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Home » Gear » Nomatic Travel Bag

HONEST Nomatic Travel Bag Review: The Best Bag for Minimalists?

Welcome to what is without a doubt the best ( and  most brutally honest) Nomatic Travel Bag review on the web.

Firstly, we don’t mind telling you that the Nomatic Travel Bag  is one of the best bags on the market today…. BUT – we only recommend this bag for certain types of travelers. The Nomatic Travel Bag is ideal for some travelers but NOT ideal for others.

So to help you, we (figuratively) tore this bag apart, leaving no stone unturned so you can be 100% certain whether this is the bag for YOU.

By the end of this Nomatic travel bag review, you’ll know everything you need to know about this modern travel companion, and you’ll know whether or not it’s the bag that fits your  travel style.

Quick Answers: Is the Nomatic Travel Bag for You?

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• The Nomatic Travel Bag is perfect for you if are after a modern, well-designed bag. This bag is sleek and sexy . Many Nomads are ditching traditional backpacking bags in favor of more sleek and modern bags like this Nomatic.
• The Nomatic Travel Bag is perfect for you if you are looking to pack LIGHT , or are only traveling for a week (or so) at a time
• The Nomatic Travel Bag is perfect for you if you are a Digital Nomad that doesn’t carry too much gear
• The Nomatic Travel Bag is perfect for you if you are after a cabin-approved carry-on bag

Overall this bag is great for anyone who likes its design, efficiency, and organization. It’s easily one of the best minimalist bags on the market. A lot of Nomatic reviews out there say the same thing.

But you have to be someone who likes to travel light.

Let me tell you why…

This bag was designed for 3-7 day trips and is only 40L. Granted some full-time travelers can make a 40L work, others will be hard-struck to make a bag sustainable for longer trips, especially if having your laundry done isn’t an option for you.

If you are going on a long trip or bringing a lot of gear, then the Nomatic cannot compare to some of the larger packs on the market. Nomatic do make larger bags if this is what you need.

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• You’re a hiker . The Nomatic Travel Bag can handle some light hiking, but if you wanted something more appropriate for getting outdoors we’d suggest the Osprey Farpoint 40 .
• The Nomatic Travel Bag is NOT for you if you travel heavy. This is only a 40L bag! (Try the Osprey Aether 70 instead).
• The Nomatic Bag is NOT for you if you are planning on doing an epic trip. It was designed for 3-7 day trips (Check out the Tortuga Outbreaker  for a bigger, but still modern bag).

If you are considering the bag, you are probably drawn to it’s sleek, modern design, and like the idea of Nomatic’s ultimate efficiency and next-level organization .

So if you are unsure if this bag is for you, it comes down to one really important question.

Is it the right size for you?

Still unsure?

Don’t worry. Let’s dive deeper into the Nomatic Travel Bag, and truly get a feel for if it is the perfect bag for you.

Nomatic has come out of nowhere to become one of the most respected bag-making companies on the market. Nomatic develops a wide range of products like watches, wallets, and notebooks, and their commitment to quality has enabled them to raise an enormous amount of money on Kickstarter and IndieGoGo.

How much did they raise? $3 million! And that was just for the backpacks.

Nomatic’s mission is to create quality products that are functional and versatile, and this bag is no exception to that mission and is a testament to why they were able to raise so much money.  Our Nomatic bag review will tell you all about this.

This review mostly focuses on one product: the Nomatic Travel Bag .

However, Nomatic currently offers several different types of backpacks. In this review, we will take a quick look at 2 other of their products – the Nomatic Backpack , Nomatic Travel Pack , and Nomatic Travel Bag . Whilst they share some similarities – aside from their confusingly similar names – they are meant for very different types of travelers.

The Nomatic Backpack and the Nomatic Travel Pack are very alike. They share a similar design, the ability to expand, and have amazing internal organization. Whilst their similarities are compelling, their differences are VERY important.

Meet the The Nomatic BACKPACK

The biggest difference is the size of the backpacks. The Nomatic Backpack is the smallest backpack from Nomatic. It’s 20L (but it can expand to 24L) and is recommended for everyday use. This is a brilliant little backpack, but because of its size, it should not be considered for long-term traveling and is more of a day bag.

The Nomatic Backpack is also made of durable, waterproof materials and zippers.

It also has some super-nifty features like the ability to tuck the straps making it into a duffel, and a cool magnetic water bottle holder.

Like all Nomatic products, this backpack has tons of pockets and compartments for next-level organization. Whether you are running to the coffee shop to get some work done, or catching a plane for an overnight journey – there are enough compartments to keep you and your gear happily organized.

One of the last cool features of the Nomatic Backpack is its removable panel. This panel is designed to hold electronic gear (keyboards, wires, chargers, etc) but no matter what gear you travel with, this panel can likely handle it.

This cool feature will give you the option of packing however you need to pack.

Heading to a co-working space to get some work done? Hitting up the library for a late-night study session? Add the panel!

But let’s say you are going for a quick overnight trip, or just hitting a night on the town and don’t need all your electronic gear – simply remove the panel and BOOM! You’ll shed a few ounces and be able to pack the bag the way you need it packed.

Super, super cool.

Some other noteworthy features of the Nomatic Backpack…

• RFID safe pockets – These will keep your electronic gear safe from hackers, which is getting exponentially more important by the year
• Hidden money pocket – Very, very useful to have
• Retractable key leash – Again, super useful, a great way to keep your keys safe and easily accessible
• Roller bag sleeve – Nomatic loves to make products for travelers. If you travel with a roller suitcase, this backpack will perfectly slip over the top of the retracted handle
• Cord pass throughs –  This backpack has strategically designed holes throughout that enable you to pass cords throughout the backpack (great for when you need a quick charge!)
• Removable shell for glasses –  Another nifty feature, the glasses case is durable and fits snugly into the backpack
• Notebook pocket –  If you are a notebook user then your special book will have a special place in the Nomatic backpack

Meet The Nomatic TRAVEL PACK

So if the Nomatic Backpack is the smallest in the Nomatic arsenal, the Nomatic Travel Pack is the mid-sized option in the family.

As mentioned, the Nomatic Backpack and the Nomatic Travel Pack are extremely similar. They are so similar, that everything that I just listed about the Nomatic Backpack ALSO applies to the Nomatic Travel Pack.

The Nomatic Travel Pack takes everything the Nomatic Backpack – but then adds on a few more awesome features.

Let’s look over the differences below…

The biggest difference is the size – The Travel Pack is a 20L, but has a nifty expansion feature that can increase its size to 30L.

This drastic expansion ability is one of the biggest reasons we adore this backpack. 20 and 30-liter backpacks are very different, and the ability to switch between the two is probably one of the coolest features ever made on a backpack.

This feature means you are going to have some amazing versatility. At 20 liters it is a light, everyday backpack. Whether you are in college, working from your laptop, or just need a sleek backpack to head around town in – the 20 liters set is perfect.

But let’s say you want to unleash the extra packing power of the Nomatic Travel Pack and unzip it to a 30 liter. 30 liters are large enough for 1-4 days trips, making this one of the best business backpacks on the market.

Some differences between this pack and the Nomatic Backpack…

• TSA ready – When going through airport security you can quickly unzip the laptop compartment without having to take your laptop out
• Tablet pocket – If you travel with an iPad or Kindle the Nomatic Travel Bag has a special pocket that will keep it safe and cozy
• Mesh dividing wall – Unlike the Nomatic Backpack, the Travel Bag does NOT have a removable panel. Instead, it utilizes a mesh wall in the main compartment which is great for organizing clothes for shorter trips
• Compression packing cubes –  well designed and a great feature, these guys are great for socks/underwear/etc. It also has two compartments, so you can keep your clean and dirty clothes separated

Back to the Nomatic TRAVEL BAG Review

Overall, the two aforementioned Nomatic products are amazing… but none of them can handle the needs of a long-term traveler.

That’s where we are now, with this Nomatic Travel Bag review.

This is the bag we are reviewing now. This is the largest of all Nomatic packs at a sturdy 40L. Nomatic recommends this bag for 3-7 day trips, but as someone who traveled for years with just a 40L (and a day bag), I can vouch that a 40L is capable of much more… if you don’t mind traveling minimalist and making some sacrifices.

Before we go any further, I need to drop some knowledge on you. The Peak Design Capture Clip is a cheap, game-changing tool for adventure photographers that lets you keep your camera within arm’s reach when hiking or moving about a city, without the camera ever getting in the way when you are not taking photos.

Clip it in, clip it out in one quick motion. Boom.

Investing in one of these is probably the best small adjustment you can make to your adventure photography setup. Just sayin’.

Check out the above video review for a super in-depth look at the Nomatic Travel Bag. 

Because the Nomatic Travel bag has a s**t ton of features, this is going to be a long section.

But don’t worry – it’s a great thing!

This is a bag that took a few years and a dozen prototypes to design, and it shows! The designers of this bag did a tremendous job of maximizing every bit of space available.

We think this bag is a work of art. Let’s show you why…

Size of the Nomatic Travel Bag

This is the single most important feature of the Travel Bag. The reason being, depending on your travel style this bag might be the perfect size for you… but it also might be way too small for you.

The reason being is it’s only a 40L. As mentioned, many professional travelers (including yours truly) have traveled the world for years on end with nothing but a 40L bag. The sense of freedom is intoxicating.

But having said that, traveling the world with a 40L bag is definitely not for everyone. Most long term travellers opt for 60 – 70L.

If you aren’t sure if you want to pack light or pack heavy, read the ‘Great Backpacker Debate’ in our breakdown of the top travel backpacks . It’ll give you everything you need to know about whether traveling ultralight or traveling with more stuff is better for you and your style.

Is the Nomatic Travel Bag a Carry on?

In the eternal argument of 40L vs 60L bags is one important caveat – 99 times out of 100, the Nomatic Travel Bag is going to be allowed as a carry-on.

This is huge.

Sure, Ryanair or other zealous budget airlines might try and charge you, or if you overpack your bag it might exceed it’s carry on weight limits… but if you pack like a semi-normal traveler and smile, this bag is USUALLY allowed as a carry-on.

Traveling with a carry-on bag can be a game-changer. Not only will you have the peace of mind of knowing where your valuables are at all times, but it will ease the stress on your back, as well as ease the cost of your trip (checked bags add up quickly!).

At 21″ x 14″ x 9″, you can rest soundly knowing that your bag will be with you for your entire flight – Nomatic is custom made for Carry on.

So if you are looking for one of the best carry on bags – you may have just hit the jackpot.

Nomatic Travel Bag as a Backpack OR Duffel Bag

One of our favorite features of the Nomatic Travel Bag is the fact that it can be used as a backpack or switch into an excellent travel duffel bag too.

As seen in the picture above, this is because of some pretty ingenious engineering.

This feature is incredibly useful and simple to use.

Other bags have implemented a duffel bag or shoulder strap feature, but we can confidently say that no one has done it as seamlessly as Nomatic has with the Travel Bag. Watch the video above for a demonstration (it’s quite smooth).

Laundry Bag

Another one of our favorite features is the laundry bag.

It’s a super simple addition, but one that we are wondering why other bags haven’t included thus far? It’s genius!

Laundry is easily one of the most agitating aspects of traveling, especially if you are traveling light. Traveling light means you’ll have a limited amount of clothes, so it will be important to keep the dirty clothes separate from your clean ones.

Enter the Nomatic laundry bag.

Simply take it out from the top of your bag, and hang it from the nearest hook or doorknob. And once you are ready to pack, you can easily put the laundry bag in the main compartment of your Nomatic Travel Bag.

This simple addition brings an enormous amount of convenience to travelers and should not be underestimated. Sure, you could purchase your travel laundry bag (there are tons on Amazon), but it won’t fit as seamlessly into your Travel Bag (plus it’ll cost you extra money!).

The laundry bag is made of mesh, which has its pros and cons. Pro? Super light and see-through! Cons? Your dirty laundry might stink up your bag. We recommend bringing a trash bag or something to cover your laundry bag when you are traveling with a full dirty load of clothes.

Believe me, you’ll thank us later 🙂

Weather Resistant Material

When traveling it’s quite common to get caught in the snow or rain.

So, Nomatic has taken measures to ensure that no matter the weather, your stuff stays safe.

The exterior of the Nomatic Travel Bag is  100% waterproof tarpaulin material.

In our experience we found it to be very durable. We wouldn’t recommend submerging the bag in a pool, but if you are caught in a semi-heavy rainstorm, you can rest easy knowing that your stuff is going to stay dry.

The zippers are also water-resistant, which means that they won’t rust in case you do find yourself getting caught in a rainstorm.

Overall, when it comes to the Nomatic Travel Bag, the last thing you need to worry about is the material. This is a bag made with love. The stitching is reinforced, and the bag feels and looks incredibly durable.

Water Resistant Water Pocket

We were initially torn on the water compartment but eventually came to be quite fond of it.

Here’s why.

The water compartment allows you to do many things…

• Produce less waste (and save the environment)
• Save more money (by only having to refill your bottle instead of buying new ones)
• Not worry about spillage (it’s waterproof!)
• Still have extra space (in case you want to put something else in the compartment)

We really love that the compartment IS water-resistant, so in a worst-case scenario if your water DOES spill, it will not soak any other parts of your bag.

The material is solid. NOT water resistant, but water PROOF.

The water bottle pocket becomes very crowded as the bag fills, and if you have a very full bag it gets increasingly difficult to fit your bottle in.

Disclaimer – Water bottle not included.

Detachable Wait Straps

We get it – some people don’t like waist straps!

If that sounds like you, then rejoice, you can leave ’em behind!

We think the detachable waist straps are cool for those it matters for. We’d recommend detaching the waist straps if you prefer to use your Nomatic Travel Bag as a duffel bag (which many, many people do!).

But if you do like the Nomatic as a backpack, we recommend leaving them on. Back support rocks.

Shoe Compartment

Another feature you don’t see in a lot of travel bags. Sure, all bags have compartments that shoes  can  fit in, but we haven’t seen many bags that make compartments specifically fit for shoes.

This is a cool pocket and while it might look small, actually packs a nice punch and can fit whatever pair of shoes you’d like – sneakers, dress shoes, sandals, crocs (no judgments).

Anything but a pair of boots should be fine.

If you really want to utilize the shoe compartment but don’t want to bring extra shoes – you can still use the space! Pack a jacket, light sweater, or another article of clothing that is compressible. Then you will be performing at maximum-packing-efficiency.

Simply put – you might find it difficult to fit BOTH a pair of shoes and a water bottle.

You’ll notice that as you pack your goods in certain compartments, space will shrink in other compartments. This is travel-packing-101 and one of the largest obstacles if you are traveling with a 40L bag.

Roller Pack Sleeve

In the situation that you travel with a roller suitcase – like the Nomatic Carry On Pro – you are going to love this.

The Nomatic Travel Bag has a roller pack sleeve built into it.

This means that you can easily slide your bag directly over top of the handle of your luggage.

Then you can send your luggage to check-in, and take your Nomatic bag with you on your flight.

This is a feature that will only affect a small portion of you – but it’s worth mentioning.

Laptop/Tablet Slot

Laptop sleeves are essential, and one of the biggest reasons we recommend modern bags like Nomatic and Tortuga for digital nomads and traveling professionals.

Old school travel bags like Osprey and REI can’t give your tech-specs the same love. If you travel with a laptop , you should have something special. Case closed.

