Pilot Flight Bag Comparison Chart
Prices and specs from the PilotMall catalog. Reviewed by pilots on staff.
Quick answer: what to buy
For an all-around pick, the MyGoFlight PLC Pro is the strongest single bag here: a self-standing ballistic-nylon case with a dedicated compartment for up to a 16-inch laptop plus iPad, room for 2 headsets, and stowable backpack straps ($329). The best value is the Flight Outfitters Lift 2.0 at $99.95, with 14 internal pockets, a fleece-lined headset pocket, and a 5-year warranty. Want the smallest cockpit footprint? The Lift Mini ($69.95) is the lightest and most compact. For a modular kit that scales, the BrightLine B7 carries 2 headsets and reconfigures via the FLEX system. Need a hands-free option? The Flight Outfitters Aviator Pro Backpack adds a dedicated headset compartment with laptop and tablet sleeves, while the ASA AirClassics Crew Pack converts from backpack to briefcase and holds a 16-inch laptop for multi-day trips. For students on a budget, the Jeppesen Student Pilot Bag ($39.99) and ASA Pilot Bag ($48.99) cover the training essentials.
- Best overallMyGoFlight PLC Pro
- Best valueLift 2.0
- Best budget / smallestLift Mini
- Best modularBrightLine B7
- Best for airline crewsLift Pro 2.0
- Best backpackAviator Pro Backpack
| Model | Type | Dimensions | Laptop/iPad | Pockets | Headset storage | Material | Warranty | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 BrightLine Bags BrightLine B7 |
Modular (FLEX system) | Exterior 14" H x 13" W x 10.5" D (incl. side pockets); ~7" configurable center storage depth (CS3 + CS4) | Center sections (13.5" H x 10" W) hold full-size iPad/tablet and charts; no dedicated padded laptop sleeve in base configuration | Modular: Pocket Cap Front, Center Section 3, Center Section 4, Flat Cap Rear plus two side pockets; expandable/reconfigurable via FLEX system | Holds up to 2 full-size headsets | Heavy-duty nylon | 3-year conditional warranty (material/manufacturing defects) | $305 | Pilots who want one modular bag that scales from a full IFR cross-country kit (2 headsets, ~7" center depth) down to a light VFR load. |
 BrightLine Bags BrightLine B4 |
Modular (FLEX system) | Exterior 14" H x 10.5" W x 6.5" D; center section (CS4) interior 13.5" H x 10" W x 4" D | CS4 center section (13.5" H x 10" W x 4" D) holds an iPad/tablet plus charts; no dedicated laptop sleeve in base configuration | 23 pockets/compartments; modular Pocket Cap Front, Center Section 4, Flat Cap Rear plus two side pockets (Echo, Foxtrot) | Holds one or two full-size headsets | Rugged flexible nylon | 3-year conditional warranty (material/manufacturing defects) | $249 | Pilots who want the BrightLine FLEX modular system in its most compact everyday size (6.5" deep) for 1-2 headsets, an iPad and charts. |
 BrightLine Bags BrightLine B18 Hangar |
Modular (FLEX system, largest configuration) | Exterior 14" H x 13" W x 22" D (incl. side pockets); ~18" of interior storage depth (CS11 + CS5 + CS2) | Large center sections (CS11/CS5/CS2, 13" H x 10" W) provide room for a laptop, iPad and full flight gear | Modular: Pocket Cap Front, Center Section 5, Center Section 11, Center Section 2, Flat Cap Rear plus side pockets Alpha (large radio/water bottle), Bravo (small radio), Charlie (pen), Delta (double) | Holds multiple full-size headsets (18" interior depth accommodates several plus full gear) | Heavy-duty nylon | 3-year conditional warranty (material/manufacturing defects) | $471 | Pilots needing maximum modular capacity (18" interior depth) for multi-day trips, a laptop, multiple headsets and full gear in one bag. |
 MyGoFlight PLC Pro |
Single, free-standing structured bag with stowable backpack straps (carry as bag or backpack) | 19" H x 13.5" W x 9" D; weight 3 lb 6 oz | Separate laptop/iPad compartment fits up to a 16" laptop; laptop pocket 14" H x 9.25" W x 1.5" D | Bucket-top main compartment, dedicated laptop/iPad compartment, quick-grab exterior wallet/passport pocket, full-length water bottle/radio pocket, hidden exterior and interior security pockets, interior mesh pockets | Main compartment holds up to 2 headsets | Military-grade ballistic nylon (water-resistant), YKK zippers | 3-year warranty against product defects | $329 | Professional pilots wanting a self-standing structured bag with a true 16" laptop plus iPad compartment and ballistic-nylon durability. |
