Adventures

We rounded up some of our favorite lesser known alternatives to popular travel destinations. These spots have all the appeal (if not more) with a fraction of the crowds. Instead of Rocky Mountain National Park, try Indian Peaks Wilderness Don’t get us wrong, Rocky Mountain National Park is an incredible place, and from our HQ here in Boulder, we’re lucky...

Over the past year, Gear Patrol, Popular Mechanics, and HiConsumption put hundreds of backpacks through rigorous testing, ultimately looking for the best hiking backpack of 2021. Matched up against some of the biggest companies in the outdoor industry, in a competitive field filled with heavily-featured frame packs, the Beast18—a packable backpack—topped all three lists. Packability without compromise is something you'll...

Maybe it’s the fact that it’s still 90 degrees where we are in Colorado, or maybe it’s because we just upgraded our most waterproof packs and we want to put them to good use. Either way, we’ve been dreaming of some big travel objectives on the water and want to share the stoke. Here are 5 water-objective-based trips you should...

For many well-seasoned, outdoor oriented travelers planning a ground up trip to an unpublished, unknown objective is a bucket list peak experience. As our National Parks and outdoor spaces get more and more crowded, the experience can feel more curated than ever. Antelope canyon has escape ladders bolted in the walls, Half Dome has cables up the steep part, folks...

We took the new Advanced Series to Alaska to put the bags through some thorough testing on real objectives we've had our eyes on. Check out the new collection here.

Recently a new kind of polymer has hit the outdoor fabric market: UHMWPE or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. This material has a strength-to-weight ratio 15 times greater than steel and is being used to make modern bulletproof vests, commercial fishing nets, artificial hips and knees for joint replacements, and it's even replacing large steel chains in heavy industries all...

When planning an objective, the difference between an epic day and getting skunked can come down to the quantity and quality of time spent researching beforehand. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of the mapping and routefinding portion of you pre-trip planning. Satellite imagery The 800lb gorilla is obviously Google, and their Maps app is...

We have a challenge for you. Imagine you have to go home and pack for a trip right now. But- you only have 10 minutes to pack, a 30 liter bag, and have no idea where you’re going. Ready, set, scramble! Turns out you’re going to the Galapagos for a week, hope you packed a rain shell. Maybe you missed...

We took one of our best selling products and gave it a complete redesign. Matador founder Chris talks us through some of the design decisions the team made to take the Camera Base Layer to the next level.

UL has been a movement in the through-hiking community for quite some time. Ultralight means much more in some circles than just low in weight, it has grown into a style of travel from trail to jet bridge. Around here, weight is pretty much always front of mind. It’s where we started, and reducing base weight has become a top...

Surf travel has a vibe all its own, one we are looking forward to soaking up this summer. Spending a little time working with Volcom’s team this past year on our collaborative surf travel line has us seriously anticipating our next surf trip. An excellent way to experience a little travel without straying too far from home, we have put...

The term waterproof is thrown around an awful lot.  That’s why we’re taking our waterproofing to a whole new, third party certified, level. IPX6 is one of a few variations of IP code, or Ingress Protection Code.  IP Codes classify protection from both water and dust.  In the case of the new Base Layer Line, the protection IPX6 is referring...

Today’s world of digital cameras is this endless maze of strange and seemingly arbitrary acronyms and designations. There are so many different makes and models that claim to do the exact same things. For someone relatively new to photography, navigating this landscape can be pretty time consuming. I’m Jonndre- Matador’s staff content creator, here to share my thoughts on travel...

A frame does a lot for a pack. Responsible for distributing weight from the shoulder straps to the hip, the frame is a key part of any effective suspension system. For a pack designed to wear for long hours, covering long distances, or hauling any real weight- a good frame is the key to comfort. Matador®’s reinvented Beast Series Packs...

Vitamin B If you’re like us, you probably land at your destination with a packed schedule and don’t have much time to be tired. Vitamin B is great for boosting energy and getting over jetlag.  One of the (many) active ingredients in 5 Hour Energy, you can skip the jitters that come with the energy drink alternatives and chew on...

You’ve probably heard of the Leave No Trace principles by now. These 7 principles teach you how to be responsible and ethical in the outdoors. It includes guidelines like respecting wildlife, packing out your trash, and more. The general ethos is that when we’re in the backcountry we’re not in our own home, and it’s important to acknowledge and respect...