There’s never a perfect bag for everyone. And that’s how one came after another, assuming it’d be better than the previous. Started mostly from Chrome Industries and other brands slowly started coming in too.

Hey Group, happy to finally share my review (published at wanderingdots.me) see below the full article.

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 as a 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 …

As the title suggests, I’ve found the perfect bag for my work life. I recently moved to the PNW where it rains A LOT. My work allows me to be flexible with where I work, often I end up at a cafe or commute to the office depending on the day. I use a 16” MacBook Pro, so finding something that fit that plus all the other peripherals was a thing. After some serious googling and measuring I ended up settling on a Rux waterproof tote. I really appreciate that it can stand on its own which is something I didn’t realize I wanted, it’s great for dumping it on the ground in the local coffee spot. It’s also totally waterproof which is obviously the most key feature for me and has a little roll top that you can hide when you don’t need it. Oh yeah the colour is rad too. Really excited about this one and so far it’s been really really nice to use.

Just got my Matador Mystery Box — here’s what was inside:

Matador SEG45 Travel Pack light gray

Matador Freefly16 Packable Backpack (Black)

Matador Speed Stash (White Tag version)

Matador Refillable Toothpaste Tubes (Set)

Matador Waterproof Travel Canister

Overall pretty not bad for the $150 box. Only thing — I kinda wish everything came in black, but you get what you get and don’t get upset 😅

Might end up posting the SEG45 and Speed Stash on eBay if my wife doesn’t want it.

This is the underseat storage in Delta’s new B737-800 first class cabin.

Someone was like “let’s divide the space in half so nothing fits.”

My wife and I recently returned from a trip to the Dalmatian coast of Croatia (Split / Trogir / Zadar / Hvar / Krka NP / Plitvice Lakes NP) that also included a friend’s wedding. We are carry-on/personal-item travelers in general, but given that we were traveling from the midwest US with two layovers in each direction, we were especially wary of needing to check bags and wanted the ease that comes with minimal encumbrance.

This packing list does lean a bit more maximalist-minimalist than I tend to pack, mainly because we didn’t have to do much foot travel with our bags due to renting a car, plus wanting to keep some clothes clean/presentable for the wedding events. Photos are all post-trip.

Bag - REI Ruckpack 28 (c. 2023)

• I have posted about this bag before, and I also use the 18L as my daily pack and for short trips. For the size (28L feels just right for me in most cases), cost (~$130), build, and quality, I really couldn’t ask for much more. My only real …

Hey ya’ll, I’m in the middle of a four-day, work-oriented trip to San Antonio and realized I’ve now been traveling with the WANDRD PRVKE 31L for the past four years. I thought it warranted some quick notes without it turning into a full-on review.

• It’s not the smallest or lightest bag, but it suits me perfectly when I travel in that 25L~ range.
• I love having a tech pouch in the side pocket when it doesn’t have a camera insert in it. (being able to whip out a pouch without having to set the bag down is chefs kiss 🤌🏻).
• Separate laptop/tablet sleeves are a great feature as I travel a fair amount while working.
• No complaints regarding built quality. It shows a lot of wear but is holding up well.
• Vertical front pocket: Being able to slide in a lightweight jacket or sheets of seaweed to munch on when traveling is really nice.
• Overall, lots of things to be happy about, and this is all from a bag I bought as a used/return item four years ago! Looking forward to …

I took the opportunity of a very last minute work trip and some leftover PTO to spend two weeks across Portland, Seattle and Vancouver BC. Temperatures will range from 3° to 14°C (37° to 57° F) with quite a bit of rain.

While I did not onebag the business part of the trip, I’m leaving my suitcase and laptop behind with a friend to travel with the Osprey 26+6. I’m also taking a Uniqlo mini round shoulder bag as my day bag. Most of my plans involve city walking, sightseeing and hiking.

Everything I packed fits quite comfortably in the bag. Without the jackets, it is slightly underpacked as well. I’m from a tropical country and get cold very easily, so I might have more layers than someone who is used to the weather. I don’t expect I’ll need to use the bag in the expanded mode, maybe only towards the end of the trip after I’ve acquired some food gifts and souvenirs.

