Matador GlobeRider 35L vs SEG 28L: Which Travel Backpack Fits Your Style?

Introduction

The Matador GlobeRider 35L and the Matador SEG 28L are two of the brand’s most popular travel backpacks. They share a similar capacity range and both have backpack straps, but they differ significantly in carry comfort and packing style. This comparison covers the major features of each so you can decide which one matches your travel habits.

Size flexibility helps here too: the SEG shown here is the smaller 28-liter version, but it also comes in a larger 45-liter size. The GlobeRider comes in the 35-liter version covered here as well as a larger 45-liter option.

Materials and Build Quality

Both bags come from the same company, so build quality is broadly comparable, with only slight differences in hardware. Both use a mid-weight 420 denier nylon fabric, and the SEG adds ripstop material on the bottom panel. Both feature self-sealing zippers: the SEG uses smaller number eight YKK zippers on all external pockets, while the GlobeRider uses larger number ten Zoom brand zippers.

The biggest decisions come down to two factors: how much gear you carry and your preferred packing style. If you pack heavy, both bags offer a 45-liter option. If you pack smaller, you choose between the 35-liter GlobeRider and the 28-liter SEG. For longer trips of two or three weeks, the larger 35-liter GlobeRider fits typical packing needs. For shorter trips, or for travelers who can stay below 30 liters even on longer trips, the SEG is a strong quick-trip option. It is almost one pound lighter than the GlobeRider, which makes it a great match for weekend trips or light packers.

Structure and Carry Comfort

The GlobeRider is designed as a main carry bag for extended world travel. It shares a shoulder strap setup with the SEG but adds structural features that matter on longer trips with heavier gear. Behind the laptop sleeve sits a rigid frame sheet that gives the bag structure, plus a thin aluminum frame stay running from top to bottom through the middle of the pack.

This framing keeps the bag rigid, prevents it from flopping over, holds gear in place, and helps the pack sit flush against your back. The difference is very noticeable when carrying heavy loads. The SEG, by contrast, has no frame structure, but since it is a smaller bag weighing about a pound less, that structure is less necessary for short, fast trips where you are not carrying a ton of heavy gear.

Carry Style, Stowability, and Hip Belts

The GlobeRider wins on stowability and hip belt support. The backpack straps can be tucked in behind the back padding, and there is an attached luggage pass-through sleeve for use with rolling luggage. The removable hip belt is wide, padded, and transfers weight from your shoulders to your hips, with thick comfortable buckles. It attaches with side clips and multiple Velcro panels, and it can be a genuine struggle to remove by yourself.

Packing Style: GlobeRider 35L

The GlobeRider opens from the side in a suitcase style with two major entry points. The main side zipper offers full access to the main compartment, ideal at your hotel. A separate top zipper opens into the same space, useful when you need something from the top of the bag on the road without opening the whole compartment.

The laptop sleeve works the same way: side access and top access both open into the same protected sleeve, so you can slide a laptop in or out from either opening while the bag stays closed.

Packing Style: SEG 28L

The SEG also has a clamshell side opening, but this is not where most of your gear lives. It suits bulkier flat items such as a large jacket or towel. The majority of gear is stored in front-facing external packing cubes that stack from larger to smaller: 10, 8, 6, and 4 liters.

These cubes are modular, with flexible separators between them. Overpack one cube and it eats into the next, and removing items lets the separator expand, so the bag always takes up the same amount of space. You can also leave a cube empty, for example for dirty clothes, and overstuff the neighbors without leaving a visible gap.

The trade-off for the SEG’s lighter weight and versatility is the lack of structure. It has a top pocket, and the laptop sleeve sits behind the back padding with substantial padding, but it is not very firm, so your laptop relies on padding rather than a rigid structure for protection.

Buying Advice

If you want a workhorse pack for extended travel, long trips, or carrying heavier tech gear and a laptop, the GlobeRider 35L is the easy choice. It has an easy-to-pack suitcase-style main compartment, more structure, a more comfortable carry with a removable padded hip belt, and a better protected laptop compartment.

If you are not carrying heavy tech gear and simply want quick access to your stuff and flexibility in how you pack, the SEG 28L is a great light, fast bag for quick trips or for travelers who prefer a simpler bag.

Conclusion

Both bags are well built, but they serve different travelers. Choose the GlobeRider 35L for structured comfort on longer, heavier trips. Choose the SEG 28L for lighter, faster travel where easy organization matters more than load-bearing support.