 Flight Outfitters Lift 2.0 |
Single (compact aviation duffel) | 15" H x 10" L x 7.75" W; empty weight ~2 lb | Padded iPad/tablet pocket; no dedicated full-size laptop compartment | 14 total internal pockets plus exterior flashlight, fuel tester and water bottle pockets, quick-access back pocket and external radio pocket; high-visibility interior | Fleece-lined protective headset pocket with integrated battery holders | Not published | 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects | $99.95 | Budget-minded pilots wanting a compact, well-organized bag (14 pockets, fleece-lined headset pocket) with a 5-year warranty at under $100. |
 Flight Outfitters Lift Pro 2.0 |
Single (compact bag with durable reinforced/structured sides) | 15" H x 10" L x 7.75" W; empty weight ~2 lb | Padded tablet/iPad section; dedicated phone compartment; no dedicated full-size laptop compartment | 14 total internal pockets plus exterior radio, flashlight, fuel tester and water bottle pockets, quick-access back pocket; multiple organizer pockets, vibrant orange high-visibility interior | Fleece-lined headset pocket with integrated battery holders | Durable reinforced (self-standing) sides; all-black low-profile design meeting airline uniform requirements; fabric composition not published | 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects | $99.95 | Airline and professional pilots wanting a compact, all-black reinforced-side bag that meets uniform requirements while keeping the Lift's organization. |
 Flight Outfitters Lift Mini |
Single (compact vertical hand-carry bag) | 6.5"D x 8.75"W x 11"H | Fits up to an iPad mini in main pocket; dedicated iPad pocket with pass-through cable slot. No laptop compartment. | Front organizer with two mesh pockets and key ring, padded main compartment, back pocket, dedicated iPad pocket, and three exterior pockets for flashlight, pen/pencil, and fuel tester | Yes - dedicated padded headset section (10.25"H) | Not published | 5 yr (Flight Outfitters bag warranty, manufacturing defects) | $69.95 | Pilots who want the smallest possible cockpit footprint (6.5x8.75x11 in) with a padded headset section and iPad-mini pocket, not a laptop. |
 Flight Outfitters Aviator Backpack |
Backpack | 15"L x 8.5"W x 18"H | Padded laptop sleeve; accommodates laptops and tablets | Nine-pocket front organization system, padded laptop sleeve, two mesh side pockets, concealed pocket beneath shoulder straps, dedicated fuel tester and flashlight compartments | Yes - dedicated headset storage hook in main compartment | Weather-resistant, reinforced construction (specific fabric not named) | 5 yr | $129.95 | GA students and renters who want a hands-free 9-pocket backpack with a padded laptop sleeve and dedicated headset hook. |
 Flight Outfitters Aviator Pro Backpack |
Backpack (with rolling-luggage sleeve) | 15"L x 8.5"W x 18"H | Padded laptop sleeve plus padded tablet sleeve | Nine front organization pockets; main pocket with one large zip pocket, two slash pockets and headset hanger; rear pocket with two slash pockets, one zippered pocket and padded laptop sleeve; hidden sunglasses pocket; side water bottle/radio compartments | Yes - dedicated headset compartment plus headset hanger | Weather-resistant, reinforced construction (specific fabric not named) | 5 yr (Flight Outfitters bag warranty, manufacturing defects) | $129.95 | Commercial/airline crews wanting an all-black professional backpack with a dedicated headset compartment, laptop plus tablet sleeves, and a rolling-luggage pass-through sleeve. |
 Flight Outfitters Flight Deck Pro |
Single (classic flight bag; J-hook rollaboard-ready, not itself a rollaboard) | 21 in L x 5.5 in W x 15 in H | Fits iPads (no dedicated padded laptop sleeve stated) | 30 pockets; dual main compartments with adjustable center divider; quick-access elastic pouches and secure-zip pockets | Yes - dual main compartments hold one or more headsets | Nylon | 5 years | $129.95 | Professional and airline pilots who want maximum in-flight organization (30 pockets, dual headset bays) in an all-black, J-hook rollaboard-ready bag sized to fit beside the flight-deck seat. |
 ASA AirClassics Pilot Backpack |