The laptop/tablet sleeve compartments are fairly standard in their design, similar to Tortuga. The laptop sleeve can hold up to a 15″ laptop, and the tablet sleeve is great for an iPad, Kindle, or if you have neither it works nicely as a sleeve to fit documents or papers you might be traveling with.

If you have larger than a 15″ laptop it will not fit in this bag.

RFID Safe Pocket (Plus some awesome tech-management stuff)

This is where Nomatic’s features come on full display.

Most travel bags are designed fairly similarly. Large central compartments filled with smaller compartments. But not Nomatic.

As opposed to other bags, Nomatic has put nifty side compartments on the Nomatic Travel Bag – and the results are fairly kick-ass.

The first side compartment is meant for all your tech gear. Here you can easily fit your laptop charger, phone charger, plus any other wires and chords you may be traveling with.

These pockets are well designed, and most importantly they are easily accessible. Other ‘modern’ travel bags lack this sort of tech-accessibility, making it one of our favorite features of the bag.

Finally, this side-compartment also has an RFID safe pocket (shown above where the person is putting the money).

RFID is a technology that can help you stay safe from electronic pickpockets, and while the technology can be a bit controversial, we think it’s cool to have!

This pocket is meant to hold your compact security items. Think passport, cash, credit cards, and government IDs. You can be extra comfortable knowing that this pocket comes with the lock, so your goods will be safe from electronic and real pickpockets.

Take that, thieves.

Easy Access Notebook Side-Pocket

If you don’t read or write in a notebook, you can skip to the next part.

For your readers or moleskin-ers – you’ll love this.

This is a basic sleeve for a book or notebook, but what makes it particularly awesome is its convenience. No more digging deep into your bag to find the book. No more creating your improv-book-slots.

Nomatic gives you a nice size sleeve, and its easy accessibility makes it a great feature.

Lifetime Warranty

Nomatic offers a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee, and will also fix any defects of their responsibility-free of charge.

Simple and effective.

Now, you  could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card!  REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

So we’ve basically gone through all of the noteworthy Nomatic Travel Bag features.

Everything mentioned  before this point was included in the price.

These travel accessories are not. Take a look at some of the coolest Nomatic travel accessories.

So what do Nomatics competitors have to say about this? How does the bag compare to other bags on the market? Let’s tale a look at some other bags that you may you like.

AER Flight Pack

A similar option to the Nomatic Travel Pack is the AER Flight pack. It has a very similar design, build and capacity. The AER is also carry on ready and can also be used as backpack, or carried like a briefcase.

In terms of how the AER Flight Pack differs from the Nomatic, I guess the most apparent difference is the build material. It’s sleek, it’s cool, it’s organisation-lover’s dream, and yes: it will slide right underneath the seat in front of you on any plane, so you can easily get to your stuff when you need it.

Nomatic Travel Pack Vs Aer Flight Pack

Nomatic travel pack.

• Dimensions – 21? x 14? x 9?
• Capacity – 40L
• Outer Material –
• Carry on Approved – Yes

AER Travel Pack

• Dimensions – 21.5” x 13.5” x 8.5
• Capacity – 33L

Our GREATEST Travel Secrets…

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Really, it’s quite simple.

If you like the sleek design and calculated efficiency, you are going to love the Nomatic Travel Bag.

You just need to ask yourself that one question- is it too big or too small for you?

If you like the sleek design and are attracted to these kinds of bags, but the Nomatic is too small for you – check out our behind the scenes guide to the Tortuga Outbreaker . If it’s too big for you, definitely check out the Tortuga Setout Laptop Backpack.

Ultimately, we’re giving the Nomatic Travel Bag a score of 5/5 stars – which is a rating we don’t give lightly.

What do you think? Did our Nomatic backpack review answer all of your questions? If you have any more, let us know in the comments below!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

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23 Comments

I have a little problem with Nomadic in their supply chain. I ordered a one liter fanny pack and a backpack and they messed up on the orders. One I’d had on afterpay and the other one was charged completely. and I don’t know. Their customer services really needs to be improved. I guess the two issues are supply chain and customer service

We are very sorry to hear about that. I hope they eventually resolve the issue for you.

Thank you for this review! (Liked the video one as well . . . ) Do you happen to know anything about Nomatic’s materials sourcing, in terms of environmental sustainability, labor chain, etc.?

I don’t know to much about the Nomatic supply chain but will be making an effort to find out ASAP.

Meanwhile, if you are after an ethically sourced alternative to the Nomatic then check out our Best Eco Luggage post;

https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/best-eco-friendly-luggage/ – There are a few good options in there.

Currently really disappointing with the product and service. Got a traveler and the zipper ripped right out of the bag. I sent in a warrentee claim and it took months to get a replacement. The replacement broke in the exact same spot in the exact same way within a few months. I submitted a warrentee claim … again … and now it’s been several months with no response. I guess i’ll just go buy a different backpack? Cool concept, poor product and delivery.

Hi James – bummed to hear about your experience with Nomatic. I’d chalk it up to bad luck? Two in a row is very unusual. Usually, their quality performance is pretty high so I am surprised to hear you have issues with the backpack. I’d keep after Nomatic and insist they offer you a free backpack or a gift card or the like. Then delay in response might be due to COVID – stay after them and hopefully, they will sort you out soon! Even if you have had issues I would still have faith in Nomatic – maybe they are still working out the kinks with this particular line. Good luck mate.

Love these bags! Purchased some for corporate gifts, but, can’t figure out how to brand them! Does anyone know what the best way to add a logo without damaging the material?

I wonder the appearance of the bag when carrying only half full of things inside, will it retain the boxy shape of the bag? , otherwise it would be ugly to see

Nice review, and appreciated. I am disappointed that there was not review of the overall quality/performance of the bag. Some reviews in other places suggest issues with zippers and handles. None of these other great features matter if you lose a zipper. Any data, thoughts, opinions on how robust these bags are?

Hello Tahl,

Nomatic Bags are as tough as nails. We love them for their long-term durability. Another fine, tough option is the AER Travel Pack . Good luck!!

Would you suggest this backpack to be used for school purposes as well?

Hello Kohl,

Yes, the Nomatic bag is a great backpack choice for University students. I would suggest going with a smaller Nomatic bag though as you may find that this bag is slightly too large for your needs. That said if you need space for a laptop and other school stuff, plus you want a bag to do weekend trips with, then this backpack is a perfect choice. cheers!

I did not see the empty weight of these, can you let us know? Before we start packing extra shoes, a comparison with other backpacks would be useful too.

The Nomatic Travel Bag weighs roughly 4 lbs/ 2kgs :).

The Nomatic Backpack or Travel Bag seem almost ideal to me! I also need a bag that will safely carry my Mavic Air DJI drone, batteries and charger. Do you believe either bag would be a good choice for me?

Thank you for your input.

Jerry Herren

If you’re packing in equipment like that on top of your usual travel essentials, go for the 40L! I use the 30L for my long-term travel, but I wouldn’t be able to fit that much kit into it.

You might like the Peak Design travel bag, which is made for photography equipment and is now getting known as a really sexy well-designed bag for non-photographer

Very in-depth review on these bags which is exactly what I needed to decide that I need to use the Nomatic Travel Pack as my go to for upcoming trips. However when I went to the site following your link, I discovered that your promo code for ‘Christmas’ was unable to be applied. Apparently, Nomatic doesn’t allow promo codes during the holidays. Found this interesting seeing as you advertised your code as ‘Christmas Promo’.

We can confirm that the Nomatic promo code is no longer active. We’ve gone ahead and updated our posts to reflect this.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Will This bag fit under a plane’s seat or is it too big to fit there?

You won’t be able to store any bag over 30 liters under your plane seat. You’ll want to store this bag in an overhead bin.

I just want to ask how much the difference between 40l and 45l Im new , and looking for one with a modern design! Now i have 3 options in my mind (i put them as i favored 1- nomatic travel bag < i really like it so much but im afraid its not enough space 2- Tortuga setout 3- Tortuga Outbreaker When i travel im using a suitcase 50L the small one , and alot of space left cuz i dont pack much , and my trips alway 3-4 weeks ( so i take 2 jeans, 3 t shirts, 1-2 long sleeve shirt, a sport kit and rain coat ) and thats it I really do like 40L nomatic , but i feel its small compared to setout cuz in pics u can see setout had a huge space But im in love with nomatic desgin

You could add that having carry-ons at some airports saves a long time and hike to go to the carousel.

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What are you looking for?

Nomatic travel bag review (40l) - the most functional travel bag.

If you’re looking for the ultimate travel bag, you’ve come to the right place.

Today, I will be poring over the material, features, and build quality of the Nomatic Travel Bag 40L .

It comes with a lot of space and organisation, and transforms from a backpack to a duffle bag easily.

This bag claims to be very functional and practical, but how good is it really?

Rating: 8.5/10

Travellerspoint

Who exactly is Nomatic ?

Nomatic is a travel brand known to make various bags and gear for adventure purposes .

This includes backpacks and duffle bags, camera bags, apparel, and all sorts of travel accessories.

Designed in Salt Lake City in the States and made in the Philippines, Nomatic’s products use synthetic materials.

However, keep in mind that Nomatic is also known as Gomatic in Europe and the UK because of some trademarking issues.

A few of their bags also go by different names.

For example, instead of the Travel Bag 40L , they have the 40L Travel Duffel .

Nomatic 40L Travel Bag Video Review

Where can you buy the Nomatic Travel Bag 40L?

The best place to get the Nomatic Travel Bag 40L is through their website .

Meanwhile, if you’re in the UK and Europe, you can use the Gomatic website .

What’s great about buying straight from Nomatic is that you can get free shipping within the contiguous US for purchases above $49.

Not to mention the handy Manufacturer's Lifetime Warranty that protects against manufacturing defects such as faulty zippers, buttons, seals, and others.

Meanwhile, the store locator details all the offline stores and locations where you can shop for Nomatic’s products across the United States.

Quick overview: Technical Specifications

• Price: ‎$289.99
• Weight: 3.42 lbs
• Dimensions: 9" H x 21" W x 14" D
• Noteworthy Materials: 90% Polyester and 10% Nylon, YKK zippers. Vegan and 100% synthetic materials
• Color Options: Black
• Warranty: Manufacturer's Lifetime Warranty
• Capacity: 40L

Who should get this backpack?

I think this backpack is geared towards the travelling businessman or remote worker.  

While it doesn’t have the most techy features, there are enough compartments to store and organise your laptops, devices, and more, while also packing your clothes and other essentials.

But this Nomatic bag is also perfect for anyone who needs a spacious and versatile backpack that they can take on short trips and getaways!

Who should not get this backpack?

This bag is not a personal-item backpack so it won’t fit in front of you on a flight. So, if you’re looking for something smaller and more compact, this may not be the bag for you…

Moreover, while it’s got waist and sternum straps, this isn’t the most comfortable backpack you will find. If having the best ergonomics is a big priority, I’d recommend considering other options too.

Nomatic Travel Bag 40L Review

My first impression of this bag is that it’s giving me North Face vibes. My partner has two of their duffle bags and this reminds me of them, but almost better.

When you buy the Nomatic Travel Bag 40L, you will get waist straps and a laundry bag.

What is the difference between the Travel Bag 30L and 40L versions?

Besides being 10L smaller than the 40L Travel Bag, the shoe compartment on the 30L has a ventilated door with a water-resistant flap allowing you to choose if you want to keep water out or allow for ventilation. 

The 40L Travel Bag does not include a ventilated shoe compartment but does come with a custom laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate as you travel.

Back to our 40L review…

There is a lot to unpack with this backpack, so let's get started!

Get your Nomatic Travel Bag 40L Here

How well-made is the Travel Bag 40L?

Just straight out, I love the shape of the Travel Bag 40L and how well it holds its shape, both packed and unpacked.

It is jet black so I couldn’t see all of the cool features until I explored the bag a bit more, which is great in terms of travelling as it’s not overly eye-catching. Plus, it was fun to figure out all the different parts and organisations, and this is overall a great, reliable bag.

The backpack uses a water-resistant tarpaulin material composed of 90% polyester and 10% nylon. 

What I especially love is that it’s vegan and made of 100% synthetic materials.

The industry-standard YKK zippers run great, while the PU coating allows nothing to seep in, which is exactly what you want to protect your belongings.

They also have tags to help pull them open easily.

One thing to note is that because of the colour and everything blends together, there’s a higher chance you might open up the wrong zip from time to time.

The handle on the top of the bag is strong and sturdy. It stays in this shape, stays up, and is well-padded. All in all, it does the job well.

While there is no side handle, the backpack can enter duffle bag mode so you have the two straps on the side of the bag. There’s a folded clip on one side that you can place over the two main straps. 

The construction is great for when you want to carry the bag that way!

At the bottom of the backpack, there is an extra handle that has this seatbelt-like material, which is handy for hanging up the back or picking it up or out of places. 

The material of one of the inner pockets is also laminated which makes it easy for spillages. Just fold it out and dry it off.

Overall I think this Nomatic bag aims to do well. It’s adaptable, stylish, and simple.

How comfortable is the Nomatic Travel Bag 40L?

In backpack mode, I feel like there is a huge lack of support, airflow, and overall thought when it comes to comfort.

I think there could have been so much more done here that would make this an even better travel bag, especially for people like myself who need extra support. And even those who don’t, your back is just going to get sweaty when carrying it.

However, I guess I can kind of see with it being the main opening for that main compartment, so maybe they felt that would be too much or too heavy. Also maybe because this bag goes from duffle to backpack and vice versa, keeping it clean and minimal is what works best…

The strap comfort is fine and decent, but not great.  

For the price and compared to other travel backpacks, the whole back strap system of the Nomatic Travel Bag 40L could definitely be improved.

I would have loved to have seen more adjustable straps at the top of the backpack where you then have control over how straight and tight it can come into your shoulders and upper back.

Without this, you are left with a gap and the material is that seatbelt-like material. This won’t be a problem if you’re wearing a jacket with enough padding on it yourself. 

Otherwise, in hot weather, you will notice the rubbing on the skin which may cause blistering because of the lack of connection and the gap created

The main straps on the chest area can feel suffocating as there’s not much room here. There’s also a sternum strap that can be adjusted but not removed.

The sternum strap doesn’t have any added elastic to stop the excess material from flapping about so it just hangs there along with the rest of the material on the main straps and waist belt when you have that on.

Again for the price (and this goes for the 15L Lite too), I think Nomatic needs to upgrade the hardware. I’m seeing a lot of plastic and a lack of durability.

But with all that said, this bag is fine if you’re not hiking or walking for long periods of time.

Overall, I recommend using the waist belt as it helps distribute the weight, while the sternum strap will provide the support that the back of the backpack lacks.

What makes the Travel Bag 40L a great backpack?

So, what exactly makes the Travel Bag 40L so great? Here are some of its notable features:

1. Transformable duffle backpack

You’ve probably realized that this is no ordinary backpack. It’s transformable and doubles as a duffle bag, which is adaptable to your needs and comfort.

When in duffle mode or not in use, the waist belt is removable via gatekeeper which is a better hardware style than the plastic. 

But if you are transforming from duffle to backpack mode, the hip straps should probably come off otherwise they are left hanging there and can be in the way. 

Personally, I don’t use this backpack as a duffle bag as I don’t find it useful for my lifestyle and daily wear. 

But if you do then this is definitely a huge plus and allows you to only bring one bag for multiple purposes, especially when travelling.

2. Very spacious

The bag itself is very spacious at 40L, which is perfect for travel.

