FlyBoys Classic and Reversible, ASA’s IFR tri-fold, Sporty's bi-fold, Jeppesen’s VFR tri-fold, and a plain aluminum board. Compared on size, fold, strap, storage, whether an iPad is listed, and the price on the page.
By a working airline pilot · How we pick · Last reviewed Sep 28, 2026 (ET)
What changed: first published.
Top picks
The short version — labels come from our full write-ups below.
ASA IFR is $44.95 at Sporty's and $49.95 on ASA’s own page. ASA VFR aluminum is $19.95 at Aircraft Spruce and $24.95 at ASA. FlyBoys prices are the black / no gear-protection variants.
Kneeboards
The spread on this page is $19.95 to $44.95 before anyone adds rings or a gear-protection plan. Storage is the thing you are paying for. A plain board does not grow pockets just because it costs less.
Simple is fine: Pilots on r/flying keep making the same split. One calls a simple metal VFR kneeboard the better choice. Others stay with a FlyBoys board for a long time — one pilot wrote that they used one from private through commercial multi, and now use two in the T-6. Both can be true. If your flight is a chart, a pen, and a log, the $19.95 aluminum board is the whole product. If you want eyelets and a stated iPad mini fit, the Classic is $20 more.
Size: 5 × 8 in clipboard. Overall closed dimensions are not printed
Fold: one panel. It does not bi-fold or tri-fold
Strap: Sporty's FlyBoys listing, also $39.95, says a sturdy elastic leg strap. It does not print a width. The PIVOT Classic page does not restate the strap
Storage: seven eyelets on both pages. Sporty's also lists a clear map strap and three pen holders. PIVOT includes flexible clipboard FB1060 (SafeFlex plastic backing, stainless clip) and says rings are separate. Eyelets line up with Jeppesen plates but are not an exact match — PIVOT recommends FB1000 rings
Fabric: 600D nylon
iPad: the maker says the 5 × 8 clipboard can secure standard approach plates or an iPad mini
Listed price: ~$39.95 for black / none (FB1316-BLK), shown available. Gear Protection adds $9.95 ($49.90). Sporty's also lists the FlyBoys kneeboard at $39.95
States an iPad mini fit. The ASA and Jeppesen boards on this page do not
$39.95 is $5 under the Reversible’s $44.95 and $20 over Aircraft Spruce’s $19.95 aluminum board
No fold-out map panel. Open size stays 5 × 8 in, against Jeppesen’s 21 × 11.5 in open
Rings are extra, and the eyelet note says generic Jeppesen rings are not an exact fit
Choose the Classic when you want one small board that the maker says will hold plates or a mini. Vs the aluminum ASA: you pay $39.95 instead of $19.95 and get eyelets plus a stated mini fit, not a 6.5 × 9.5 in bare clip. Vs the Reversible: save $5 and give up movable pouches.
Size: 5 × 8 in clipboard with a spring clip and a clear PVC retention strap
Fold: still one board. The “reversible” part is the layout, not a bi-fold
Strap: a leg strap is included. Width is not printed
Storage: pouches and pen pockets come off and move with hook-and-loop. Seven eyelets; the eyelet strip can be detached. Clipboard is the same FB1060 style as the Classic. 600D nylon
iPad: not listed. The page talks about notes and approach plates. A separate PIVOT kneeboard adapter is sold for cased devices
Listed price: ~$44.95 for black / none, compare-at $54.95. Gear Protection on this model is +$14.95 ($59.90)
Pouches move to either leg. The Classic’s product text does not offer that
$10 under its own compare-at price, and $5 over the Classic
Same 5 × 8 in writing area as the cheaper Classic
No published iPad size. Sporty's bi-fold, at $29.95, does publish an 8" strap fit
Choose the Reversible if left-or-right pockets matter more than the extra $5. Vs Sporty's bi-fold: you pay $15 more ($44.95 vs $29.95) and do not get a stated 8" iPad corner-strap or a 13 × 10 in open size.
