REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

This pack is a huge disapointment!! It's not light at all compared to the volume, it's loaded down with too many unnecesary features and poorly designed. The frame is not a continuous loop like the Osprey Exo and therefore has poor load transfer. They also did away with the BEST feature of the Flash series, the removeable frame! It's no longer the light, versatile pack with minimal padding that it once was and now is just like every other pack out there! Really disapointed REI.

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

First, can't say enough good things about this pack. The features were really well thought out.
Congrats REI.

Secondly, I hate writing reviews...but as I was going through REI online, per usual, I unexpectadly saw that this pack has ONLY 3 stars (?!) from customers. Yeah, so...b/c this pack has been working out for me so well, I guess I'm moved to type something out.

I'm a super outdoorsy person (rock climbing, hiking, camping, you name it), so this review comes from that perspective and inclination.
Being a woman who's 5'2'' and 120lbs, I have ALWAYS had a hard time finding gear that's going to fit AND hold up to the ravages of very regular use. (Very regular use includes hiking the AT, summiting mountains, and loading enough stuff to supply me for at least a couple days on a multi-day hike...plus I'm not exactly delicate with my gear)

The specs I absolutely was looking for was a pack that could carry 35-40lbs, weigh less than 3lbs, and have an internal frame. I did my research on A LOT of packs and really narrowed my list down to the Flash.
First, because of my small frame and height, I've always had a keen eye for low weight gear, and this pack (a small) only weights in at about 2lbs. That. is. awesome. Nothing lighter out there.
When you're 5 miles into a hike, a well fitting and super light pack (esp. for a small person such as myself) is a godsend. I just did the same AT hike a couple weekends ago (packed down at about 35lbs) as I did last year with a different pack, and having the Flash made a whole world of a difference.

The very most important aspect of any pack is the frame...as this is going to be your suspension...i.e. the difference between a good day on the mountain or your idea of a living hell.
As also mentioned in a review for the men's Flash, the women's Flash's frame is *an actual internal frame* rather than one of those flimsy removable frame sheets that the old Flash had. Those flimsy frames do not work at all if you hope to carry anything over 15 lbs with any level of comfort. This internal frame takes all the weight and transfers it directly on your hips. I pleasantly found the frame moves with your hips and movement of your back, great sign of a good pack. Once you become informed about how your straps work, you will see how easy it is to transfer all weight to your hips or transfer a bit back up to your shoulders (depending on comfort and tiredness).

I've been on 3 longs hikes (and summitted 2 mountains) so far with the Flash, and I found the loops, daisy chain, and storage areas very versatile, especially because I needed to pack some awkward items. Using carabiners + loops = awesomeness. Even with upwards of 30lbs, I hardly felt the weight on my back. It also performed extremely well on the downclimb, even at points where I was going down a sheer face and really needed my weight to be centered.

Finally, I hate being negative, but after reading some of the reviews here, I can't help myself from saying a couple things...b/c I'd hate for someone to be turned off from trying out the Flash:

If you are looking for a removable frame, then a multi-day internal-frame hiking backpack is not right for you. A casual regular backpack/duffel should be suffcient. But, if you're going to be carrying weight over 25lbs for more than a couple miles over moderate/tough terrain, then you're going to need an internal frame, or your hike is going to suck.

The Flash comes in multiple sizes (S, M, L), so if the weight belt is not hitting you exactly on the hip when you are wearing it, then you probably need another size. I'm a 'try-it-on-and-walk-around' kinda gal, so I hardly bother with getting measured. For example, when I went to get a new muli-day pack at REI, my fiancee and I brought 30lbs worth of water bottles with us. I tried on the small size flash and packed it up with their bean bags and my bottles. I walked around the store, and climbed the stairs a bit, and found that the small size hit my hips perfectly. I'd really suggest doing something like this when you're looking for packs. Heck, if I can find a Flash size that fits my hard-to-fit short and petite frame, I'm pretty confident there's a size for you too.

As a PS...no offense to the ladies, but I'd honestly suggest taking a look at the reviews for the Men's Flash 62: there are more reviews (and unfortuantely are more detailed than the reviews here). I think those reviews would be more helpful for someone on the marget for packs, especially if you're the type to engage on long outdoor adventures.

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

Bought this pack for my lady. She had just broken her other pack for the upteenth time and we were tired of improvising repairs. She says "This pack is good. You really don't need to spend anymore to get full functionality with a very reasonable weight."

