Question on pilot bags...

I had a strong bag for 2 trips. The rigid frame tore the outer covering on the 2nd trip. I returned it. I've had a 22" Purdy Neat that is beat to hell (I have resorted to welding the frame together now because the screws come loose) but it still is holding up.
 
Luggage works now makes a cooler the size of the strongbags one and its $10 less. Just bought one the other day. Also agree with the 22" LW stealth. Swore I would never buy one because they look cheesy IMo but now I won't get anything else.
 
ClarkGriswold said:
Luggage works now makes a cooler the size of the strongbags one and its $10 less. Just bought one the other day. Also agree with the 22" LW stealth. Swore I would never buy one because they look cheesy IMo but now I won't get anything else.
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Does it have clips?
 
Since I'm not on the airlines much and our bags don't take nearly as much of a beating, I went with the LuggageWorks Executive 22". Similar to the Stealth, but plastic frame instead of steel so it's lighter (Stealth weighs about 1/3 more). It still has the quality stainless handle, skate wheels, good balance, and tough material. I think it's a very nice bag for corporate/charter pilots.
 
I use the Targus 17" rolling travel laptop case for my crew case and the Travel Pro for my suitcase and the Aerocast cooler with laptop bag. I gotta say, they have held up great!

The Targus is a little cramped, but fits my headset (bose a20) FOM/FSM, Jepp Charts, bag sheet and clipboard, plus the few necessities like pens, chargers etc. Took me a few trips to figure out how to pack it, but fits everything I need. Bought it at Target for $85

im
 
LuggageWorks for the roller bag... just be careful about the screws that hold the base of the retractable handle on. Those come loose and rattle out... some pre-emptive loctite solves the problem.

For the flight bag, I use the Office Depot 40-dollar special. It's cheap, it's trash, and it will last about a year. But compared to a $350-plus bag, I can buy like 10 years worth of these babies... Haha.

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/398958/Heritage-Vinyl-Catalog-Case-13-H/
 
I've only been working for a little while now, but I use the LuggageWorks 22" Stealth, the LuggageWorks Vinyl Flight Kit (http://www.luggageworks.com/browse-products/flight-kits/vinyl-flight-kit.html), and the Strongbags Canadian Ice Cooler (http://www.strongbags.com/products/coolers-duffels/canadian-ice-flight-crew-cooler.html).

The LuggageWorks Stealth is a must for 121 pilots, IMO; I see old ones with the tar beat out of them all the time. My sim partner in training has one with a bent frame and the handle still retracts fine. I love this bag. My only gripes: it is heavy and the handle jiggles a little.

The LuggageWorks Vinyl Flight Kit works fairly well. In my opinion, it would be a waste of money to splurge on a nice leather flight kit right now - they will be obsolete in just a few years. This kit bag is sturdy - I've seen plenty of old beat up ones. The downsides are the size - I can only fit four binders plus an accordion file in it, and the side pockets - they catch the edges of the space I put the kit bag in the Embraer. Given this, I still fit all the binders I technically need for a trip. I do have to place some of my Jepps in my rollerbag.

The Strongbags cooler is wonderful. I don't really have any complaints about it. It slides nicely onto the handle. It keeps solid ice for 24 hours and holds lots of food. I've even kept a Jepp binder in the expandable bottom in a pinch. A little pricey, but worth it.
 
Thank you so much to each and one of you!! a lot of great useful information. I really appreciate you guys taking the time writing a review for each product that you have recommended.
 
I've got a used Scott leather bag I will sell. Still in perfectly good working condition. It's the same one pictured in post number 5.
 
wheelsup said:
I had a strong bag for 2 trips. The rigid frame tore the outer covering on the 2nd trip. I returned it. I've had a 22" Purdy Neat that is beat to hell (I have resorted to welding the frame together now because the screws come loose) but it still is holding up.
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Huh, mine has held up pretty well after two years of regional abuse and commuting, but YMMV.
 
wheelsup said:
When you hit 5 years let me know how it's doing...
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I'm probably going to reskin it anyway. I let our rampers beat the poop out of it 8 legs a day for a few months and it's the worse for wear as a result...I should have been putting it in a bin the whole time anyway.
 
wheelsup said:
When you hit 5 years let me know how it's doing...
Click to expand...

I'm going on 6 years with my Strongbag. In the first year I had some of the rivets break, but they were great about providing a loaner bag while they repaired mine at no cost. It came back more reinforced than the original, and I think the new ones have this reinforcement built in. The ONLY thing that I HATE about my Strongbag, is that it is about 1" too long to fit wheels in or handle in in most overhead bins. I'm the jackass who has to put it in sideways.. and as a commuter often getting on last, it can add some stress to an already stressful commute. This issue alone would make me think twice about getting another Strongbag.
 
Thee strongbags and stealth must be good because there aren't any on eBay. I'm using an eBags mother-lode rolling duffel. Love it, but I doubt it would survive airline commuter lifestyle.

The last time I commuted was in 2002 from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh. So I was fortunate to either ride on a CRJ or a Dornier. I could just leave my rollaboard at the door.

What do you guys do with your rollaboard if you commute on a 737 or an E170 with full planes and no room in overhead bins?
 
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