Flight Bags

Still have yet to choose a new flight kit bag. Don’t need a cooler. Need something that will hold headsets (clarity aloft), sunglasses, sunshades, snacks, water bottle, etc. Bonus points for quick access compartment for sunglasses etc like the Aerocoast has on top.
I’ve used 3 Aerocoast bags, the flight kit, the cooler, and the backpack. Now I need to find something new as the bottom is coming apart on my Aerocoast cooler. So… here’s what’s out there.

1. Travelpro
2. Aerocoast
3. Luggageworks
4. Strongbags
5. Contrail
6. Brightline
7. Briggs and Riley under seat duffle (not a true flight kit, rather a carryon tote, but the lifetime warranty appeals to me)

What do ya’ll think? Has anybody tried more than one of these who can do a good review comparing and contrasting pros and cons? Also, the guppy flight deck is small. Need something I can slide out from behind the seat or pick up without hurting my shoulder.
I’ve officially moved my setup to a Briggs and Riley 2 wheel and a 20L Nomatic bag. The bag fits perfectly in the guppy and doesn’t stop the seat from rolling all the way to the outer position.


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I’ve officially moved my setup to a Briggs and Riley 2 wheel and a 20L Nomatic bag. The bag fits perfectly in the guppy and doesn’t stop the seat from rolling all the way to the outer position.


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We just got the Nomatic last year. Best bag that can fit my 16” gaming laptop!
 
I’ve officially moved my setup to a Briggs and Riley 2 wheel and a 20L Nomatic bag. The bag fits perfectly in the guppy and doesn’t stop the seat from rolling all the way to the outer position.


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“Doesn’t stop the seat…”

Damn. I’m almost sold on this.

I was thinking about the carbon LW. You want to sell my on the B&R? I feel like I’m starting to lean that way as well.
 
For $350 for a backpack it better come with a happy ending

The key is shop around. I found mine on Costco Next (not regular Costco) for considerably less than full retail.

Costco does sell a slightly stripped-down version of this bag for $179....I can't remember the differences but it was lacking 1-2 things I wanted. But if you buy through Costco Next it's a straight drop-ship from Nomatic itself and you get the full-featured version. I believe I was under $300 for it.

I have to admit I was really skeptical, but it has worked out. For one thing, the full 1.5L water bottles will definitely fit in the bottle pockets. For another thing, the bag will stand upright on its own, loaded or not. From there, it's like a Brightline in that it's got a ton of pockets and you have to develop some muscle memory for where everything is, but that's just reps.

It really is an incredibly well-thought out design. I'm thoroughly impressed with it. In the Canabus, it takes less room than my Brightline did, holds more, doesn't scream "I'm a pilot" when you look at it out of context. I really, really like it.

I'm about to clean out the luggage holdings here and have a fire sale on a bunch of stuff, but I'm definitely keeping the Nomatic.
 
I bought the LuggageWorks bag. Not sure it's ideal. I wish it had a quick access on top for small things like flashlight and sunglasses. But I'll give it a try
 
“Doesn’t stop the seat…”

Damn. I’m almost sold on this.

I was thinking about the carbon LW. You want to sell my on the B&R? I feel like I’m starting to lean that way as well.
Get the better wheels off Amazon and it makes the B&R almost perfect..minus having to do surgery to swap the bearings out. (I miss the big pocket on the back that could fit my iPad or big dumb skycap hat…) It’s lighter, expands if needed, and does double duty for personal trips without screaming “I’m a pilot!”
 

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That's definitely a captain's bag.
It was under 3 bills when I got it, but yeah it’s spendy. That said as I get older and more set in my ways, I’m willing to pay for something that works and sick of just being annoyed at something that could be better. The LW cube was almost perfect. Same with the contrail bag…I’ve probably spent over a grand on flight kits trying to find a Goldilocks solution. When it’s something you use damn near half the month, I want it to just work.
 
It was under 3 bills when I got it, but yeah it’s spendy. That said as I get older and more set in my ways, I’m willing to pay for something that works and sick of just being annoyed at something that could be better. The LW cube was almost perfect. Same with the contrail bag…I’ve probably spent over a grand on flight kits trying to find a Goldilocks solution. When it’s something you use damn near half the month, I want it to just work.
I get it, and I don’t have a problem paying for quality, that just seems high.

Of course, I payed $450 in 2021 dollars for a custom made in the USA frisbee golf backpack I never get the chance to use so I should probably just shut up
 
Get the better wheels off Amazon and it makes the B&R almost perfect..minus having to do surgery to swap the bearings out. (I miss the big pocket on the back that could fit my iPad or big dumb skycap hat…) It’s lighter, expands if needed, and does double duty for personal trips without screaming “I’m a pilot!”
Hmm. Well argued. I think I’ll probably head that way soon. My biggest hold out has, in fact, been all the pockets on the outside but I’m noticing I hardly ever use them through the day.
 
I get it, and I don’t have a problem paying for quality, that just seems high.

Of course, I payed $450 in 2021 dollars for a custom made in the USA frisbee golf backpack I never get the chance to use so I should probably just shut up
Heretic!!!
 
Hmm. Well argued. I think I’ll probably head that way soon. My biggest hold out has, in fact, been all the pockets on the outside but I’m noticing I hardly ever use them through the day.
There’s plenty of industry discounts to be had on it, just gotta search around.
 
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