All of the compartments and pockets aside, the GlobeRider has one last trick up its sleeve, and it might just be my favorite. While a bag’s straps can make or break its carrying experience, they can be a massive pain, especially when you cram your bag into a packed trunk or overhead bin, as loose straps like to snag on anything around them. The team at Matador thought about this exact situation and incorporated gated G-hooks at the end of the strap, allowing you to quickly unhook them and stow them away behind the back panel. While I haven’t seen an official name for this, I like to call it “briefcase” mode. However, tucking the straps behind this panel exposes a flaw to me: the chest strap is permanently affixed to the straps. I’d venture to say that most people would never complain about this, but as someone who loves to swap their chest strap for something with a magnetic Fidlock, I’m forced to keep the stock strap, or physically cut it off, permanently altering this bag.
How do I plan to use this pack?
If you’ve flown lately, you’ve most likely heard those dreaded words: “This is a full flight, overhead space will be limited.” As someone who often flies with camera equipment in a hard-sided Nanuk case, the thought of my gear being forcibly checked under the plane fills me with terror. However, even as overhead space is filling up and roller bags are forced to be checked, it seems to me that backpacks and duffle bags escape some of this scrutiny due to their soft sides and ability to be crammed into remaining bin space, a personal theory that I’ve wanted to test for some time. While testing this theory requires a flight (or several), I also wanted to put this bag through the paces in my EDC, right here in NYC.
![]()
Field Testing: NYC EDC
While Matador markets this bag for travel, it’s a comparable size to the pack I’ve been using for EDC, so I also wanted to test how well this pack would work for daily use. As someone who carries a 30ish-liter bag, the GlobeRider provides me with an additional 5 liters of space and a very different layout from the Tom Bihn I’ve been using. First and foremost, the built-in, fixed harness along with the straps are very comfortable, even when loaded down. The internal laptop compartment safely and securely holds either of my laptops (one for work, one personal), and the large main compartment essentially swallows my photo kit, mobile video kit, and small personal first aid kit. Thanks to the front admin pocket, I have a wonderful place to store an extra pen, our strap changing multi-tool, and even an inline bit-bar screw driver. That last one might seem a bit odd, but you’d be surprised how often I find a loose screw on a wobbly chair, or need to tighten down a tripod plate. Despite being on the larger side of packs I’ve carried, the multitude of handles made it easy to hold on a packed subway car. In its usual configuration, my kit is a walk in the park for the GlobeRider, and there’s plenty of room to spare, which allowed me to find a great secondary use for this pack: hauling groceries.
![]()
Since moving to the city, my partner and I have become more reliant on delivery services for large, bulk orders, but we’ve found that we often need to supplement with a bi-weekly run to Trader Joe’s for things like pasta, meat, and produce. Since the GlobeRider was designed to carry lots of clothing, which can be quite heavy, it also does an excellent job bringing home groceries. The clam-shell access on the main compartment allows for easy access, just don’t forget to pack the bag in such a manner that won’t crush your bread or eggs. Who would have known that playing Tetris as a kid would prove to be a useful skill after all? When fully loaded, I’ll admit that the pack can be a little uncomfortable if you’re not using the hip belt. Using a hip belt might not look hip, but man, does it help, and my back certainly likes it when I use it.
Throughout my city testing, I found myself caught in several rain showers (with and without an umbrella), but I didn’t notice any water intrusion. This pack might not be fully water resistant, but it hasn’t let me down either.
![]()
Continued Field Testing: A week of Traveling – Atlanta and Anchorage
As I returned from San Francisco at the beginning of May, my mind switched into planning mode for an upcoming week-long trip to Blade Show and eventually Anchorage, Alaska. This multi-city trip would present a unique challenge for me, as Atlanta was expecting highs in the 80s, and mornings in Alaska would be in the 40s. As my accommodations in Anchorage had laundry in the unit, I knew that I could get away with a minimal number of shirts, but I’d need shorts for the start of my trip, along with pants and a jacket for the back end. Despite the size of the GlobeRider, I knew I’d be checking a suitcase for those new EDC pickups at Blade, so I threw in the towel on trying to “one bag” it, and put some of my clothing into the checked bag, allowing ample space for my camera and accessories.
While I wasn’t able to utilize the GlobeRider as a true “one bag” travel kit like I wanted, it worked perfectly as part of my overall travel kit. While a Nomatic laptop bag carried my in-flight essentials, the GlobeRider carried the bulk of my gear. The wide-open main compartment safely held my camera cube, video kit, toiletries, some of my clothing, and a COOP travel pillow, without ever feeling crowded and overstuffed while the internal pockets on the “lid” of the clamshell opening were perfect for organizing the bulk of my cords and chargers, and the external water bottle pocket held my Yeti 26oz bottle with ease. Since I had a smaller, under-seat bag, I didn’t need to get inside my pack for most of my flights, provided I remembered to grab my water bottle.
![]()
Knowing that it would likely be years before we returned to Alaska, my partner and I wanted to get out of the city for a day and see the beautiful Alaska Wilderness we’ve heard so much about. Through a day trip on the Alaska Railroad, we were able to visit several additional cities, even the small town of Whittier, which is only accessible by land through a tunnel that’s shared by trains and cars, and only in one direction at a time.
![]()
The highlight of this excursion, and this entire trip, was the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop. Upon booking, we originally planned to hike out to the glacier, but later switched to a Spencer Iceberg and Placer River Float. With the train ride and float taking up the better part of a day, we loaded out the GlobeRider with jackets, food, a massive power bank, and of course, my trusty camera. With the first train ride complete, we set out with some new friends at Chugach Adventures to get an up-close view of Spencer Glacier, floating icebergs, and float back down the Placer River. As space on the raft was limited, I left the GlobeRider behind and only brought my camera. Despite the Placer River being relatively calm, we encountered a few rapids that gave us a few minor sprays and left some water at the bottom of our raft. I’m sure it would have been fine, but I’d rather have a dry bag and good memories any day, and yes, I took my camera along for the ride.
![]()
Final Thoughts
During my time with the GlobeRider, throughout small cafes, crowded subway cars, full flights, and even on several walking trails, it never felt out of place, even though it’s larger than I often needed. While the gear I tend to carry can be bulky and cumbersome, the spacious main compartment always had enough space for anything I wanted to pack, and often had more available for those unplanned detours and purchases along the way. Looking forward to future travel plans, I genuinely believe that I could utilize the GlobeRider for “one-bag” travel, and I’m eager to take a trip where I can do so, even if it’s just a weekend trip back to Kentucky. Pairing this bag with a good set of packing cubes, like the 3 piece set from Matador, will allow you to organize and fully utilize the larger main compartment.
![]()
With a retail price of $290, the GlobeRider isn’t cheap by any means, but I never felt like it was overpriced. Both the materials and the design of this bag feel very well thought out, and I feel confident this bag will stand up to countless trips and adventures. The GlobeRider series might have been designed for travel, but I’ve found the 35 does a great job adapting to everyday use, and whatever you might throw at it.
While the GlobeRider35 is available from select retailers, all three colors are currently sold out (for a third time) on Matador’s website. That said, I’ve been told that a restock is on the way in mid/late July, just in time for those last minute summer adventures.
Latest Review
