“Tariff”-ied to buy a new flight bag right now?

By: Mark Glassmeyer, President of Flight Outfitters

Even for folks like us—who live and breathe this stuff—tariffs are tough to track. One day things are smooth, the next it’s a tangle of new fees and shifting rules.

The Team at Flight Outfitters

We don’t have a crystal ball, but we do have experience. With in-house design, quality control, and factory partners around the world, we’re built to manage the chaos. And right now, our prices are holding steady.

But that could change. 

So if a new flight bag is anywhere on your radar, now might be a good time to act. And whether you buy from us or not, we want to help.

In fact, we’re doing something a little different—we’re sharing a few bags we recommend, even if they’re not from Flight Outfitters.

Yes, really.

Because while we’d love it if every pilot in the world rocked one of our bags (and let’s be real, they look good), we also know that flight bags are personal. Preference matters. And not every pilot chooses the same setup for every mission. So if, for some reason, you don’t land on a Flight Outfitters bag, at least take advice from someone who’s been around the tarmac a few times.

So here you go—a Flight Outfitters-approved list of solid flight bags from other brands we respect.

1. Sporty’s Flight Gear Line
   Sporty’s has been doing this for a long time, and they’ve got it dialed in. Their Flight Gear Crosswind Bag is a no-brainer, especially for student pilots. It’s the kind of bag that can carry you from your first pre-solo through your instrument rating.

Doug Ranly and the Sporty’s crew have done a great job building a full lineup that fits almost any pilot mission profile. Well thought-out, functional, and a great value.

2. MyGoFlight
   Premium look. Premium feel. Premium quality.

The embossed airplane silhouette on their flight bags has become kind of iconic in a short amount of time—and for good reason. These bags look sharp, feel durable, and deliver a real luxury experience for the pilot who wants that extra polish in their gear.

3. ASA Flight Bags
   Simple. Solid. Affordable.

ASA isn’t flashy, but they don’t need to be. You probably already trust them for your FAR/AIM and training materials, and their bags carry the same dependable DNA. Great construction and value from a company that’s been around the pattern more than once. Quietly reliable in the best way possible.

4. BrightLine Bags
   If you love organization, this one’s for you.

BrightLine’s modular system lets you customize your bag down to the pocket—and their color-coded zippers help you actually remember where you put your headset. They’re a little higher on the price scale, but if you want max flexibility and pro-level organization, this could be your forever bag.

5. Crew Outfitters
   For the jet-setters and airline crowd, Crew Outfitters is worth checking out. They carry a variety of pro pilot bags—from trusted luggage brands to newer flight bag options designed for long-haul life. Built for the terminal.

⚠️ A Word of Caution: Instagram/Amazon Pop-Up Brands ⚠️
You’ve seen the ads. Slick video. Catchy name. “Aviation brand” you’ve never heard of.

Unfortunately, there’s not always steak behind the sizzle. Many of these are direct-from-factory bags with no real connection to aviation, no customer service, and no guarantee they’ll be around tomorrow.

If you’re going to trust your gear to a bag, trust the people behind it, too.

Why We Still Hope You Choose Flight Outfitters
We know we’re biased—but we’re biased because we believe in what we build. Our bags are functional, durable, and purpose-built by pilots, for pilots. We’re obsessive about details—from headset protection to water-resistant fabrics. And when you call us, a real human will pick up the phone.

We price our bags to make sense—so you can spend your money on 100LL, not just nylon.

So yeah… tariffs are confusing. But picking the right flight bag doesn’t have to be.

We hope this helped. And if you end up buying from us, thank you. If not, we hope you found a solid bag from one of the brands we respect.

But either way, fly safe—and remember to always “pilot your own adventure.”

Blue skies & tailwinds.