REI Flash 65 Pack

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack:

I had an old hand-me-down Dana Design pack from the 90s that I had been using but decided it was time to upgrade. The day before I left for a hiking trip in Utah, I bought the Flash 65. I'm very happy with how it performed on the trip. I was able to fit everything I needed for the 6 day trip inside (tent, sleeping bag, food, pot and stove, books, clothes). The best feature is that the bag collapses into a smaller day pack. This was great when I was camping at the Zion campground and could dump everything I didn't need in my tent or in the rental car. I thought it would take me a while to put it back together, but it took about 3 minutes. The top cover/pocket that comes off also works great as a pillow if you store all your clothes in it. The side mesh pockets are huge and I was able to fit 3 nice big water bottles in there. Definitely recommend it. [...]

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack:

I bought this pack in an attempt to force myself to lighten my backpacking load. I was loosing about 1000 ci from my old pack.

This pack is pretty light for a full service pack. There is a single main pocket that in top access along with four mesh side pockets, a lid pocket and a shovel pocket.

The lid is removeable as well as the frame sheet to further lighten the load.

This pack fits me well. Loaded with about 30# it has got to be the most comfortable pack I have tried. The hipbelt and shoulder straps feel great when properly adjusted.

My only complaint is that the hip belt pocket is too small and the bottom half is mesh. Would have liked a larger pocket that from full material. Otherwise this is a great pack.

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack:

Used this pack for the entire 2660 mile, 4 month, Pacific Crest Trail Thru-hike.
My average pack weighed 30-40lbs - Max weight ~50lbs.
I am 6'5" 180lbs and used a large Flash 65.

I did not use this pack in a typical fashion, as it was in use for 4 months straight and took much more abuse than many will give to it in a lifetime. The packs performance met and exceeded my expectations – it did everything I needed and didn't fall to pieces. The following are simply things I noticed during the course of my hike and may only occur over long-term, heavy use.

WHAT I LIKED!
Its HUGE! Will hold more stuff than you'll probably need. The dual mesh pockets held everything I threw at them and never let anything get out. Its lightweight...ounces = pounds and pounds = pain – so a lot less pain! Abundant accessory straps, loops and dilly-dallys to attach whatever wherever.

DESIGN FLAWS AND ANNOYING THINGS
The lower attaching clips for the lid reside within the mesh pockets, thus, when rearranging things in the pack or in the pockets, the clips fall down into the pocket and are 'lost'. Finding and extracting them from the pocket once you've stuffed your pack is annoying.

The hydration pouch should be sewn into the back of the main compartment, otherwise it gets in the way of loading/unloading.

The hip belt needs to be exchangeable. Im tall and skinny and when the size of the pack and the girth of the hip belt are proportional, one is left with a pack that fits the torso length, but not the waist. I had to keep the belt as small as it would go to get any benefit out of it.

After prolonged use with heavy weight, the top 4" of the plastic frame/back became warped, allowing the lid to slip over the frame and rest on the main compartment.

The mesh-like hip and shoulder strap padding does a good job of cooling and padding, but becomes rough and the outer surface will fray. Also, the mesh-like material holds odor and will stink after a couple weeks (washing didn't make it much better) and is prone to allow pine needles and burs to embed themselves.

The width of a normal sleeping pad (ridgerest/z-rest) attached to the bottom-most straps (where it makes the most sense to put them) is wider than the pack, creating an open space between a pack cover and backpack. This allows water to get in and puddle in the bottom of the cover with your pad/tent etc.

WEAR AND TEAR:
The seams attaching the hip belt to the pack began to tear/separate after about a month, but only slowly continued to do so after.

The outer mesh pockets snagged on various things, creating larger and larger holes (1" largest).

The interior material separating the plastic frame from the main compartment tore along the seams within the first month(only food in ziplocks was sorted there).

The floor/bottom material of the main compartment lost its waterproof/resistant coating quickly, even though a sleeping pad protected it on outside from the ground and only ziplocks with food were on the inside.

I Liked it so much im getting another: a medium this time so I can use the hip belt!

