Article by John Tribbia
Matador GlobeRider35 Journey Backpack ($290)
Introduction
For the athlete who travels, gear should supply extra than simply performance. It wants a seamless mix of sturdiness, group, and luxury, transitioning effortlessly from cramped airline cabins and bustling concourses to convention rooms and impromptu path runs. The perfect journey backpack would strike the stability between weight consciousness and safety, accessibility and safety, consolation and compactness.
First Impressions
The Matador GlobeRider35 is a compelling 35-liter answer engineered for athletes who need efficiency, even when touring. Constructed from 420D Bluesign-approved recycled nylon with a polyurethane waterproof coating, this pack is sturdy whereas sustaining a comparatively light-weight 3.44-pound profile.
The GlobeRider35 instantly impressed me with its clever method to group and entry, that includes twin laptop computer compartment entry factors, six strategically positioned seize handles, and a complicated inside system that successfully eliminates the necessity for added packing equipment.
The pack’s dimensions (20.2″ x 12.5″ x 9″) guarantee carry-on compliance throughout main airways, whereas its clamshell opening supplies the luggage-style entry that makes packing and unpacking environment friendly.
Matador built-in premium {hardware} all through, together with YKK zippers with security-conscious pull-through tabs and an inside HDPE body sheet with an aluminum keep for sustaining construction with out extreme bulk.
My latest four-day enterprise journey from Denver to New York supplied the right real-world testing floor for the GlobeRider35’s capabilities. This journey constantly calls for versatility: navigating Denver’s sprawling terminals, becoming into cramped airline overhead bins, maneuvering by New York Metropolis’s chaos, and squeezing in runs alongside the Hudson River.
At 5 ‘6″, I used to be significantly excited about how this pack would deal with prolonged carry intervals and whether or not its quite a few options would show genuinely helpful. The pack accompanied me by temperature swings from Denver’s crisp mornings to New York’s humid afternoons, carrying every part from enterprise apparel and electronics to working gear and climate safety.
Match, Consolation & Efficiency
The GlobeRider35’s harness system was well-proportioned for my stature. Not like outsized journey packs that may overwhelm smaller frames, the GlobeRider35’s dimensions felt naturally balanced for my stature. The load lifter straps are positioned at shoulder top, permitting efficient weight distribution with out the awkward positioning widespread in one-size-fits-all designs. The again panel’s dense foam padding conformed comfortably to my torso, whereas the interior body sheet supplied good construction that stops gear from creating strain factors.
The shoulder straps impressed me with their dense padding building and breathable mesh integration. The padding thickness strikes a really perfect stability between substantial sufficient to cushion heavy hundreds, but not so cumbersome as to limit arm motion or add extreme bulk when stowed. The sternum strap adjustment was intuitive and remained positioned all through quicker motion.
The 4 compression straps (two per facet) proved invaluable for minimizing inside motion. When correctly cinched, they create a strong, unified load that strikes as one unit with my physique. This stability prolonged to strolling on uneven surfaces, navigating crowded subway vehicles, and the overall chaos of city journey.
The padded hip belt deserves particular point out.
Whereas efficient at transferring weight off the shoulders when the pack reached capability, it generated extra warmth than anticipated throughout prolonged put on. The identical breathable mesh used elsewhere could not fairly overcome this extra insulating layer. Nevertheless, the belt’s stowability means it is simply tucked away when not wanted, and its small mesh pockets proved surprisingly helpful for quick-access objects throughout transit.
Group System
The 35-liter capability positively hit the candy spot for my four-day journey when it comes to storing all that I wanted for that length. The pack’s luggage-style opening was additionally a terrific characteristic.
With the ability to see every part from the highest down made group intuitive and repacking at checkout environment friendly. The laptop computer compartment’s twin entry system, which initially appeared gimmicky, finally proved to be one of many pack’s standout options.
The side-panel entry allowed TSA-friendly laptop computer elimination with out unpacking the primary compartment, which was a real time-saver throughout safety screening. The highest-access level was nice for fast laptop computer retrieval throughout work periods with out disturbing the remainder of my gear.
The front-panel admin group has a complete format: two mesh pockets for cables and chargers, 4 devoted pen slots, and two zippered compartments for smaller electronics and paperwork.
This complete system eradicated the necessity for a separate tech pouch, streamlining packing and guaranteeing each merchandise had a chosen dwelling. The highest soft-lined pocket was nice for shielding telephones, sun shades, and different scratch-sensitive objects. Its straightforward accessibility made it my go-to location for objects wanted throughout transit. Nevertheless, the exterior group is considerably minimal for individuals who want readily accessible pockets for journey paperwork, snacks, or ceaselessly used objects.
Conclusion
The GlobeRider35 is certainly a testomony to Matador’s dedication for considerate refinement over flashy innovation. Slightly than reinventing journey pack design, they’ve taken established ideas and executed them with precision utilizing premium supplies and meticulous consideration to element.
The result’s a pack that feels comfy and acquainted but polished. Regardless of its excessive value level, the GlobeRider35 excels the place it issues most: sturdiness, group, and long-term consolation.
For athletes and professionals who log critical journey miles and refuse to compromise on high quality, the GlobeRider35 earns its place within the premium tier by constant, reliable efficiency.
GlobeRider 35 and all of Matador
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John Tribbia (5′ 6″, 130lbs) is a former sponsored mountain/path runner who has run with La Sportiva, Brooks/Fleet Ft, Pearl Izumi, and Salomon. Regardless that he competes much less ceaselessly nowadays, you’ll be able to nonetheless discover John having fun with the every day grind of working on any floor, although his favourite terrain is 30-40% grade climbs. He has received races similar to America’s Uphill, Imogene Go Run, and the US Skyrunner Vertical Kilometer Collection; and he is held a number of FKTs on a number of iconic mountains in Boulder, Colorado and Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah. Should you observe him on Strava, you may discover he runs at various paces between 5 minutes/mile to 12 minutes/mile earlier than the break of daybreak virtually day-after-day.
Samples had been supplied at no cost for overview functions. No compensation was supplied by manufacturers for writing this text. RoadTrail Run does have affiliate partnerships and should earn fee on merchandise bought by way of procuring hyperlinks on this article. These partnerships don’t affect our editorial content material. The opinions herein are totally the authors’.
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