How the Lift 2.0 Came to Be

“If it ain’t broke, still fix it?”

The story of how the Flight Outfitters Lift 2.0 flight bag came to be.   

Thomas Bertram Lance is credited with saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This is good advice for many things outside of aviation, but within our community of pilots, I believe many of us would prefer to “fix it” before “it’s broken,” and ideally fix it before takeoff. This is one reason why, after ten years of having arguably the most recognizable flight bag in the industry, we at Flight Outfitters thought it was time for our most popular flight bag, the Lift, to receive an update.  So after considering ten years worth of PIREPs from customers, then designing, prototyping, testing and manufacturing different ideas, the result, I believe, is our best flight bag yet. The Flight Outfitters Lift 2.0 flight bag is here! 

The Lift 2.0 is the modern version of the original Lift flight bag (also known by many as the bag that put Flight Outfitters on the map!). The Lift’s compact size remains perfect for the modern pilot. It allows easy access to multiple compartments, a padded headset section, a dedicated iPad pocket, and ample storage for cords, backup batteries, and ADS-B receivers.

While maintaining a similar size and silhouette to the original Lift Flight Bag, the new model features updated material choices and fresh styling to give it a sleek look. Like a modern muscle car, this new bag includes the latest technology but with a few design cues from the original.

With the launch of the Lift 2.0, we would like to provide you with some insight into our development process. We hope you enjoy this brief review of our journey from conceptualization to the final product.

To understand the Lift 2.0, let’s first start with how the original Lift came to be. As I worked my way through flight school, it occurred to me that something was missing. I had all the gear I needed—flashlights, an iPad, fuel tester, charging gear, an E6B, countless charts and training gear—but what I didn’t have was the perfect flight bag to hold all my gear. I needed something durable that I could lug around from one Cessna 172 to another, but one that didn’t take up too much space in the cockpit. And if I’m honest, I wanted something that looked cool. I tried other bags at the time, but none had the style I wanted or were enough to get the job done. So I decided to make one, and Flight Outfitters was born. 

Fight Outfitters set out to make the best flight bag for the modern pilot. This was just about when ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, ADS-B, and the digital cockpit were starting to take root in general aviation. Gone were the days of multiple sectional charts and airport information binders. We set out to make a flight bag specifically designed for the items modern pilots were carrying. I must admit, the first design of the Lift bag initially looked like a glorified bowling ball bag. But after asking pilots what they wanted and test-flying several different prototypes, our amazing team ultimately was able to make the Lift bag as it is today. 

Fast forward 10 years and our team decided it was time for the Lift to go into overhaul. 

In December 2022, we started the process of updating our original Lift bag. We began by sorting through 10 years of customer reviews and compiled it into a spreadsheet by topic. We found common requests such as improvements in battery storage, better cord management and storage options, and a more comfortable carry handle. We then began considering more creative suggestions, including color options and the number, location, and accessibility of pockets.

The next step was to bring our design team into the process, so we could incorporate these changes into a new bag while maintaining the original essence, while using modern fabric choices. This process involved a partnership between our technical bag designers and our creative director; preliminary design sketches were modified to fit our brand and maximize functionality.

Then it was time to make these sketches real, so our designs were sent to our factory partners for prototype work. The first round of samples arrived in July 2023, and our new product team extensively tested them to identify any design or construction flaws. We also decided to eliminate the middle cavity pocket from the original Lift bag and opted for a larger main compartment with easier access.

After further testing and modifications, the second round of designs was sent to the factory. By the end of the year, 12 months since starting the process, the second round of samples arrived. After another round of flying and torture testing, we were pleased with the new bags.

From there, it was time to turn a handful of samples into finished products. We ordered raw materials in bulk to kick-start production and manufacturing started in February 2024. That’s not the end of the process; next came two months of quality control testing at the factory level, while the marketing team planned photo shoots, built web pages, and worked on copyright protection.

That meant it was time to start previewing our new designs. In May we attended the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering and in June we were at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Utah. 

In July, 18 months after launching our redesign project, our first shipment of Lift 2.0 bags arrived. We officially launched the new design to the world on our website, and we can’t wait to showcase them at AirVenture in Oshkosh.

We hope you love it as much as we do!