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 baggage for photographers. They now have a variety of baggage, baggage and equipment obtainable.
The Gomatic Expandable Backpack is marketed as a super commuter bag. However does it do the job effectively?
What’s the Gomatic Backpack?
A glossy 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 set free an extra 4 litres of house if you happen to want it. (Or, you possibly can go for the 14 litre bag that expands to 17 litres). This implies it may be stored slim and glossy once you’re going about your on a regular basis duties and commuting on public transport, however add slightly further carrying room if that you must carry a jacket or some further recordsdata 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 aspect 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 Via
As at all times, we put the bag by means 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 evaluation was written after a number of weeks of near-daily use.
We at all times check gadgets within the circumstances you’d be probably to make use of them, to verify it stands as much as claims.
Extra importantly, for gadgets with a better price ticket than alternate options available on the market, we wish to make sure that it can prevent cash in the long run. The Gomatic Backpack retails for £259, and it does include a lifetime guaranteehowever we made certain to place it by means of its paces to make sure it will 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 Greatest Options
There are a LOT of issues to love about this bag.
Water Resistant
The material is waterproof, so that you don’t immediately 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 sudden downpour with their laptop computer in the principle compartment and cell phone within the high single pocket. Every part stayed dry!
So. Many. Pockets!
Should you dislike backpacks which can be only one large holdall with out dividers, then the Gomatic Backpack is unquestionably up your avenue. There are SO MANY pockets and dividers, it’s very easy to remain organised on the go. In actual fact, there are such a lot of pockets that our tester took just a few days of utilizing it to search out all of them!
A hidden pocket within the again is ideal for carrying your ID for easy-but-secret entry (additionally perfect to cover an AirTag in). The skin of the bag has two bottle pockets, one on both sides, and the good 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 may be additionally an RFID secure pocket on your pockets.
Inside, there may be additionally a pocket that features a detachable black onerous plastic case with a comfortable pouch on your glasses or sun shades. It could present safety for any smaller gadgets too, or you possibly can take away the plastic case to provide slightly more room inside. It’s situated on the high 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 most important compartments. The entrance compartment has a number of zipped pockets for simple entry to necessities (with out having to rummage). The again compartment is larger 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.
Retains Its Form
Quite a lot of backpacks are unstructured cloth, which implies they give the impression of being fairly ‘rustic’ when crammed up. There’s additionally little or no safety for gadgets inside. The Gomatic Expandable Backpack has a strong form, including safety but in addition conserving it glossy and predictable. You recognize 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 might match beneath the seat on most (if not all) airways.
Flat Opening
Most backpacks open top-down, which might imply a number 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 all the pieces 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 once you unzip it.
The one time our reviewer discovered the front-open design a little bit of a wrestle was after 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 on the lookout for one thing in a decrease pocket. This might, in fact, be considerably right down to consumer error (ie they admit to not packing the bag in essentially the most logical means!).
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″ individual, and it nonetheless didn’t appear like it overpowered them or was too large for them, not like a number of backpacks.
Completely different Carrying Choices
It appears like a small factor, however this backpack might be carried in your again (clearly), but in addition has a high deal with and – what our reviewer cherished – a aspect deal with. This turns it from a backpack to a briefcase, making it simple to hold wherever and look skilled. The aspect 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 in order that they don’t dangle round once you’re utilizing it as a briefcase, too.
Lifetime Guarantee
That is a tremendous a part of Gomatic baggage. They provide a lifetime guarantee to restore or substitute your Gomatic bag if it fails attributable to a producing subject, similar to damaged zips, buttons, or seam defects. This makes the excessive price ticket of £259 price it when you possibly can relaxation assured that, ought to one thing go improper (apart out of your normal put on and tear), your bag can be repaired.
What Might Be Improved?
Whereas Gomatic despatched this merchandise for evaluation, as with all featured merchandise, we’re trustworthy and genuine, mentioning the nice AND the dangerous for any client evaluation merchandise. There have been a few issues we wish to see altered in a more recent 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 generally 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 typical nitpick in our client critiques, whereas the Gomatic Backpack is available in black, olive, or navy, it will be pretty to see some brighter colors and even printed designs. Nonetheless, their model may be very skilled and rooted in its images equipment historical past, so the muted color palette does make sense for the model.
Greatest for Examine or a Commute
Whereas the backpack did effectively on the in a single day journey, it was a smidge on the small aspect even when expanded and choices needed to be made about what obtained left at house! For the sunshine packer, it will 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 various 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 could be a superb bag for a pupil with lots to hold, because it was extremely snug to put on even absolutely packed, and equally for somebody who needed a dependable commuter bag for on a regular basis use. The sturdy supplies imply it will 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 most of the options of the usual backpack, but in addition a mesh zippered divider to can help you open the bag flat with out shedding your garments in all places. It additionally contains flight-security accepted (TSA) laptop computer compartment and a a lot bigger 50% capability enlargement, in comparison with the 20% of the backpack reviewed right here.
The place to Purchase the Gomatic Backpack
You should buy 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 choice, the Gomatic Journey Pack provides an additional mesh divider and 50% enlargement capability for £259 on the 14 litre or £279 on the 20 litre.
