Matador GlobeRider 35 Backpack Review
Our review of the more airline-friendly version of the GlobeRider series.
Matador GlobeRider 35 Backpack Review Introduction
Matador came out of the gates hot a couple of years ago and put all the makers of 45L travel bags on notice with their Globerider 45. A pack that really brought a ton of things to enjoy like build, versatility, and organization. That said, it also brought weight and a bit more literage than a lot of people needed outside casual packers or gear haulers.
Enter the Globerider 35 - released earlier this year in 2025.
The bag promises to be a slightly paired down version of the 45, but not paired down too much. They want to use the same formula that allowed the 45 to get such great reviews overall but make it a bit more manageable from a size perspective for either those with smaller frames or those that are simply a bit more experienced in their onebagging and don’t need 45L for an extended trip. Count me in both of those groups. You can consider this an attempt to create a nice entry into the “standard” onebag travel category with the likes of MLCs from Patagonia, Tortuga, etc. That said, a standard entry with a lot of rugged features and typical Matador materials. How’d they do? Let’s find out.
This is my review of the Matador GlobeRider 35 backpack. I took this on a fantastic jaunt to France where I had 3 different flight legs, car rides, and even a long distance train ride. That includes 5 transfers between hotels, so I was getting good practice with this bag.
As always for full transparency, I did ask Matador if they could send me a review unit and they were kind enough to do so. That said, this is not a sponsored article and I received no money to write it. I do use affiliate links which help to support the site if you decide to use them to make a purchase, but you’re under no obligation to do so and there’s no additional cost to you. Thanks for stopping by!
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GlobeRider 35 Backpack Overview
Rearview.
Matador already had the wildly successful and well reviewed GlobeRider 45 - so it should be no surprise what this bag set out to do. I mean, it’s right in the name. They wanted to release another kick-ass travel bag, in the more traditional travel bag style (compared to say, their Seg series), but in a more manageable volume at 35L. The 45L is great for when you have gear - like boots and such - but the average person shouldn’t be packing that much. Hence, the 35L version.
It’s really meant to be the more practical of the two for more everyday travelers. But, it’s something that can stand up to taking a beating on the trail/outdoors, cars, trunks, truck beds, trains, plains, and boats. That’s the idea anyway and something Matador is known for.
Stats from the site:
Volume: 35 liters
Weight: 3lb 7oz (1560g) with hip belt, 3lb 1oz (1390g) without hip belt
Dimensions: 20.2 H x 12.5 W x 9 D in (51 H x 31 W x 22 D cm)
Soft-sided design conforms to carry-on requirements (most airlines)
Materials:
- 420D Bluesign®️ recycled nylon, PU waterproofing
Hardware:
- PU coated sealing zippers
- EVA foam padded back panel, shoulder straps, and hip belt
- HDPE framesheet with aluminum framestay
- 210D nylon bonded thread with bartack reinforced construction
It retails for $290 USD as of Sep 2025. We’ve got three colors - black, garnet (our version), and arctic white.
GlobeRider 35 Features
The AW fabric macro.
This bag is pretty feature packed - some expected and some special touches. So a quick recap here.
In terms of the “table stakes” features - you’ve got front admin panel, laptop sleeve, water bottle sleeve, compression straps, stowable straps and removable hip strap. Sternum strap, aquaguard zippers, clamshell opening, front stretch pocket, top felt-lined quick grab pocket, plenty of nice handles.
There are also some nice additional features here. The almost-cubes on the inside of the left flap offers nice flexibility in your packing methods. We’ve also got an option to top-open the bag if you want access to what you’ve packed on the top of the bag - think, to grab your toiletries or some such like that.
There are also touches like loops for the zippers to add some security, a couple lash points on the bag, etc. They’ve also put load lifters on the bag.
This is not a bag for minimalism - you won’t be missing features on this one.
The Wandering Loadout
I also wanted to give you a bit of an idea of how I packed it. I used a combination of packing cubes, the inside flap, and just a shoebag. I’m 5’6” for reference. One shot is before the trip, one shot is at the end before returning home.
Main Section:
Western Rise Compression Cube: 3 button up shirts
Heimplanet Medium Cube: 4 T-shirts
Flap Pocket 1: Undershirts
Flap Pocket 2: Underwear and 2 Darn Tough Socks
Matador Camera Base Layer with fixed lens camera inside
Pair of Oxford shoes
Single Pair of Pants I laid on top of all this, folder flat.
Western Rise StrongCore Merino shirt, folded flat
Front Pouch:
Pioneer Carry Global Tech Pouch
Bits and bobs in the zippered slots
Top Felted Slash Pocket: Passport in Pioneer Carry holder.
Front Mesh Pocket: Matador Refraction backpack, Montbell Ultralight Rain Shell (in its pouch)
The Good
Well, it’s time for the broken Bellroy record but I really can’t help it - it’s just kinda true. Their designs are so considered and sleek that I really just have to mention it all the time. They manage to stay low key looking but also pack in org and function. Compare this with something like the Tortuga Expandable backpack. This isn’t a knock on it, I’m just highlighting the stark differences in visual design. One is highly functional, not pretending to be anything but a travel pack. One is made of much softer lines and sleeker visual cues, while performing the same basic function. Material choices, color choices, etc. Bellroy consistently nails this (I won’t say 100% of the time but on much of their premium stuff they do) and this bag is no different.
