The 17 Best Flight Bags to Organize Your Pilot Gear in 2024
6 July 2021 | Updated on February 07, 2024
Flight bags come in many different sizes and prices. Depending on the type of pilot you are, another aviator bag will be a better fit for you.
Some pilots need a more stylish bag to match their personality. Others want something that will fit the most items possible and cost as little as they can find. No matter what type of pilot you are, we are sure you’ll find something you like below.
In this guide, we will help you pick the best flight bags and discuss what you need to look for!
The Best Flight Bags for Student Pilots in 2024
Every type of pilot is different and has different needs. For student pilots, we found a few interesting aviator bags at an affordable price, something that’s important if you’re just starting out in aviation and have to pay for all your flight training.
Another important aspect for student pilot flight bags is that they need room for books and paper, because you will often carry books with you as a student pilot.
Weâve included a full buying guide at the bottom of this article.
1. Flight Outfitters Lift Mini Flight Bag
Our top pick for private pilots!
$69.95Â Â
This slim bag is just right for new pilots, flight instructors, or any airplane where space is at a premium (weâre looking at you, Cessna 152).
Based on the best-selling Lift bag (featured later below), the Lift Mini features a smaller design that will keep your most important gear organized and protected, including an iPad, headset, flashlight, and charging cables.
2. Jeppesen – Student Pilot Bag
$48.74Â Â
Jeppesen’s Student Pilot Bag is the most affordable flight bag on his list, and therefore perfect for student pilots on a budget.
While compact, Jeppesen’s sturdy Student Pilot Bag provides plenty of storage space for all your aviation essentials. In addition to the double-zippered main compartment, the bag features 7 exterior storage pockets for easy organization and quick access to all your must-have tools. Three of the outside pockets are ideal for pens, flashlights, a fuel tester, and similar size items, while additional compartments are well suited for aeronautical charts, a calculator/E6B, a plotter, and more. It also features an interior key clip for easy storage and peace of mind.
3. ASA Pilot Flight Bag
$56.79 $62.17Â Â
The bag you want for your everyday flying: big enough to hold everything you need but compact enough to carry and store easily. It’s made of fully padded nylon for extreme durability.
The ASA Pilot Bag is the simple, no-frills bag of choice for everyday flying because it’s big enough to hold a pilots essentials yet compact enough to carry, transport, and store easily. This bag is a favorite among both fixed-wing and rotorcraft flight instructors who often recommend it to their students for solo and cross-country flights.
4. Gleim Padded Flight Bag
$44.06Â Â
With an attractive and durable design, the Gleim Padded Pilot Bag makes an excellent carry-on for all of your flights.
This flight bag was created for easy, in-flight organization and quick access to your flight equipment. It contains an exterior, padded headset compartment, front, rear, and side pockets, a cell phone pocket, pen slots, and a place to keep your IFR goggles. It also has large dividers inside for easier organization.
The Best Flight Bags for Private Pilots in 2024
For private pilots, price is still a deciding factor, but practicality, built quality and the number of compartments are just as important. Especially when you start flying with passengers, additional storage for your passengers’ headsets can become very convenient.
1. Flight Outfitters Lift Pro Travel Bag
Our top pick for private pilots!
$99.99Â Â
Though this bag is small, it features both external and internal pockets and plenty of open room to pack a powerful storage punch. Durable nylon and reinforced braided steel handles make the bag long-lasting, while the adjustable shoulder strap will keep you traveling in comfort.
The Lift Travel Bag has a water bottle/backup radio pocket, Fuel tester pocket, 2 external chart pockets and more internal compartments for batteries and other gear.
2. Flight Outfitters Lift XL Flight Bag
Check price Â
The Lift XL Pro is ideal for professional pilots who prefer an understated, all-black look. As a larger version of the top-rated Lift Pro Bag (discussed above), the Lift XL Pro adds more room for storage (including two headsets) and more organization options, all while retaining the signature design features that make Flight Outfitters bags so useful in the cockpit.
3. MyGoFlight – Flight Bag PLC Sport
$219.00 $229.00Â Â
The PLC Sport Flight Bag is a smaller version of the Flight Bag PLC Pro. Just enough room to carry one headset, an iPad/EFB, a handheld radio, and other gear. It has a modern style and sleek exterior, but it is loaded with pockets to give you the style, storage and functionality like never before.
The PLC Sport can stand up on its own, making it easy to load and access gear. It is also equipped with a laptop pocket that fits laptops up to 13 inch.
