After four months of testing, Outside Online's gear reviewer says the Matador Adventure Pack — a 24-litre carry-on backpack — is the best travel bag he's owned, and he owns enough to fill a garage. The verdict matters for anyone trying to squeeze a whole trip into one bag that still works as a daypack at the destination.
The appeal starts with size. At 24 litres, it's big enough to hold a change of clothes, layers and camera gear for an overnight, yet small enough to slide into overhead bins even on regional jets. Matador also makes a larger Global Travel pack for multi-day trips, but that one doesn't fit every bin — the Adventure Pack is deliberately the sweet spot. Once you land, it converts easily into a hiking or boat-day pack; the tester used it everywhere from airports to a fishing trip on the Yellowstone River.
The details are where it earns its price. There are two expandable water bottle pockets (enough for a bottle and a plane sandwich), a generous top pocket for headphones and small items, and a padded laptop sleeve with a false bottom to absorb knocks. Access comes two ways: a top-loading zipper plus a full clamshell opening that lets you pack like a suitcase and grab things from the middle without unpacking everything. Security extras include a hidden RFID-blocking pocket in the back panel and a small sleeve for an AirTag. Three grab handles, a roller-bag passthrough and a padded harness make airport sprints manageable, and the recycled waterproof nylon with sealed zippers kept electronics dry in real rainstorms.
It's not flawless: the exterior shock cord webbing feels flimsy and won't reliably carry a helmet. And $199 isn't cheap for the category. But if you fly often and want one bag that covers carry-on duty, day hikes and city wandering, Outside's reviewer thinks the build justifies the cost — it's now his default 'go' bag for trips through multiple airports and van-based travel in Utah.
Who it's for: frequent flyers packing light, adventure travellers who want one bag that doubles as a daypack, and anyone tired of checking luggage for short trips. If you need to haul helmets, skis or a full week's gear, look elsewhere — this one is deliberately sized for the carry-on sweet spot.
