MATADOR GLOBERIDER 35L: REVIEW
FOREWORD
Ok, I have to confess - normally I review a new bag over roughly one to two months to get a good feel for it and share a fair assessment and my personal experience. With the Matador Globerider 35 it took over 6 months. From the very beginning I was so excited and impressed that the "honeymoon period" just went on and on, and my appreciation for the bag only grew over time. Now, 6 months later, using the bag first as part of my rotation and then switching to it almost asa daily driver role - I know I have to share this with the world (I hope Matador can forgive me for the delay :)).
If you’ve ever obsessed over finding the right “one bag” for travel—paralyzed by choice, haunted by near-misses, and scrolling forums into the night—you know the anxious thrill when something seems perfect. That was my search: months of deep dives, wishlists, and “almosts.” Enter the Matador GlobeRider 35. From the launch, this bag felt like it landed squarely on my wishlist, ticking boxes that so many others narrowly missed. I was very excited when Matador offered a review sample in exchange for my honest review. Buckle up dear reader and check out my experience using the GlobeRider 35.
ABOUT THE BAG
PRICE: $290 MSRP
DIMENSIONS: 20.2” x 12.5” x 9” (51.3 x 31.8 x 22.9 cm)
WEIGHT: About 3 lbs without hip belt (1.4 kg), 3.4 lbs (1.56 kg) with hipbelt
CAPACITY: 35L (carry-on ready)
RELEASE: 2025
For context, I am 38 years old, with the height of 177 cm and weight of 99 kg. Also, I have a hybrid work (2 days per week commuting from Rotterdam to Utrecht), I am a father of a 6 year old boy (who is an infinite ball of energy) and I enjoy weekend trips as often as I possibly can - exploring Belgium, France, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic and of course the Netherlands that I can call my second home after having to leave Ukraine after the war started.
For me, 35L was the “goldilocks” zone: just enough for travel without any major sacrifices, but still under-the-radar for airline carry-on sizers. My bigger frame and the need to carry my son’s essentials also meant that Globerider 35 was used quite often as a bigger EDC option - carrying toys, snacks, extra clothes, my tech and other essentials.
I have to praise Matador’s choice of materials: the Bluesign-certified water-resistant nylon, slick YKK zippers, and Woojin hardware all stand up to scrutiny. The black colorway is “subtle but sexy”—professional in a meeting, unassuming in the wild. Zipper pulls are a tactile treat, especially with the white-compression for quick main compartment ID. Add in coated zips and you’ll never stress a shower or the unexpected Dutch weather that seem to surprise you with rain even when the forecast is mentions no such thing :)
QUALITY & COMFORT
Material choices are dialed in. The stretch mesh on both the front pocket and inside the admin panel feels premium—much better than standard mesh, smooth and flexible. Every buckle is confidence-inspiring. I love the overall feel: dense and well-stitched, a bag that invites adventure rather than dainty handling. The ingenious compression system also meant that even when the bag wasn’t packed to the gills, I could still maintain a clean aesthetic and manage the floppiness.
Harness comfort ranks high. The EVA foam straps are wide, cushy, and never dig, while load lifters and an adjustable sternum strap help dial in a custom fit. The hip belt? Optional, tucks away when not in use, and adds almost no weight. To be frank removing the hip belt was the first thing I did upon receiving the bag - I simply do not use it and wanted to keep the bag as light as possible.
ORGANIZATION
Externally:
Deep and stretchy mesh water bottle pocket swallows most bottles (my primary water bottle is a Nalgene 1L or a Stanley thermos if I want to have coffee to go).
The outside stretch mesh pocket is perfect for stuffing a jacket, umbrella, or even shoes. My only concern was that the pocket would lose elasticity and will become floppy but I am happy to report that even after 6 months of regular use the pocket is the same as on day one.
The Smuggler’s rear pocket is a brilliant touch for stashable items—passports, cash, or backup cards. Discreet, hard to find and sometimes even difficult to remember that it is there to be taken advantage of :)
The top fleece-lined pocket is ideal for keeping sunnies, AirPods, or your phone scratch-free through security gauntlets. Personally I enjoyed having my charger there for quick access.
Internally:
The clamshell main opening means you can pack cubes with surgical precision. I’m a fan of having the admin panel NOT go all the way to the bottom—I prefer that storage on the inside lid pockets.
The admin panel itself: four pen slots is overkill; I’d rather see an extra larger slot. For my use, other small gadgets fit, but if you’re a “bigger tech” person, my Steam Deck OLED was a no-go except via the main compartment. The pocket was fine to have a battery bank and my Kindle Paperwhite safe and sound.
Laptop sleeve is minimal—a magnetic snap on the back fits an iPad or slim 16” laptop with a suspended base. No “tech area” to eat space. But whenever I had to carry both my MBP16 and 12.9 iPad Pro I was missing an extra tech sleeve.
The internal mesh pockets are clever: the upper pair are shallow, best for flat cords; the zipped middle lid pocket is the roomiest thanks to the gusset. The bottom mesh zip pocket is broad but thin.
Side note: The side laptop zipper isn’t naturally lockable, but a small TSA lock can bridge it with the top compression loop. The main access zipper, on the other hand, has dual theft protection loops for lefty/righty peace of mind.
CONFIGURATIONS / CARRY EXPERIENCE
Full clamshell for big packing jobs.
Dual top access for on-the-go grabs—your passport, book, or rain shell are never far.
Hip belt is there when you need loads of support, gone when you want featherweight carry.
Grab handles on every side—seriously, you can maneuver this thing however you want.
What I love is how the design does not get in the way of rapid access: compression, security, and expandability have all been cleverly balanced so nothing is ever fussy or hard to reach.
WHAT’S HOT
Absolutely dialed-in capacity and shape for one-bag travel.
Build quality that inspires confidence in any weather, on any continent.
Just the right number of pockets—functional, not overwhelming.
No-fuss water resistance, no worries about rain squalls.
Thoughtfully muted, modern style.
Load lifters and frame support make heavy loads surprisingly pleasant.
Laptop/iPad access is practical and unobtrusive.
Security/theft loops on main compartment.
WHAT’S NOT
Hip belt removal is not quick—prep ahead of time or leave it tucked away.
Strap keepers would be nice out of the box.
Side laptop access not easily lockable, but workaround exists.
Only the admin panel suffers from “too many pen slots, too few bigger pockets.”
CONCLUSION
If you’re done switching bags for “the right trip,” the GlobeRider 35 is here to retire your bag-questing days. It surely made it easier for me to sell a number of bags that were in my rotation for years, and I am so very glad to have a pack that can serve many purposes while being a joy to use. It nails the core needs: carry-on stealth, max capacity, durable construction, and organization that helps but doesn’t smother. Matador’s GlobeRider 35 has (almost) every feature you could want, with most downsides easily fixed or ignored. After a year of searching and months of use, I can say this is a backpack I’m genuinely excited to use - and I am hoping with this review more people will realize that a nearly perfect travel bag already exists and can be ordered right away.
P.S. If you decide to get the Globerider 35 I strongly recommend pairing it with the Matador Speed Stash, I bought it separately and it made such a huge difference when using the bag day-to-day!