The back part of the backpack is where you open up to the main compartment of the bag. It has something akin to a clamshell opening in that the bag opens up widely and makes it easy to pack and find specific items.

Nomatic does their own packing cubes and I feel like it would work well for getting the best out of the space, so I would recommend getting maybe 2 large, medium, and a small cube in there.

This will make organising all your stuff much easier too.

The bag is said to be ideal for 3-7 day trips, though I always think you can get more when you pack smarter (i.e. with packing cubes)

Also, this feels great for long travel. Say you are someone who wants one backpack that is not overly tall but with enough space to get through your adventures.

3. Great organisation system

There are three quick-access pockets at the top of the backpack, and the one closest to the handle inside is lined with microfleece so you can put your glasses, earphones, etc in there.

It does have a cord pass-through pocket which makes it easy to store a power bank or portable charger inside while still using your phone.

Then there is the side tech pocket. This is where you can store money or other valuables as you can add a lock here when necessary, which I LOVE.

This compartment is sleek, it has all the fun you need for organising your smaller items.

It’s also RFID blocking and has smaller pockets, two bigger pockets, and a meshed pocket.

What more could you want?

On the other side are two more pockets, which are great for things you need quick access to.

Moving on to the bottom, there’s a shoe compartment for placing your dirty shoes and keeping them separate from your other items.

I love that this is separate from the main compartment and doesn’t take up room inside even when not in use.

Moreover, you’ve got a laptop compartment here that is not overly padded but has a microfleece material to prevent scratches and whatnot on your laptop. It’s nothing fancy but does the job. 

This space fits up to 16 inches, and in reference, my 11-inch Acer sits very nicely here.

Directly in front is a smaller pocket with the same fleece material, both held down by a velcro strap.

There is another pocket near the water bottle compartment (which I’ll get to in more detail in the “cons” section below) that’s great for things you might need first access to or simply keeping everything organised.

This one doesn’t run too deep which is great because you won’t be faffing about with it.

I’m thinking of when it’s in the overhead bin on a flight and you need to grab something fast from here, say a snack or your headphones.

With that said, just note that this pocket is easy to access, and should you leave your bag unattended, then someone could potentially unzip it easily.

Finally, the waist belt has two pockets on each side with waterproof material. It’s not overly big but enough to keep cards, your ID, and a phone.

4. Versatile look

This bag is very premium looking while serving both interrailing and business trip vibes. In other words, it adapts well to whatever your travel situation is.

I also love this ballistic nylon material as it adds character to the bag.

This bit is water-resistant and the front of it can get crinkled if not stored properly—it kind of folds into itself.

5. Waterproof & easy to clean

The tarpaulin material on this Nomatic bag is impressively strong and sturdy.

This is something I would definitely take with me camping to places like Donegal as it’s easy to wipe down and I wouldn’t be fearful of getting the bag dirty!

They recommend wiping the bag down with a damp cloth and soap if needs be, but remember that it’s not machine washable.

Not to mention that it’s weather resistant, making it ideal for travel.

6. TSA-ready flap

An underrated feature of this bag is actually the TSA-ready flap.

This smart design allows you to breeze through airport security without having to fumble with all your gadgets.

You can pass through TSA while keeping your tech inside the bag!

Cons of the Travel Bag 40L

What I immediately noticed about this backpack is that there is a lot of excess material but not enough added material.

I can understand this because the added material would take away from this sleek, clean, and minimalist design. But still, I would have loved maybe an extra loop or hook that I could externally attach things like my headphones, tripod, dumbbells, etc.

The backpack does have a luggage slit, but it does fall horizontally. I think it works well for this backpack but is not great because of the position of some of the pockets where if you open them things might fall out.

A big drawback for me is that there is no external water bottle holder. 

Yes, there’s a place for your water bottle at the top of the bag, which can hold up to about 9-inch-sized bottles. It has a water-resistant material so is fairly easy to clean.

But I personally don’t keep my bottle here as I prefer it to be on the side and outside of the bag so it doesn’t take up the internal room.

Another thing is that I wouldn’t love to be wearing this backpack on a hot day or in hotter countries. The material, although waterproof and strong, is the type that will stick to your skin on those hotter days. 

Good thing I live in Ireland so this isn’t too much of a problem for me.

The material here is also a bit stiff and heavy , which may or may not be your cup of tea, but is worth noting!

Nomatic Travel Bag 40L: Performance over time

Here are my impressions in bullet points after using the Travel Bag 40L for the first time, and then three weeks later.

• Bulky, strong, and overall a great spacious backpack 
• Clean and sleek in its design
• A lot of features to keep you interested

After 3 weeks:

• Continues to be strong and great to pack up with plenty of space, and comes with a hip belt and laundry bag 
• There is no real back support on the bag such as a cushion or airflow so on a hot day that material will make you sweaty
• Easy to clean, got great features, and sturdy bag for long trips or short adventures 

Overall verdict: Are Nomatic bags worth buying?

Here’s where to skip to if you don’t have time to read the entire review.

Should you buy the Nomatic Travel Bag 40L?

I would say yes, in most cases, you should.

Especially if you’re a frequent traveller or someone who will benefit from having great organisation features.

This Nomatic bag can also be ideal to bring in addition to a suitcase and you need all the extra space.

What else does Nomatic sell?

Nomatic navigator lite 15l.

This minimalist backpack is perfect if you’re looking for an everyday bag for sightseeing and office use alike. It’s simple yet full of organisational features. I’ve written a full review of the Navigator Lite too!

McKinnon Camera Pack 30L

Nomatic’s camera bags are specially designed for photographers and vlogger. This one in particular includes an expansion option, gear loops, strong materials, and internal dividers.

Nomatic 40L Alternatives

Knack bags series 2 medium expandable backpack.

Knack Bags is a great alternative with more organisational features. This is also a transformable bag that you can expand or compress depending on what you need.

Peak Design 30L Travel Backpack

The Peak Design 30L is a fantastic alternative that is just a backpack with great quality and decent features. It’s simple in terms of style but has a special laptop compartment with plenty of padding. Check out my full review here !

Alright, that’s all for my review today.

Have you ever tried this or other bags by Nomatic?

Let me know in the comments below!

Don’t miss these gear reviews as well:

• Knack Bags Expandable Backpack Review
• Pacsafe Citysafe CX Anti-Theft Backpack Review
• Peak Design Travel Backpack

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NOMATIC Travel Bag Review

After raising an enormous $5m on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, the NOMATIC Travel Bag promises to be “the most functional travel bag ever.” In practice we found that claim to be a little hit and miss.

Video Review

Our verdict.

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• Optimized size for maximum legal carry on.
• Nice additional touches, such as waterproof pocket, shoe compartment and laundry basket.
• Hip-belt is detachable and comes with slanted-zipper pockets for easy access.
• Laptop compartment isn’t ideal for quick access and can make it hard to close the pack.
• Duffel and shoulder strap system is a little bit clunky in practice.
• The pack is trying to do too much and it clutters the experience.

Technical Details

Carry-on compliance.

View 92/145 Airlines

Disclaimer: We take the measurements of the bag provided by the manufacturer and compare them to the allowance listed on airline websites. This should be used as a guideline rather than a rule. Bags can change size as you pack them out, and every airline's interpretation of compliance is different. Just because a bag is listed as carry-on compliant here doesn't mean that the airline will interpret it that way.

Weight (lb)

4.45 lb (2 kg)

21 in x 14 in x 9 in (53.3 x 35.6 x 22.9 cm)

Notable Materials

Duraflex Hardware, Tarpaulin

Manufacturing Country

Laptop Compartment Size

Warranty Information

Lifetime Warranty

Buying Options

Pros get up to 20% off

Full Review

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NOMATIC is known for their extremely successful crowdfunding campaigns, where they create innovative and unique travel gear. Designed as “the most functional travel bag ever”, the Travel Bag raised a massive $5m on Kickstarter and Indiegogo combined. It’s maximum legal carry on compatible and comes with lots of unique features that you’ve probably never seen before.

But will those features actually prove to be functional on the road? We took the NOMATIC Travel Bag around Detroit, LA, Joshua Tree, New York and Minneapolis for testing and to find out just how practical these unique features really are.

Material & Aesthetic

Not to be confused with their “Travel Pack,” The NOMATIC Travel Bag looks like a giant box on your back—because that’s basically what it is.

Other bags that utilize a “box-y” shape, such as the Minaal Carry-on 2.0 , have added some curvature to the edges, making it less box-like. Not so with this pack! NOMATIC really went all-in on this one, taking advantage of every corner to maximize space. The result is some pretty sharp, box-like corners.

If you can’t tell already, we aren’t huge fans of the aesthetic—but you do get that extra capacity in the corners which is always nice to have.

NOMATIC boasts that the bag is made of strong, waterproof tarpaulin material that will “last forever.” However, we’ve found that while the tarp is strong—and totally weather resistant—the other materials on the bag are somewhat lacking.

The tarpaulin material makes up the top, front, sides and bottom of the pack (5 out of 6 sides of the cube), and there’s also some on the straps, along with some foam padding.

However, that means the back panel is not made from waterproof material. It’s made of a ballistic weave (either polyester or nylon material) and some more padding.

What this really means is that if you were to place the bag in a puddle of water, the water would seep right in and soak all your gear. This seems like a strange choice to us. Why advertise the pack with waterproof materials, when the bottom of the pack, where you set it down in duffel mode, isn’t even water resistant ?

Just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, this front panel seems to negate the benefits of the tarpaulin that is used for the other panels (which, as it happens, is totally weather proof, seriously resilient stuff).

We can’t seem to figure out why they wouldn’t have just included the tarpaulin (or some other waterproof material) on the back panel as well. Lowered costs? Worldwide tarpaulin shortages? A full-blown government conspiracy? Who knows.

In terms of branding, there is a simple, low key logo in the bottom corner. We’re fans of minimalistic branding here at Pack Hacker, so we’re glad they didn’t go with anything more flashy.

In addition to the logo, they also have some triangle patterns in various places on the pack (the trendy mountain/triangle image is their logo). These are a little bold for our taste, and we’d prefer the designs to be a bit more subtle. Perhaps less contrast between the pack and the triangles would help, or just having the designs appear in fewer places. Having said that, some people certainly appreciate more conspicuous branding—to each their own.

Wrapping it up, there are some sturdy Duraflex® buckles used on the harness system, and metal zippers on the pockets and main compartment.

The main compartment also features some partially “hidden” zippers, for increased security.

Overall, NOMATIC has chosen some solid, durable materials for this pack—although we’ve heard a couple reports of broken zippers. And while we do love the waterproof tarpaulin, we just wish it encompassed the entire bag. Alas. Let’s move on and take a look at the outside of the pack.

External Components

One quick look at this bag and you can easily see that the external features of the Travel Bag are… minimal. The folks at NOMATIC have chosen to maintain a simple external style, reserving the main innovations for the inside of the pack. It certainly makes for a clean look!

First off, on the top of the pack we have a SUPER thick carry handle. It’s really strong and padded, almost to a fault. We’ve never needed a handle to be quite this thick, and it seems like they have gone a little overboard with the padding. (You know it’s serious when we say it’s too much padding!)

There is also a smaller handle on the bottom side of the pack. We have found this to be useful when pulling your pack off of conveyor belts at the airport, grabbing it from underneath a bus, or out of an overhead bin. In general, we’ve found that additional handles are rarely a problem and can actually quite convenient.

In contrast to the top handle, we think the bottom handle is actually a little too thin! We wish NOMATIC had balanced these handles out a bit. Take a little padding and strength from the top handle and add it to the bottom one, then both would be perfect.

Halfway down the back panel is a horizontal “pass through” section, so you can carry it securely on top of a roller suitcase when passing through the airport or getting to your bus or taxi. NOMATIC is obviously targeting a broad section of travelers with this pack, so this feature will be super useful if you’re traveling with roller luggage.

Now we come to one of the main talking points of this pack—the shoulder straps that double up as “duffel style” straps.

NOMATIC has designed this bag as something of a cross between a backpack and a duffel bag. This means the straps are a bit more complex than your average shoulder strap.

Rather than being solidly anchored at the bottom of the pack—as with most backpacks—the straps run through a Duraflex slider and back up to the top of the pack. When you want to carry the pack in duffel mode, you can pull the “extra” section of the straps (that run back up to the top of the pack) and carry the pack using those—just like a duffel bag.

NOMATIC Travel Bag Shoulder / Duffel Strap System

When it’s time to use the bag in backpack mode, just pull the “main” sections of the straps (which are padded, and run from the top of the pack down to the sliders) and use those to carry the bag on your back.

It’s a novel concept, with a fairly slick execution. NOMATIC even has a clip in their promo video where the guy converts it to a duffel by throwing the bag up in the air, grabbing the straps on the way down, and walking away all non-chalant.

But in practice, we didn’t find it to be all that practical. While we did give it a go ourselves, it took a few tries to get it right—and throwing your bag in the air while flailing your arms as it careens to the ground in the middle of the airport is decidedly not cool.

Our final point on the shoulder straps is the absence of load lifters, meaning the pack tends to sag a little, especially when not fully loaded. With all the thought and research that’s gone into this pack, it’s surprising they missed these out. Load lifters would have been a small addition that would really improve the carry.

In addition to the flawed harness system, there were a few other practical blunders with this bag.

NOMATIC Travel Bag In Duffel Mode

Firstly, this thing is really wide. This means you have to hold it quite far away from your body to avoid it bumping into your legs while you walk. If you take a look at the marketing photos on NOMATIC’s website, you’ll notice that even their models seem to be holding it far away from their body as they carry it in duffel mode. This isn’t an enormous gripe, as you likely won’t be using it in duffel mode very often—but it isn’t quite as functional as NOMATIC might make it out to be.

NOMATIC Travel Bag Snap Handle

Secondly, the duffel strap is designed with a fabric handle, which wraps around the straps and clips in place with some snap buttons. Because of the width of the bag and the fact that we were carrying the pack fully loaded, these buttons actually popped undone when lifting the pack.

It seems like this system could have been thought through more carefully. Developing systems to improve the carry is all good, but what’s the point of having that feature if it won’t function properly when the pack is fully loaded?

Finally, another nitpick with the system is that we often found ourselves catching a hand on the duffel straps while putting the pack on as a backpack. It’s not a huge issue—and perhaps we would get used to the “technique” as we used the pack more—but it just seemed like an unnecessary inconvenience when all we wanted to do was grab the pack and go. As far as we’re concerned, you shouldn’t have to learn a special technique to put a backpack on.

With all this discussion around the multi-functional shoulder strap system… it begs the question: when would you actually want to carry a bag of this size like a duffel bag anyway?

Generally duffel bags are used to carry gear for short distances, like from your car to the gym. For longer travel, the shoulder strap backpack design is better in almost every way. There are certainly situations when you want to just grab the bag and carry it a short distance—from the security conveyor belt to the inspection table is one that springs to mind—but that’s what side handles are for. It seems like a problem that’s already been solved in a much simpler way, and we’ve been starting to feel like the whole duffel bag function is a little gimmicky.

Anyway! Enough gripes. Let’s take a look at the hip belt, which we really like.

Unfortunately for some body types—namely those with a longer torso—the “hip belt” will actually work out to be more of a “stomach belt,” which can be uncomfortable. Not to worry though, because the hip belt is detachable, and that makes us happy!

