twenty second Sep 2025
Studying Time: 7 minutes
Gomatic is thought for high-quality journey equipment and equipment, having began out as a model specialising in digicam equipment luggage for photographers. They now have a variety of bags, luggage and equipment out there.
The Gomatic Expandable Backpack is marketed as a super commuter bag. However does it do the job effectively?
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What’s the Gomatic Backpack?
A modern waterproof backpack, the Gomatic Expandable Backpack is designed to be versatile round your wants. It has a 20 litre capability, with the choice to undo some zips to let loose an extra 4 litres of house if you happen to want it. (Or, you’ll be able to go for the 14 litre bag that expands to 17 litres). This implies it may be saved slender and modern while you’re going about your on a regular basis duties and commuting on public transport, however add a bit of additional carrying room if you must carry a jacket or some additional information for work.
It is available in three colors: black, olive, and navy. The straps are adjustable and there’s additionally a chest strap to assist take the burden off a very heavy load. There’s additionally a facet deal with for simple carrying, and a baggage strap to loop over the deal with of wheeled baggage (just like the Gomatic Methodology Baggage we reviewed right here).
The Assessments We Put It By means of
As at all times, we put the bag by way of its paces. It was used to go to the native library for a examine session, throughout the north for a daytrip to a enterprise assembly, and for an in a single day journey to London. This assessment was written after a number of weeks of near-daily use.
We at all times take a look at gadgets within the circumstances you’d be possible to make use of them, to verify it stands as much as claims.
Extra importantly, for gadgets with the next price ticket than alternate options available on the market, we need to be certain that it should prevent cash in the long run. The Gomatic Backpack retails for £259, and it does include a lifetime guarantee, however we made certain to place it by way of its paces to make sure it might stand as much as common every day use in comparison with cheaper choices. (Spoiler alert: it’s very sturdy and deserves its price ticket).
The Finest Options
There are a LOT of issues to love about this bag.
Water Resistant
The material is waterproof, so that you don’t all of a sudden panic about your laptop computer and tech getting soaked if you happen to get caught in a downpour. The zips are sealed very similar to on a water-proof coat, to assist forestall rain getting in. It additionally means the material is straightforward to wipe down if it will get mucky on the go.
Our reviewer wore this bag throughout an surprising downpour with their laptop computer in the principle compartment and cell phone within the prime single pocket. Every thing stayed dry!
So. Many. Pockets!
If you happen to dislike backpacks which are only one huge holdall with out dividers, then the Gomatic Backpack is certainly up your avenue. There are SO MANY pockets and dividers, it’s very easy to remain organised on the go. Actually, there are such a lot of pockets that our tester took just a few days of utilizing it to seek out all of them!
A hidden pocket within the again is ideal for carrying your ID for easy-but-secret entry (additionally ideally suited to cover an AirTag in). The surface of the bag has two bottle pockets, one on both sides, and the sensible contact we cherished was the magnetic strip that snapped them flat towards the bag when not in use, or when smaller gadgets had been put within the pockets. There’s additionally an RFID protected pocket on your pockets.
Inside, there may be additionally a pocket that features a detachable black exhausting plastic case with a mushy pouch on your glasses or sun shades. It might present safety for any smaller gadgets too, or you’ll be able to take away the plastic case to provide a bit of extra space inside. It’s situated on the prime of the principle compartment too, making it simple to open a zipper and entry your sun shades in seconds – instance of the care and thought that has gone into the design of the bag.
Laptop computer Pleasant
The bag has two predominant compartments. The entrance compartment has a number of zipped pockets for simple entry to necessities (with out having to rummage). The again compartment is greater and has a devoted padded laptop computer sleeve on the again, and a pill part. The laptop computer compartment was large enough for a 2025 15 inch Macbook Air inside its personal neoprene case (so with added bulk) and it was simple to entry. Further sleeves, dividers, and pockets meant it was very easy to maintain tech organised, too.
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Retains Its Form
Loads of backpacks are unstructured material, which suggests they appear fairly ‘rustic’ when stuffed up. There’s additionally little or no safety for gadgets inside. The Gomatic Expandable Backpack has a strong form, including safety but in addition retaining it modern and predictable. You realize this bag will at all times match on a busy prepare, on an overhead baggage rack, and even as a cabin hand baggage bag that may match beneath the seat on most (if not all) airways.