Backpack | 18" x 14" x 9"; weight 2.35 lb | Fold-down back panel reveals a padded laptop sleeve plus a felt-lined tablet pocket | Four compartments: front pocket (9.75" x 9.75" x 3") sized for a headset; a bay with key lanyard, zippered pouch and pen/battery slots; a main compartment for charts, logbooks and textbooks; exterior pockets for flashlight, fuel tester and handheld radio plus a zippered transceiver/GPS slot; checkpoint-friendly fold-down panel and luggage-handle pass-through | Front pocket (9.75" x 9.75" x 3") fits an aviation headset | Extremely durable water-resistant material with an integrated reinforced base | Not published | $98.99 | GA students and professional pilots who want a water-resistant backpack with a fold-down padded laptop sleeve, a felt-lined tablet pocket, and a dedicated headset pocket. |
 ASA AirClassics Flight Bag Pro |
Single (customizable flight bag with roller-bag attachment point) | Central compartment 20"W x 11"T x 12"D | Zippered side pocket with a tablet sleeve for an iPad or E6B; no dedicated laptop compartment stated | Two padded headset compartments, a zippered side pocket with tablet sleeve, multiple internal sleeves for kneeboards/logbooks/charts, a removable chart wallet and Velcro dividers in the central compartment; comfort-grip connectable handles, detachable non-slip shoulder strap, ID tab and roller-bag attachment point | Two padded headset compartments | Rugged 600D padded polyester, water-repellent; reinforced straps and protective feet | Not published | $99.99 | Professional pilots who want a rugged water-repellent bag with two padded headset compartments and a customizable Velcro-divider main compartment. |
 ASA Pilot Bag |
Single (flight gear organizer) | 8 x 10 x 10 in | Spacious main compartment holds charts, iPads and documents; no dedicated laptop compartment stated | Spacious main compartment, a dedicated headset pocket, and multiple side pockets for a flashlight, fuel tester and other cockpit gear; reinforced straps | Dedicated headset pocket | Heavy-duty water-repellent 600D polyester | Not published | $48.99 | Budget-minded pilots who want a durable water-repellent bag with a dedicated headset pocket and room for charts and an iPad. |
 ASA AirClassics Flight Bag Gen 3 |
Single (customizable student flight bag, roller-bag compatible) | 11 x 21 x 11 in | Dual end pockets hold a headset or a tablet; no dedicated laptop compartment stated | Large main compartment with customizable dividers, dual end pockets for a headset or tablet, a front pocket for flashlight and fuel tester, a rear roller-bag sleeve, comfort-grip connectable handles and a detachable non-slip shoulder strap | Dual end pockets provide headset storage | Heavy-duty water-repellent 600D polyester with extra-strong straps and robust zippers | Not published | $79.99 | Student pilots who want a fully customizable main compartment with divider walls, dual end pockets for a headset or tablet, and a roller-bag sleeve. |
 ASA AirClassics Crew Pack |
Backpack convertible to briefcase (stowable straps) | 13"W x 19"H x 7"D; weight 2.95 lb | Dedicated padded compartment holds laptops up to 16 inches alongside a tablet | Padded 16-inch laptop/tablet compartment, a quick-access headset compartment with battery storage, a hidden passport/phone pocket, a three-sided-zipper main compartment for uniforms and charts, a water bottle pocket, an easy-access sunglasses compartment, and an integrated suitcase attachment strap | Quick-access headset compartment with battery storage | High-strength abrasion-resistant fabric with tear-resistant ripstop nylon interior; water-resistant reinforced zippers | 5 yr | $259.99 | Professional pilots on multi-day trips who want a backpack-to-briefcase bag that holds a 16-inch laptop plus tablet, has a quick-access headset compartment, and attaches to rolling luggage. |
 Jeppesen Sanderson Jeppesen Student Pilot Bag |
Single (student training bag with removable shoulder strap) | 11 x 5.5 x 16 in | Not published | Seven exterior pockets and three specialized compartments; a secure main compartment for logbooks and training manuals; dedicated exterior pockets for a flight computer or E6B and a plotter; reinforced base | No | Heavy-duty polyester with a water-resistant coating and reinforced base | Not published | $39.99 | Student pilots who want an affordable training bag with seven exterior pockets and dedicated compartments for a flight computer, plotter, logbooks and manuals. |
Current pricing is shown on each product page via the model links and is subject to change.
