My gear gurus — Dave and Kraig — consistently list Matador one of their favourite gear companies.
The Matador Freerain22 is an amazing pack at only 300g (10.6oz).
I'd call it water resistant, not submersible. It's not a dry bag.
Not inexpensive (about $100), I bought the Freerain to replace my last Matador packable which I had used for hundreds of days of travel. Incredibly durable and useful.
It's my second pack ➙ the one I use for a short day hike, picking up groceries, shopping, etc.
I don't need any more frame or suspension for short day hikes. I typically push an extra layer down towards the lumbar portion of the bag — and that's plenty of padding.
Click PLAY or watch the Matador video on YouTube.
Read the Packhacker detailed review.
