Matador Flat Pack Toiletry Bags Compared: Zipper Bag vs Waterproof Case

Introduction

Matador has built a reputation for lightweight, durable, water-resistant travel gear, and these two toiletry bags are a perfect example. The Flat Pack Zipper Toiletry Bag and the Flat Pack Waterproof Toiletry Case are extremely similar, so to avoid confusion it helps to think of them as the zipper bag and the roll top bag. Both are essentially larger versions of Matador’s popular Flat Pack soap case, made from the same thin but durable Cordura fabric that lets water leave the bag without letting it in.

What They Share

Both bags hold roughly two liters of toiletries and weigh around 1.2 ounces, about 33 grams each. Out of a wide range of toiletry bags tested side by side, these were by far the lightest for the capacity they offer. If your goal is shaving grams off a packing list, very few options come close.

Shared Design: Built for Hanging

Both bags have corner loops plus a small loop on the top middle of the bag, which makes it easy to hang them from a bathroom hook. If all you have is a shower bar, a simple piece of string attached to a carabiner lets you hang the bag almost anywhere. This center-mounted loop is a small detail that is surprisingly missing from many other minimalist toiletry bags, which tend to put a hook on the side instead.

Capacity and Everyday Usability

Stood side by side with the tops open, the roll top bag looks slightly larger, but that impression is misleading. You have to roll the top down before closing, and once the roll top bag is rolled and folded, it actually ends up a little smaller than the zipper bag. In practice, both easily swallowed a standard minimalist toiletry kit with a few extras, with room to spare.

The zipper bag is noticeably easier to use day to day. Unzipping and getting inside is quicker than rolling the top down and clipping it shut every time you want to close the roll top bag. If you access your toiletries frequently, that difference adds up.

Stability and Base Design

The zipper bag swaps the gusseted bottom for a single piece of material, giving it a thinner flat base. In most situations the bag stays upright, but if it is not loaded with something substantial at the bottom, or if heavier items end up on top, it can flop over and occasionally fall down. That never happens with the gusseted bottom on the roll top bag, which stays planted far more reliably.

Waterproofing: The Real Difference

This is where the two bags genuinely diverge. The Cordura fabric on both is fully waterproof, but the zipper on the zipper bag is only water resistant. Fill the zipper bag with water and it leaks out through the zipper corners. That is an extreme use case, since you are unlikely to be carrying a bag full of water, but it is a real limitation worth knowing about.

The roll top bag, by contrast, is a true dry bag. You can fill it with water, dunk it in a pool, and it will not leak at all. One caution: roll the top tightly at least three times before securing it. The opening is fairly large and the fabric is a little slippery, and if it is not properly closed it could pop open and get everything inside wet. The practical upside is that this bag can double as a dry bag on the water. If you need somewhere to stash a phone while swimming, it saves you from carrying a separate dry bag.

Buying Advice

If you do not need a true dry bag, the zipper pouch is the better pick. It is slightly larger once packed and simply easier to open and close for daily use. The roll top bag earns its place when full waterproofing matters, whether that is wet environments or doubling as emergency dry storage. Both are excellent if you want something extremely lightweight and waterproof, as long as you do not need interior organization.

Conclusion

These are both great minimalist toiletry cases, and the right choice comes down to one question: do you need a dry bag? If not, take the zipper bag for its easier access and slightly larger packed size. If you want something you can submerge without a second thought, the roll top case is the one to grab.