Table of Contents
About Matador
When you’re out camping or going off-grid, you definitely want gear that’s efficient and can last. But with a lot of outdoor brands, it’s all flashy features and not much substance. Matador is changing all of that with their equipment, minus all those extra bits that are only really there for decoration.
With nearly 20k likes on Facebook and over 133k followers on Instagram, it appears this brand has cultivated a great following for its products. Their gear has been featured in TripSavvy and NYT Wirecutter, even winning awards from Carryology and Popular Mechanics.
In this Matador review, I will take you through their products, company policies, and what to expect when you purchase from them. After that, I will take you through customer ratings and finish our journey by letting you know if their gear is worth your money while you backpack into the unknown.
Overview of Matador
Founded in 2014, Matador is led by Chris Clearman who found a lot of camping products just had too many features for simple tasks. The company’s goal is to make easy-to-use camping items by removing all the flash so you get more for what you paid for. Chris even tests the company’s products in the wilderness to see if they’re up to snuff.
As of 2018, the company has been working towards creating greener products. With this sustainability goal in mind, they now only sell items that are vegan and 100% cruelty-free. This way you can feel even better about camping in the wilderness knowing that the products in this Matador review did not harm the environment.
Since you now understand a little bit more about the company behind these products, let’s take a look at a few highlights from this brand:
Highlights
- Simple and effective products
- Wide range of camping gear to pick from
- Most items in Matador catalogue are waterproof
- Good reviews
- Environmentally friendly products
- Payment plans through Klarna available
I know, I know — when you’re out in the woods, you don’t want to deal with fancy gear that won’t keep you warm, store all your necessities, or worse, dealing with a wet towel. Yuck. No one has time for that.
In this next section of my Matador review, I’ll give you the lowdown on all of the brand’s products and show you some features you may want to consider for your next outdoor adventure.
Matador Review
Matador products have a minimalist design philosophy where every part of your pack or camping gear has been engineered with purpose. In this Matador review, I’ll evaluate these items for how useful they will be in your outdoor activities and how well they are made.
While I focus a lot on the camping aspects of the products, they could also be useful for any urban jungle you may live in.
Matador NanoDry Packable Shower Towel Large Review
Using a wet towel isn’t the nicest, but doing so when you’re camping feels even more yucky. If you’ve been searching for a solution to this when you’re out in nature, then the Matador NanoDry Packable Shower Towel might just be the key to your wet towel problems. It’s small enough to fit in one hand and conveniently clips to your bag with its rubberized case.
The tech used to make this towel means it’ll dry quickly and is large enough to dry off your body after a shower — holding nearly 2.5x water in weight. While charcoal black is Matador’s signature color, the towel and matching case also comes in forest green and rust.
The Matador NanoDry Packable Shower Towel Large sells for $35. Klarna payment plans are also available.
Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case Review
When you’re roughing it in the backcountry, you need a way to stay clean, but carrying around a wet bar of sticky soap is not ideal. Matador created a solution for this problem with the FlatPak Soap Bar Case. The waterproof and leakproof case means your bar of soap can dry without leaving any of the squishy mess behind.
It can clip to the side of your backpack and comes in a charcoal or alpine lake color. This soap carrier has even won several awards from the likes of Popular Mechanics, Carryology, and the International Travel Goods Show.
Get the FlatPak Soap Bar Case for $13 or a two-pack for $24.
Matador Travel Earplugs Kit Review
The next item in my Matador review is less for outdoor adventures and more for noisy trains or flights. With the Matador Travel Earplugs Kit, you get a small keychain-sized earplug carrier and a set of matching earplugs.
The earplugs can handle noise up to 32 dB and are made of memory foam to sit comfortably in your ears. Bottom line, it will block any outside noise preventing you from getting a good sleep or whenever you’re working in a loud environment.
The kit comes with:
- 2 silicone cases (charcoal & light gray)
- 3 pair of earplugs
- Keychain ring
Pick up the kit for $10 or use a Klarna payment plan.
Matador Waterproof Travel Canister Review
If you’re going to be trekking through wet areas, you’ll definitely need something to keep all your necessities dry. The Matador Waterproof Travel Canisters are made exactly for that and come in two sizes — 40 ml and 100 ml.
The 100 ml is a flat dish shape while the 40 ml looks like one of those old school photo film containers. Naturally, they are water and leakproof since they’re made out of a durable food safe aluminum that’s also BPA-free. It’s the perfect place to store trail mix, cooking spices, or pills.
The 100 ml Waterproof Travel Canister comes in a 2 pack and costs $18, while the singular 40 ml retails for $8.