With a pack of this size, a detachable hip belt is always a welcome addition. With smaller bags you can get by without it, but when you’re talking about a larger bag for extended travel, you really need a hip belt. Of course, if it doesn’t fit you properly, it’s great to have the option to remove it, rather than having the unused straps flapping around all the time.

Another thing we like about the hip belt is that it has pockets with a slanted zipper. Having the zipper at a slanted angle makes it easier to look down at what’s inside the pocket and access your quick grab items while wearing the pack. The only complaint we have about these pockets is that they aren’t 3D, which reduces the capacity and limits what type of items you can put in them.

If you’re planning to put something long and rigid in here—such as your phone—it’s going to be tough. Larger phones have a pretty tight fit. Plus, if you do get it in, it means the hip belt won’t wrap properly around your waist. Long story short, these pockets are best for smaller items or flexible stuff like cash, tickets or receipts.

With all that said, most of the features are on the inside of the pack—so let’s open it up and see what we have in there.

Internal Components

Alright, the inside of this pack is where things start to get interesting.

Starting at the bottom of the pack, there is a spacious, separate compartment to store your shoes. We really love when bag companies include a shoe compartment! If you’re used to traveling with an extra set of footwear, you’ve probably ended up wrapping them in a bag of some sort and just stuffing them in your pack with the rest of your clothes. We prefer not have our funky shoes so close to clean underwear and toiletries, so shoe compartments are always a welcome addition.

If you’re not carrying shoes, then this section will come in useful for storing bulky items you’d prefer to keep away from your clean clothes in the main compartment. Great for wet clothes or other odds and ends.

Next up on the “awesome and unique features list” is a packable laundry basket that you can take out, untwist, hang on a doorway and use as a laundry basket right in your hotel room. (Just as you’d have at home—yay!)

If you’re not planning on washing your clothing at all on a trip, you can just load up your dirty clothes in here and stuff the laundry bag in your pack when it’s time to leave. Take it all home and wash it there.

Again, this solves a nice little problem for us. Too often we end up stuffing laundry items into plastic bags, or finding other ways to keep dirty clothes separate from clean items. This provides a great solution to that and it has the added benefit of helping to keep your hotel room floor free of dirty clothes. If you use it, that is.

NOMATIC Travel Bag Top Pocket

Taking a look at the top of the pack, there’s a pocket similar to the shoe compartment that opens right up and offers a good amount of storage space. It’s a bit smaller than the shoe compartment, and we found it useful for storing bulky items, or things like socks and underwear that you want to keep separate and organized.

Right next to that pocket, there’s another pocket which is lined with a totally waterproof, shiny tarp-like material. Since NOMATIC doesn’t include any external water bottle compartments—because they wanted to keep that slick, box shape—they created this pocket to give the option of storing a water bottle. This, once again, solves a unique problem. We can all relate to that anxious feeling you get when putting water bottles in the main compartment with the rest of your gear (ie; electronics). Fear no more.

This pocket could also be useful for toiletries. Not only to safeguard against leaks, but also because the location at the top of the pack provides easy access if you need to take them out quickly—like at security, or when you want to freshen up at a rest stop.

Finishing up the top of the pack, there is also a little felt-lined pocket. It’s designed for quick grabs—passport, tickets and other items needed for security—but the extra special feature is the felt lining. Great for protecting your phone and other electronics from scratches—a really nice touch that we haven’t seen on many other packs.

Moving on, on one side of the pack there are two external zippered pockets. One is two-thirds of the length of the pack, and the other makes up the final third. They’re simple pockets with no separate compartments inside.

One of the issues with these pockets—like the pockets on the hip belt—is that they aren’t 3D. They don’t have their own dedicated space, so stuffing them with gear will eat into the storage space on the inside of the bag. Likewise, stuffing the main compartment to its limit will also make it hard to get items into the outer pockets. It’s not a major issue, but it’s worth noting that you’ll have to find a balance when packing your gear.

Flipping to the other side of the bag, there’s a large pocket that fully opens up and reveals a lot of small organizational compartments inside. Looking closely, there are two stretchy mesh pockets down at the bottom, as well as another felt material section. At the top, there’s a fairly large compartment that opens and closes with a zipper.

We also have a pocket that’s lined with RFID-safe material. It’s designed for things like passports, credit cards, phones, or anything that you want to block from external signals. Whether you actually see value in this feature is a matter of personal preference, but it’s there for anyone who does want to use it. It’s still a great pocket to have, even if you’re not really concerned about the RFID protection element.

Overall, the zippered pockets in this section are going to be the most useful. The nylon, stretchy pockets and slider pockets are nice to have, but when you start moving around the contents are going to get mixed up inside, undoing all that organization. The items in the zippered pockets will stay put.

You also want to be a little careful when opening up this section—if you end up with loose items bouncing around they have a tendency to fall out when you open the bag up. The last thing anyone needs is their gear bouncing around on the street or on busy public transport. That’s no fun.

Now for the main event—the clam shell main compartment, which NOMATIC describes as “a full perimeter zipper to give you the widest opening possible, for optimal packing and easy access to the interior of the bag.” We can confirm that this is exactly what you get. It is basically a giant bucket with a lot of storage capacity.

And it’s here that we’ve come to appreciate the sharp corners of the pack. Being able to pack right up into the corners means you can pack it like a suitcase, flat packing your clothes in a really organized way.

The only thing to bear in mind here is that the pockets on the bottom and sides will eat into that main compartment space if you load them up too heavily. Employ a little mindfulness when packing items into the pockets/main compartment though, and you have a ton of room.

We’ve found we can fit two rows of packing cubes in here, which is very satisfying and helps keep everything super organized. The main compartment is also ideal for flat packing clothes—especially shirts and other items that have been ironed and need to stay flat.

Moving through the laundry list of internal components, we’re finally hitting on the oh-so-important electronics compartment. The lid of the main compartment is set up to accommodate all your flat electronics. There are two flat pockets on the inside of the lid—a smaller tablet pocket and a larger pocket just behind that for your laptop. The laptop pocket is spacious, and we had no problem fitting in a 15-inch Macbook Pro.

Unfortunately, there is a small issue with this system. When the bag is really full, it can feel like you’re jamming down your electronics if you try to force the lid closed on an overly packed bag. You don’t get this issue when the laptop pockets are at the back of your pack (against your back, like a framesheet—the absence of which causes this pack to crumple easily and suffer from a lack of structure), as is common with most packs.

Having your laptop in the lid of the pack also makes the lid very rigid. It’s hard to open the bag slightly, take a peek in, and grab whatever you need. You’re forced to really open the pack up before you can reach any items, because the lid won’t flex and give you space to reach a hand in.

This issue is exacerbated somewhat by the zipper being somewhat hidden. It’s a security feature, which is actually really useful for preventing would-be thieves from unzipping your pack and grabbing your stuff. The flip side of this extra security is that it also makes it harder for you to just crack open the pack and reach for items in a hurry.

Having said that, NOMATIC has included a lot of external storage options for items you want quick access to, such as the felt lined quick grab pocket on the top, and the zippered side compartments. If you get used to using those, you shouldn’t need to reach into the main compartment too often.

Overall, the internal features of this bag are pretty useful in practice. We’re especially pleased with the waterproof bottle pocket and the laundry bag, which are unique features that really come in handy while traveling.

Durability & Testing

At the time of this review, we’ve been testing the NOMATIC Travel Bag on trips across the US, in cities like Joshua Tree, Los Angeles, Detroit, Minneapolis, and New York City.

Overall, the durability and quality of the pack has held up so far. There aren’t any scratches or scuffs on the material and we haven’t noticed any fraying or damage.

Usage Timeline

Condition: Fine

The pack is working well, but the couple of gripes with the harness system and the unbuttoning duffle straps right of the bat are ominous signs.

Same condition – no blemishes on the fabric yet and overall holding up well after 2 months.

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Nomatic 40L Travel Bag Review

By: Author Lora Pope

Posted on Published: January 25, 2022  - Last updated: July 5, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking and making a purchase through the links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my disclaimer for more information. This and display ads allow me to keep the site up to date and give back .

Downsizing to the Nomatic 40L travel bag was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s done wonders for my back yet is so well designed that I don’t even feel like I’m missing the space from my former 75l bag. Here’s my Nomatic 40L travel bag review to help you decide if this is the right travel bag for you.

Why I decided to get the Nomatic 40L Backpack

When I went backpacking around the world for a year , I took a 75L Deuter Bag. The saleswoman at the outfitter store told me the bag would be too big for my frame, but I neglected to listen.

Of course, I stuffed it with way more clothes than needed and picked up even more along the way. The bag became so large that I would have to get people to help me put it on!

When I came back from that trip, I knew I had to find a better bag. I spent a lot of time researching different t ravel bags for digital nomads and decided to go for the Nomatic 40L travel bag . I’m so happy with my decision, as this bag has fully lived up to my expectations!

This post is not sponsored by Nomatic; I purchased the bag myself.

Key Specs:  40L | 4lbs 8oz |  9″ H x 21″ W x 14″ D | 15” laptop sleeve | Waterproof materials

The Nomatic Brand

First off, I love this brand. Nomatic started as a Kickstarter , with the mission to create “the most functional gear ever to inspire confidence for life on the move.” So many people believed in this company that it raised over 1.7 million dollars! And now they are creating a range of incredible travel gear all made in Utah.

Features of the Nomatic 40L Backpack

The Nomatic travel bag is systematic and well designed, offering over 20 features that make it one of the most functional bags for digital nomads ever made. Check the video below for a full overview of what features the bag has to offer.

Carry-on Size

One of the best features of the Nomatic 40L backpack is that it is carry-on-sized. If you’re a frequent flyer like myself, this can lead to substantial cost savings over time. Baggage fees add up, and avoiding them is one of the best ways to save money on flights.

Traveling with carry-on luggage only has many other advantages too. For example, you can save a lot of time, as you don’t have to worry about waiting in line at the bag drop or missing the luggage drop cut-off times.

You can simply head to the exit when the plane lands instead of waiting by the baggage carousel, which always feels like an eternity. Plus, you don’t have to worry about airlines losing your bag, which has happened to me several times!

Electronic Storage

Laptop sleeves are essential if you’re a digital nomad working online, and this bag offers excellent protection for my Apple MacBook. It features a 15″ laptop sleeve inside the front compartment that’s easy to access. There’s also a smaller tablet sleeve which is great for an iPad or Kindle.

One of the side compartments is for all your tech gear and does a great job of keeping your cords organized with multiple pockets and slips, including an RFID safe pocket that will keep your credit card information safe from theft.

The other side has an easy-to-access side pocket that perfectly fits a notebook or journal. Although, I use this extra space for my toiletries.

Waterproof Exterior & Water Resistant Zippers

The bag’s exterior is 100% waterproof, which means you don’t have to stress if you get caught in the rain or snow, which happened to me all the time in Ireland and Patagonia.

While I don’t recommend submerging this bag in water, I’ve been caught in the rain with this bag many times and have had no issues with water getting inside. In addition, the zippers are water-resistant, which means they won’t rust even if they do get wet.

The Nomatic 40l bag also has a water-resistant pocket at the top where you can store your water bottle.

I always recommend traveling with a reusable water bottle as it will save you money and is more environmentally friendly. In the worst-case scenario that your water bottle leaks inside the water bottle pocket, you can rest assured knowing the rest of your gear is safe.

The only thing I find annoying about this pocket is that it can be challenging to fit your bottle in if you leave it as the last thing to pack.

Separate Shoe Compartment

I’m obsessed with the separate shoe compartment at the bottom of the Nomatic 40L travel bag .

As someone who often goes hiking , my shoes get dirty, and I don’t want to put them back with the rest of my stuff in the main compartment. The bottom compartment solves that problem.

It’s pretty roomy; I can fit a pair of hiking shoes along with sandals inside it.

Nomatic Travel Bag Volume

The material on the Nomatic backpack is thin yet durable, which leaves lots of room inside for your belongings. So even though the bag is just 40L, you can fit A LOT.

Nomatic says that the bag is designed to fit enough clothes for 3-7 days of travel. However, I’ve taken this bag for months and months of travel with no issues.

Since most of my clothing is light, I usually pack enough clothes for about ten days of travel + many accessories.

If you are traveling in colder climates with bulkier clothing, 3-7 days may be more realistic. Remember, laundry is accessible everywhere in the world!

Removable Waist Straps / Duffle Strap System

Another feature I love about the Nomatic bag is that it easily converts from a backpack to a duffel bag.

When using the bag as a backpack, you can attach the removable waist straps, which helps take the weight off your back.

The waist straps also have built-in pockets perfect for storing items you need to access quickly. But when you want to carry it as a duffle, you can easily take the waist straps off.

Nomatic Laundry Bag

The Nomatic 40L Travel pack comes with a mesh laundry bag, a perfect accessory for backpacking .

Traveling light means you’ll have to do laundry and keep your dirty clothes separate from your clean ones, and the laundry bag allows you to do just that.

The bag collapses into itself and perfectly fits inside the shoe compartment’s bottom. Then, when you take it out, you can hang it on any hook in the room.

Can Buy Additional Accessories

The Nomatic 40L travel bag comes with a laundry bag and removable waist straps, but Nomatic also sells other accessories that can bring your packing game to a new level.

I have the Nomatic toiletries bag , which has been a game-changer for keeping my toiletries organized. I also love how it fits perfectly in the bag above the shoe compartment!

They also sell packing cubes and shirt organizers , which are great for keeping your clothes organized while on the road.

100% Customer Satisfaction & Amazing Customer Service!

Nomatic offers a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee and will fix any defects of their responsibility, free of charge.

I contacted them last year, which was an extremely positive experience. Unfortunately, one of the clips attached to the waist straps had fallen off my bag and gotten lost, so I couldn’t use them.

I contacted customer service to get a new part, and to my surprise, they sent me an entirely new bag for no charge! Amazing!

Is the Nomatic 40l Travel Backpack right for you?

Traveling with just a 40L back isn’t for everyone, but it works for me. If you’re an aspiring digital nomad or long-term traveler looking for a bag that will help you pack light, I can’t recommend this bag enough.

However, if you’re someone who needs to travel with a ton of stuff, then this bag may not be for you. It also isn’t a great bag for hiking, as that’s not the design intent. Instead, check out some of these other backpacks for digital nomads.

The Nomatic 40L travel bag is often on sale; at the time of writing, it’s listed for 25% off on their website. You can also check the price on Amazon.

With a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee and lifetime warranty, there’s no reason not to try out a Nomatic travel pack. It’s been a game-changer for me this year, solving many of my travel pains.

Is Nomatic 40L a Carry On?

Yes! The size dimensions of the nomatic backpack 40l are 9″ H x 21″ W x 14″ D, which are considered carry-on for most major airlines. However, this will not meet the requirements of smaller, budget airlines like Ryanair. Find more information about the Nomatic carry-on bag in this post.

Is Nomatic a good brand?

Yes, Nomatic was started as a kickstart with the mission to create “the most functional gear ever.” So many people believed in this company that it raised over 1.7 million dollars, and now they are producing high-quality travel bags for digital nomads like the 40l nomatic backpack.

Where are Nomatic bags made?

Nomatic bags are made in Utah in the United States.

Lora is a full-time digital nomad on a quest to visit every country in the world and pet as many dogs as she can along the way. Over the last 15 years, she has traveled to 70+ countries and six continents solo. She currently calls Puerto Vallarta, Mexico home and enjoys ending each day with sunset and tacos on the beach.