At first I was a little concerned about looking too much like a backpacker (hiking …

I just got back from a quick trip to Calgary where I tested a onebag (personal item only) loadout intended for a month+ of travel. Challenge size-wise, I restricted myself to a WestJet-sized personal item (16x13x6”); weight-wise I aimed for something around 6 kg. I am thinking of making a detailed packing post on this loadout when I have more time. For now, this….

A number of packing hacks from r/onebag were used. But this one I dreamt up: the ultra-portable one baggie (2×2.75”) “uh-oh” kit.

The philosophy behind it is to include in the uh-oh baggie just enough pills or whatever to get through a spot of bother.

Packed/Pictured: 4x Tylenol 2x Imodium 2x Gravol 2x Saline Eye-drops 4x Prescription Diabetes Pills 1 Band-Aid

Rest assured, I keep it where it won’t get crushed. And I have photo of original pkg for diabetes med.

What do you think? Roast away.

Will not having some pills in original packing be a problem? Any firsthand experiences with …

I’m getting ready for a trip to Argentina and Chile and wanted to share with you the packing list as is my first try.
The trip starts from last week of November and lasts 15 days, covering a wide range of climates:

• Buenos Aires: (16–30 °C) (60–86 °F)
• Ushuaia: (4–14 °C) (39–57 °F)
• El Chaltén: (0–8 °C) (32–46 °F), windy
• Torres del Paine: (3–13 °C) (36–46 °F), windy, 2 nights in tent

I also have to consider that, except for Buenos Aires, all other destinations include trekking and two nights of camping.

The bags:

• Forclaz Travel 500 (40L)
• NH100 (10L)

Travel 500

• 7x underwear (1 merino)
• 7x socks (3 trekking)
• 1x waterproof convertible trekking trousers
• 1x non-waterproof convertible trekking trousers + shell pants
• 1x thermal leggins
• 1x rain jacket
• 2x thermal shirt (long sleeved)
• 3x merino t-shirts
• 1x synthetic t-shirt
• Warm hat + scarf + gloves
• 1x merino jumper (city + trekking)
• 1x shorts (city only)
• Pair of sneakers
• Flip flops
• 1x 20k power bank + charger + usb c/mini cables
• Headlamp …

I’ve got an Evergoods bag that I bought back on June 28, 2022, and I recently noticed a small tear developing along one of the crease lines. It looks like it might have formed from the folds or tension in the fabric during the bag’s construction rather than wear and tear from use.

Has anyone else experienced something similar with their Evergoods bags? Just trying to figure out if this is a one-off issue or something others have seen too.

I’ve reached out to Evergoods support to check if there’s any repair or replacement option, but I’d love to hear if anyone here has dealt with the same thing or has advice on what to do next.

Please use only this thread for all WTB/WTS/WTT postings. Remember to list your location, where you’ll ship to if selling/trading, and price if selling. All cash payments should be through Paypal Goods and Services or a similar service that provides buyer protection. Zelle, Cash App, et al are not acceptable. Make sure you click the right boxes on Venmo.

If you are offering an item for trade or sale, include a picture of your item. Before you take the picture, write your username and date on a piece of paper, crumple it up, uncrumple it, and place the paper on the item so that the written information is visible. Report items that don’t include photos. If you don’t crumple the paper, you make it easier for scammers to steal your photos and replace your name.

If you want to offer your item in reply to someone wanting to buy an item, include the same picture in a PUBLIC REPLY BEFORE you PM the person. If someone PM’s you, insist they first post publicly …

Just got the cap.5 in x pac after loving the cap1 and found that it doesn’t quite become a desk caddy when I open it - as in it’s hard to keep it flat on its own. Instead it sort of flops to the side and I need to hold it down.

Curious if this is only the x pac version because the extra study material holds is shape? or if this is how it is for all versions? If it’s not the case I’d consider returning this one and getting the nylon.

Shame because the black with coyote brown is very cool. Curious to hear from anyone who has tried both!

I have my eyes on a CHZ22 or 26 (Gen 3) and I have a Lenovo Legion 5 16” that’s pretty bulky. Does anyone have a large gaming laptop that can confirm fit? I tried a few different bags and haven’t been thrilled with them.

Was the waxed camo civic travel bag only sold in the 26L? I have one but I’m not sure what size it is. Thanks