How do you make a better travel backpack? If you’re Matador, you team up with Pack Hacker, the site that is all about backpack and luggage reviews. Together, the two brands worked together to design the ReFraction Pro Packable Backpack ($85).
Most packable bags fall into two camps: bulky bricks that don’t compress, or flimsy sacks with no organization, and the folks at Pack Hacker, a sister site to GearJunkie, drew on years of expertise to address these issues.
This versatile bag is built for travelers who crave more organization than typical packable bags offer. Check out an in-depth first look at the new backpack below.
Why Matador?
From its unique soap bar case to tiny towels, Matador products have long been a favorite of the Pack Hacker community and a staple of the site’s one-bag travel guides and packing lists. Collaborating on a bag was a natural next step.
The ReFraction Packable Backpack is the highest-rated Matador product on the Pack Hacker site and a Pack Hacker Pick, but the site had a few ideas on how to fine-tune it.
“A lot goes into designing a bag, so it was awesome to work with a team that understands the nuance of one-bag travel,” said Pack Hacker founder Tom Wahlin. “This collaboration shows the power of bringing traveler voices into the product design process. It’s proof of what can happen when real-world feedback guides brand innovation.”
Behind the Scenes
The process took over a year of hard work and collaboration between Pack Hacker and Matador.
“Working with Pack Hacker meant blending their deep traveler insights with our design expertise. Together, we developed a pack shaped by the needs of people who use it most,” said Matador founder Chris Clearman.
Wahlin flew out to Colorado nearly a year ago to work on the first iteration of the bag. Matador sews its samples in-house, and he says it was awesome to see the facility in person and get his hands on what the team had created from Pack Hacker suggestions.
“Sam and the team at Matador understood our vision and worked to strike that balance. We’re not designers; we just knew what was missing. They brought it to life,” Wahlin said.
Over the next several months, packages continued to arrive at Pack Hacker HQ in Detroit, Mich., each containing an improvement on the previous model based on feedback from the Pack Hacker team. From switching liner colors to debates over the best carabiner, no detail was too minor to overlook.
“Each feature we added to this bag, big or small, is linked to an experience we had while traveling that sparked an idea for an improvement,” Wahlin explained.
The Pro Difference
The ReFraction Pro provides useful features without sacrificing its packability or 16L capacity. Most notable is the addition of an admin pocket. Inside is a location tracker sleeve, two mesh pockets that are perfectly sized for a passport, and a rear zippered compartment for small gear like dongles and cables.
That zippered compartment also doubles as the packable bag’s pouch. Here, a built-in anodized aluminum carabiner functions as an attachment point when the bag is compressed and is compatible with PALS webbing — an industry-standard loop size. When the bag is unpacked, you can use the carabiner to hold your keys so they don’t get lost on your next adventure.
The ReFraction Pro Packable Backpack also has a dedicated compartment for up to a 15-inch laptop, with dual-zipper access that allows you to reach it from any angle. It doesn’t take away space from the main compartment when you leave a device behind, either, and you can even use it as a spot to secure large paper documents in a pinch.
Meanwhile, Hypalon tether points on the bag’s exterior give you a spot to attach anything else you want to carry, from a hat to an air-drying towel.
Why Mess With Perfection?
What’s the saying — “The more things change, the more they stay the same”? Well, there was already quite a bit to love on the ReFraction Packable Backpack, and many of those features remain on the Pro version.
Its packed dimensions are identical to the original, so you get the same compressibility on top of the new features. Additionally, this bag is constructed with the same durable, lightweight 100D recycled nylon and 70D Bluesign span materials. It’s stretchy but structured and easily wipes clean, so it holds up in rugged environments.
There are still reliable YKK zippers, but with AquaGuard protection and Pack Hacker teal pulls on the main compartment to match the other accents on the custom color scheme.
The shoulder straps are just as comfortable, with a sternum strap that doubles as a luggage pass-through if you use the bag as your personal item alongside a suitcase. However, the Pro version has the added benefit of plastic strap keepers, which clean up the bag’s aesthetic without adding bulk.
Where to Find It
Pack Hacker staff have already taken this bag to places like Costa Rica and Tanzania, and they’re confident customers will love its intuitive design. This limited-run collaboration is available now on the Matador site. Join Pack Hacker Pro for 20% off Matador products.
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