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Nomatic Travel Bag Review

by Kyle Scott | Nov 25, 2020 | Travel , Travel Backpacks

Table Of Contents

Laptop pocket, comfort and harness system, security and material.

• The Bottom Line
• Organization 70% 70%
• Comfort 70% 70%
• Security 80% 80%
• Laptop Protection 70% 70%
• Weight 90% 90%

Price: $280

Weight: 3.42lbs (1.55kg)

Dimensions: 21x14x9”

Capacity: 40l

Laptop Size: 15”

What We Like: Waterproof and water bottle pocket.

What We Don’t: Odd external material set up.

Nomatic has created the Swiss Army Knife of one bag travel backpacks, but I am not entirely sure that is a good thing. While there is 40l of room and even a shoe pocket, there are some flaws. The external material is essentially all weatherproof except for the front panel, which is the panel on the ground while the pack is in duffel bag mode. The laptop sleeve is also in the main compartment which does keep it well protected, but it’s quite tricky to access while on a plane or in a tight space. The waterproof water bottle pocket is a nice touch, but the pocket is limited in size and would not fit a larger water bottle. Nomatic did some nice things with the Travel Bag, but I think there are better options on the market.

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Promoted as the travel bag with other 20 innovative features, the Nomatic 40l travel bag is an excellent companion for a trip of up to seven days or more, if you can do some laundry. Created by cousins who wanted to build a better wallet, Nomatic has expanded into a Kickstarter machine, and they are now producing several varieties of packs and travel accessories.

Their Nomatic travel bag is available in a 30l variation and a Travel Pack , which starts at 20l but will expand to 30l if needed. Both of these packs have similar innovations as the 40l, so I only look at the 40l for this review.

As mentioned in the name of the pack, the Nomatic Travel Bag is set to hold 40l of cargo. Nomatic has divided the outside of the pack as well as the main compartment into a few storage areas. Along the bottom of the pack, there is a shoe pocket that is built to hold an extra pair of shoes and keep them protected as well as the rest of your clothes protected from dirty sneakers. On the top of the bag, there is a smaller zippered pocket built to hold underwear or a light jacket for improved organization and compartmentalization.

The main compartment is opened with a “full perimeter zipper” that gives great access to all of your belongings. The zipper is actually on the back of the pack, so your body protects the zipper from potential security hazards. The laptop and tablet sleeve is also located in this pocket along the back, closest to the wearer’s body. A nice addition is that along the removable hipbelt there is some zippered storage. It is quite tight along the hipbelt, so it is tricky to get a cellphone in the pocket — but it was certainly a nice addition.

On the side of the pack, there is a full zippered pocket that opens to give access to multiple zippered pockets, which is great for small valuables such as cables, passports, and wallets. One of the pockets is RFID safe to protect your cards and passport.

Along the top of the pack is a small zippered fleece-lined pocket, which is great for your cell phone and sunglasses. Next to that pocket is a water bottle pocket that is lined with a waterproof fabric to keep your gear dry in case of accidental leaks. On the left side of the pack are two top-loading zippered pockets, great for small books or other thin materials.

Included with the 40l Travel Bag is a laundry bag that is stored in the shoe pocket but will expand to hold your dirty laundry and, when full, will fit in the main compartment to keep your clothes separate. Nomatic has checked all of the storage boxes in my mind for a travel bag. Everything is well thought out, as they went through 20 prototypes before being satisfied with their final product.

As with all travel bags these days, there needs to be a laptop sleeve. Nomatic has opted to put the laptop sleeve on the inside of the main compartment along the back of the pack. This setup makes getting the laptop out in the security line fairly straight forward, but when you’re on the plane, you need to open your entire bag, which takes up some serious room. With this setup, I immediately missed the ability to open a dedicated pocket that solely holds my laptop for easy access and storage.

The harness system is where things get a bit confusing. The Travel Bag is able to be carried in a standard backpack mode, with detachable hipbelt, or as a duffel bag. The straps can be adjusted between these two setups to reduce the amount of webbing that might hang out, but the transitions are not as simple as I would have liked.

The width of the pack makes the duffel bag mode a bit uncomfortable because you have to keep the pack so far from your body — it’s a massive lat workout. The snap handle in duffel bag mode is also known to pop undone while being carried, which is inconvenient. 

In terms of comfort, the shoulder straps are soft and moderately padded. The hipbelt can be awkward for some wearers, as there is no torso length adjustment. It is removable though, so that is a bonus. With this pack, as with others I have tested, the harness system and overall comfort seem to fall by the wayside as the production team wants their pack to have the trendiest pockets and sleekest look.

Made from a water-resistant tarpaulin fabric and sturdy Duraflex hardware, the Travel Bag is going to last quite a while. The major negative is that the front panel of the bag, the side that would be placed on the ground while in briefcase mode is not made of the weatherproof tarpaulin but of a ballistic weave nylon instead. Meaning, the side that would be on the potentially wet ground is not weatherproof and could cause your cargo to get wet… What were they thinking?! 

Another miss for the Nomatic Travel Bag is the lack of security zippers. None of the zippers on the pack have dedicated travel lock loops. I understand the entire point of single bag travel is that you never have to part ways with the pack, but the additional peace of mind is never a bad thing.

The Bottom L ine

Nomatic spent a long time developing this pack and went through 20 versions before settling on the current one bag model. Unfortunately, I think they missed the mark in a couple ways: the front panel missing the weatherproof material, the lack of security zippers, and the tricky-to-access laptop pocket. For $280, you expect a fairly well constructed and thought out out pack, but there are too many misses for me. With the competition between large brands like Osprey and Patagonia as well as small Kickstarter pack companies, everything is in the details.

The dedicated pockets for shoes and a waterproof water bottle pocket were nice touches, and the removable hipbelt with storage is also a great feature. I just think that there are certain boxes that need to be checked for a pack to be a great travel bag, and the Nomatic Travel Bag did not check enough of these boxes. 

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• Work With Us

The Nomatic Backpack: Our Honest Review

In this Nomatic backpack review, we test the Nomatic pack over a few months as an everyday backpack, and on several trips.

If you’re looking for an everyday backpack, this Nomatic pack is sleek, with a minimalist-like design is packed with features and plenty of pockets.

The classic Nomatic backpack we tested is small at only 20 litres, though it does expand to 24 litres.

Nomatic Backpack Review

• plenty of pockets
• sleek, stylish design
• great for organizing electronics
• the snaps are hard to snap strap for hiding straps in suitcase mode
• too small for use as a practical travel carry-on at 20-24 litres

Buy it at Nomatic

• Weight: 4 lbs
• Dimensions: 18.5″ x 12″ x 5″ (7.5″ expanded).
• Volume: 20 l (24 l expanded)

Since the Nomatic backpack is only 20 L (and expands to 24 L), it’s made for daily use, rather than as a carry on pack for longer trips.

The Nomatic backpack could work as an overnight bag if you travel extremely light, love plenty of packets, and don’t carry large items.

Pockets and Organization

The backpack has many pockets and sections that are perfect for gadgets and items of various size, and the padded laptop sleeve has easy access for better convenience at the airport.

There’s a front pocket that zips completely open, allowing full access. There’s plenty of room in there for cables, chargers, and other odds and ends.

There’s a small, easy access pocket on top of the backpack that’s perfect for storing things you need to access quickly, like a passport, wallet, or phone.

There’s a power cord pass-through, which is handy if you plan to listen to music or use a power bank for your phone and other mobile devices.

The interior, largest compartment opens up like a suitcase. There’s a padded laptop sleeve, plus another large pocket that we found was perfect for our Kindle .

When compared to other minimalist backpacks for every day use, the Nomatic backpack can fit quite a lot of items.

Materials and construction

The materials and construction seem to be pretty sturdy. I’t made with durable construction and resilient, waterproof materials. Its zippers won’t easily be deteriorated, and the straps will stay comfortable, even if you’re hauling a heavier load.

Other Nomatic backpack features

Here is a quick glimpse at some of the Nomatic backpack’s other features:

• pocket offering protection against RFID skimming;
• retractable key leash that makes it easy to use your keys safely, without running the risk of losing them;
• hidden pocket to store anything from extra money to valuables and jewelry that you want to keep away from prying eyes;
• magnetic pocket for storing your water bottle;
• top access pocket for fast access to your most important items;

Using the Nomatic backpack for travel

I used my Nomatic backpack as a personal item on my last flight.

At an official size of 18.5″ x 12″ x 5″ (7.5″ expanded) it’s just a hair larger than most personal item sizes. For example, United Airlines’ personal item size is 9″ x 10″ x 17″, while Air Canada’s personal item size is 6″ x 13″ x 17″.

The Nomatic backpack’s a bit larger than the official personal item size for United or Air Canada, but it’s pretty close. I flew with it on Air Canada on a domestic flight in Canada, and had no problem.

That said, I’ve never had a personal item checked for size in Canada or the US, but I always make sure my personal item isn’t obviously over size. That said, there’s always a first time.

Is the Nomatic backpack right for you?

The Nomatic backpack is a great choice as a day pack, a personal item when traveling, or minimalist overnight trips.

Is the Nomatic backpack for men or women?

Because this is a smaller pack, this pack seems to work equally well for men and women.

At a 5’5″ woman, it fit me well, and was tight and snug to my body, with comfortable straps.

Charles also tried it out for a few hours, and reported back it fit well. The straps were comfortable on his shoulders, and it looked in proportion to his size as well. He’s just shy of six feet tall.

Converting to briefcase mode

One cool feature of the Nomatic backpack is that it converts from backpack to briefcase mode, making it a great choice for business.

Here’s what the back of the pack looks like as a backpack.

To convert to briefcase mode, just undo the snaps at the top of the backpack straps.

Then, tuck away the backpack straps under the padded back of the backpack, and re-snap the snaps.

Viola! It’s in briefcase mode.

Looking for something bigger?

If you’re looking for a carry on size bag, the Nomatic travel bag comes in either a 30 liter (9 x 19 x 13) or as a 40 liter (9 x 21 x 14).

The Nomatic travel pack is a little smaller than the backpack with 20 liter that expands to 30 liter.

Nomatic also now sells rolling luggage. See their rolling luggage here .

About Nomatic

Nomatic is a brand that launched on Kickstarter, and aims to make functional travel gear. The company sells travel backpacks, duffles, travel wallets, and other travel gear.

See all of Nomatic’s gear here.

The bottom line

All in all, we’ve used the classic Nomatic backpack for a few months when we wrote this review.

It’s rapidly becoming my top choice for my everyday carry when I’m out and about. I’ll grab it, throw it in my laptop and go work in a cafe for the day. I’ve used it as my personal item when I’m traveling, or as a small electronics bag on a road trip.

As I keep using the pack of the next months, I’ll update with more information on how it’s holding up for durability.

See a slightly different version of the Nomatic backpack on Amazon

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Nomatic 40l Travel Bag Review

Last Updated on December 21, 2023

Clicks may earn a commission, which supports testing.  Disclosure

If you’re looking for a backpack for long term travel then you’ve come to the right place! In this article, I will be reviewing the Nomatic 40l travel bag  which I have been using since March 2018!

TLDR; If you’re in the hurry here’s the pros and cons of the Nomatic 40l travel bag!

• Backpack + Duffel system
• Carry on size
• Most features in 1 bag
• Best Digital Nomad Backpack
• Worldwide shipping
• Looks great
• Pricer than most bags
• Non-compressibility
• Not great for hiking

Check The Guaranteed Best Price

Table of Contents

Nomatic Travel Bag Review

About me and my lifestyle.

At the start of 2018, I upgraded my full-time backpack to the Nomatic 40l Travel Bag and in this pretty long article, I’m going to share my opinion about it.

Transparency: I WASN’T given the Nomatic 40l Travel Bag for Free (unlike most other blogging people writing “Nomatic Travel Bag Review”. I paid for it (along with the Vaccum pack) with my own money, however, the links to Nomatic.com on this site are affiliate links so if you click through and buy the bag, I earn a small percent at no extra cost to you !  To put the bag to a test I have been living out of the Nomatic Travel bag full time and ever since I got it I have taken over a dozen flights, went hiking for hours through rice fields and also rode nearly a 1000 kms across the island of Flores (in rains) on a motorbike ;) Countries Traveled with the Nomatic Travel Bag: Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, India, Bosnia, Serbia, Albania, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Tunisia, Vietnam (so far)

The Nomatic 40L Travel bag was designed for longer trips. The travel bag is a combination of some of the best features from the backpack, duffel bag, and general luggage.

The idea behind creating this is to create the ultimate travel bag to help you spend less time fussing around with your luggage and more time on the good stuff; your journey .

Nomatic 40l Travel Bag Dimensions

• Weight : 4 lb. 8 oz.
• Capacity : 40L, Designed to fit the maximum carry on size allowed on standard airlines, fits in the overhead compartment as well as the under seat as storage in flight.
• Outer Dimensions : 9″ H x 21″ W x 14″ D
• Large Opening Dimensions : 19″ x 12″

The Nomatic 40l Travel Bag has over 20 important features that make it the most functional travel bag ever made! On top of being packed with extreme functionality, the bag has a sleek minimalist design, is made of strong weather-proof materials and is built to last.

Now this backpack has a ton of features, a little too many to be honest haha and I’m going to dive into the ones that I like/don’t like/got my attention.

• Nomatic Travel Backpack + Duffle Strap System

You can use the Nomatic Travel Bag as a duffle bag as well as a Backpack! How amazing is that? and also it uses the same strap system so that when you are using it as a duffle bag the backpack straps are snug and vice versa.

The only con is that the straps are on the back so you are holding the bag horizontally which for someone tiny like me might be a little weird as the bag can’t be held touching the body.

Personally, I don’t use the Nomatic 40l Travel bag as a duffle often, it’s more of an additional feature for me. I tend to use it when I’m in more urban areas and giving talks at coworking spaces or conferences.

• Waterproof & Durability

The Waterproof and durability of the Nomatic Travel Bag were one of the major reasons I actually decided to buy it. I just did a 1500km long biking ride around the island of Flores in Indonesia and since it was the end of the rainy season I ended up getting a few days with rain.

I was able to bike around without having to worry about my electronic devices getting wet thanks to the great waterproof material and zippers.

• Dimensions & Size

The dimensions of the backpack 21″x14″x9″ which is big for an everyday carry backpack but perfect for a carry on travel backpack , it fits the carry on requirements for the majority of airlines thus perfect for someone like me who hates checking in luggage when flying (trust issues).

If you are tall it might be good to use as a daily bag but for someone tiny like me, due to the lack of compressibility it’s not necessarily the best backpack to use to go cafe hopping every single day, but as a full-time backpack it’s amazing.

• Nomatic Travel Bag Volume

Due to the incredibly thin (yet strong) material on the Nomatic 40l Travel Bag, the volume on the inside of the bag is incredible, you can fit sooooo much stuff in it. The true volume is 45L but it’s honestly more spacious than most 60L backpacks I’ve used.

• Shoe Compartment

• Nomatic Worldwide Shipping

You can ship the Nomatic Travel Bag  & all of Nomatic Backpacks anywhere in the world (except active war zones :/ ). I managed to ship mine to an address of a friend in Malaysia.

Free Shipping is a plus for anyone in the US (you only pay sales tax if you are in Utah).

• Rfid safe pocket + Free TSA Approved Lock

• Nomatic Travel Laundry Bag

• Waterproof Bottle Pocket

• Laptop + Tablet Compartment

• Padded Removeable Hip Straps

The Nomatic Travel Bag comes with padded hip straps that are removable which is such a convenience as you can use them when you are going on long journeys and have them off when you are just going around town and you don’t have to leave them dangling around.