Frequently asked questions
Which flight bag fits a full-size laptop?
The MyGoFlight PLC Pro holds a laptop up to 16 inches in a dedicated padded compartment, and the ASA AirClassics Crew Pack fits a 16-inch laptop alongside a tablet. The Flight Outfitters Aviator and Aviator Pro backpacks and the ASA AirClassics Pilot Backpack have padded laptop sleeves. The compact Flight Outfitters Lift bags and Lift Mini fit tablets and iPads only, not a full-size laptop.
How many headsets can these bags carry?
The BrightLine B7 and B4 and the MyGoFlight PLC Pro each hold up to 2 full-size headsets, and the BrightLine B18 Hangar holds several. The ASA AirClassics Flight Bag Pro has two padded headset compartments, and the ASA AirClassics Crew Pack has a quick-access headset compartment with battery storage. Flight Outfitters Lift bags and the Aviator Pro Backpack have a dedicated fleece-lined headset pocket, compartment or hook.
What is the best budget pilot flight bag?
The David Clark Headset Bag and the Rothco canvas bag are the lowest-priced compact options, though both are built primarily around headset and small-gear storage. For a true training flight bag on a budget, the Jeppesen Student Pilot Bag and ASA Pilot Bag add multiple organized compartments and a dedicated headset pocket. The Flight Outfitters Lift Mini steps up with a padded headset section, and the Lift 2.0 and Lift Pro 2.0 add a full 14-pocket layout with a 5-year warranty, the longest stated in this lineup. Current pricing for each model is shown in the comparison table above.
What is BrightLine's FLEX modular system?
FLEX lets you zip center sections and pockets together to grow or shrink the bag. The same platform scales from the compact B4 Swift (6.5 inches deep) to the B7 (about 7 inches of center storage) up to the B18 Hangar (about 18 inches of interior depth) for multi-day trips.
Which bag is best for airline crews and rollaboards?
Wheeled crew rollaboards and cooler bags are covered on our dedicated crew bag chart. Among the bags here, the all-black Flight Outfitters Lift Pro 2.0 meets airline uniform requirements with reinforced self-standing sides, and the Flight Outfitters Flight Deck Pro offers 30 pockets, dual headset bays, and a J-hook that locks onto a rolling suitcase. For multi-day professional trips, the ASA AirClassics Crew Pack converts from backpack to briefcase and holds a 16-inch laptop.
Are any of these bags backpacks?
Yes. The Flight Outfitters Aviator and Aviator Pro backpacks and the ASA AirClassics Pilot Backpack are dedicated backpacks with padded laptop sleeves and headset storage. The ASA AirClassics Crew Pack is a backpack that converts to a briefcase. The Red Canoe Boeing Totem and P-40 Warhawk are heritage-styled nylon backpacks. The MyGoFlight PLC Pro is a structured bag with stowable straps so it converts to a backpack when needed.
Pilot Flight Bag Comparison Chart
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