Earlier this year, a significant strategic shift within the outdoor gear manufacturer Matador was revealed to select media outlets. In a move described by insiders as an "end of an era," the company initiated a comprehensive overhaul of its entire soft goods product line. This wasn’t a phased product cycle, but rather a decisive discontinuation of existing models, with a hard stop implemented in early August. Among the products affected was the well-regarded GlobeRider line, a staple for many users, including this reviewer, who had come to rely on its versatility. Fortunately, pre-production samples of the redesigned successors were made available, allowing for an in-depth evaluation of the company’s ambitious reimagining of its offerings. This review focuses on the Matador Global Travel Pack (GTP) 35L, a direct evolution of the popular GlobeRider 35.
A Legacy of Travel: The GlobeRider’s Tenure
The original Matador GlobeRider 35-liter pack had carved out a significant niche in the market since its introduction. Initially tested on an extensive two-week journey encompassing Atlanta and Alaska in June 2025, the pack demonstrated remarkable adaptability. Despite its 35-liter capacity often exceeding immediate needs, it proved equally adept for daily carry (EDC), grocery runs, and hauling substantial camera equipment. Its consistent performance and utility led to its integration into the reviewer’s regular gear rotation, including a subsequent weekend trip to Paris and countless urban excursions. The GlobeRider’s success underscored Matador’s ability to produce functional and durable travel solutions.
The GTP 35: Evolution Rooted in Familiarity
Having spent nearly two months rigorously testing the new Global Travel Pack (GTP) 35L, it is evident that while this represents a significant departure in design, a substantial portion of the GlobeRider’s DNA has been meticulously preserved. The back panel and harness system, a critical component for user comfort and load distribution, closely mirrors the GlobeRider series. However, a notable and welcome improvement has been implemented. The original GlobeRider utilized a gated G-hook for strap attachment at the bottom, a system that, while functional, presented a potential for incorrect attachment. The new GTP addresses this by permanently affixing the straps to the pack’s base, incorporating a buckle system at the end of the padded harness section. This revised design significantly reduces the likelihood of the straps twisting or pressing uncomfortably against the wearer.
Further enhancing user convenience, the harness straps can still be efficiently stowed behind the back panel, which conveniently features an integrated luggage passthrough strap. The removable waist belt offers additional versatility, allowing users to detach it or wrap it around the pack when not in use, optimizing for different carrying scenarios. The highly appreciated hidden "smuggler’s pocket" in the same discreet location has also been retained and improved, now offering a wider opening for easier access to larger items. While the pack’s design still advises against storing excessively bulky items in this pocket due to potential spinal pressure, its expanded utility is a clear benefit.
Design Refinements: A New Aesthetic and Functional Upgrades
Visually, the GTP 35L presents a distinct departure from its predecessor. Where the GlobeRider was characterized by a more rectangular silhouette, a singular water bottle pocket, and strategically placed grab handles, the GTP adopts a more rounded aesthetic. This new design incorporates additional grab handles for enhanced maneuverability and features dual water bottle pockets, a significant upgrade for hydration management during extended trips.
Perhaps the most noticeable functional alteration is the replacement of the GlobeRider’s beloved front, stretchy kangaroo-style pocket with an elastic shock cord system. While this change might initially seem like a step back for those who valued the quick-access utility of the kangaroo pocket, the shock cord offers a unique advantage: interchangeability. Matador now offers optional "Drip Kits," featuring shock cords in various colors, allowing for aesthetic customization or complete removal of the cord system. This modularity caters to a broader range of user preferences and needs.
Enhanced Organization: The Front Compartment and Main Access
The redesigned front of the GTP 35L showcases a completely reconfigured layout for improved organization. Below the shock cord system, the enlarged front admin pouch now boasts a more practical arrangement of elastic loops and slip pockets. Several of these pockets are generously sized to accommodate items like field notes or passports, streamlining the packing process. This reviewer found this new layout particularly effective for organizing wallet and EDC items during airport security checks. A novel feature within this compartment is a discreetly labeled "top secret" pocket designed specifically for an AirTag or other small tracking device, clearly marked with "insert location tracker here."
Above the admin pouch, a semi-hidden horizontal zipper provides access to a quick-access pocket. While similar in size and design to the top pocket on the GR35, this iteration incorporates a subtly patterned construction that allows for slight expansion when packed full. This pocket proved invaluable for securely storing everyday essentials such as apartment keys, access badges, and sunglasses, ensuring they remain both safe and readily accessible.
The main compartment of the GTP 35L is accessed via dual zippers that extend approximately 330 degrees around the bag, enabling it to hinge fully open for effortless packing and unpacking. The lid flap features a familiar A, B, C pocket configuration. The bottom C pocket is the largest, while the B pocket, situated directly behind the admin panel, offers substantial storage capacity that rivals the admin pouch itself. Intriguingly, pocket A on the lid flap is actually the same quick-access pocket accessible from the exterior front of the bag. While initially unconventional, this dual-access feature proved surprisingly useful, allowing items to be stowed or retrieved without needing to fully open the main lid, a niche but handy functionality. Care must be taken, however, to ensure the exterior zipper is closed to prevent items from falling out.
A key innovation on the right side of the main compartment is a luggage-style mesh flap that zips closed but opens in the inverse direction to the main lid. This mesh flap has significantly influenced the pack’s usability over the testing period, proving beneficial for both EDC and travel scenarios.