• Nomatic 100% Satisfaction Money Back

If you are not satisfied with the Nomatic Travel Bag or any other Nomatic products, you can just send it back thanks to their 100% 30-days money-back no-questions-asked guarantee.

Misc Nomatic 40l Travel Bag Features

• Sock and Underwear pocket
• Notebook pocket
• Cord Mangement system
• Roller Bag Sleeve
• Fleece Lined Valuables Pocket
• Large Opening for Easy Packing

However, it’s not necessarily perfect. It depends on your needs, if you are a digital nomad like me, the Nomatic Travel Bag might just be your new travel backpack! Here’re a few downsides to the Nomatic bag.

• Non Compressibility

Due to the structure and material of the backpack, it’s not necessarily the best daypack to carry around town to go into a cafe. But then again how many people go to a cafe with their full-time travel backpack every day.

The weight of the bag may not be a ton for a bag this size, but it can be a definite thing to be aware on if you’re planning on using it as a carryon. I haven’t had any issues for me.

• Not the cheapest

Nomatic 40l Travel Bag Price

It’s not really cheap, at $200+ for a fucking backpack?! that’s a pricey purchase for a lot of people (no shit Sherlock!). That’s almost half a month’s salary for a lot of people around the world so it’s not necessarily the best backpack if you are on a tight budget.

Maybe give the Osprey Fairpoint 40 if you are looking for a more budget option. The Quechua backpacks are pretty great too, I used to use them!

Do you still have doubts about getting a Nomatic Travel Bag ? Let me know your concern in the comments below!

Nomatic 40l Travel Bag FAQs

Who are the nomatic backpacks for.

The idea behind the Nomatic backpacks is minimalism with great functionality.

In fact, if you’re a young professional and you have the money, I say you should definitely invest in one of the NOMATIC backpacks. It has a really sleek look that still feels appropriate for work and a lot of features that will make your life a whole lot easier.

Because the backpack is a bit pricey, I wouldn’t recommend this backpack for college students. It doesn’t seem to match closely enough with their needs.

As for the Travel Pack, again, it would work great for business professionals who have to travel frequently for work as a carry-on bag. I would be hesitant to recommend this bag as your only travel bag even for a short 3-day trip.

Especially for those people that travel pretty frequently just because it doesn’t seem to have enough space and organization to handle the job. Plus the design looks pretty sleek but it might be too sleek for travel.

What Kind of Warranty Do the NOMATIC Bags Have?

NOMATIC states that if you are not 100% satisfied with the quality of your bag you can simply return it back and claim a total refund . No questions asked!

This demonstrates that Nomatic really stands by their product and they’re confident in the quality of their product and more importantly that you will love it.

How Does NOMATIC Handle International Shipping?

Their terms of sale for international orders are FOB destination. For those of you that don’t know, this basically means you have to pay all freight and duties or taxes as per the destination.

NOTE: The duties and taxes based on you are not built into the cost so you are left to calculate that amount and convert it to your local currency manually.

How big is the Nomatic travel bag?

The dimensions of the backpack 21″x14″x9″ which is big for a daypack but perfect for a travel backpack. Outer Dimensions: 9″ H x 21″ W x 14″ D

How much is the Nomatic backpack?

The Nomatic 40l Travel Bag costs $279.99. The other Nomatic Backpacks are:

• Nomatic 30l Travel Bag – $269.99
• Nomatic Travel Pack – $259.99
• Nomatic Backpack – $249.99

Nomatic vs Tortuga

If you’re looking for a backpack for long term travel then you’ve probably land on either on a Nomatic Backpack review or a Review of one of the Tortuga Backpack reviews! But who in the fight of Nomatic vs Tortuga ?

Here’s the pros and cons of both Nomatic & Tortuga!

• Been around for longer
• Bag are compressible
• Stylish & Great looking
• Front Loading backpack
• Long Lasting Backpacks
• Great internal organization
• 30-day return policy
• Designed for long term travel
• USA shipping only
• Backpacks don’t have as many Features as Nomatic

Check Them Out

• Makes Backpacks + Luggage
• Designed for EDC and digital nomads
• WorldWide Shipping
• Not everyone likes the looks
• Nomatic travel bag opens from the back
• Μight be too many features
• Company:  Tortuga has been around since 2010 so is more established as a travel backpack maker, however Nomatic started out making wallets and later expanded to backpacks and now luggage. Winner: Tortuga
• Future: Nomatic is working with influencers and people actually in the field like Peter McKinnon when it comes to making products as they did with their Camera Backpack so I only see Nomatic getting more popular and expanding. Winner: Nomatic
• Shipping:  Tortuga stopped accepting international (non-US) orders on December 31, 2018. They said that they would resume but its 2024 and they’ve been no updates. While Nomatic ships internationally. Winner: Nomatic
• Refunds: Both Nomatic and Tortuga have 30 day return policies (You have to play for shipping with both of them). However, based people in forums its not easy to get your refunds with Nomatic. Winner: Tortuga

Nomatic vs Peak Design

Another popular comparison on the internet is Nomatic vs Peak Design . Here are the pros and cons of both Nomatic & Peak Design!

• Top & Front Loading backpack
• More comfortable to wear than Nomatic

When comparing Nomatic backpacks to Peak Design backpacks, it’s evident that Nomatic offers a wider variety of models to cater to different needs. Nomatic understands that every individual has unique preferences and requirements for their everyday carry, and they have developed a diverse range of backpacks to accommodate those varying needs. From compact daypacks to spacious travel backpacks, Nomatic covers a broad spectrum of options.

On the other hand, while Peak Design may not offer as many models as Nomatic, they excel in providing a high level of customization for their backpacks. Peak Design understands that some users prefer the ability to personalize and fine-tune their backpacks according to their specific preferences and organizational needs. By focusing on customization, Peak Design ensures that their backpacks can be tailored to suit individual lifestyles and organizational systems.

The emphasis on customization sets Peak Design apart from Nomatic. Instead of offering a wide range of pre-defined models, Peak Design enables users to adjust and modify their backpacks through interchangeable dividers, modular compartments, and attachment points. This level of customization allows users to optimize the organization and functionality of their backpacks to a greater extent, providing a tailored experience that perfectly matches their unique requirements.

Nomatic 40l Travel Bag Alternatives

While the Nomatic backpack is great, based on your needs you might want to consider on of these Nomatic backpack alternatives instead.

1. GORUCK GR2 – Best Overall Nomatic Backpack Alternative

Check Latest Price

What Redditors had to say about it

u/Outcome005 – “I used the GR1 21 liters backpack for all my college time, and it is awesome. And now I use it as a work and travel backpack. You cannot mess with a GORUCK”.

u/SilkyChineseFood- “I have a GR2 and use it every day. I hike and travel all the time and get the GORUCK as hand luggage on the place. Had it for a year or more, and it still looks brand new”.

u/hackatac- “If you’re looking for the toughest bag in the market and ready to compromise to carry the extra weight, then you should buy a GORUCK backpack. I have owned the backpack for nearly 2 years and have performed 2 GORUCK challenges using it and it still stands out and is fantastic. I would say out of the 10 bags I have it carries weight on the shoulders, unlike others. I’ve put 100 pounds in the bag, and it is still comfortable”.

The GORUCK GR2 is a great travel and EDC backpack. While the GR1 is great for EDC, the GR2 is fantastic for both EDC and travel. If you want to stick with just one backpack for all your needs then this is it. This carry-on-compliant bag has all the pockets and organization you need. You can travel hands-free with this bag which makes it the “one backpack to rule them all”. It is durable enough to last a lifetime and is perfect for a week-long trip. With the GR2, you get what you pay for.

• Specifications: The GR2 comes in two sizes 35L and 40L. There is no difference between the two backpacks except for their capacity and size. There is a 1.5” height difference between them. While both the rucksacks look boxy and huge, I recommend you buy the 35L unless you have a very specific need for the 40L.
• Material: This backpack is made from highly durable 1000D Cordura Nylon material. This makes it tear, abrasion, and water-resistant. You could be out in the rain and not worry about your electronics getting soaked in water. This makes the GR2 perfect for off-road adventures. The bag works well in cities and hiking or camping as well.
• YKK Zippers: Made from parachute 550 cord, the YKK Zippers are the best premium zippers in the market. They self-lubricate the more you use them and don’t become sticky or gritty over time. They will feel more smooth, the more you use them and are very durable and virtually impossible to break or tear apart.
• Comfort: The GR2 has thick padding everywhere so you don’t feel anything from inside the bag. The extra thick padding on the shoulder straps ensures that the straps don’t cut into your skin if you carry the bag around for longer durations. The spaced-out ridges and breathable mesh on the back panel give it good breathability and ventilation.
• Organization: There are two large compartments, the inner compartment having three pockets and the outer compartment having three pockets and a built-in field pocket. The spacious main compartment opens up completely flat, making it easier to pack and organize. The separate bombproof laptop compartment features a false bottom to keep it secure when the ruck is put down. The GR2 has a lot of MOLLE panels that you can use to customize the backpack.
• Compartments: The outer compartment has four internal pockets: two large mesh zippered pockets, one small go-to zippered pocket, and one built-in field pocket. The inner compartment has three internal pockets: one large elastic pocket, one large mesh zippered pocket, and one small go-to zippered pocket. The external slant pocket at the front is great for things you need to grab on the go. The laptop compartment is behind the heavily padded back panel and can fit a 17” device.
• Great EDC Backpack: Although the opening of the main compartment is not ideal for an EDC you can open the zippers partially to make it work like a regular EDC. Its laptop compartment, ample space, and various pockets and compartments make it excellent for everyday use.
• Excellent for “one baggers”
• Best travel backpack in the market
• Lifetime guarantee
• Can also be used as an EDC backpack
• Boxy and huge for some people
• Lacks sternum or hip straps

2. Tortuga Travel Backpack – Best Carry On Backpack For Travel

u/jaymeetee- “I’ve been living on a Tortuga backpack since May 2nd, 2015. I can assure you that I am pretty happy with the Tortuga materials and quality”.

u/AdventureInAbsurdity- “Tortuga makes great backpacks, made for long-term one bagging. If you are looking for unboxing, customer service, and daily use, you can’t purchase a better product”.

u/BenThereNotYet- “I’ve owned the 45L Tortuga backpack for almost 2 years and have made dozen trans-oceanic trips around the world from last year to the beginning of this year. It is usually considered a carry-on but was once forced to gate-check it. I make sure I hide the straps on most occasions. Two years later, the bag looks brand new and has been a great investment for me”.

The Tortuga Travel Backpack is an incredible backpack explicitly made for travel. It’s perfect for short and long trips and is designed to fit all your belongings in a carry-on size. This Backpack has impressive features that make it a top choice among travelers.

• Smartly Designed Storage: The Backpack features a balanced design and many options for storage, so everything has a place to call home.
• Luxurious Comfort: The suspension and straps redefine comfort, making those lengthy journeys seem effortless.
• Hip Belt Haven: The hip belt provides outstanding support for a journey without tiredness, going above and beyond.
• Week-Long Warrior: This rugged Backpack is a reliable ally for week-long hiking trips.
• Built to Brave: Made of durable, water-resistant materials, the bag scoffs at deterioration.
• Eco-Friendly Chic: An environmentally conscious touch, the main fabric proudly displays the label of recycled materials.
• Harness that is like a cloud: The padded, height-adjustable harness provides a secure fit without sacrificing comfort.
• Suitcase-Like Opening: The Backpack’s innovative suitcase-like opening style deserves special mention. This design feature simplifies packing and accessing your belongings and lets you see all your packed items simultaneously.
• Tech-Savvy Companion: The Backpack features a dedicated and well-padded laptop compartment that can comfortably accommodate a 16-inch MacBook Pro or similar-sized laptops.
• Traveller’s Pleasure: The Backpack complies with carry-on requirements, reducing stress at the airport.
• Globetrotter’s Assurance: No matter where your travels take you, a global warranty attests to its quality.
• Not the best for rucking/hiking

Nomatic Travel Bag Accessories

Nomatic have a couple of travel accessories that make packing your Nomatic bags easier to pack! Here are a couple of their accessories that you might want to take along;

• Nomatic Vaccum Bag
• Nomatic Toiletry Bag
• Nomatic Compression Packing Cube (I’ve reviewed this)
• Nomatic Shirt Organizer
• Nomatic Waist Straps   (included)
• Nomatic Laundry Bag   (included)

I personally use the Vaccum bag and I love it as it makes packing my Nomatic 40l Travel Bag so much easier. It’s made to perfectly fit the backpack!

About Jeremy Noronha

Hey! I’m Jeremy Noronha and I’m a online marketer and full time traveler.

I’ve been living out of a single backpack traveling the world since early 2016. I used to work as Technical SEO Consultant (Former Head of SEO at Foundr.com) and travel blogger.

I now blog on JeremyNoronha.com writing about whatever is on my mind 😁

Reader Interactions

June 14, 2018 at 9:05 pm

Jeremy; my main concern with the Nomatic Travel Bag is the back panel. I don’t see any material difference ie does your back gets really hot because of the tarpaulin and is it uncomfortable

July 7, 2018 at 4:44 pm

Hey Pedro, The Tarpaulin doesn’t get extremely hot, however compared to my previous bag which was more geared towards hiking mountains, the airflow is limited. For around 2 hours of continuously carrying the bag in the sun you’re fine with the Nomatic travel bag. However if you want to hike a mountain or long distances I would recommend getting a hiking bag.

July 11, 2018 at 2:33 pm

Was looking at buying a Nomatic and you’ve really sealed the deal, thanks! I currently carry a Timbuk2 Uptown but wanted something a bit larger+organized and with a more durable material on the back (the airmesh which made it comfortable is also starting to flake after only a few trips).

Will probably get the travel pack through your link.

PS as an Indonesian I’m glad you enjoyed Flores! Went there once a couple of years ago and the scenery is breathtaking.

July 27, 2018 at 10:57 pm

Hey Michel! The Timbuk2 is a pretty great bag too, a couple of my friends have it and I’ll be getting one to review as well :D! Thanks and I sure do Flores is one of my favorite islands in Indonesia and I’ll definitely be back soon!

July 2, 2018 at 11:55 pm

I am looking for some time to buy the backpack but some comments on amazon and other sources stopped me in doing so.

Most of the bad comments are about the zippers, bad quality, hard to use, water can enter through the zipper in case is raining.

Can you elaborate more on this? Thank you.

July 7, 2018 at 4:47 pm

The zippers had been an issue a few times for me where in it took less than 10s to sort out. However, even when I biked 2000km through the rain I never had a problem of the water going through the zippers. In fact, my bag just got wet in the rain in Sarajevo today morning and everything is fine. I would like the zippers to be better is a newer version but it’s a tiny inconvenience for me, not a real deal breaker.

July 5, 2018 at 11:09 pm

Quick question about the backpack. Is the easy to open/close? How about the zippers? Are they hard to use?

July 7, 2018 at 4:52 pm

The zipper for the main compartment is near your back and not in the front so *you do* have to remove the backpack if you want to remove things (however you can remove your laptop without having to open the bag completely. I’ve had a few issues with the zippers but it never lates more than 10s to solve it so it’s not really a problem for me.

July 7, 2018 at 3:13 am

Great review! If I hadn’t (just!) bought one before I read your review, or I would bought it via your link! I have been using the Travel Pack for a while and love it!

