In my collection are more bags than I care to admit or have room to store. I own and use every kind of bag imaginable, but there are three bags I keep coming back to time and time again. They are not necessarily the most expensive, most clever, or made of the most exotic of materials. They are simply and positively just right.

The Topo Design Rover Classic ($99)

I love bags and also shoes. The Topo Design Rover Classic reminds me of a pair of Converse All-Stars. It's an instant classic as soon as it left the factory floor. It's fun, colorful, affordable and imminently useful. This bag works on the trail, on the pavement, in a classroom, or thrown in the back of your truck. It functions in all the ways it should, surprises with subtle innovations, and is unencumbered by the trappings of life more expensive bags seem burdened by like super light space-age materials or brass fittings.

I use this bag for daily use and light hiking. It's a great bag to bring a laptop to the coffee shop, or pack a puffy and some energy bars for a day hike. There's more room in this bag than meets the eye and enough pockets and features to keep items like wallets and sunglasses secure, with a big central duffle for packing larger items. Because of these features, it also serves as a great travel bag for air or overland.

Don't be fooled by its fun color ways, this bag is the real deal made with super tough 1000D recycled nylon, an innovative draw-string closure, YKK zippers all around, and is made to last. I know, I've had mine for years and it looks great and functions like it's brand new. If you somehow take samurai sword to it and damage it, don't worry it's MAP Guaranteed repairable. It's also Fair Wear certified, meeting fair labor standards for the safety, health, and wellness of employees. That's cool, cool like Topo.

The Cotopaxi Allpa Duffel Bag, 70L ($160)

This is one of the newest bags in my arsenal from a Utah-based company we absolutely love. Cotopaxi is genuinely one of the most dynamic, sustainable, responsible, forward-looking, high-quality outdoor brands on the market and this bag is all of those things - it is Cotopaxi if Cotopaxi were a duffle bag.

Start with the fabric. It's recycled. Which means it's at the end of its life, feels a little cheap, and probably won't last, right? Not on your life. The best thing about this bag is that fabric. It is beautiful, hardy, weather proof, durable like an old John Deere tractor durable, and yet somehow featherweight. I can't stop touching this fabric. It's amazing.

Come to think of it, the entire bag is made from recycled materials and there isn't one element of this bag that is wrong, off or not quite right. The stowable duffel carry strap and removable backpack harness give the duffel more use cases for your adventures, the uber-sweet dirty clothes compartment is like manna from heaven after a week in the bush, and the stout water-proof zippers are drool worthy (if you are like me and drool over zippers).

This is a travel bag. It's huge and can carry enough gear, clothes and other travel necessities for a week. There are a few interior pockets and some shallow exterior pockets, but this is primarily a duffel bag through and through. Unlike a lot of duffles, however, the material is hardy enough to stand sharp or bulk items that might otherwise be terribly uncomfortable to carry in a less well made duffle. This bag is like a vault, a very soft and malleable vault.

Want to know exactly where this bag is made? Of course you do, you love sustainable outdoor gear and Cotopaxi delivers as always. It's made in the Philippines by Cotopaxi's principal pack maker—a factory committed to fair labor and environmentally sound practices. Want to know more about this factory, click here. Transparency in supply chain for the win!

The Filson Rugged Twill Original ($495)

There are some items that are simply made to last forever, not just because of their materials or quality of manufacturing, but also because of their style. They are simply timeless. This bag from Filson qualifies on all counts.

Now, before you get upset about the $495 price tag (gulp), note again that this bag will last forever and get better with age. Your children's children will carry notebooks in this bag if notebooks are still around. Your dog will respect its craftsmanship too much to chew it. Your higher power of choice will never allow this bag to get left behind in a cheap motel room in Nevada. Like a Toyota Land Cruiser, this bag is understated in its extreme quality, durability and performance. It's a sleeper for people who know bags. If you know, you know.

And the style, oh my, the style. It's a classic that many other amazing bag manufacturers have attempted to improve upon with 10" thick exotic leather and 5 pounds of brass fittings, but they fall short. Because the beauty of this design is its simplicity. Simple, rugged waxed twill from Britain’s oldest, most-storied mills, bridle leather handles, solid brass zippers, and natural plant-based died leather, this bag is neither too much nor too little. It is just perfect.

I use this bag primarily as a rugged a briefcase for casual business meetings and travel. It can also serve as a field bag or travel bag for light travel. No matter how you use it, you'll feel like a million bucks with this bag around your shoulder. It's Robert Redford cool - handsome, rugged, confident.

Does it ever go on sale? Honestly, I sure hope not. It's just too good, too honorable, too elder-statement-like for a sale (but keep an eye out anyway).