Traveling with bar soap can often feel like a necessary evil. We love the eco-friendliness and effectiveness of bar soap, but the traditional plastic soap dish? It’s a source of packing frustration for many travelers. The dreaded soapy goo that accumulates, the wasted space as the soap shrinks, and the bulkiness of the dish itself in your precious luggage space. For years, I wrestled with these issues, resigned to the mess and inconvenience. That was until I discovered a game-changing solution: the Travel Soap Dish that actually works.
Before 2018, like many, I relied on a standard plastic soap dish. The routine was always the same, and equally annoying. After each use, I’d try to wipe off the excess water from my soap bar, place it in the plastic container, and hope for the best. Often, this meant dealing with a soggy, melted mess inside the dish, and sometimes even soapy residue leaking into my bag. To minimize the damage, I’d resort to keeping the soap dish open to air dry (not always practical when moving frequently) or sealing it in a plastic zip-top bag – creating more plastic waste and adding another step to my packing process. The bulky plastic dish itself was just another item taking up valuable space in my one-bag travel setup.
My plastic soap dish and melted soap.
Then, in 2018, Matador introduced their FlatPak™ Soap Bar Case, and it completely transformed how I travel with soap. From the moment I saw it, I was intrigued. A lightweight, flexible pouch designed specifically for bar soap? It seemed too good to be true. Could this really be the end of gooey soap and bulky soap dishes? My initial skepticism quickly turned to excitement as I learned about the Dry-Through™ technology. The promise of soap drying through the case, eliminating the dreaded moisture buildup, was revolutionary. I immediately knew I had to try it.
The Matador FlatPak™ is more than just a pouch; it’s a thoughtfully engineered travel soap dish designed for the modern traveler. Here’s how it simplifies carrying soap:
- Simplicity: Instead of a rigid container, the FlatPak™ is a flexible, lightweight pouch.
- Dry-Through™ Technology: This is the magic. The material allows soap to dry through the case, minimizing moisture and preventing goo.
- Roll-top Closure: Simply drop your soap in, roll the top down, and buckle it closed. This creates a water-resistant seal and further compresses the pouch as your soap gets smaller.
- Compact and Lightweight: Weighing in at just 11 grams, it’s significantly lighter than traditional plastic soap dishes. And when empty, it packs completely flat, taking up virtually no space.
My Matador-FlatPak soap bag with my partly used soap
Using the FlatPak™ is incredibly straightforward:
- Get a FlatPak™: The first step is to acquire this brilliant travel soap dish.
- Wipe Excess Water: Quickly remove any large suds from your soap bar after use.
- Place Soap in FlatPak™: Drop the soap bar inside the pouch.
- Roll and Buckle: Roll down the top of the FlatPak™ a few times and secure the buckle.
- Pack and Go: You can confidently place the FlatPak™ directly into your luggage. For faster drying, especially if the soap is still quite wet, you can clip it to the outside of your bag to allow for air circulation.
The real beauty of the FlatPak™ is that you can say goodbye to wiping out melted soap and worrying about soapy messes in your bag. Only soap vapor escapes, keeping your other belongings clean and dry. The flexible design also adapts to the size of your soap bar, saving even more space as your soap gets used up. A full-size soap bar fits perfectly when you start your trip, and the FlatPak™ shrinks along with your soap, minimizing bulk throughout your travels.
Matador FlatPak with a new 135g bar of Dove soap vs a used bar of Dove.
And when your soap gets really small? The FlatPak™ becomes even more compact, potentially fitting right into your toiletry bag alongside your other essentials.
Matador FlatPak inside my toiletry case
While the FlatPak™ is designed for soap alone, I did learn a quick lesson about combining it with other items. In an attempt to be ultra-efficient, I once placed a damp quick-dry washcloth inside the FlatPak™ with my soap. The result? Slightly gooey soap. Matador recommends using the FlatPak™ for soap only, and that’s definitely the best practice to maintain optimal dryness and prevent any soap residue.
When considering your toiletry packing list, especially for carry-on travel, bar soap is a fantastic choice. Unlike liquid body wash, bar soap avoids potential spills, eliminates plastic waste from travel-sized bottles, and isn’t subject to liquid restrictions. Pairing bar soap with the Matador FlatPak™ travel soap dish is the ultimate space-saving and mess-free solution.
Matador FlatPak soap case beside plastic soap case
If you’re looking to upgrade your travel toiletries and finally solve the travel soap dish dilemma, the Matador FlatPak™ Soap Bar Case is a must-have. It’s a small investment that makes a big difference in convenience, cleanliness, and packing efficiency. Say goodbye to gooey soap and hello to stress-free travels with this innovative and practical soap bar travel case.
