I found the perfect suitcase for any trip that's 2 weeks or less, and it fits in every overhead compartment

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Breton Fischetti/Business Insider

I recently spent 10 days traveling, and when packing, I reached for the same bag that's been my go-to for the last five years, Patagonia's Black Hole Duffel Backpack. I bought this bag back in 2011, and it's easily the smartest travel purchase I've ever made.

This bag has gotten me through everything from two-week vacations through multiple cities to quick weekend trips. It's the most practical bag I have ever used.

If you're even a semi-frequent traveler, I'd suggest you take a look at this bag. I am not personally a fan of roller suitcases, because I find them inconvenient. I'm a relentlessly efficient traveler, and having to drag a heavy bag behind me feels awkward and annoying. And if the surface I'm walking on is anything other than brand new asphalt, the incessant clack-clack-clacking of wheels on the ground is enough to drive me insane.

For those reasons I found this duffel bag, which is made of ripstop polyester and is water resistant. This bag can handle anything short of a hurricane without your stuff getting wet, and fits a shocking amount, while still maintaining the size of a slightly-larger-than-average backpack. That means on crowded subways, buses, trains, or streets, your movement isn't affected by your stuff; instead, the bag keeps a low profile.

I've also never been asked to gate check it on a crowded plane because it looks so small. Airline employees are trained to look at roller bags as targets when overhead compartments get full, but this one barely registers and fits into every overhead compartment I've encountered.

The bag has one external pocket for easily accessible essentials, like a passport or keys, and two pockets inside for other gear. Overall, the design has everything I need and makes it all fairly simple to access, which, for a duffel bag, is pretty impressive. 

Breton Fischetti/Business Insider

My version of this bag is already five years old, but I recently purchased a new one as a gift and saw that Patagonia's made some improvements. In its current version, the whole bag can stuff into a pocket of itself, which is good for storing it. The new one also has internal straps you can use to cinch down your stuff to keep it in place, and allow for more space. I wish mine had those.

After five years of constant use, the only thing that has happened is that one of the zipper pulls has popped off, but it honestly hasn't affected the bag in the slightest. I'll be using one of these bags for as long as Patagonia keeps making them, which I hope is for many more years to come.

Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag (60L), $129, available at Patagonia.