Of on a trip at the end of this month, will let you know what I think of the Travel Back

July 7, 2018 at 4:54 pm

Awh Snap ;) haha! Hope you enjoy the bag! Do lemme know how you like (or don’t like it) :D Always want to add more opinions to this piece :)! Have fun

March 24, 2019 at 11:28 am

hey man thanks for the review. Is your discount code expired or something. doesn’t work…

May 1, 2019 at 12:28 pm

Hey Ricky, thanks for getting in touch. Nomatic recently disabled coupon codes. I updated the post to reflect it. Cheers.

July 2, 2019 at 3:33 pm

Do the zippers have a section to put locks on?

July 3, 2019 at 10:23 am

Yup, the main compartment can be locked!

July 26, 2019 at 3:21 pm

On the website they say this bag is for 3-7 days of travelling. Do you think it would work for a 3 weeks holiday? I prefer a backpack instead of a regular duffle bag, and I like the full opening system on the front (like the Tortuga Outbreaker)

July 27, 2019 at 9:14 am

Definitely Stefan! The travel bag (40L) is more than enough for 3 weeks. I’ve been traveling with just the Nomatic 40L travel bag for over a year.

However, if you prefer front opening I’d recommend going for the Tortuga Outbreaker or Tortuga Setout .

January 23, 2024 at 7:40 am

Hey thanks for the review. What’s stopping me is my 17.3 inch laptop. Are there any other sections/compartments i can use without compromising the whole interior of the backback? Cheers

January 23, 2024 at 9:17 am

Given the structure of the backpack, you can have the laptop either in the front or between 2 packing cubes. It wouldn’t be ideal but if you have it in the laptop bag it’ll fit as the interior is 19 x 12″. The only thing you would lose is the easy access but I think that can be fixed by having the laptop bag in the top for the few times you want it.

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NOMATIC Travel Pack Review: Hype or Worth It?

Need help deciding if the NOMATIC Travel Pack is exactly what you need? Find out more in our latest review of these popular bags.

The NOMATIC backpack line is supposed to offer the bags to end all bags. That’s what they want you to think, anyway. If raising $2.2 million on Kickstarter for their Travel Bag is anything to go by, they’re pretty convincing.

They make three different backpacks:

• The NOMATIC Backpack
• The NOMATIC Travel Pack
• The NOMATIC Travel Bag

Confusing, right?

The NOMATIC backpack names are way too similar. While the design might be good, NOMATIC desperately needs some help with naming their bags.

I don’t usually dive into criticism so early, but the names are a major pain point when you’re trying to research which NOMATIC Travel Pack, Bag, or Backpack you want. So, I’m going to set the differences straight in this NOMATIC backpack review.

There are a few fundamental differences that you need to know about all three bags in order to make the right decision.

NOMATIC bags are brimming with features—they’re definitely in the running for one of the best backpack brands on the market! Each NOMATIC backpack comes with 20+ features. They’re supposed to have a place for everything. On top of that, they all meet the specs for carry-on luggage regulations.

On paper, NOMATIC travel backpacks seem to be the sure winners for the most functional bags ever, especially for travelers.

But features aren’t everything. My first impressions of these NOMATIC bags? They’re very high quality and innovative, but they’re a little over-designed. I’ll take a look at the ins and outs in this NOMATIC backpack review so you can decide for yourself.

NOMATIC Backpack Review: Quick Answers

• Small: NOMATIC Backpack (20L, expandable to 24L).
• Medium: NOMATIC Travel Pack (20L, expandable to 30L).
• Large: NOMATIC Travel Bag (30L and 40L).
• All three bags are carry-on approved for pretty much every airline.
• Super innovative and organized.
• Sleek and modern design.

NOMATIC: Who Are They?

NOMATIC is an entirely crowdfunded company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They only started in 2014, but they already have a vast range of products. In addition to three styles of backpacks that range from commuter-size to travel-friendly, NOMATIC offers everything from wallets to notebooks.

Their backpacks bring an element of style to the backpacking world. They’re much sleeker than your average backpack. They steer clear of exaggerated colors and designs that scream “I’m a backpacker!”

NOMATIC is committed to impeccable quality and highly-functional design. People trust NOMATIC to make great products. That’s why they ended up raising $2.2 million on Kickstarter to get their first bag off the ground. The NOMATIC Travel Pack and NOMATIC Backpack came along next.

And did you know…

Their target was only $20,000? That was one successful Kickstarter.

NOMATIC Backpack Overview

But that does mean it’s limited as an everyday backpack. It doesn’t have the specialized features that the NOMATIC Travel Pack and Bag have.

Its many pockets are perfect for organization geeks and commuters with laptops (including students). Several features make it perfect for commuting or a day trip, including cord pass throughs so you can do things like recharge your phone while still using it.

At its smallest size, the NOMATIC backpack is 20L, but you can use the built-in expansion zippers to add a generous 4L to the main compartment. (Keep in mind that even this size isn’t ideal for one-bag travelers who are setting out on longer adventures.)

It is stylish as heck. If you’re a fashionable human, you’ll love this sleek look.

• Carry-on approved and makes for a great everyday backpack.
• Next level day-to-day organization.
• Comfortable shoulder straps with a sternum strap.
• Strong security, especially the RFID safe pocket.
• The cord pass-through is a fantastic idea.
• Lifetime warranty.
• Laptop sleeve fits a 15″ laptop.
• No waist straps on the NOMATIC Backpack. Maybe I’m just used to traveling with a traditional backpack with traditional backpack straps (and the usual sternum strap), but I feel like some basic waist straps could come in handy here.
• Unjustifiably expensive for an everyday backpack.
• Not ideal for one-bag travel.
• Not suitable for long walks or treks.

NOMATIC Travel Pack Specs:

NOMATIC Travel Pack Overview

If you’re a light packer, you could push it to a week. The NOMATIC Travel Pack shares a bunch of features with the other backpacks, but it has some unique features that make it well-suited to a weekend away, including a nifty shoe compartment separate from the main compartment, and top access points.

The NOMATIC Travel Pack also gets the carry-on tick of approval. It fits under the plane seat perfectly. When you’re traveling, it’s always nice to have a bit of extra space. The Nomatic Travel Pack is a very compact 20L at its smallest size, but you can expand it to 30L when you’re carrying more travel gear.

The NOMATIC Travel Pack is also built for city travelers who zip around public transit in style, not for hikers or trekkers. There’s no real harness system here. The design is sleek and minimalist, so if you’re a design nerd, you’ll love it.

If you’re also a digital nomad who doesn’t need a whole lot of space in the main compartment for extra travel gear except for a laptop, the NOMATIC Travel Pack is a great option. Not so much if you’re a photographer or videographer.

• The NOMATIC Travel Pack meets global carry-on requirements.
• The expandable system adds a very generous 10L to the capacity of the main compartment. This is great if you accidentally buy a few too many gifts on your trip.
• Hyper-organized for stress-free travel.
• Comfy backpack straps with a sternum strap.
• The NOMATIC Travel Pack has waist straps.
• Magnetic water bottle pocket.
• Thanks to a perimeter zipper, the mesh divider in the NOMATIC Travel Pack acts as an additional pocket in expanded-mode, so it keeps everything extra organized.
• Excellent security. Again, the RFID pocket is genius. Lifetime guarantee.
• Laptop sleeve fits a 16″ laptop.
• The laptop sleeve isn’t easy to access on the go.
• For me, the NOMATIC Travel Pack is an awkward size. I can usually get away with taking a regular commuter backpack for a weekend away. Do you really need this pack for such a short trip? The NOMATIC Travel Pack is just not different enough from the NOMATIC Backpack.

NOMATIC Travel Bag Overview

Again, this backpack comes with many of the same features as the smaller iterations, but it also adds a bunch more. There’s space for everything, even an underwear compartment separate from the main compartment, and a bag for laundry (but only with the 40L bag).

Both the 30L and 40L options are carry-on sized. They fit snugly under an airline seat, but the 40L is better in the overhead. You can also quickly alter the shoulder straps to go from backpack mode to duffel mode.

This bag isn’t for long-term travelers who travel with a lot of stuff. And while the main compartment is roomy, it’s not ideal for photographers for videographers. If you’re carrying camera gear or other photography tech gear, you may want to try to check out the WANDRD PRVKE .

Who is this NOMATIC bag for, then? Long-term travelers who are masters of packing light. Laptop-based digital nomads. Airport/bus station/train station to hostel-style travelers. In my opinion, it’s the most functional and most impressive of all the NOMATIC bags.

• Carry-on approved. It’s unusual to find a 40L bag that easily meets global carry-on rules, so this is a huge plus.
• Superb organization. The shoe compartment, magnetic water bottle pocket, tablet sleeve/tablet pocket, and bag for laundry are outstanding details that solve the worst packing problems.
• Comfy shoulder straps with sternum strap.
• It has a hip belt with pockets!
• Like all the NOMATIC bags, the security is excellent.
• This bag tries to do too much in a small amount of space. It feels cluttered.
• The backpack straps to duffel bag strap transition is a little clunky.
• It’s a wide backpack, so when you switch from backpack mode to duffel bag mode, you have to hold the straps too far from your body. This makes it a pretty cumbersome experience.
• The laptop sleeve/laptop compartment is buried, so it’s hard to access it quickly. It can also make it hard to close the bag if your laptop is bigger than 13 inches.
• If you have a long torso, the waist straps sit at your stomach rather than your hips. This can be very uncomfortable.

NOMATIC Travel Bag Specs:

NOMATIC Review: Shared Features

Each NOMATIC backpack has a lot of features in common, but they’re made for very different types of travelers. I’ll go through what they all have in common, and then I’ll break down the key differences for each travel pack.

Innovative Stow-Away Strap System

Every NOMATIC backpack allows you to snap away the shoulder straps when you don’t need them. This is an excellent option if you ever want to check your NOMATIC backpack for a flight. The snap-away shoulder straps system also lets you hold the bag by its side handles without the hassle of dangling straps.

Retractable Key Leash

Both the NOMATIC Backpack and the NOMATIC Travel Pack have a retractable key leash, which is a fantastic feature for serial key-losers. You can easily keep your keys in one place. Simply hook your keys on to the in-built retractable key leash and pull it out whenever you need to unlock your door.

I know a retractable key leash seems like a basic concept, but you’ll never fumble around for your keys again!

Magnetic Water Bottle Pockets

The NOMATIC Backpack and the NOMATIC Travel Pack both come with a magnetic water bottle pocket. It’s perfect if you’re paranoid about water leaking all over your laptop.

Personally, water bottle pockets are important for me—I can’t imagine not having hydration while on the go. But a pocket is also not as accessible as your typical water bottle holder, so keep that in mind.

Cord Pass-Through

If you’re still on the wired headphones, you can keep your phone in your bag and run the headphone cord through the cord pass through. It also makes for easy charging. This is especially good if you’re low on juice in a public place where you want to keep your phone and other gadgets secured.

Roller Bag Sleeve

If you’re traveling with a rolling suitcase, it always pays to bring an extra bag with you. It’s all the more convenient if you can loop the extra backpack over the roller bag handle. Every NOMATIC backpack has a purpose-built sleeve so you can do just that without having to do any on-the-spot bag engineering.

Waist Straps

Unlike the smaller backpacks, the NOMATIC Travel Bag and the NOMATIC Travel Pack has adjustable waist straps. They’re an excellent addition to a purpose-built bag. You really need that extra back support if you’re walking a fair distance with all your travel gear. The waist straps are thick and well-padded. They have built-in zippered pockets, too.

A Ridiculous Amount of Pockets

Here are all the different types of pockets that all of the NOMATIC packs have.

Laptop Sleeve/Laptop Compartment

A laptop sleeve/laptop compartment is pretty much mandatory these days. NOMATIC is on top of all the current must-haves in backpacking, so it goes without saying that all three backpacks come with a laptop compartment. You can expect to fit a 13” laptop in each NOMATIC backpack.

Quick Access Fleece-Lined Pocket for Breakables and Valuables

It’s important to have a safe place for your expensive possessions. Each NOMATIC backpack has a soft, fleece-lined pocket that will keep your valuables intact and scratch-free. It’s super easy to access, too.

RFID-Blocking and Lockable Pocket

NOMATIC has thought long and hard about keeping gear secure. Each NOMATIC backpack has a theft-proof pocket that you can lock. It’s also lined with RFID blocking material, so you don’t have to worry about someone skimming your card through your bag. An RFID safe pocket is a must for any digital nomad.

Hardshell Pocket to Store Glasses

Sunglasses are the number one thing I break or lose when I’m traveling. It’s just so hard to find a good place to store them. Those cases you get at the optometrist don’t hold up to the demands of travel either.

NOMATIC has solved this dilemma for you with a built-in sunglasses case. Every NOMATIC backpack has a sunglasses case pocket protected by the hardshell where you can stash your shades.

Notebook Pocket

Have you ever had a notebook and thought, “I wish I had a pocket for this notebook?”

Yeah, neither have I.

Somebody at NOMATIC did, though. They’ve put a purpose-built notebook pocket in each travel pack. I am not convinced that a notebook pocket is something anybody needs, but an extra pocket is always good to have. Maybe you’ll need to frantically scribble down the email address of the person you just met in the hostel. Who knows?

Hidden Pocket for Valuables

NOMATIC does bag security very well. As well as the RFID blocking pocket, each NOMATIC backpack has a hidden pocket where you can store even more valuables. It’s the perfect place to stash your gold and Swiss passports.

That’s a quick rundown of the features each travel pack has in common; now, I’ll dive into the key differences.

NOMATIC Backpack vs NOMATIC Travel Bag vs NOMATIC Travel Pack

These three NOMATIC bags are super versatile and include plenty of organization options. They’re all made for very different travelers, though. Next up in this backpack review we’ll discuss some of the differences between all three backpacks.

NOMATIC Backpack

• Simplicity. Simplicity is what the NOMATIC Backpack is really all about. It doesn’t have the super technical features of the NOMATIC Travel Pack or Travel Bag. It’s more basic than the others, so it’s ideal as an everyday backpack or day bag for short trips.

NOMATIC Travel Pack

• Shoe Compartment . Shoes are disgusting things if you think about it; you really don’t want them near your fresh clothes in the main compartment. It’s always a hassle to find a place to store shoes when you’re on a trip, but not with the NOMATIC Travel Pack. The NOMATIC Travel Pack has a section separate from the main compartment where you can slip your shoes in.
• Zippered Mesh Divider . The mesh divider in the main compartment seems pretty useless at first, but once you expand the NOMATIC Travel Pack, it all makes sense. When you expand the bag, it adds a whole lot of depth to the main compartment. The perimeter zipper around the mesh divider can be used to create a new pocket.

NOMATIC Travel Bag

• Underwear Pocket . There is a special pocket to keep your underwear. I really like this feature when I get into my accommodation late and just want to grab the basics without unpacking my whole bag.
• Hip Belt. This bag comes with a padded hip belt with a pocket to stash your phone or other valuables!
• Ventilated Shoe Pocket . If you’ve ever experienced stinky shoe shame (don’t pretend you haven’t), then you’ll love this feature. If you’re prone to smelly feet, it’s super unpleasant if you have to stash your shoes with your clean clothes. Somewhat like the extra compartment on the NOMATIC Travel Pack, this backpack lets you keep everything separate with a shoe pocket. It comes with ventilation holes too, so you can let those kicks breathe.
• Use it in Backpack Mode or as a Duffel Bag . Sometimes it’s easier to carry it like a duffel bag when traveling short distances. With the Travel Bag, you can quickly snap away the waist and backpack straps and carry it by the additional duffel bag straps.
• Laundry Bag . It comes with a removable mesh bag that you can hook over a door. The days of stuffing all your dirty clothes into a disintegrating plastic bag are done.

