Nomatic System Travel Backpack Review

More on the Nomatic System Travel Backpack

What I like

• Materials feel right, softer than Nomatic's usual boxy bags but the exterior is ultra durable. Zero worries about weather, scrapes or abrasion
• Expansion zipper adds about 10L and you can really feel it. Pack it expanded, then zip it down to compress
• Straps are excellent, they taper in depth and width. Honestly worth the price of admission alone
• External access top and bottom: a tech pocket up top and a shoe or jacket compartment at the bottom, or give that space back to the main compartment
• Exposed YKK #10 main zipper, water-sealed laptop zip with a nice zipper throw, suspended laptop sleeve
• Tight stretchy water bottle pockets on both sides that don't eat into the inside
• Hideaway padded hip belt, big air channels on the back panel, luggage pass-through
• A real contender in travel bags. I'd go the 31L with the ability to expand

Watch for

• Still a bit big for me as a day bag, and the clamshell layout isn't the cleanest to live out of on day trips
• Passport pocket is small, I wish it were bigger
• Single layer stretch mesh on the bottle pockets could snag or pick up some patina
• No padding on the outside of the bag for your stuff
• The 41L is a big bag

Specs

• Two sizes: 31L and 41L, each expands about 10L
• About 3.6 lb
• Clamshell opening with a zippered divider on each side
• YKK #10 main zipper, water-sealed laptop zip
• Optional hybrid sling / tech pouch and laptop briefcase accessories

Where I've covered it

• 31 Travel Backpacks Compared! at 36:04
• Nomatic Travel System Full Review at 0:00 (full review)