Field Testing: Navigating Air Travel and Everyday Carry
The true test of any travel pack lies in its performance during actual journeys. The GTP 35L excels in this regard, fulfilling its intended purpose admirably. During two recent trips, the pack encountered the ubiquitous challenge of carry-on luggage restrictions. In situations where roller bags are frequently checked at the gate, the GTP’s ability to function as a personal item—or at least fit under the seat—has been invaluable. While the 35-liter capacity positions it beyond the typical personal item dimensions, its under-seat fit has consistently passed muster with airline staff.
During one particularly "fully booked" flight segment, where gate-checking of roller bags was mandatory, a moment of pre-boarding panic led to an impromptu test. The reviewer successfully transferred the padded insert from a camera case into the GTP, fitting it snugly beneath the mesh flap. This secured the camera gear, allowing all electronics to remain in the cabin. While not recommended as a dedicated camera pack, this improvised solution demonstrated the GTP’s unexpected adaptability and capacity to safeguard sensitive equipment in a pinch. The mesh flap, despite occasional friction during everyday use, proves exceptionally effective in keeping packed items organized, particularly for clothing, preventing accidental spills during transit.
However, transitioning the GTP 35L into an EDC role presented an initial learning curve. Accustomed to the GlobeRider’s direct main compartment access, the mesh flap initially felt like an impediment. Fully zipping it closed often resulted in zippers being left in inconvenient positions for quick access. An attempt to mitigate this by leaving the mesh flap unzipped and rolled within the compartment made accessing the main compartment easier, but the flap tended to become a loose element, occasionally snagging on jackets or larger items during removal. While laying the pack flat for full access is feasible in controlled environments like a home or office, it is impractical and potentially unhygienic on public transportation.
Critical Analysis: Areas for Refinement
Despite its numerous strengths, the Global Travel Pack 35L is not without its areas for potential improvement. Three specific aspects stand out:
Firstly, the GTP 35L, though only marginally larger in dimensions than the GlobeRider, feels substantially bigger. The new, curved design, while aesthetically pleasing, results in a "teardrop" shape when fully loaded. This visual bulk, contrary to expectations of a sleeker profile, makes the pack appear and feel considerably larger.
Secondly, while the new two-layer design of the harness straps offers a visually cleaner aesthetic, it limits the adjustability of the chest strap. Users are now restricted to four preset positions, a departure from the sliding rail system found on the GR35, which allowed for precise micro-adjustments. While a suitable position was found for this reviewer, the lack of fine-tuning could pose a challenge for individuals seeking a perfectly dialed-in fit.
Lastly, the front shock cord system, while offering customization, presents a minor aesthetic and functional drawback. The excess length of cordage tends to flop around without a clean management solution. While a personal workaround involving tying the ends together was implemented, it detracts from the overall visual neatness compared to the integrated kangaroo pocket of the previous model.
Engineering Excellence and Material Innovation
Beyond these specific critiques, the Global Travel Pack is an exceptionally well-built and thoughtfully laid-out bag. Even when fully packed, the harness design effectively distributes weight, preventing excessive strain. The internal mesh compartment further aids in maintaining the pack’s structure and preventing zipper binding.
A notable material choice is Matador’s decision to move away from YKK zippers in favor of Duraglide zippers. These zippers exhibit a remarkably smooth and pleasant feel, surpassing some other water-repellent models tested. Matador has provided detailed information regarding this strategic shift on their website, highlighting the functional benefits of Duraglide.
The inclusion of a secondary water bottle pocket is a welcome enhancement, particularly for users who prefer to carry an umbrella or other frequently accessed items externally. The additional grab handles significantly improve maneuverability in crowded environments, such as subway cars.
The redesigned laptop compartment is a significant upgrade. Instead of a simple sleeve at the rear of the main compartment, the GTP 35L features a dedicated section with a suspended laptop sleeve on one side and a smaller pocket ideal for an iPad Mini or Kindle. Matador asserts this compartment accommodates laptops of all sizes, and extensive testing with a 16-inch MacBook Pro confirmed ample space, validating their claim.
A New Philosophy: The Connected System Approach
The decision to discontinue an entire product line simultaneously, especially one that appeared to be commercially successful, was met with surprise. However, understanding Matador’s underlying philosophy of product development provides crucial context. The company openly articulates its intention to move beyond individual product improvements towards a cohesive system of interconnected gear.
In a recent blog post, Matador elaborated on this strategy: "The safer path would have been to keep improving one bag at a time. The harder path was to step back, rethink everything together, and build the collection we wished we’d had from the beginning. So that’s what we did. Over the last three years, our team rebuilt the entire lineup from the ground up—not as individual products, but as one connected system."
This commitment to a holistic approach is palpable in the GTP 35L. The pack functions effectively as a standalone travel solution while also integrating seamlessly with other components of Matador’s redesigned ecosystem. This creates a comprehensive carry solution rather than a collection of disparate items.
Conclusion: A Recommended Travel Companion
The Matador Global Travel Pack 35L is a highly recommended option for individuals seeking a dedicated travel backpack. Despite an initial adjustment period to its unique design and access methods, the pack consistently delivered on capacity and load-bearing capabilities. The removable waist belt, while perhaps not the most fashion-forward accessory, significantly enhances comfort during long travel days and is now even easier to detach, a welcome feature for quick packing.
While the reviewer rarely employed the GTP 35L as a strict one-bag travel solution—often carrying additional camera equipment—its potential for such use is undeniable for lighter travel loads. The GTP 35L represents a significant evolution in Matador’s product development, offering a blend of familiar functionality and innovative design that caters to the modern traveler’s needs.