Flat Opening
Most backpacks open top-down, which might imply a variety of rummaging. The total perimeter zips create a fold-out opening of the Gomatic Backpack, and made it very easy to entry something at any time. And, whereas this design could make every part fall out of your bag if you happen to’re not cautious, the (did we point out many?) pockets and dividers imply your stuff stays securely inside while you unzip it.
The one time our reviewer discovered the front-open design a little bit of a wrestle was once they used it as an in a single day bag, as their garments had been within the center part so there was a little bit of juggling issues round to cease them falling out whereas searching for one thing in a decrease pocket. This might, after all, be considerably right down to consumer error (ie they admit to not packing the bag in probably the most logical manner!).
Not Cumbersome
Whereas the 20 litre capability holds loads of stuff for an on a regular basis commute, it doesn’t really feel cumbersome. Our reviewer is simply over six foot, and it sat comfortably on their again – the adjustable straps got here in helpful. We additionally examined it on a 5’5″ particular person, and it nonetheless didn’t seem like it overpowered them or was too huge for them, in contrast to a variety of backpacks.
Completely different Carrying Choices
It seems like a small factor, however this backpack will be carried in your again (clearly), but in addition has a prime deal with and – what our reviewer cherished – a facet deal with. This turns it from a backpack to a briefcase, making it simple to hold anyplace and look skilled. The facet deal with additionally proved handy when it was saved on an overhead baggage rack on a prepare, giving extra management when pulling it from the rack than by the longer straps. You’ll be able to repair the straps away so that they don’t dangle round while you’re utilizing it as a briefcase, too.
Lifetime Guarantee
That is an incredible a part of Gomatic luggage. They provide a lifetime guarantee to restore or change your Gomatic bag if it fails on account of a producing situation, comparable to damaged zips, buttons, or seam defects. This makes the excessive price ticket of £259 value it when you’ll be able to relaxation assured that, ought to one thing go improper (apart out of your regular put on and tear), your bag will probably be repaired.
What May Be Improved?
Whereas Gomatic despatched this merchandise for assessment, as with all featured merchandise, we’re sincere and genuine, declaring the great AND the dangerous for any shopper assessment merchandise. There have been a few issues we want to see altered in a more moderen mannequin:
Sticky Zips
The waterproofing of the zips is each a professional and a con. The rounded form of the principle zip, which is critical for the form of the bag, meant typically the zip would catch on the waterproof taping. This made it not at all times the smoothest of openings, however after just a few makes use of this did soften up because the bag grew to become ‘worn in’.
Extra Colors, Please!
A standard nitpick in our shopper critiques, whereas the Gomatic Backpack is available in black, olive, or navy, it might be pretty to see some brighter colors and even printed designs. Nonetheless, their model could be very skilled and rooted in its pictures equipment historical past, so the muted color palette does make sense for the model.
Finest for Examine or a Commute
Whereas the backpack did effectively on the in a single day journey, it was a smidge on the small facet even when expanded and choices needed to be made about what acquired left at residence! For the sunshine packer, it might suffice for a few days particularly if you happen to didn’t additionally have to take a laptop computer, books, or different tech like a pill. The numerous pockets had been very useful more often than not, however for packing on the in a single day journey the house taken by the dividers and pockets sacrificed house for bigger gadgets like garments. Our reviewer couldn’t match a spare pair of footwear in (although they’re dimension 11s…).
It might be an excellent bag for a pupil with rather a lot to hold, because it was extremely comfy to put on even absolutely packed, and equally for somebody who wished a dependable commuter bag for on a regular basis use. The sturdy supplies imply it might stand as much as on a regular basis use for certain.
Nonetheless, if you would like a backpack that does the entire above and has extra room for weekend journeys, Gomatic even have the Gomatic Journey Pack for simply £20 extra. On the similar 20 litre or 14 litre choices, it provides lots of the options of the usual backpack, but in addition a mesh zippered divider to will let you open the bag flat with out dropping your garments in all places. It additionally consists of flight-security authorized (TSA) laptop computer compartment and a a lot bigger 50% capability growth, in comparison with the 20% of the backpack reviewed right here.
The place to Purchase the Gomatic Backpack
You should purchase the Gomatic Backpack from the web site right here. It’s £239 for the 14 litre or £259 for the 20 litre. Use the code MAGPIE10 at checkout for 10% off earlier than thirty first December 2025.
For a bigger possibility, the Gomatic Journey Pack provides an additional mesh divider and 50% growth capability for £259 on the 14 litre or £279 on the 20 litre.
