Matein Travel Review

The Matein Travel is one of the most affordable laptop backpacks in our lineup, and in addition to price, we like that it boasts fairly solid construction and has a pass-through strap for your luggage handle.

Comfort and Fit

The Matein offers just the basics when it comes to how it wears. It's not uncomfortable to wear, but it wasn't as comfortable as most of the other backpacks in our tests.

There's nothing flashy about this pack's shoulder straps or padding. The straps are about 2.5 inches wide and offer a thin layer of basic cushioning. They are very basic, like the kind on a simple school backpack. The same is true with the back padding. There are two thinner pads across the shoulders and one located across the bottom of the pack. All of the padding is housed under a thin mesh fabric that does a decent job of creating a bit of airflow.

measuring the width of the shoulder straps.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

The padding is not very dense. Most of the time, it was adequate, but we did notice its lack of cushion when our pack overly filled and heavy.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Showing the Matein's back panel. The two shoulder cushions and bottom cushion are good but average.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

We liked the mesh outer layer of the padding. It's typical for packs like this, but it did a fairly decent job of keeping us a little cooler while carrying our pack on warmer days.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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The shoulder straps on the Matein have simple plastic adjustment buckles at their base that work well enough. We were disappointed by the lack of a sternum strap, which bundles the straps around the shoulders and collar. This gives more stability when carrying heavier loads or riding a bike, skateboard, or scooter. However, the Matein's simple design is large and flexible, so we liked that it fits most body types and is comfortable to wear casually. But we wouldn't want to carry heavier loads for long stretches.

Testing the cinching ability of each shoulder strap buckle.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

When the pack is weighted, the shoulder straps still easily adjusted by simply pulling.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

We didn't like that the Matein doesn't offer a sternum strap to allow both shoulder straps to be connected together.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

The Matein easily molded into the shoulders and chest of our younger, thinner, testers.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

It also comfortably rolled over larger shoulders with even a little to spare.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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Laptop Protection

The polyester shell of the Matein is fairly dense with a canvas-like texture. This bag is reasonably reinforced and offers decent enough laptop protection for its price.

Based on our tests and hands-on examinations, we don't feel the Matein offers extensive protection for your laptop and other electronics; however, it still performed about average when compared against the other models we tested. We liked that it offered a designated laptop sleeve that sits against the back. It also has an elastic Velcro securing strap that holds it in place — two thumbs up.

We liked that the laptop sleeve has a securing strap. It's an inexpensive addition that goes a long way toward keeping it from jostling around.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

The laptop compartment also has a basic sleeve for a tablet or Kindle. It doesn't offer much in terms of protection, but we liked having it available.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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Bags with a false bottom in their laptop sleeve (extra protection when placing your bag down) were given extra points. The Matein doesn't have one. The overall backpack is mostly fabric with very little padding. That said, we still think it offers an average amount of protection for your things. And, it even does fairly well at repelling water. We doused it in our sink, and we were reasonably impressed with its defensive abilities.

When compared to its price point, we liked the Matein's polyester shell. It's reasonably dense and protective.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Our rainstorm simulations. We were harder on the bags we tested than most thunder clouds would ever think to be.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Spraying directly at the Matein's main zippers to see how they hold up. Zippers are typically the weak spot.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

There were a few places where water made its way through. Quite frankly, the results were far better than we anticipated.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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Storage and Organization

Our testers liked this backpack's layout. It has tons of fun pockets and specific places to put things. And the 28L capacity is one of the largest in the group, ensuring you'll always have enough room for a change of clothes or a pair of gym shoes.

Our favorite organizational feature was the hidden pocket. It sits on the outside of the bag against the back (below the shoulder straps). It's a secure place to stash wallets or other valuables.

We counted six exterior pockets, including two mesh water-bottle pouches. We also loved the two main compartments for their overall space and layout — everything seemed to have a place in this bag. It even had a basic soft pocket for glasses or a phone. However, some of our testers felt the water-bottle pouches were a little too shallow, which makes it harder for them to support larger or taller containers.

Stowing our glasses into the Matein's soft pocket. This pocket is not lined and is pretty basic.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Our testers who like to drink a lot of water during the day did not like the low-cut pouches on either side of the Matein. They hold standard containers well, but larger bottles sometimes fell out when we bent over or made sudden movements.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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Other favorite organizational features we loved include this bag's detachable key clip, USB port with power-bank cord, smooth zippers, soft top handle, pen organizer, and the ability to carry a tablet if needed.

The key clip is basic, but it does the job. We liked that it clipped on and off.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Plugging into the USB port for a quick charge. The Matein's port also is connected to a built-in internal wire (not shown) that plugs directly into your personal power bank.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

We liked the convenience of having access to power while on the go.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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Ease of Use

The Matein has a flat bottom, but it's not large or structured enough for it to stand up on its own. Other than that, we liked how easy it is to use, earning it top marks for this metric.

The Matein isn't particularly small, but its average size makes it easy to maneuver and store on public transportation. It also has smooth zippers (although they are basic and not overly robust). While using it, we found its polyester exterior to be scuff-resistant and easy to clean. In fact hand-washing and air-drying was enough to take care of most stains or spills. Lastly, all of our testers felt the Matein was easy to grab and sling onto their backs — a simple, but important plus for any backpack.

Versatility

We felt the Matein kind of stayed in its own lane. This is a basic, traditional pack with the same style and design as many others in its price range. But, we still feel it brings something to the table, and it's roomy enough to throw in a lunch or gym clothes.

This bag is ideal for students of all ages. Its price makes it particularly appealing to this demographic, as well as any other price-conscious buyer. The open, general design of the Matein allows it to adapt well to most users looking for basic performance. However, its protective limitations may make it more problematic for young users, especially if they are transporting expensive electronics. Lastly, it is available in a ton of great colors and it packs down nicely if you need to fit it into luggage or storage.

Should You Buy the Matein Travel?

If you're looking for acceptable performance at a very reasonable price, the Matein is worth looking into. We think this bag's understated, classic look allows it to fit into most environments. So whether you're headed to work, school, or to the local park to chip away at writing your novel, we think this bag is a great buy. However, it's not indestructible, so it's important to accept this bag for what it is by using it with care.

What Other Laptop Backpacks Should You Consider?

It's hard to find a bag as affordable as the Matein (at least one that's worth buying), but some of our other budget picks include the Everlane The ReNew Transit, which is another comfortable and easy-to-use option on our list. It has a minimal design like the Matein, but with a little more construction quality and a stylish twist that might appeal more to women. We absolutely love the The North Face Recon for its price and hardy, general-purpose backpack design. It's been one of our favorites for a few years, and we use it for everything from travel to work commutes to short day hikes. The Patagonia Black Hole Micro MLC is an excellent option for its versatile design.