NOMATIC Travel Pack
The NOMATIC Travel Pack is built for travelers who appreciate a well engineered bag almost as much as they hate rummaging through their bag. It is available in 14L and the more popular 20L size depicted here. The 20L pack expands to 30L, has 22 pockets, magnetic water bottle pockets, an easy lay-flat laptop compartment for security, and a strap system that allows you to carry it like a briefcase. It weighs in at about four pounds, stands about 18.5 in tall, and its depth grows from about 6 inches to about 9.5 inches when expanded. If you travel light and love structured organization, this is the pack for you.
Real people making real gear
NOMATIC is a US-based brand that started with a crowdfunding launch by two cousins (Jon Richards and Jacob Durham) back in 2014. They are based in Utah and their first campaign drew over 6,000 backers who had plenty of feedback to offer, which helps explain the design DNA of their bags: lots of iterative features aimed at specific pain points like carrying tech gear and navigating the airports. NOMATIC launched with a focus on building the most functional travel gear. I think that is important for those of us who are tired of look-alike bags that borrow the look but skip the hard parts like pocket mapping and hardware choices, or who use inferior materials because that sort of thing doesn't matter so much in the photos they post to sell it to you. This is a real brand that doesn't have the option of just changing their name, so they have a reputation to uphold.
Specs
This pack is in the sweet spot for short trips: 20L for daily mode and 30L when you need to use it for a weekend trip or as a companion bag for your small suitcase. NOMATIC lists the 20L version at 4.1 pounds with dimensions about 18.5" tall and 12" wide, and the depth that grows as you expand it. NOMATIC also sells a 14L version that expands to 21L, plus current color options like black, navy, and olive depending on size.
Expansion and clamshell access
The expansion is simple: unzip the middle expansion zipper and you are in 30L mode. It creates quite a bit more room, but the bag can get chunky and harder to manage when expanded and packed heavy. The layout shifts too: compressed mode gives you a slicker everyday profile, while expanded mode opens a larger clamshell space that works best with packing cubes. It is designed for one to three day trips and leans into “packs like a suitcase” access with a full perimeter zipper. Expansion is a real feature here, not a gimmick, but it rewards disciplined packing.
Nooks and crannies
Organization comes by way of 22 purposeful pockets plus RFID-safe storage, hidden compartments, a sunglasses case, and a retractable key leash. It has a hidden security pocket, a top quick grab pocket with soft lining, a large front organizer area with an RFID pocket, and a laptop section that opens like a clamshell with a false bottom for drop protection. The organization “gets out of the way” if it isn't being used since a lot of it lies flat when unused. This is the rare bag where you can assign a job to almost every pocket without feeling like you are making it up.
Organization tips
We suggest running a simple system: tech in the dedicated laptop and tablet sleeves, chargers and cables in the front organizer pockets, and clothes in cubes in the main compartment when expanded. The bag is great for carrying lots of tech plus light clothing, and the many small pockets make it easy to separate charging blocks, cords, meds, toiletries, and earbuds. If all of the storage areas start to get confusing, you can color code the zipper pulls to make it easier to remember what you put in each storage area.
Carry on compliance and under seat reality
Both the 14L and 20L Travel Packs are designed to fit under most airline seats and usually qualify as personal items, but the 20L at full 30L expansion may be treated as a carry-on that needs to go in the overhead bin. One flyer using the bag reported plenty of room on American, while another noted that Delta seats with an in-flight entertainment box can block an expanded and packed bag from fitting. So the safe play is to keep it unexpanded when you really need to stuff it under the seat, and anticipate needing to put it in the overhead bin if you choose to expand it.
Comfort
This bag is comfortable to wear, but like any bag this large, the shoulder straps can get uncomfortable on long journeys if the bag is packed really heavy. The Travel Pack lacks the suspension and rigid frame you see on some of the more intense travel-first harness systems, which makes it less suited for long walking journeys when weighted down. So this would be a good pick for shorter to average trips, but maybe a bit less fun for long hauling. If you want a simple fix, the optional waist straps can be helpful, and the sternum strap is adjustable and detachable.
Build quality
The Travel Pack is made from water resistant tarpaulin with sealed YKK zippers, reinforced stitching, and vegan materials. The tarpaulin material has a nicer feel than older versions, but it may be prone to scuffing and showing marks more than some other nylons. NOMATIC’s own update notes mention that the scratch resistance has been improved. The overall build quality is solid, but you should expect cosmetic scuffs if you are hard on gear. We like to call that sort of wear 'patina'.
Versatility beyond travel
NOMATIC’s patented strap system lets you carry it like a briefcase, which is handy when you want a more professional look in a meeting or hotel lobby. The bag stands up on its own, has a luggage pass-through, and uses magnetic water bottle pockets that stay sleek when empty. It can do commuter duty all week and still feel right at home on a weekend flight.
Vetted Verdict
Buy this if you love structured organization, carry a decent amount of tech, and want a compact bag that can expand for short trips. It shines for business travel and city travel where you are in and out of taxis, terminals, and hotels. Skip it if you want a soft lightweight harness for long walks, or if you dislike lots of compartments and prefer one big bucket. NOMATIC backs the bag with a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship and they will repair or replace it if something fails from craftsmanship or materials.