Fold: three-panel jacket. Buttonholes let you fold one or both side panels back while the leg band stays on
Strap: elastic leg band with hook-and-loop. ASA says it fits any leg size; no inch range is printed
Storage: left panel for an E6-B (not included), small books, and papers. Center holds the aluminum board under clear plastic with a pen holder. Right panel is a clear map pocket
Material note: Sporty's calls the jacket black nylon. ASA’s own page calls it black 900D polyester. Same model number KB-3I-A
iPad: not listed
Listed price: ~$44.95 at Sporty's, in stock. ASA lists the same KB-3I-A at $49.95. Call it ~$45–$50
Measured package is 10 × 8 × 1 in, with a real left/center/right split the single-panel FlyBoys boards do not have
Sporty's price is $5 under the Reversible and $15.00 over the bi-fold ($44.95 vs $29.95)
No iPad size. The bi-fold publishes 8" corner straps for $15 less
E6-B is not in the box. The left panel is empty space until you add one
Choose the IFR tri-fold for paper plates, a map pocket, and a place for an E6-B. Vs Jeppesen’s VFR tri-fold: Sporty's prints an overall 10 × 8 × 1 in, while Jeppesen prints an open size of 21 × 11.5 in. The low price is $44.95 against $39.95.
Size: open 13" long × 10" high. Closed size is not listed
Fold: bi-fold. Clipboard is reversible for left or right knee
Strap: elastic leg strap with clips and a buckle. Padded back
Storage: 1 zippered compartment, 2 flat pockets, pen loop. Side flap is felt for optional Gear Mods (sold separately)
iPad: the spec line says elastic corner straps fit 8" iPads. The description also says an iPad mini fits those straps. Both sentences are on the same page
Listed price: ~$29.95, in stock. Photo: the listing images are full-page graphics, so this card has no product photo
Lowest fabric board here at $29.95 — $10 under the Classic and $15 under Sporty's own ASA IFR price
Open area is 13 × 10 in (130 square inches) against the Classic’s 5 × 8 in clipboard (40 square inches)
No closed dimension, so you cannot compare packed bulk with the ASA’s 10 × 8 × 1 in from the listing alone
Older forum praise of a Sporty's bi-fold is about earlier boards. This Flight Gear sku is the one priced at $29.95 today; those hours are not a spec for it
Choose the bi-fold when you want a fold, an 8" corner-strap note, and a price under $30. Vs the Classic: you lose the seven-eyelet / mini wording and gain a larger open size for $10 less.
Size: 21" wide × 11.5" long when open. Closed size is not on the Spruce page
Fold: tri-fold
Strap: hook-and-loop closure, foam back, and a second leg strap so the metal clipboard can be used off the jacket
Storage: the listing says it holds charts, a flight computer, plotter, flashlight, pen, and notes. Fabric is 600D Cordura
iPad: not listed
Listed price: ~$39.95 at Aircraft Spruce (part 13-06955). Jeppesen’s own shop price was not on a page we opened, so it is not listed here
Largest open width on the page: 21" versus 13" for the Sporty's bi-fold and 10" for the ASA IFR jacket
Same $39.95 as the FlyBoys Classic, with a separate clipboard strap the Classic page does not list
No iPad dimension. Open area is the selling point, and it is paper-oriented
No weight and no closed size, so “does it fit the bag” is not answered by the listing
Choose the Jeppesen when the 21 × 11.5 in open layout is the point. Vs ASA IFR: $5 less at the Spruce price ($39.95 vs $44.95). Jeppesen’s open width is 21 in; ASA’s listing is an overall 10 × 8 × 1 in, not an open width. ASA also tools IFR references into the board, which this VFR jacket does not.
Size: 6.5 × 9.5 in. Weight 0.45 lb (Aircraft Spruce)
Fold: none
Strap: 1.5" elastic leg band with hook-and-loop. Pen holder is on the strap
Storage: no pockets. Clip is 4.75" wide. VFR notes are tooled into the board
iPad: not listed. This is a paper clipboard
Listed price: ~$19.95 at Aircraft Spruce (part 13-06925, model ASA-KB-1-A). ASA lists the same KB-1-A at $24.95. Call it ~$20–$25
Cheapest board here by a wide gap: $19.95 versus $29.95 for the next-lowest (Sporty's bi-fold)
The only published weight in the set: 0.45 lb. Writing area is 6.5 × 9.5 in, larger than the FlyBoys 5 × 8 clipboard
Nothing to hold an E6-B, a flashlight, or an iPad. The strap pen loop is the storage
No fold, so charts live under the 4.75" clip or they don’t
Choose the aluminum board when the r/flying “simple is better” comment matches how you fly. Vs the Classic: you save $20 at the Spruce price ($19.95 vs $39.95), gain 1.5 in of width and 1.5 in of length on the board, and lose every pocket and the iPad mini line.
Sizes, straps, and prices are from the product pages opened on Sep 28, 2026. The “simple is fine” note paraphrases public r/flying comments. It is not a test we ran.
FlyBoys Reversible FB3316
Jeppesen VFR tri-fold