I always feel very well-taken care of by REI; I trust in their store brand products.
That said, I’ve been testing a lot of overnight backpacking packs the past few years, and the REI Flash is the first REI-branded pack I’ve tried. Bottom line: I shouldn’t have waited so long.
The REI Flash backpack line offers packs of multiple sizes, from daypack sizing to women and men’s overnight packs.
We were on the lookout for a solid pack for our teen son, so we tried out the Flash 65L for men. At $199, it’s the lowest price for any overnight pack of its size (that I could find), and offers great value for this price point.
You get all the standards we’ve come to expect from any quality overnight pack, including a compression system, which brings the bag closer to your center of gravity, a contoured hip belt with padded panels, a mesh back panel to keep the pack off your skin (and some air moving as you hike), plenty of tool loops to strap gear onto, and three torso sizes (S, M, and L).
Plus, the Flash is hydration pack-compatable, and adapts to connect a Flash 18 daypack (not included).
I love it when backpack designers have thought of this: I like to add a daypack to my pack, which can be used for stashing things like extra layers or lunch, then can be detached for bagging summits or taking side trips off the trail to lakes or waterfalls.
Even without adding a Flash 18, the exterior back pocket of the 65L offers a roomy compartment (fully zippered) for gear you need quick access to.
The pack’s capacity is 63-67 liters, depending on S, M, or L torso size. We grabbed the L torso size, as it fits torsos sized 19-21 inches. Within each torso size, the pack offers further adjustability.
The pack is ripstop nylon, and has a total of eight pockets, plus the main compartment, which has a drawstring closure.
It weighs just under 4 pounds, which is the only place I think there’s significant room for improvement, and where you’re ‘getting what you paid for’. More expensive 65L packs do weigh in lighter.
That said, if you’re not worried about ultra-lightweight issues, paying more to shave off a matter of ounces won’t likely be worth it to you.
Pick up the Flash 65L, or the Flash 60L, at REI for $199.