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

I own an older model REI UL45 Flash pack and was looking "upgrade". REI missed the target on some things and made great improvements on others.

Comparing the good and the bad on the old and new models...
The good:
Old: one small hipbelt pocket. New: two small hipbelt pockets.
Old: non-removable lid. New: lid is removable.
Old: top loading only. New: Zippered bottom allows access from top and bottom.
Old: frame, if you can it that consisted of a single rod down the center of the pack. New: U-shaped frame that attaches to hipbelt.
Old: Weak and too squishy hipbelt and shoulder harness New: Sturdier hipbelt and shoulder harness.
Old: Not easy to add additional gear. New: space between front pocket and pack allows easy adding on of lightweight, bulky gear. Bottom straps make it easy to strap on a pad or sleeping bag.
Old: Fabric is good. New: fabric is better.

The bad:
New: torso is not adjustable. How to make it better: bring back torso adjustment feature!
New: no upper mesh pockets. How to make it better: put the pockets back on, but add velcro closure so stuff doesn't fall out.
New: Hipbelt is removable but not swappable--this was the deal breaker--why put in the ability to remove a hipbelt that can't be replaced with a different size?? (The store sales associate, customer service person AND the REI.com customer service rep were ALL unable to get me a replacement hipbelt in my size.)

In the "it would be nice to have" category--make the pockets on the women's hipbelt bigger, like the men's pack.

Although the number of good features outweigh the bad, I gave the pack one star because there was NO way to get the pack to fit me properly. I'm too short to fit a men's small and too big to fit the women's small hipbelt.

Note to REI: simple no/low-cost solution to get four stars--allow customers to order a new hipbelt!

I would recommend to anyone who fits REI's ideal sizing for torso AND hips/waist. If you don't fit the ideal, invest in a pack that allows adjustments. Better to have a pack that weighs more and fits than a lighter weight pack that will sit in your closet or that you have to take back to the store.

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

I have good luck with REI branch backpacks, and most of my packs have ended up being REI's. They fit well and have long-lasting comfort. (Though, I'm not crazy about the color they tend to make women's packs.)

This new model is super lightweight, but at the sacrifice of more substantial belt and shoulder padding. After a 6mi test hike with about 30lbs, the pack started to settle heavily on my shoulders and found myself trying to tighten the hip belt more and more. Also, the lombard padding is strange. Granted, I am not used to this type of padding, but the firm foam ridges were distracting and awkward -- not uncomfortable, really, but a feature that I wasn't crazy about while hiking.

The pockets and space inside are great, including the new sleeping bag compartment zipper.

I will add that it would be great if there were a divider between the side mesh pockets and the front catch-all pocket -- it is just one huge pocket and items I stash in the mesh pockets slide to the front out of reach.

I am returning this prodect. I think it is fine for those not putting more than 30lbs into it.

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

While I don't choose gear based on its color, this pack is my favorite color and I was hoping to add a little flair to my masculine colored gear. Based on the specs I thought it would be the best of both worlds, but was dissapointed with the results.

I'm preparing for a Mt. Langley trek and wanted a ultralight weight bag. My choices Osprey Exos 58 and the Flash 52. I though the more substancial hip belt on the Flash 52 was worth the 6oz difference in weight.

I went for a easy 5 mile flat hike this weekend with appox 32 lbs and had to stop constantly to try ot adjust the pack. The hip belt while substancial was bulky and kept slipping below my hip bones. The rear of the pack rested well below my tail bone and rubbed constantly. The shoulder straps provided too much slack and resulted in too much of the load bearing on my shoulders. I should note I was measured twice for this pack and it was the proper size.

Overall this pack is not for me, but I am hesitant to not recommend this pack. I have come to discover that in my gear search 'women' specific gear rarely fits properly. Unfortunatley I will return for the Exos 58.

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

Just bought this pack for a 2-week trip to Nicaragua. Had a pack previously that was heavy and had poor weight distribution, so comfort was my top priority. Intended on getting a different pack altogether when entering the store but after trying a few with the salesman, I changed my mind.

Very comfortable pack. It was seemingly bottomless, and as I added more and more things into my pack, the comfort and weight I felt didn't seem to change at all. Sits very well on hips and has a lot of points of adjustment. The only drawback I found was only having a main compartment, front pocket, and brain. I'd like some additional side compartments to better organize small things I go through more often, like socks, underwear, bathingsuits, etc.