You’re in full holiday mode with passports checked, flights booked, and hotel reservations made. All that’s left to do is pack your bags. But with airline operators implementing stringent baggage allowance restrictions, packing can prove quite a headache. However, there is a solution. The Gomatic Navigator Collapsible range could be the answer to your packing woes.

Designed to fit perfectly in other travel bags, the Gomatic Navigator Collapsible range includes a Duffel, backpack, Tote and two slings. They collapse down when not in use, taking up a minimal amount of room.

When needed, these stylish and functional travel bags open up to provide users with plenty of space and innovative features. We take a close look at the Gomatic 42LTravel Duffel.

Gomatic 42LTravel Duffel

Key Features

  • Carries as a Backpack or Duffle
  • Water-resistant materials
  • Collapsed size is great for a large bag

I’ll be honest; I’ve not personally come across many collapsible bags. The closest I’ve got to one is a Tote or a drawstring bag. But neither is that practical when you want to carry a heavy load on your back when travelling. So when I first cast my eye on the 42L Travel Duffel in its collapsed state, I was sceptical about how the tiny pack could claim to be a bag designed to hold everything you need.

The brand has touted it as the ideal go-anywhere, do-anything bag. And because it’s so compact, Gomatic says it’s incredibly versatile whether you’re headed to the gym, the office, or a weekend getaway.

The Gomatic Navigator Collapsible is the latest invention of cousins Jon Richards and Jacob Durham. The brand first came into being when the pair designed an innovative wallet and launched it on Kickstarter.

The duo were initially expecting to get about 50 orders, but over 6,000 people backed their campaign. Since then, Gomatic has continued to listen to consumers and launched dozens of products which combine quality with functionality.

External characteristics
When packed down, the 42L Travel Duffel shrinks to smaller than the average size travel pillow. It’s rather baffling that such a compact rectangular package opens up into such a large bag. But it’s a great fit to sling into other bags such as a travel backpack and, of course, a suitcase.

There’s a single external pocket which, when collapsed, is large enough to fit a phone, passport and wallet all at the same time. So it’s handy to use for important things to keep at hand.

The bag’s exterior is made from 210D nylon with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR). A polymer is applied to the outermost fabric layer called the DWR, which reduces the surface tension of the fabric so that water simply rolls off. The fabric enhances resistance to light rain, but anything heavier, you need to be vigilant about.

The stuff pocket zipper is reversible because the bag stuffs into itself. It’s a smooth action as long as you hold all the material deep inside the pocket to prevent it from catching.

The duffel bag doubles up as a backpack within seconds. The two straps to carry the bag with can be used as shoulder straps without having to alter them in any way. But a word of caution – the straps are thin, so they aren’t as comfortable as padded ones, especially if you have packed the bag densely to full capacity.

Therefore switching the bag from a duffel to a backpack is more about releasing the heavy load pressure on your arms rather than going on long hikes.

However, there is a sternum strap attached to the shoulder straps to distribute some of that load. It’s on a rail system that is broken into sections so that users can make accurate adjustments to suit their needs.

The compression straps on both sides of the duffel are useful in both modes, especially in the backpack. The bag, as long it has enough goods inside, feels far more sturdy when the straps are cinched down. Two handles, on the top and bottom, are handy to grab the bag from either end if you are transporting the open bag, say in a hotel room or airport.

As there is no back panel and, therefore, devoid of padding or aeration, carriers will need to think hard about what items to place in this section. Rigid or awkwardly shaped items will be better placed at the front of the bag to promote comfortable carry, especially in backpack mode.

Inside the duffel
I’ve briefly mentioned the stuff compartment, which sits on the top of the pack when in backpack mode. It is small and only suitable for a few items you need on hand, such as keys, wallet and passport, but it does remove the hassle of diving into the main compartment.

It works similarly to a side duffel compartment. But as the material doesn’t have much structure, it’s hard to access this secondary compartment when the pack is stuffed to the brim.

There is no organisation inside the pack, which has its pro and cons. It’s a vast open area to place several items in it without the restrictions of built-in compartments. But on the flip side, building blocks help immensely with organising a pack so you have a place for everything.

Final thoughts
Overall, the Gomatic 42LTravel Duffel can fit a tremendous amount of gear, as you’d expect from a pack this size. The fact that it can shrivel down to a fraction of its size when stowed away is still mind-boggling.

It’s a great pack to throw into your suitcase when you don’t want to be lugging more than one bag during your travels. Of course, if you are travelling and want to bring extra luggage home, the Gomatioc 42L Travel Duffel can be used to do just that.

Gomatic Navigator Collapsible Collection – Where and How?

Gomatic Navigator Collapsible Collection is available from GOMATIC.co.uk and Amazon UK, starting from £59.99. The 42L Travel Duffel retails at £99.99.

Read more lifestyle product reviews, guides and news here.