In-depth review
Matador Freefly16 Packable Backpack Review (2027)
Research review of the Matador Freefly16: a 16L packable daypack with a waterproof UTS coating, Robic nylon, and breathable mesh straps.
Matador Freefly16 Packable Backpack
A 16L packable with a waterproof UTS coating and breathable mesh straps.
Our verdict
The Freefly16 is the minimalist Matador: the same weatherproof UTS-coated Robic thinking as the On-Grid, in a simpler 16L sack that disappears into luggage. For hikers and city walkers who travel light, it is the packable that survives weather and years.
What we like
- 16L capacity sized honestly for a day kit of layers, water, and food
- Waterproof UTS coating on Robic nylon shrugs off rain like its On-Grid sibling
- Packs into its own pocket for luggage and gloveboxes
- Breathable mesh shoulder straps are a real step above plain webbing
What to watch out for
- Minimal structure or back padding for heavy loads
- 16L is tight when bulky insulation joins the day kit
- No dedicated padded laptop sleeve
What owners report: Matador Freefly16 Packable Backpack
Synthesized from recurring themes in long-term owner feedback.
Most praised
- Wet climate travelers praise the waterproof UTS coating for turning a downpour into a non event for their layers
- Breathable mesh straps feel like a genuine upgrade over the plain webbing on most packables
- It packs into its own pocket and disappears into luggage or a glovebox between trips
Common complaints
- Bulky insulation eats the modest volume fast on cold weather day trips
- There is no padded laptop sleeve, so work gear rides with less protection than in its On-Grid sibling
- Minimal back structure means heavy loads lose the comfort the mesh straps promise
Who it is for
Light-packing travelers and hikers who want one durable, weatherproof spare daypack for trails and city days.
Weatherproofing in a packable
Most packables treat rain as your problem. The Freefly16's UTS coating on Robic nylon sheds real weather, which is why it can serve as a primary day bag on trips where the forecast is not negotiable.
Robic also resists the abrasion that shreds the lightest silnylon rivals against rock and concrete.
Carry and capacity realism
Sixteen liters is a day kit, not a expedition: layers, water, food, and a camera fit; a bulky fleece plus group gear does not. Breathable mesh straps carry that honest load comfortably in heat.
There is no frame, hip belt, or laptop padding, and the design does not pretend otherwise.
Packed size and role
It packs into its own pocket, living in luggage or a glovebox until the day needs a bag. Compared with the On-Grid in this guide, you trade the laptop sleeve and compartments for simplicity and a smaller packed bundle.
As a second pack on multi-activity trips, that trade is usually right.
Key specifications
- Capacity
- 16L
- Fabric
- Robic nylon with UTS waterproof coating
- Straps
- Breathable mesh shoulder straps
- Packing
- Packs into its own pocket
- Model
- MATFF163001
Sources: Amazon product listing, Matador
Also consider
Matador On-Grid Packable Backpack
A 16L urban packable with a laptop sleeve and a weatherproof Robic build.
Why consider it: Choose the On-Grid if you want the laptop sleeve and compartments for city and work days.
- Capacity: 16 L
- Weight: 7.5 oz (213 g)
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Day Pack
A 20L pack that compresses to the size of an egg at 2.5 ounces.
Why consider it: Choose the Ultra-Sil if packed weight matters more than weatherproof durability.
- Capacity: 20 L
- Weight: 2.5 oz (72 g)
Research-based assessment. TrueGear has not hands-on tested this product; this evaluation synthesizes manufacturer specifications, retailer documentation, and published expert reviews.
Questions, answered
Is the Freefly16 waterproof?
Its Robic nylon carries Matador's UTS waterproof coating, which sheds rain well; like most packables, seams and zippers are the limit in a downpour.
How small does the Freefly16 pack?
It packs into its own pocket, small enough for luggage, a glovebox, or the bottom of a main travel pack.