Matador Globerider 45 Travel Bag Review

Imagine waking up one day and not being able to live in your own home. Some serious water damage and, later, mold forced me out of my condo. Living out of a bag became my reality. Thankfully, as a gear tester, I have no shortage of bags and backpacks to cram all my belongings into.

Still, on that first day, I had no idea how I was going to cope with going away from home for an unspecified schedule. What on earth should I bring? At least, the bare essentials. But things like books, paperwork, kitchen items, extra toiletries, ski gear, clothing for the changing seasons, my toolbox – even a 30 pound bag of dog food.

I needed a bag to manage my daily needs but I carried a lot more stuff. And it needs to help me get organized. And just in time, Matador offered a test sample of the Globerider45, a do-it-all backpack.

in short: Globerider45 is very expensive, but it delivers in quality and design. For a variety of trips (ski trip, road trip, snow climbing trip, winter cabin vacation, and temporary living situation), I was pleasantly surprised at how much space and organization packing this bag provides. Matador confirmed that the scale met the “carried” amount, but it seemed to hold a lot more. Things like the padded back panel and shoulder strap design, the retention and the zip and pocket system are unlike any other travel pack I’ve ever used. I’ve made this pack from my house to my car to the three other places I’ve made basecamp and down mile routes, and it’s still going strong.

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

How is the trip worth it: Matador Globerider45 review

You must go inside to check anything designed for travel. Matador describes the Globerider 45 as “the brand’s first all-in-one travel bag” – but it combines the design of a traditional travel pack with materials used in a backpack.

The ultimate goal? Create the ultimate backpack for adventure travel.

So how did I figure it all out? I packed it and repacked it a dozen times. He came with me everywhere. No He lived For about three months of this bag (actually, I’m living out of it now!) I’ve used it as a backpack, a road trip duffel, a bag to store skis and climbing gear, and of course, I’ve sneaked it all over the mat in travel mode and backpack mode.

I’ve used this bag back and forth on several different road trips in Colorado. It’s November, just in time for me to move out of my house and then live out of a backpack. Needless to say, Globerider came at the perfect time. This is not the sample I tried because I found the design interesting compared to what’s on the market (okay, that’s true). But actually, I tried this out of necessity.

I spent the first two days of holding this package in my hands familiarizing myself with the design. It’s like visiting someone’s house for the first time – you have to know your way around.

For me, this didn’t take long for two reasons. First, the design of this pack is intuitive and not too complicated. The pockets and zippers are well placed and easy to use (more details later). Second, I immediately put this package to use. This was a package that I tested on a few occasions; I have been using it almost every day since I received it.

After testing, the three biggest advantages that stood out were the Globerider45’s capacity and overall packability, its extreme versatility, and its abundance of cases and pockets. I had been displaced from my home for months, and I had no idea what gear or clothes I would need or when. Some days, I just need an overnight bag that can carry my work laptop and accessories. Other days, I need a roomy, waterproof bag for winter travel. And on others, I just needed a way to carry everything that comes with me every day – the essentials of my life – on my back. (I travel reasonably light, but still, this is not a small question.) In the weeks and months ahead, I’ll need a bag that does all three seamlessly.

Now, this pack isn’t lightweight – it weighs just over 4 pounds and is sturdy thanks to its aluminum frame. The frame and back panel, along with the added padding, is a critical part of the success of this bag’s design. It is comfortable to carry even fully loaded.

The installation hangers are well adjusted to people of different heights. If anything, there may be too much padding on the center back panel. But the hip belt and shoulder straps are enough to provide comfort without being bulky. And this bag has more benefits than just the strap and fit.

This pack didn’t just haul clothes and shoes for a road trip. It hauled a week’s worth of work gear, a rotating gear test closet, medicine and hygiene supplies, birthday cards for friends, ice climbing gear, tons of legal paperwork, and so much more I can’t remember.

So how is this all-in-one bag more “versatile” than the rest?

Perhaps the biggest selling point of this pack is its thoughtfully designed interior.

Pocket and smart storage

This is not a one-piece bag. If you’re content with simple, U-shaped, trash cans, this bag isn’t for you.

I found myself using each pocket regularly, and the various grab handles on the front, top and side are the same. And they all serve a purpose. If I was carrying or reaching for items from the top of the bag, while standing, the top handle was useful. Whether I was mounting the Globerider into a car, roof rack box, or overhead compartment, the side grab handles were there. When you put the bag straps on, the handles still make it super easy to pick up, move around, and carry.

Although Matador claims this pack is a bit “overbuilt,” I wouldn’t say the same when it comes to its carry options. I used all the handles, bag straps, and duffel mode of the bag (putting the straps and hip belt behind the back panel).

Putting all the straps and parts in was harder than I expected because it fits so tightly in the compartment, the zipper behind the back panel. But once it closed I was happy. It reduces many external features that are easy to grab and hack things on the go.

As for organization, I used the interior zipper pocket (above) a ton. Designed for shoes or dirty laundry, I find it perfect for sorting gear and used clothes. It’s a great size for layering something like my next day’s travel clothes, not just sweaty clothes.

Or, you can make reservations for items you don’t want to find in the main room – that is, often.

The top “admin pocket” is another one I’ve used often. It has collected things like bag, glasses, sunglasses, headphones, lip balm, snacks, travel first aid kit, multi tool, writing pen and more in a well organized way. And, way better than other travel packs with a simple one-inlet mesh organization bag. Finally, the padded laptop compartment in the back fit my computer, worked well, and provided plenty of protection.

If you travel a lot and need essential components like internal and external pockets, laptop storage and a backpack and hip strap, check out the Matador Globerider45. The Globerider45 is a unique design that seems to have it all – every feature I’ve ever needed, both outside of it and to live in my travel – in a nice size. And not just a duffel, but one that converts into backpack mode. I really like the adaptability to different travel uses.

The cherry on top was how well it held up after some pretty rough testing over two-plus months. The test consisted of being charged with two ropes and hiking over a mile of ice climbing approach roads, putting fresh snow in my feet, wearing it on my back and rappelling 100 feet into a canyon, pushing under a seat on a rail. , and pull into the parking lot.

Summary

A do-it-all, built-for-anything, not-too-big, portable travel bag? Globerider45 is exactly what I need. I have only used it in the last few months when I lived out of this bag one Other luggage (not counting two daypacks for hiking and skiing). Okay, I might review that bag too, but it’s great for several reasons.

Otherwise, Globerider45 just carried me – and my clothes, shoes, belongings, dog belongings, work items and gear – on my unexpected vagabonding, which is too bad. I’ve been living without my home office/desk, kitchen, dresser, gear closet, and various storage systems around the house… and I found a way to make this bag work.

I can’t say enough about this bag. Yes, it’s over $300. But for me, this price is better than what GlobeBrider offers.

I look forward to the day when I don’t need to live out of a bag and can use this just for fun and travel. Wherever the open road takes me next – especially if the adventure requires a lot of gear but also flexibility and mobility – you can bet the Matador Globerider45 will be with me.