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack:

I have a basement full of packs. I love my Gregorys but they are pretty heavy. The light packs I have are minimalist.... just big bags with little padding or straps. I bought the Flash 65 because it looked like it would give me the best of both worlds.

I have not used this bag long-term, so can't comment on how well it will hold up, but so far I love it. I generally prefer front-loaders but the top-load here works fine, especially since there is a large pocket on the front. There are all kinds of nooks and crannys inside secured by velcro for keys, maps, or whatever. It really helps with organization. Some packs have been making it hard to jam water bottles into the side pockets -- some don't even have water bottle pockets -- but the two on here are huge, and there is another large side mesh pocket good for a rain jacket or similar. Behind the zippered pocket on the front is another slot that will hold a jacket or tent poles, it's nice to have.

Padding is good here, not great -- but great would increase the weight, and what is here is a nice compromise. Adjustibility of straps is fine.

This seems like a very nice pack, so far I am very impressed, and I look forward to running it through its paces. The price is also excellent.

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack:

Well, I bought this pack after wearing it for quite some time in the store, and after trying on many other packs. For the price, I thought it would be perfect for me, especially since I'm trying to cut keep my weight down.

On it's first trip it did well, but there was one thing I noticed that I just couldn't get over. When you put a water bladder in the pack when it is full, the framesheet deforms, and bulges out.
When this happens, it changes the whole way the pack wears, and loses a lot of comfort. However, it was still quite usable, and comfortable considering, and of course this can be avoided by placing you water bladder somewhere else in the pack, but being the heaviest object, I want it in the middle of the pack and close to my back.

If you are a light packer, and/or you don't use water bladders, I still hold this pack in high regard, but it just isn't for me. I'm trading it in for the Deuter 65+10 pack. A few more ounces, but is really comfortable, and has a sturdier frame.

3 stars only because of the framesheet problem, otherwise it would be a solid 4 stars if not better. I really wanted to love this pack, it worked very well in every other aspect.

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack:

Have had this out for two long day hikes and a weekend overnight. This pack is well thought out. I stuff my tent in the zipper pocket, my poles, stakes and footprint in the inside mesh side area, with my Big Agnes Clearview in the other inside mesh area. My bag is lashed to the bottom with the rainfly strapped under the lid. My tent and sleep system ready to go and I haven't put anything IN the pack yet. Depending on the type of equipment you're carrying, this pack could easily do weeklongs. Comfort for me maxed out around 35 lbs. I loaded it with 42lbs in the store and it became pretty uncomfortable quickly. I own a couple Osprey packs and like this one just as much, if not better.

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack:

Let me say this, if you're in need you'd be foolish not to consider this pack. Like a Granite Gear pack for those of us that need a few pockets. The large mesh pouches are SWEET, they hold lots of stuff for quick grabbing without sorting through your pack. Light and comfy. I'm 6'4 and the torso length works for me! My wish list for improvements- More color options, bigger waist belt pocket, built in rain fly. Also it is highly adjustable to fit you. Do not skip this one just to get TNF or another name brand. You can stuff the kitchen sink in this [...] if you needed to!

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack:

Just finished a weeklong in Yosemite with my young daughters which meant more gear for me and some heavy loads (up to 80 lbs+ on uphill climbs). This pack is great in every way but didn't handle the heavy asw ell as hoped for. Wonderful design elements throughout and it is my new best friend. I would recommend this pack to anyone for overnighters and trips of several days with loads under 40-50lbs

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack:

This Flash 65 pack surprised me for the comfort it gave. I have kicked rocks at wanting to have a good pack and finally did so. I couldn't be happier with the choice I made. The "65" Is very light weight and very managable. Plus lets not forget about the huge pockets for water bottles on the sides of the pack. Most packs I had run into had minimal pockets for such things.
I have taken it into the Carrizo Plains, Death Valley, and the Mojave Preserve and outlying areas and it has held up great thus far.
So very comfortable and breathable as well. Lots of straps to help add ons as well as comfort to maintain one's pack load.

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack:

good for a day hike and more than big enough for a weekend camping trip. i kept thinking i was gonna run out of room but never did. great buy for the money.