Matador SEG42 Travel Pack Review
When you’re traveling, it’s always good to have all your essentials with you, but that could mean bringing a lot of luggage when you’re only allowed one bag. No problem. This Matador SEG42 Travel Pack was made with you in mind — giving you all the space you need to bring whatever you want in a sleek, minimalist design.
This 42 L bag has five compartments to easily organize your pack. Dirty clothes? That gets its own compartment without mixing in with your clean clothing. Plus, all the compartments are made of a soft material so you can adjust the space as needed — even storing a pair of shoes with ease!
Whether you’re using it as a duffle bag or a backpack, this travel pack has everything you need when you go on adventures. It even has a padded sleeve for your laptop so you can take it with you on the plane or around town.
The SEG42 Travel Pack retails for $200 or set up a payment plan with Klarna.
Matador On-Grid Packable Backpack Review
The perfect bag for your everyday life, the 16 L Matador On-Grid Packable Backpack is a great option for students or cyclists on their daily commute. Stronger than your typical backpack, it’s made from waterproof nylon that uses a bonded threading technique to give it extra sturdiness.
Its rounded design hugs your lower back and has side storage pouches for a water bottle or umbrella. The main compartment can easily fit a laptop and anything else you need for your day. Best part? This bag can fold up super small so you can take it wherever you go.
Get your Matador On-Grid Packable Backpack in charcoal for $65 or pay with Klarna.
Who Is Matador For?
Matador is for those looking to go off-grid or love to camp in the backcountry. The products I looked at in this Matador review would also be great for travelers looking to safely pack their gear in waterproof containers or cases.
Even if you live in a city, the brand does have some products that will suit your needs, especially if you reside in an area known for rain.
Matador Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
Matador is a relatively new company, so I took some time to track down reviews. Turns out, a few of their products are smash hits!
Let’s start this rating section of this Matador review by taking a visit to the MEC where one satisfied customer had this to say about their soap case:
“This case worked like magic with no fuss or anything else done to help it. We simply dropped the recently used bar of soap into the bag, put it into the pack and forgot about it. Next time we wanted it, the bar of soap was dry and so was everything else around it. I heartily recommend it!” An easy 5/5 stars.
The same goes for another review on Varuste.net. They had this to say about their Matador blanket, “Small, super practical and easy to fold again.” Most customers love Matador’s focus on functional designs that just work.
With 4.3/5 stars on Amazon out of 148 reviews, this customer had this to say, “As a minimalist traveler I subscribe to the flat pack concept of packing. Everything is thin and flat. These little pouches are just the right size for a small flat pack toiletry kit. Write the name of contents using a different color Sharpie marker. Fabric feels strong and durable.”
If customers had any complaints about Matador’s products, they concerned size and their ability to dry off quickly. However, those comments from shoppers came few and far between.
Is Matador Worth It?
Ultimately, Matador is a brand that has reasonably priced items for outdoor camping and off-the-grid adventures, it’s super efficient, and can last a long time. Based on all that, along with the positive Matador reviews from customers, I believe the brand is worth the price.
Plus, the company has really started making moves toward creating sustainable products, selling vegan and environmentally friendly items. Who can say no to that?
Matador Promotions & Discounts
Currently, Matador has no promotions or discounts on their site.
Where to Buy Matador
For the full selection of products, it’s best to buy directly from their website. Select products can also be found on Amazon and REI.
FAQ
Who owns Matador?
CEO and founder Chris Clearman owns Matador.
Does Matador ship internationally?
Yes, but you are responsible for any import fees and duties that will be charged based on your location.
What is Matador’s Shipping Policy?
I know you must be excited about getting your Matador items, so let’s take a look at the company’s shipping policies for both the US and internationally.
- All orders within the mainland US cost $5 and typically take 2-5 business days.
- Duties and custom fees are paid by the customer for international orders.
- Shipping fees for international orders are calculated at checkout.
- To see if Matador ships to your country, check the website for a list.
What is Matador’s Return Policy?
Both US and international customers have up to 30 days from the order date to do so. The returned items must be unused, and you have to pay for your own return shipping costs. To set up your return, first contact Matador by email: [email protected].
All US customers can expect returns to be processed within 3-5 business days. For international customers, if your goods are returned because you did not pay the duties on the package, they won’t be counted as returned and will have to deal with these special terms. In this case, no refund will be provided.
How to Contact Matador
If this Matador review hasn’t answered all of your questions, you can reach out to the company through the following methods:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 1-720-242-6437
Customer service hours are between Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm MST.
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