but I would argue none are really needed here, as you can use these zipped sleeves to store things like socks or underwear, and just stack your other clothes in the main compartment.

The top access confused me a little at first, given that it gives simultaneous access to the main compartment and the laptop sleeve, which share the same overall space. But once I got used to it, I realized this is a nice and streamlined way of doing things. (No need for a separate zipper for the laptop.)

The laptop compartment is accessible from two sides and has a padded false bottom, though there isn’t a separate tablet sleeve inside. Up to 16-inch laptops fit, with a sleeve measuring 14.1 x 10 in (35.9 x 25.4 cm). There’s also a separate external admin pocket for documents, cables, and the small items that otherwise sink to the bottom of a bag.

There’s even a hidden “Smuggler’s Pocket” built into the back panel — useful for a passport or a spare card you don’t want in your main compartment. While nothing will stop the most determined thief, I find this very useful on night buses or trains, especially when also attaching the bag itself to a pole. Knowing my passport and bank cards are in the most hard-to-reach space lets me sleep more easily.

On the side there is one mesh water bottle pocket, which snugly fits a 1.5L plastic water bottle I used for testing. The other side does not have a pocket, but does have two compression straps. I managed to fit a small tripod under here. 

Remarkably, the Globerider 35L has a whopping six grab handles positioned on the top, sides, front, back, and bottom, so the bag can be grabbed from any angle. This is very useful when, say, you’re pulling it out of an overhead bin without room to maneuver.

Finally, an original feature I really like to see here is the large external stash pocket on the front. It’s big enough for a jacket, a rolled-up rain shell, or maybe some last-minute souvenirs, without eating into the main compartment. 

My very first travel backpack I ever used (of a brand that no longer exists) had a stretchy stash pocket just like this, and I’ve really missed it since. What I actually ended up using this for when island hopping around Southeast Asia was to store my half-dried towels or swimming gear, so they wouldn’t stink up the rest of my clothes. Being close to the outside, they would often dry while I was on the way to my next hostel. 

Finally, there’s a rolling-luggage handle pass-through, so the pack can sit securely on top of a wheeled suitcase for the long walks between gates. If your travel style is to go with wheeled luggage but use a backpack as support, you can do that perfectly with the Globerider.

I’m always interested to see what accessories a backpack brand sells, as this is often where they differentiate themselves. Here Matador has a lot of fun options for add-ons, including an integrated travel pillow, blackout mask, a travel earplugs kit, and of course some good old packing cubes. 

What I actually opted to purchase was the Speed Stash, a small stash you can attach with velcro to any shoulder strap for some extra quick access items. It’s a much safer place to put a phone when exploring crowded markets and such, and I find it handy for storing some of my most-used camera accessories (such as some of my action cam clips). You can check it out here.

In the picture above you can see me carry it rather high on the shoulder strap, as though I’m a cop about to call for backup — though this was before I figured out how to put it a little lower on the strap for a better position. It looks a lot better when you slide it down a bit!

Comfort and Carry System

Finally, there’s what’s arguably the most important aspect of a backpack: comfort. I would say the Globerider 35L is very good in this respect — though it’s also not the best I’ve ever experienced.

Mind you, this is a fully featured suspension system. Load lifters, a padded and removable hip belt (rated from a 27 in to 56 in hip circumference), and a breathable, foam-backed panel work together to shift weight onto your hips rather than your shoulders. All this makes it comfortable to wear for an extended time.

However, the back panel is fully flat, without any structure added for ventilation. This is a pity as I often travel in very hot destinations and a sweaty back is a recurring issue for me. It also isn’t quite as padded as I’d prefer.

Overall the straps are better than certain more air-travel-focused packs, like Peak Design’s, which really don’t put as much padding on them. However, the suspension system is not quite as ultra-comfortable as some of the more adventure-focused packs like the ones from Osprey, or the ones made by Tortuga Backpacks, which are sometimes even fully height-adjustable. No major issues, but the Globerider is more 8/10 in this category for me than a 10/10. 

The straps and hip belt stow away completely behind the back panel, so the bag can pass as a “normal” backpack when you don’t need the harness, or get gate-checked without straps catching on conveyor belts.

Conclusion 

The Globerider 35L makes the most sense for travelers who want one bag that can handle a week or more of trips without checking luggage, who value structure and organization over sheer minimalism, and who don’t mind paying a premium for materials built to last. 

If you’re an ultralight backpacker counting every gram, or someone who prefers a soft, shapeless duffel you can cram into odd spaces, this probably isn’t your pack. But for most one-bag travelers, it’s hard to find a serious weakness.

The Globerider 35L retails for $299 directly from Matador, backed by a 3-year warranty. That puts it toward the premium end of the carry-on backpack category, but in line with what you’d pay for a comparable pack from other travel-focused outdoor brands. Given the materials, design, and the ability to use it both on adventure trips and lighter travel, I consider that a fair price for a long-term investment.

The only caveat? If you plan to wear your backpack for many hours on end, trudging through jungles or exploring cities extensively on foot, then maybe you want something with a slightly more advanced harness. But for regular, mainstream traveling, it has all the comfort features you need.

Buy it At Matador