As an east coast-born lifestyle and outdoor gear editor who now calls Aspen, Colorado home, I typically travel in one of two ways: either I'm road-tripping, and tent camping in the wilderness, or I'm making three connections to get to major cities like Atlanta or New York to visit family, friends, or for work.

I adore bags that can serve two purposes, but it's nearly impossible to find a single piece of baggage that makes traveling in cities and on outdoor trips equally hassle-free. 
So, I was intrigued when Baboon to the Moon's Go Bag's colorful, entertaining duffel appeared on my Instagram feed for the billionth time. 
This duffel appeared to be TSA carry-on compatible, comfy with backpack straps, and covered by a lifetime warranty, in addition to being rugged, waterproof, and outrageously tempting for outdoor activities. 
To put it another way, it probably seemed too good to be true.

The go bag from Baboon to the Moon has a dopamine-inducing color scheme, which first drew me to it. 
I decided on orange because I thought it would be the most expressive color when traveling through airports and the most striking color outdoors, all while having a lower risk of becoming permanently dirty during camping trips than, for example, baby pink or white. 
The practical luggage has an air of swagger and pure, innocent pleasure because of the orange's all-over monotone design, which extends to the handles and zippers. 
The Go Bag's monochromatic, vivid colors also give it a gender-neutral character that is welcome in the outdoor industry, where most tough, long-lasting products are blatantly marketed toward men.

Apart from the color, this bag is quite functional and well-designed. It won't disintegrate if you yank the handle, throw it into a truck bed, or unzip it too quickly because it's made of OM Stardust Ballistic shell material (read: incredibly tough) and built with an alpine-grade universal double stitch. After using mine for a year, usually outside and seldom ever (ever?) cleaning it, the worst damage is one loose thread and a little bit of scuffing. The material is simple to spot clean when necessary, but it repels dirt and scratches for the most part.

Additionally, this bag boasts a waterproof exterior and lockable zippers (which keep it waterproof). Although it has some submersible features,

The handles are the next item. 
The Small Go Bag includes four reinforced external handles, more than some of its rivals, like the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel. 
That might seem like a lot, but it's the perfect amount whether you're attempting to swiftly chuck the bag into an overhead compartment on a plane or playing Tetris while loading the car. 
I adore the daisy chains, crafted from dependable PVC fabric free of phthalates. 
When using the bag as my carry-on, I use the daisy chains to hook a water bottle and stash pouch on the exterior to keep my hands free. They add a touch of classic outdoor style to the bag.

Additionally, there are four pockets: one on the inside of the lid, one across the interior, and two smaller side mesh pockets on the exterior. 
Since they lay flat and the lid is what your spine rests against while the backpack is on your back, I appreciate the zipped lid pocket to keep dirty socks and underwear separate when camping or for magazines and my laptop when traveling.

The backpack straps come last: 
They are ergonomically constructed and gently padded. 
Which side is up vs. which side is down confused me a little.

All three of Baboon's Go Bag's sizes, the Mini (32 liters), the Small (40 liters), and the Big, are TSA-approved carry-on sizes (60 liters). 
I have the Small, which is confusingly the medium among the available sizes. 

The Small, at 40 liters, is ideal for a discerning packer because it can store everything for a 3-5 day trip while remaining light enough to not put too much strain on your back after a long day of traveling. 
One large packing cube and three to four smaller ones fit comfortably in that size (10.5 inches high by 20.5 inches wide by 12.5 inches deep), and there is also room for a few pairs of flat shoes or an oversized hoodie. 
The 40-liter hole in this bag (or any single-compartment duffel) may get filthy quickly, so I recommend packing cubes. 
And I would advise choosing the larger size if you are taller, have trouble packing lightly, or last five or more days.

Baboon to the Moon's Small Go Bag has convinced me. 
The backpack straps and overall ergonomics are life-saving when I have to run through the airport for a tight connection, and, with my orange baby, I can always find it among a sea of other gear, and it pops in pictures. Its size is ideal for the small overhead compartments of the small planes that fly into mountain towns like Aspen (they're so small that I otherwise have to gate-check my trusted Away roller).