The 18L Personal Item Travel Pack is a game changer for short trips and light packers. Fully featured, thoughtfully designed, and purpose-built to fly for free.
* “Personal item compliant” bags strictly adhere to the personal item size policy on approximately 80% of flights operated by the largest 50 airlines globally.
Volume: 18 liters
Weight: 1lb 13oz (823g)
Dimensions: 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9in (40 x 30 x 15cm)
Materials
- 420D Bluesign® recycled nylon, PFAS free
- #8 and #5 DuraGlide™ sealing zippers (exterior)
- #5 YKK® zippers (interior)
The 18L Personal Item Travel Pack is the first of its kind. All the organization of a full-size travel pack—sized to slip under the seat.
Even on budget airlines, it flies free — no gate checks, no surprise fees. Just a wearable travel hack that pays for itself over the course of a few flights.
Personal item compliant*
Cushioned, breathable, comfortable harness
Dual Access Architecture™ — top-loading + full clamshell access
Weatherproof
See-through internal baffle + organization
Admin pocket with layered organization
External access laptop pocket
Rolling luggage handle pass-through
DuraGlide™ sealing zippers
RFID-blocking hidden Smuggler’s Pocket™
Anti-theft zipper security loops
Is the 18L Personal Item Travel Pack personal-item compliant?
Yes. The pack is designed to meet the published personal-item size limits on approximately 80% of flights operated by the world’s largest airlines. Airline policies vary and can change, so confirm the requirements for the airline before traveling.
Does it open like a full-size travel pack?
Yes. The pack can be accessed from the top during the day or opened fully in a clamshell layout for packing and unpacking.
Do the backpack straps stow?
No. The shoulder straps do not stow. The pack is designed to stay with the traveler as a personal item rather than be checked.
Does it include a luggage pass-through?
Yes. The rear luggage pass-through slides over the handle of rolling luggage.
Does it have a laptop compartment?
Yes. The pack includes a padded laptop compartment with a false bottom that keeps the computer elevated from the base of the bag. Refer to the laptop compatibility details on this page for exact fit.
How large is the water-bottle pocket?
The external bottle pocket works best with narrow and medium-width travel bottles. Very large or wide bottles may fit tightly due to the pack’s personal-item size.
Can the internal divider be moved out of the way?
Yes. The internal divider can be rolled and secured to create a more open layout for everyday carry.
How long is the warranty?
The 18L Personal Item Travel Pack is covered by Matador’s two-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
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Try it for 60 days. If it’s not right for you, send it back.
We stand behind our gear. If you’re not happy with your purchase, just return the full package within 60 days and we’ll issue a full refund—no fuss, no forms, no hoops to jump through.
Spend $99 or more today, and we'll automatically include a limited-edition Glow-in-the-Dark Ember Shard Whistle when packing your order.
Charge it quickly under sunlight or your flashlight, and enjoy its subtle glow throughout the night—perfect for marking gear, emergency kits, or attaching to your bag.
Limited quantities. These will be swapped (at our discretion) to other gift items if shards are unavailable.
Overall rating: 4.8 / 5 from 18 reviews.
Best bag I've ever owned. As a one-bag traveler who was looking for a bag that could fit under the seat no matter which flight, this is THE bag. It's also comfortable enough to use as my EDC bag. Combined with the Speed Stash, I'm never using any other gear but this.
Best bag ever. Completely compact. Fits in your pocket when folded down. Just enough pockets to make it worth using. Amazing.
The Ultimate "One-Bag". This bag is absolutely brilliant. I travel carry-on only, packing a smaller "day bag" inside for daily essentials; water bottle, umbrella, meds, etc. once I arrive at my destination. My ultimate goal was to eventually travel only with that day bag, but at around 12 liters, fitting a week's worth of clothes is virtually impossible. I bought the Aer Go Pack 2, which at 43x28x14 cm seemed like exactly what I was looking for. (Although I usually avoid Aer or Alpaka because of the shiny TPU-coated zips—they just look bad in my opinion—but luckily the Go Pack doesn't have them.) It's a great bag and easily fits a week of clothes, but once you empty it out to use as a day bag, it turns into a floppy mess. Bags like the Osprey Daylite or Transporter 26+6 are also great for the flight, but they aren't what I'd consider ideal day bags either. For me, this is where this bag stands out as an absolute winner. It’s spacious enough for a week's worth of clothes (assuming no extra shoes, wearing your jacket on the plane, or alternatively just add a "drip kit" to be able to store the jacket, or whetever else on the exterior). Most importantly, because it has built-in structure, it maintains a clean, slim profile when nearly empty as a day bag. Add in the ability to roll back the interior mesh divider to turn it into a regular top-access pack, and this is hands down the best true "one-bag" travel solution I’ve found, and I’ve owned a lot of bags, like 30+ a lot). A major shout-out as well to whoever at Matador managed to create a weatherproof MATTE-finished zipper that actually looks great! I'd also recommend adding a Speed Stash for a bit of extra storage and quick-access for a passport and phone at the airport. Definitely picking up the packable duffel next and keeping in the laptop compartment for whenever I know that I'l need extra space to bring things back home.