4. MyGoFlight – Flight Bag PLC Pro
$299.00Â Â
The PLC Pro is MyGoFlight’s best-selling flight bag. It has a modern style and sleek exterior, but it is loaded with pockets to give you the style, storage and functionality like never before. Just like the MyGoFlight Flight Bag PLC Sport, the PLC Pro can stand up on its own, making it easy to access and store your stuff. This model can also fit laptops up to 16″, compared to the 13″ limit on the cheaper model.
5. ASA Flight Bag +
$81.48Â Â
With a clean, sophisticated and professional look, the ASA AirClassics Flight Bags have been designed and engineered to be supremely functional. They’re able to stand up to the toughest treatment possible and still look great at the end of the day.
The large, single-pull, divided and zippered main compartment, along with the headset pockets on both ends, are fitted with large, sturdy zippers for easy handling.
The ASA Flight Bag is large enough to fit everything a pilot needs and more without being too bulky to manage. Made with durable, water-repellent 600D polyester, this bag has sturdy comfort grip connectable handles, a non-slip detachable carry strap, heavy-duty zippers, and reinforcing straps that go around the bag for extra strength.
You can count on ASA s AirClassics Flight Bags to bring many years of utility and pride.
The Best Flight Bags for Professional Pilots in 2024
When you’re a commercial pilot, the price of the bag becomes less important than the overall quality, durability and ease of use. The flight bags below are all an excellent choice for commercial pilots!
1. Alpine Swiss Rolling 17″ Laptop Briefcase on Wheels
Our top pick for commercial pilots!
$99.99Â Â
Carry all you need to carry for work or travel with ease with this large rolling briefcase with telescopic handles and plenty of room. And it is lightweight! Made from the best possible materials and providing a great value. This briefcase is roomy, well designed and sturdy.
2. Jeppesen – Black Captain Pilot Flight Bag
$118.99 $125.95Â Â
From binders to headsets and other gear, the Jeppesen Captain Pilot Flight Bag is fully-padded and holds it all. The Jeppesen Captain Pilot Flight Bag is durable being made from polymer with a water-resistant PVC coating on one side.
3. Lightspeed Aviation – The Gann, Leather Flight Bag
$299.00Â Â
One of our personal favorites: The Lightspeed Gann Leather Flight Bag. Since we started writing pilot gear guides on Hangar.Flights, this flight bag has been one of the most popular flight bags our visitors have purchased.
And it’s not hard to see why: this stylish, superior quality carpenter-style flight bag was made for the cockpit and is a great companion to the pilot who has everything – and likes to take it along. The Gann features purpose-built pockets for headsets, iPads, and transceivers, and rugged, but wing-friendly, textured PVC bottoms.
It is handmade from full-grain, oiled South American cowhide in espresso brown with contrasting black leather pocket flaps. Uncoated for authentic look and wear, they will become more supple with age and use, while taking on a rich patina. Each hide has its own distinctive grain and markings, making each bag as unique as the pilot who owns it.
The Best Pilot Backpacks in 2024
Some pilots might prefer a backpack-type of flight bag, as it could be more convenient in some cases. Below are a few great backpack options for pilots!
1. Flight Outfitters Waypoint Backpack
Our top pick for pilot backpacks!
$149.95Â Â
The Waypoint Backpack from Flight Outfitters does all that and more, whether youâre at the airport, the campsite, or the officeâand you wonât look like youâre headed to math class. This thoughtfully-designed backpack has room for all your aviation gear but is flexible enough to work as an overnight bag or an everyday laptop case.
Just like Flight Outfitter’s other bags, this flight backpack is made out of very durable material, with orange and reflective details which make finding your gear easy, even at night.
2. Rothco Vintage Canvas Flight Bag
$43.99Â Â
If you’re more into backpacks, the Rothco Vintage Canvas Flight Bag is a great and stylish option.
This canvas backpack features a washed 14oz canvas material for that vintage look and feel, a large zippered main compartment, inner zippered pocket, small hook and loop side pocket and a front pocket with contrasting lettering reminiscent of a flight bag and metal clasp closure with a gold pull tag.
The Best Leather Flight Bags for Pilots in 2024
If you want the highest quality and overall best appeal, a leather flight bag is the way to go.
1. Lightspeed Aviation – The Gann, Leather Flight Bag
Our top pick for leather flight bags!
$299.00Â Â
Although we already included The Gann flight bag above, it would be a shame to not mention it again when talking about the best leather flight bags. Again, we highly recommend this quality flight bag if you’re looking for a decent leather bag that will last many years.