What Materials Are the NOMATIC Bags Made Of?

The NOMATIC bags are all made from extra-durable tarpaulin. The stitching is reinforced too, so these bags can take a beating.

They’re all water-resistant, well, sort of. Here’s the strange part: the back panels are made of ballistic weave. This material doesn’t have any water resistance whatsoever, and can potentially leak through to the main compartment.

The lack of water resistance seems like a strange decision, especially for the NOMATIC Travel Bag. If you’re using it as a duffel bag, you set the bag down on the back panel. But if you accidentally drop it in a puddle, you can say bye-bye to dry possessions.

This seems like a pretty significant oversight. Especially because water resistance is one of the key selling points of this bag.

Aesthetics: How Does it Look?

A major point of difference with the NOMATIC backpacks compared to other backpacks is their sleek, modern design. The boxy simplicity reminds me of the Tortuga Outbreaker , or the Peak Design Travel Bag (you can read a full comparison here ).

They only come in black. If you want something more vibrant, you’ll need to look elsewhere. I personally love black. It’s timeless and doesn’t get dirty. They also look very professional, so these bags can double as something you can take to work.

If you don’t like the look of bright, traditional backpacks and you like to be stylish but low-key, the NOMATIC backpacks are a great option for you.

Comfort: Is it Easy to Wear?

The NOMATIC bags are pretty comfortable to wear, with well padded shoulder straps and a sternum strap. But, the harness system (or lack of a harness system, really) on each is very basic. They’ve got nothing on a traditional trekking backpack. However, this is not what the bags are for. They’re designed to be worn between hostels and bus stations or airports like an everyday backpack, so they don’t need a whole lot of extra support.

Due to their bigger size, the NOMATIC Travel Pack and the Travel Bag come with detachable hip straps to add a little extra support to your back. They are well-padded and durable. However, if you have a long torso, the straps sit at your stomach rather than your hips, so that can be a bit uncomfortable. But they are detachable, so simply remove them if they don’t work.

The backpack’s back panel is made of ballistic material. While it does nothing to stop water from getting in, it does a decent job of absorbing back sweat.

And if you travel, you know how annoying back sweat is.

Organization: How Does it Stack Up?

The organization that NOMATIC bags offer is their biggest draw in my opinion. NOMATIC backpacks are some of the best in the world for organization freaks!

All three bags offer more compartments and pockets than you could ever dream of. The compartment for shoes and the pocket in the NOMATIC Travel Pack and NOMATIC Travel Bag are great details. There’s nothing worse than having to stuff your dirty, stinky shoes in with your clean clothes in the main compartment.

The extra bag for laundry in the NOMATIC Travel Bag is a game changer too! The only problem with the bag is that it’s made from mesh. If your clothes are particularly stinky, they might spread their stench onto your clean clothes. You may want to wrap your clothes up in plastic too. But if that’s the case, you may as well wash your clothes.

The sunglasses case/glasses case is another really cool feature. I’m constantly losing and/or breaking sunglasses while I’m on a trip because I never have anywhere to keep them. The purpose-made pocket has solved a major problem for me.

I also appreciate that they all incorporate an anti-theft secure pocket, as well as a hidden one. It’s pretty hard these days to travel without any valuables or technology at all. However, thieves are getting better at thievin’ our precious possessions, so the extra layers of security are excellent for peace-of-mind.

The designers at NOMATIC thought of everything when it comes to organization. It’s almost like they were showing off for the sake of it. In many ways, the bags try to do too much with too little space. Bottom line, they often feel clunky, but organized nevertheless.

Durability: Will a NOMATIC Backpack Last?

Each NOMATIC travel pack is extremely durable. They’re made from water-resistant material and have reinforced stitching. This makes them almost indestructible.

For general travel use, your NOMATIC backpack should see you through to old age. Even if they don’t, they come with a lifetime warranty, so the company will fix any issues for you, provided you didn’t throw your bag into a geyser or something.

Admittedly, they won’t hold up to the challenge of a tough hike through the Himalayas. But that’s definitely not what they’re made for. You’d be facing more serious problems than a hole in your backpack if you tried to climb Everest with a NOMATIC Travel Pack (for example).

Price: How Much Does a NOMATIC Backpack Cost?

The price tag is certainly high for these bags. They are outstanding quality and well-designed though, so you really do get what you pay for.

Personally, for a small, everyday backpack, I think the NOMATIC Backpack is overpriced. However, the travel-oriented backpacks (the NOMATIC Travel Pack and the Travel Bag) are reasonably priced for what they can achieve. You’d be paying around the same price for an Osprey of similar functionality; however, you’d be using it for different purposes.

The kicker is the cost of shipping. The shipping cost is high if you’re buying a NOMATIC Travel Pack, Bag, or Backpack outside of the United States.

Warranty: What Kind of Warranty Comes With the NOMATIC Backpack and Travel Bag?

All NOMATIC products come with a lifetime warranty. They will repair anything that becomes defective or non-functioning due to normal wear-and-tear or a production issue. They do not repair cosmetic wear.

The customer has to pay for shipping costs back to the factory, but NOMATIC covers all the repair costs. So even if you accidentally tear a big hole in your NOMATIC Travel Pack, they’ll take care of it. They also send the bag back to you free of charge. If it’s beyond repair, they will replace the whole bag for you.

Shipping: Does NOMATIC Ship Their Backpacks and Travel Bags Internationally?

NOMATIC ships their bags to every country in the world (except war zones). But NOMATIC is not very upfront about their shipping costs. Unlike other travel pack companies that have really clear grids for shipping costs, you have to dig around a lot on their website to find out how much you’ll pay.

I saved you from doing the hard work by plugging in some random addresses from around the world. When I saw the shipping prices, I realized why NOMATIC hides them away!

For many regions in the world, the shipping costs are insanely expensive. In a world dominated by free or cheap shipping, they would turn almost everyone off from buying a NOMATIC bag.

Here’s what I found.

Standard shipping prices for Canada, Europe, and the UK are $15-$30. That seems reasonable!

I then looked at shipping prices for Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. If you live in the Asia Pacific, you will be paying $100+ for shipping alone. It’s barely worth it when you’re already paying over $250 for the bag itself.

But wait, it gets worse. If you’re in Mexico or somewhere in Latin America, you’ll pay around $250 in shipping costs. That’s crazy!

I have no idea what NOMATIC’s distribution channels are, but these costs are outrageous. Nobody in their right mind would pay that much for shipping. This is something that Nomatic really needs to work on. I bet they miss out on a lot of sales because of this.

NOMATIC Backpack Accessories

There is a range of accessories specially designed for each NOMATIC backpack.

Toiletry Bag 2.0

It comes with a hook so you can hang it over the bathroom door or towel rail. The small bag is $49.99, and the regular is $69.99. I’ve got a toiletry bag that looks exactly the same, and I bought it for $10.

Packing Cube

They’re $29.99 each, and that’s fairly reasonable.

Shirt Organizer

Laundry Bag

They’re also $29.99 too, which isn’t too bad.

NOMATIC Backpack Review Summary: My Final Thoughts

There has been a lot of chatter about the NOMATIC Travel Pack, Backpack, and Travel Bag. They’re supposed to change the game of backpacking.

Now, don’t get me wrong, they are great products.

The bags are all very robust, high-quality, and well-thought-out.

And sure, each NOMATIC backpack has tons of features. The NOMATIC backpack is a dream backpack for people who love to be super-organized, but are they the be-all and end-all?

I don’t think so.

In my opinion, and as I’ve mentioned several times in this NOMATIC travel bag review, these bags come across as over-designed. When you’re researching NOMATIC bags, the features are very appealing. When you dig down, you can’t help but doubt if some of those features are even beneficial.

It’s important to remember that the more features you cram into a small space, the more clunky and heavier the travel pack becomes.

On top of that, the price tag is very high. This is particularly true if you’re based in the Asian Pacific or Latin America, and you have to pay those astronomical shipping rates.

The NOMATIC products fit in a strange space in the cosmos of bags. They do too much for a short vacation, but they don’t provide enough space (or back support) for a serious backpacking journey.

So, while they look nice and have a laundry list of features, the bottom line is they aren’t perfect. I honestly think they’re better for traveling professionals and digital nomads who need a well-organized carry-on bag.

But to each their own, right?

• The Best Carry-On Backpacks For One Bag Travel
• The Best Carry-On Luggage for Every Adventure
• Tortuga Outbreaker vs. Peak Design Travel Bag
• The Best Travel Daypacks for Every Adventure

NOMATIC Backpack FAQs

Is the nomatic backpack worth it.

If you’re looking for a highly organized and versatile everyday backpack, the NOMATIC Backpack is worth it.

Does the NOMATIC Backpack fit under and airplane seat?

Yes, the NOMATIC Backpack fits under most airplane seats.

Where are NOMATIC bags made?

NOMATIC bags are manufactured in the Phillipines

Are NOMATIC backpacks water-resistant?

Yes, NOMATIC bags are very water-resistant.

Does NOMATIC have a lifetime warranty?

Yes, NOMATIC offers a limited lifetime warranty. You just have to register your product online.

Jeremy Scott Foster

Hi Jeremy, thanks for this review, super helpful 🙂

Do you happen to know anything about Nomatic’s materials sourcing? In terms of environmental sustainability and labor chain? I’m hunting info on that before I make a purchase

Regards, Paul

Hey Paul—that’s a great question, and one I’d actually love some more info on, myself. If you happen to find any info, please keep us updated!

Reads like an add. The fact that ebags sells comparable bags for less than $100 should be noted.

Thanks for the insight! If someone is looking for a $100 bag, they probably won’t be reading this article 🙂

Very useful review, but the company has the worst customer support service ever. Ordered a backpack two weeks ago, still no shipment nor answer from them. They don’t even reply. No phone number. It’s basically a scam. And think you should mention this in your review.

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Behind the Design:

Starting Small

If you’re new to the Nomatic community, you might think that Nomatic has always been a part of the travel brand landscape. However, if you’re one of our OG’s then you might know that isn’t the case! Nomatic started as a company under the name “Basics” which was focused on creating premium, minimal looking everyday carry items. In fact, our wallet was actually the pioneer of products for the entire brand, originally garnering over 6000 backers on Kickstarter!

The Birth of an Idea

Eventually, Jon and Jacob, the Basics founders, decided they were ready to expand their line from smaller EDC items, such as planners and watches, to include the most epic bag. This bag would embody their “EDC Philosophy”, as Jon puts it, and be packed with both functionality and a sleek look. As they embarked on creating this new product, they encountered some major unforeseen trademark issues which eventually led to the necessary, complete rebranding of Basics. This is where the brand we all know and love finally emerged as… NOMATIC! 

Fresh from a brand overhaul, Nomatic announced their very first bag, now known as the 40L Travel Bag ! This bag ultimately raised an impressive $3 million dollars during crowdfunding, and marked the beginning of the company entering the world of a travel.

A Fresh Perspective on Functionality

Q: Nomatic is known for their functionality and abundance of features, which all started with this bag. What specific features did you really push to be included, and why?

A: As we started designing the 40L Travel Bag, we coined the phrase, "The most functional travel bag ever". We developed a unique strap system, that we were later able to patent, that easily helped the bag switch between backpack and duffel. One of the key things we focused on early on was maximizing the carry-on space, while still allowing for easy access to all your stuff. We surveyed our customers to find which things they traveled with most, and created a bag that fit those types of things perfectly. This allowed us to create the perfect bag for one bag travel, because it truly does it all!

One of my favorite things about the process of designing the 40L travel bag was that neither Jacob nor I were bag designers. Not only were we not bag designers, we weren't product designers at all! The reason this was a positive was because it allowed us to look at the bag space, and specifically this travel bag, in a different way and create something that we wanted to use and something that would add value to the user and not have all these preconceived notions of what a bag should be, and how it should function.

With over 20 major features, the bag includes things like water resistant material, a custom laundry bag, a water bottle pocket, a designated laptop compartment, and so much more. Designers or not, the bag is definitely one of a kind!

Overcoming Challenges and Setbacks

Q: I can’t imagine creating a bag like that was all smooth sailing! What were some of the pain points you experienced while designing and constructing the prototypes for the bag?

A: “Early on, we had prototyped this bag in China. We flew over there and met with 5 to 10 different factories, all of which had prototypes waiting for us when we arrived. While some of the bags were decent, the quality wasn't quite the standard we were hoping for in the end. Some were even laughable. Around this time, we got introduced to another factory in Vietnam, and we sent them our best prototype from China. They were able to come back with a bag that was 10 times better, and match the same price... and we knew we had something amazing!

Perfecting Prototypes for Adventurers Worldwide

Q: You’ve got the design and you’ve got the bag… But how did you know when it was finally perfect for travelers all around to love?

A: When we received this prototype from Vietnam and tested it ourselves, we were blown away by the quality. We made small tweaks to the way it was carried, some of the hardware, and some of the pocket systems. As we began to test the product in travel ourselves, we were blown away by how easy it made any type of trip, not just plane travel! Even after we launched, we made changes to the bag. This is the great thing about Kickstarter, it allowed us to receive very necessary feedback... We had no idea, but all of our customers wanted waterproof zippers, and because we launched on Kickstarter, we were able to pivot and make this change before full production!”

The 40L Travel Bag definitely stands tall as a testament to the power of patience and perseverance. As one of the highest reviewed products on our roster, it’s been well received and loved as a truly functional and versatile travel companion. The bag's success not only established Nomatic as a prominent player in the travel gear industry, but also laid the foundation for a brand that continues to push boundaries, crafting thoughtfully designed products that enhance the lives of modern nomads.

The bag definitely holds a special place in Nomatic’s heart; Ushering it from it’s roots as a small, edc-style brand to eventually becoming one of the most highly regarded companies with dozens of bags to fit the needs for any type of commuter, photographer, and explorer around.

Travel Bag 40L

Designed to keep you organized and prepared during week-long excursions, the Nomatic Travel Bag 40L can seamlessly transition from a backpack to duffel while on the go. This bag includes our removable Nomatic Waist Straps for added comfort and a thoughtful feature-set purpose-built to secure your traveling essentials.  

The Nomatic Travel Bag 40L is built for the three to seven-day trip, and conveniently carries everything you need to live comfortably while on the move. With a durable construction of water-resistant materials and zippers, the Travel Bag 40L adds versatility to your travels thanks to our patented strap system, which easily transitions from duffel to backpack on the go. Each bag comes with our removable Nomatic Waist Straps, to evenly distribute weight while carrying as a backpack. Travel Bag 40L includes a custom laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate as you travel, and integrated compartments for shoes, clothes, a laptop or tablet, and a water bottle, to keep you organized during your weekend getaway or extended vacation. 

Seamless Carry | Transitions from duffel to backpack on the go

Waist Straps | Includes removable waist straps for added comfort

Room for Everything | Spacious, wide-open main compartment for easy packing

Travel like a Pro | Dedicated pockets for travel essentials (passports, water bottles, etc.)

Waterproof Storage | Dedicated internal water bottle pocket keeps valuables safe in case of spills

TSA-Ready | Carry-on size and easy access to your laptop and tablet