Matador Travel Equipment bags

Matador Travel Equipment is a Boulder, Colorado-based company that has carved out a niche in the outdoor and travel industry through its focus on packable, high-performance gear. Founded in 2014 by Chris Clearman, a former product designer for GoPro, the brand began with a simple palm-sized 'Pocket Blanket' and has since expanded into a comprehensive range of waterproof backpacks, duffles, and travel accessories. The company emphasizes a design-first philosophy, utilizing an in-house prototyping lab in Colorado to engineer advanced features like spring-steel frames and specialized waterproof coatings.

While the research and development, design, and prototyping take place at their headquarters in the United States, the primary manufacturing of their production-grade bags and equipment occurs in Vietnam. This allows the brand to scale its specialized designs while maintaining the technical quality required for ultralight, durable gear. Matador remains a privately held company owned by its founder, eschewing outside venture capital to maintain creative control over its product lineup.