2. Lightspeed Aviation – The Markham, Leather Flight Bag
$249.00Â Â
Just like the previously-mentioned The Gann flight bag, Lightspeedâs The Markham Leather Flight Bag is handmade from full-grain, oiled South American cowhide in espresso brown with contrasting black leather pocket flaps. It again offers pockets for headsets, iPads, and transceivers, and rugged, but wing-friendly, textured PVC bottoms.
The Markham is a slightly less expensive option compared to The Gann flight bag.
3. Samsonite Columbian Leather Flapover Case
$159.88 $194.99Â Â
Samsonite, who doesn’t know the brand trusted for its high-quality travel bags and suitcases. The Samsonite Columbian Leather Flapover Case is made from luxurious Colombian leather and features a medium-sized shape with a padded laptop pocket and three interior pockets to hold all your required pilot gear. The bag also includes a rear compartment to hold files and documents, plus an organizer with slip pockets, pen sleeves, and card slots.
Things to Consider When Buying a Flight bag
Whether youâre a student pilot taking your first lessons, a private pilot going for a $100 hamburger on a Sunday or a full-time professional pilot, you need a proper flight bag or aviator bag to carry all your precious gear, such as your aviation headset, handheld radio, portable GPS, etc.. Not only is a flight bag a must-have for every pilot, it also defines your style as a pilot and is, therefore, a great style accessory if you value that. Every flight bag is different and fits other needs. But how do you decide what kind of bag you need? To help you answer this question, we will first cover some important things to consider with flight bags.
Type
The first difference between flight bags lays in the type of bag. Some flight bags can be carried as backpacks, others require a strap around your shoulder or just a simple handle to carry by hand.
Size & Weight
When it comes to flight bags, size does matter. Depending on your own unique needs, you will have to go with a different size of flight bag. This mostly depends on the stuff you are carrying with you on your flights. Is your flight bag paperless? Great, then a smaller flight bag will do the job. But if you need to carry multiple headsets and books or other documents, you will have to make sure there’s plenty of space for those and go with a larger model.
Another aspect that will influence the desired size of your flight bag is the space you have in the airplane. Tucking a big bag away in the small space behind your seat might not be ideal and could cause damage to the flight bag and aircraft. You have to make sure that your flight bag is big enough to fit all your gear but small enough to not make it a hassle on board.
Compartments
A flight bag is only as practical as the number of compartments it has to store your gear like headsets, radios, books, charts and logbooks. Keeping your stuff organized before, during and after your flights is important, and could one day even save your life during an emergency.
Finding that one pen during turbulence, untangling your headset wires and finding the right chart can be a struggle. Modern flight bags can prevent this by helping you organize all your stuff and make it easy for you to find the things you need, whether it’s on the ground or 30,000 feet in the air.
Material
Flight bags are made of different materials. The material has a big impact on how protective the bag is, but also on the price.
Traditional hard case bags provide the most protection for your stuff. These bags are usually wheeled trolleys and often used by commercial pilots who have the needed storage space in the airplane.
A second popular material is standard nylon or polyester. Flight bags made out of these materials are often less expensive but still provide very decent protection. In the list below, you will find that we often use denier as a measure of the fineness of a fabric. As a rule of thumb, the higher the denier, the stronger the fabric. It is best to select a minimum of 600-1800 denier polyester toward the least expensive end and 500-100 Denier Cordura or 1800 to 2500 Ballistic Nylon at the more expensive end (source).
The last category of flight bag materials is leather flight bags. These are usually the more expensive ones that are slightly heavier but provide great protection, are durable and look very stylish. You can find our selection of leather flight bags at the end of this guide.
Price
Just like headsets, flight bags come at different prices, depending on the size, material and brand. Your budget will play a major role in deciding which flight bag to go with.
Conclusion
As we close our flight log on the search for the perfect pilot flight bag of 2024, remember that the right bag isn’t just about carrying your gear; it’s about complementing your journey in the skies. Whether you’re a student pilot charting your first course, a private pilot exploring new horizons, or a professional pilot navigating the demands of commercial aviation, there’s a flight bag out there that’s your perfect co-pilot.
Our flight bag recommendations
Don’t forget to gear up with essential aviation headsets, handheld radios, and portable GPS to ensure you’re always prepared for what lies ahead.
Fly safe, stay organized, and let your flight bag be a testament to your passion for aviation!
