At this point, we all know the environmental harms of traveling with mini, single-use toiletry items. We know that to minimize plastic waste, we should pour our shampoo, body wash, lotion and the like into reusable, TSA-friendly containers instead. But what’s the solution when you don’t have space for those containers in your TSA-friendly quart-size bag? Relying on the toiletries supplied at your hotel —?in most cases, also single-use minis —?isn’t any better than the original premise.
It’s been a dilemma at the forefront of my own journey toward perfecting the art of one-bag travel for years —?that is, until I found the Matador FlatPak Toiletry Bottles.
This clever reusable liquid container weighs less and takes up less packing space than traditional plastic or silicone toiletry bottles, making it the perfect swap for travelers looking to cut back on single-use plastic without sacrificing space.
How I found the Matador FlatPak Toiletry Bottle
I found the Matador Toiletry Bottles at the same time I found the Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Cases —?and I wasn’t looking for either. I discovered the brand during an online search for a packable daypack and quickly realized the company makes all sorts of innovative products for travelers obsessed with maximizing every inch of luggage space such as myself. I hadn’t yet seen any product like the FlatPak Toiletry Bottle and was keen to try it on my next trip.
Why it’s a score
The Matador FlatPak Toiletry Bottle delivers three big packing wins at once. The ripstop nylon material is durable but incredibly lightweight — the whole thing weighs only .41 ounces empty — adding barely any heft to your luggage. Instead of a squat, round bottle, Matador’s Toiletry Bottle is flat-ish and rectangular,?so even when full, it’s far more space-efficient in a quart-size bag than most alternatives.
My favorite benefit, though, is that the bottle shrinks down in size as you use its contents. It may seem negligible —?and perhaps for some people it is —?but the way I see it, every centimeter of space gained during your trip is space that can be used for bringing home locally made souvenirs. Or, at the very least, it makes packing for home that much easier.
The bottles have loops at the base with a dedicated spot for labeling what’s inside — though I’ve changed the contents since writing in permanent marker in some of mine and have since resorted to using nail polish to label the nylon itself (an “S” for sunscreen and an “L” for lotion, for example). The loop also has a button closure, presumably in case you want to hang the bottle somewhere, though I haven’t personally found a need for that.
After approximately three years of use, the only real complaint I have with the Matador FlatPak Toiletry Bottle is that the hinging plastic lid doesn’t feel quite secure enough to prevent leaks, even less so when something like lotion gets in the nooks and crannies where the top and bottom are meant to latch. I’ve taken to using a bobby pin to clear out as much product as possible, but because I’m paranoid and uninterested in dealing with leaks, I also place each bottle inside a (reused) plastic bag for added security while in transit. If memory serves, I’ve only experienced one or two leaks as long as I’ve been using these, though.
If you need to change the product you’re using, or you’re just feeling like your toiletry bottle is due for a clean, you’ll have to freshen it up by hand. The toiletry bottle isn’t dishwasher- or washing machine-safe; instead, the website instructs you to “fill it with warm water and massage from the outside to clean the bottle.” Fortunately, the opening is a decent size, so it’s not difficult to get the water in and out. To be honest, I’ve felt comfortable refilling the bottles with the same product, without the need for regular cleaning (or, in the rare case of a product change, giving them a quick rinse). I did recently test the suggested method, though, with an older empty bottle that had at one point contained mineral sunscreen; the warm water helped a bit, but it was difficult to get all of the product remnants from the inner walls (my trusty Spatty came in handy). That said, I have a feeling a less-oily lotion would rinse out more easily.
Even when placed inside a plastic bag, though, the aforementioned benefits remain — and thus, the Matador FlatPak Toiletry Bottles continue to be one of my favorite low-waste, low-space packing hacks.