I want to move into a sub category here of the above - the color way. I LOVE their choice of “olive”. It really deserves quotes because to me, it’s much more of like a deep military green or forest military color vs. what we normally see with other “olive” choices for brands. It’s amazing and sophisticated. ALSO, that color of the interior on this bag is a wonderfully rich blue color. I don’t really know how to describe the blue - maybe like a deep marine? I don’t know. But it’s fantastic and the combination together is one of my favorites of the year. Keep in mind it might look greener than it is in my photos because of the lighting - combo of warm LCD lighting and cool camera accessory lighting. I tried to make it as accurate as possible but I’d say their website is accurate to the product.
Next up I love that this opens horizontally like a clam shell. This is my favorite style for a travel pack, more so than the vertical type. It works just like a suitcase, and makes organizing both sides much easier.
Organization was outstanding on this pack. Took me a minute to really take advantage of the pouchy area in the laptop sleeve, but then I realized it perfectly fits a Bellroy toiletry case, which is my main driver for travel. That’s a clever spot as it helps to keep things together in the bag without another pouch added to the main compartment. Really nice implementation. It does take up some internal volume, it’s not magic. But still a nice design choice.
I like the zippered compartments on the left hand flap inside the bag. These frankly can replace packing cubes when it comes to rolled t-shirts or socks/underwear. They don’t really interfere with the front pocket either based on how that’s not a full-length pocket. Again, very smart design choices on this bag.
I don’t usually call these out as I usually don’t have major issues to complain about - but loved the pack straps on this one. Bellroy’s are typically sleeker and thinner, but they beefed these up and I found them quite comfortable while marching back and forth around the SNA airport as flights were repeatedly delayed and finally canceled. At the very least, it added one positive to the shockingly annoying scenario. Haha. Get those steps in.
Expansion. I mean come on. This was done very well, it doesn’t make the bag look ridiculous when it’s expanded, and allows you to basically have two bags at once. It’s always a great idea, but here it’s ALSO implemented well. Kudos, Bellroy.
Lastly, much like I found on the Black Ember Forge - I have no idea how they’ve made these sealed zippers so smooth. Maybe it’s just the YKK norm now on the newer versions, but they were fantastic in use. No stickiness at all. Like, it was shocking.
The Bad
OK well similar to the 45L, the bag is on the heavy end. That comfortable harness, the materials, zippers, straps, all that stuff adds eight. Now, I wasn’t using this for trekking and I’m not walking 1-2 miles to my hotel at my destination, so I don’t think most people are going to have huge issues with that. If that describes you - then I think you’ll want to consider this point. There are lighter bags that will make that a better fit for you. But at the same time, I was carrying it around some big airports (JFK, Schipol, and CDG) and never got tired with the bag on my back - even when I was pushing my wife’s roller occasionally.
The bag is a bit - jangly. I don’t mean that in a noisy way. But there are a LOT of straps and a lot of zippers here. Now I like the quality of them all, but for folks that like that to be really minimal, it might be annoying for you. I like that they color coded the main zippers for sure - but that said there are a lot to keep track of. For long term use I’d probably get rid of the chest strap.
Removable hip belt - if you’ve seen the reviews on YouTube, you know this. That thing, while I think well meaning, has some overly engineered hook and loop stickiness. The belt has it on both sides that goe inside the slot, which means it’s crazy hard to get it out. You separate one side, but by nature of pulling that away, you’re pressing the other side into the fastener. It’s like an old finger trap - you’re damned if you do no matter which side you pull off. That said this is an EASY fix - just make a change so that only one side has the hook and loop on it. I don’t think this is the end of the world, I just never removed it because I knew this going in.
This is super nit-picky - but one thing I noticed in use is that when you had the front top pocket packed out with some weight (like my tech kit) and wanted to open and close the bag to work with it, it got super floppy. And if that was unzipped, all that stuff flew out. This is partly my fault for being lazy - but I’m noting it because I don’t think anyone is really that perfectly regimented that they use a checklist when operating their bags. Something I noted, but it’s more so you’re aware while using. If this is something you rule out a bag for, you need to get that checked out, friend.
Final Thoughts On My Matador GlobeRider 35 Backpack Review
In our room in Brittany.
Honestly, I think the GlobeRider 35 is one of my contenders for “bag of the year”. I really really liked the 45L - but one of my biggest complaints was that I felt it was just too much bag for most people (certainly me, since I can pack pretty light compared to the average cat). My biggest request was frankly that they come out with a 35L. And here we are today.
It’s got the classic shape that makes it really easy to pack, has all sorts of Matador’s usual quality and well thought out features around usability and organization, and comes with a really comfortable harness system (to me at least, this is always personal). Did I mention it’s got their water resistant coating? It does.
I also REALLY like the color choices, and how their cubes integrate with it (also in great colors).
It’s definitely heavier than some bags, and has a lot going on with zippers and straps. I do also think they need to make some design adjustments on that hip belt. But none of this is a deal breaker for me personally. You need to decide that on your own.
Matador managed to take an already well regarded bag, that might be TOO much bag for many, and pack that into a smaller version that you can still use for indefinite travel. With packing cubes, if you can’t pack all you need into this bag - I don’t think it’s the bag’s problem. Haha. You can work on that though. If I didn’t pack shoes and a camera, I’d have had even more space to play with.
The Matador GlobeRider 35 should definitely be on your list to consider. It’s a good one.
As always with the indie brands, I’d suggest buying directly through their website for best service.
And remember - wander more, and wander smarter.
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Head on over to our Travel Bag reviews page for more like this as well as the Black Ember Forge 30 review or the recent Level8 Gibraltar Carry On review.
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