REVIEW – I used to daydream about creating the perfect gear bag. In those dreams, I wanted a bag that could transform from small to big depending on what I needed to carry with me. Big for travel, slim for day-to-day work commutes. I approached a couple of popular bag makers to see if they would be interested in collaborating. One company seemed really interested and then flaked on me and stopped returning my emails. I realized that my dream of creating my own gear bag wasn’t meant to be… until I stumbled upon BrightLine Bags and their incredible modular Flex System. Have all of my dreams have come true? Let’s take a look and find out.
What is it?
The BrightLine Bags Flex System is a collection of bag components that zip together to create a gear bag that is configured exactly the way you want it to be configured. The bags were originally designed for pilots, but anyone can buy them including gadgeteers like us!
What’s in the box?
BrightLine Bags sent me a collection of components so that I could get a good idea of how the Flex system works and its potential. What you see above is not all of the components that are available at BrightLine Bags, it’s just a small collection, but here is what they sent me:
- Pocket Cap Front
- Flat Cap Rear
- Center Section Two
- Center Section Five
- Side Pocket Foxtrot
- Side Pocket Echo
- Array Base Plate
- Flex Array Kit
- Main Handle
- Shoulder Strap
Design and features
The BrightLine Bags Flex System components are made of black canvas with heavy-duty zippers that have color-coded zipper pulls.
The idea is that you choose a front and pack “cap” and then center sections to create a bag that has the storage dimensions that you need.
The components attach to each other with zippers.
It’s up to you to decide which components and the order to attach them.
Here are all of the components that BrightLine Bags sent to me. I like that the bag stands upright without falling over.
I also like that the larger center section has protective feet on the bottom.
See how it all fits together
For a better idea of the BrightLine Bags Flex System works, check out my video below which demonstrates how to attach the components. The video also shows other components not shown here in the written review.
Can you tell that I really like these BrightLine Bags?
What I like
- Create your ultimate gear bag and change it whenever you want
- Goes from slim to fat
- Lots of modules
What I’d change
- Other colors would be cool
Final thoughts
Like I said in the opening paragraph, I’ve dreamt about being able to create my own modular gear bag system but with the BrightLine Bags Flex System, that dream died – but in a good way. If you’re looking for high quality to hold all your gear, you need to check out BrightLine. I really do think they are awesome.
Price: $297.00 configured with the components shown above but price varies depending on modules
Where to buy: BrightLine Bags and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by BrightLine Bags.
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These started out as flight bags for pilots. Considering these as my current flight bag is wearing out.
Mark, You are right. I mentioned that in my video. I guess I failed to do so in the written review so thanks for bringing it up!
Hi Mark,
My bag got stolen so I needed to replace it, along with much of my gear pronto. While the bag components may seem a bit expensive, the quality and flexibility is worth every penny. I have purchased multiple sizes and accessories to fit my changing missions and I can’t say enough about these bags. A friend of mine has had his for six years and it looks and operates like new. You will have no regrets with your purchase.
Seems to be the almost perfect bag. As you wrote, I’ve also dreamt about the perfect bag or day pack. To prove it, I have 16+ bags in my cellar, that I thought were perfect (bag-nerd, ist that description?).
Combined with the velcro tray and the small pouches I would only use this as an almost perfect bug-out bag. Otherwise it’s too rectangular and fidgety to use on a daily basis (this is an assumption).
Right now I am going with my 5.11 Rush 24L bag as a daily driver. The only thing I don’t like about the 5.11 series is the military look of it. But for what i need it’s very good.
Let’s dream on about a perfect bag – but modular ist the right direction… 🙂
Cornelis, The only thing missing from the BrightLine system is a really small shoulder pouch for those times when you just need a phone, keys, and wallet.
Absolutely! Exactly my thinking. Converting from big to small (as in: necessary) is also a big thing for me.
I really disliked the pocket front cap.
Then Brightline released the Molle front cap and molle rear cap in July this year.
I ditched the colored zipper pockets front cap for a molle grid for the front cap and rear cap, which were zipped onto my b4.
Then I bought a small molle pouch that stores my keys, cell phone, passport, and AirPods… it was perfect. And other Molle pouches to replace all of the pockets I got rid of when I ditched the pocket front cap.
So it’s a little more expensive that way as you have to buy molle pouches in addition to the molle cap, but now I have a Brightline bag with pouches on the front and back configured the way I want and not stuck with the pocket arrangement of the front cap
Thanks for letting us know about this new option!