18L [personal item] Travel Pack [for ALL airlines]. The layout of pockets both outside and internal are a dream come true [thanks to Matador designers] packing is intuitive! Do not look for anything else this is a quality brand at a very reasonable price with the very best warranty.
Perfect size! Also fits my laptop perfectly. There was an issue with the shipping and their customer service sent me a new one. They really did a good job taking care of a first time customer. This will be my new carry on backpack/suitcase roller bag combo. I think it will also be good for 2 day work trips.
A super well made, compact suitcase-style backpack. Did I need yet another backpack? Nope. But I've never seen a compact backpack that fully opened suitcase style that truly fit smaller personal item size airline requirements. On a recent trip, it kept my clothes & toiletries super contained and separate from my work gear, and the front stash pocket is surprisingly deep and fits bigger items - a keyboard, a midori TN notebook and trade paperback. The quality feels excellent, and the multiple grab handles are so handy. I'm 5'3" and the fit and proportions of the backpack are fantastic - neat & small yet with enough space to store and enable quick access. Love love this backpack
Amazing bag! I find this 18 l is the perfect size as a personal item for flying. Right amount of space and the pockets are so functional. I went with the green color and its beautiful. I look forward to using on my next travel and potentially as an everyday carry bag.
Suggestion. It would be great if you designed a maximum size personal item. Many American Airlines allow 18 “x 14” x 8” bags as personal items. Just make the smallest number a bit smaller to allow for us overstuffing it.
I really like the size of this 18L Matador backpack. It feels especially well suited for my seven-year-old son: it is not too large, but still has enough room to carry everything he needs. The material does not feel particularly premium to me, although it does seem durable and I think it should hold up well with regular use. I also like the amount of storage and organization it offers, but at the same time, having so many compartments and details makes the bag feel a little visually busy. Overall, I would still recommend it, although I think it is somewhat expensive for what it offers. Personally, I prefer designs that are a bit simpler, cleaner, and more boxy.
Perfect weekender bag. Just got back from a short 3 day trip and was able to fit 3 changes of clothes, sandals, swim wear, and my iPad Pro with some tech accessories with room to spare. Perfect bag for short trips!
Great quality, fast shipping. Super fast shipping, excellent quality, and great size. An 18L bag that can actually be used as a personal item. Very comfortable to wear.
Outstanding. I have been looking for a bag like this for years----Namely, one that is Ryanair, Austrian Air, Wizz Air, etc. personal size compliant. And this one checks all those boxes and more!!! Thank you Matador!!!
Just bought this for our son off on travels (inspired by seeing these on Next Meridian Expedition). Looks to be really good quality and well thought out, a great day bag with space for important valuables. I can see how much thought has gone into this, great workmanship and materials, so I suppose the price is justified and I hope this lasts a long time.
3 Items That Would Have Made Perfect. I find this travel backpack almost perfect for what it is and how it's described... However, there are a few items I would just be aware of in purchasing it for general use. The first thing to know is the main compartment (where you would store clothing or cubes) is uneven in it's width. At the bottom base, I estimate it is about 3" thick while near the top it is tailored to about 1" thick. I think this has been done purposefully to accommodate the top storage pocket on the flap that is accessible from the inside and outside. But I would have preferred to have the same 3" thickness consistent throughout the main compartment. The next thing is the big label on the main compartment flap - although better here than on the exterior, I'm just not sure why it has to be so large and why the need to stress the 18L capacity. The last item I would have liked to have seen is a tablet separator or sleeve as part of the laptop compartment. But other than these initial items, I am a great fan of what I have received - especially for the value.
Great pack. Excellent personal item pack. Color is nice, well thought out pocket placement, perfect size for an EDC or airline travel. Looking forward to using it for years to come.
My little day trip bestie. Mine’s in garnet and after a year of only wearing black and packing black I feel like a whole new woman having a pop of color in my life. Small but somehow fits everything I need!
This backpack has quietly become my favourite bag for short trips, and it's the one I reach for whenever I'm packing light. Clean, minimal, and it looks sharp after being dragged through airports and stuffed under the seat in front of me. What really sold me is the organisation, I can pack it like a suitcase or grab something quickly without unpacking everything, there are pockets for everything, and even a hidden RFID pocket behind the back panel that I love for passports and cards. It's personal-item sized, so I can fly for free without checking a bag on shorter trips. The build quality feels made to last too. If you travel light and want one bag that's organised, comfortable, and actually looks good, this is it.
The 18L Personal Item Travel Pack is the perfect companion for flights and day trips. It's compact enough to fit under the seat but still holds everything I need, including my camera, laptop, and travel essentials. I especially love how organized it keeps my gear without feeling bulky.
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