REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

The first time I used this pack was on an overnight trip with my dog. It was her first backpacking trip so I didn't want to go longer than one night. There was plenty of room left in the pack for the gear required for a longer trip.

For the most part this pack was comfortable but there were a few parts of the pack that were digging into me although I knew it didn't have a lot of padding when I bought it so this wasn't really a problem for me. Although pack sizing may have contributed somewhat to this. My torso size was right at the border of the small and the medium. I ended up with the medium because the small wasn't broad enough for my shoulders when I tried it on, I may not have had the digging problems with the smaller pack but would have had a pack that pulled on me in places it shouldn't have. In the end I wanted a lightweight pack that I could use for a minimalist set-up and this pack will certainly do the trick.

As for the features of the pack itself, the top pouch is great, I used it for my first aid kit so it would be quickly accessible if needed and the items I wouldn't need until I got back to the car again as it had an internal zipper pocket. The hip-belt pockets were okay but rather small, I was able to put a container of matches and doggy clean-up bags in one and a knife in the other, while the second still had a little room the first one couldn't have held more. If one of them was a little bigger it would be an ideal place to put your GPS or even a cell phone if you were going to be going through places where you could get service and those were things you would want along. I'm good with a good old map and compass though so I felt I made good use of those pockets. There are two other compartments as well, the main one and a large front one. There was plenty of room in both and although I was unsure of the front one due to the zipper placement it turned out to be a great feature and it was designed so when it rained on day two the items inside that weren't already wet didn't get wet since I didn't buy a cover for it yet. It was just a light rain, I'm sure a heavier rain would have eventually soaked through the material but the zipper is of a waterproof design. There are a lot of great attachment points on the outside. When the rain stopped I was able to strap my rain gear to the outside using the ice pick and climbing attachments. I also used the sleeping pad attachment for my tent instead of a sleeping pad as my sleeping pad would have been way too small for the double strap retention system at the bottom of the pack, it was perfect for my REI Half Dome 2 which I plan on replacing with a smaller tent for solo backpacking sometime in the future (great tent but too big for one human and one dog when your trying to go minimalist).

The compression is great, there seem to be straps all over the place for adjustments, some for fit and some for the compression itself. I occasionally found myself trying to yank on the wrong strap for what I wanted to do but after getting used to it had it all figured out in the end.

If you want lots of padding don't get this pack but if you truly want a lightweight pack that has a lot of the features I would expect on a regular pack then this may be the one for you.

Service and delivery comments:

I bought this in the store which was the only way to go since I was right between sizes. Had I ordered online I may have ended up with the smaller size and would have had to go through the return process to exchange. The people in the backpack department were very helpful and took the time to show me other similar packs as well for comparison even though I had already made up my mind prior to going in.

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

I bought this same bag last year and it was great. I purchased it this year and the frame twists and pokes me in the shoulder. I returned it and checked all the other packs & they all had that issue. So I opted for the next size down: S. That didn't have the problem, but it is smaller.

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

I am 5'3", with a short torso, average weight, curvy and have narrow and injury prone shoulders. After trying on three or four packs it was clear that the Flash 52 had the best fit.

When packing it up for its inagural trip to Little Yosemite Valley last week it became obvious that I would have to pack efficiently. There was just enough room inside for my sleeping bag, Jetboil, three days change of clothes, personal effects and my half of the tent. The top pocket held wallet, e-reader, multi-tool, sunscreen, hat and snacks. The floating back pocket held map and water filter and could have held more. The various loops held gloves and scarf when they weren't needed. Hip belt pockets held camera and compass.

The side pockets aren't really pockets, just an extension of the large space that's secured by the floating pocket. If you're carrying something large in that space the side pockets won't hold anything securely. Bottles placed there tipped over and migrated to the center. Had they not been securely sealed they would have leaked all over everything. This large space was used primarily for holding whatever jackets weren't being worn at the moment.

The straps on the undercarriage held two old school self-inflating sleeping pads.

The chest strap had loops for a drinking tube and a spot to hang my sunglasses. It also has a built in whistle which I think is pretty nifty. :)

The pack is highly adjustable! I love that I am able to reach all of the adjustment points myself - this was not the case on any of the other packs I tried on. As we were transitioning from flats to ascents to descents fairly quickly it was so nice to be able to adjust on the fly, hassle-free.

We went pretty hard on this trip and both while hiking and after it was over I had absolutely zero back pain. The pack did a marvelous job transferring weight to the right spot and whenever I started to feel any fatigue I could easily shift some of the weight off my hips onto my chest, shoulders, upper back, and then back to my hips again.

If I could change anything about this pack I would:

1) Either lose the bottom zipper or add a panel to make it into a true sleeping bag compartment that would allow me to leave my stuff sack at home. I did not use the bottom door one time while packing or while on the trail.

2) The shoulder straps are great through the shoulders but they still cut into either my girls or the inside of my arms (depending on how it's adjusted). I will never be able to wear this pack without a shirt with elbow length sleeves.

3) Stitch down the side "pockets" so they're actually pockets. I will do this myself. :)

As a final note, if you are hiking alone or are not able to split up communal use items this pack is probably too small for more than a night or two. I only carried half the tent and none of the food. Also, we're not fans of bladder/hose hydration systems so all water was carried in bottles. A 2-3 liter bladder would take up quite a bit of the interior space.

Three cheers and two thumbs way up for the Flash 52. I am looking forward to putting many, many more miles on this easily adjustable, sturdily constructed, great fitting backpack.

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

I just took this pack on a 3-day backpacking trip in Shenandoah National Park.

My #1 concern was comfort, and comfort was no problem. I hiked ~10 miles a day with 20 pounds in the pack, gaining ~4,000 feet each day, and my back was never sore or tired at all. (Wish I could say the same for my knees!) The pack did not sway or put me off balance. There was absolutely no pressure on my shoulders, which was really important for me and a huge change from my old pack.

The design is generally good, and I really appreciate that the main compartment can be accessed from the bottom as well as from the top. The expandable stuff pocket is very useful for quick outerwear changes. I'm glad that there aren't any of those "organization" pockets which I generally find to be useless. The number and placing of loops and straps are good.

The construction seems solid.

My one problem was with the straps at the bottom of the pack. They are difficult to tighten and it's almost impossible to tighten them enough. The straps are too far apart to effectively hold on to a normal sized sleeping bag - mine kept slipping out of the straps until I tied the two straps together.

Also, it would have been nice if the top compartment came off for use as a light mobile pack. That's the only thing I miss about my old pack.

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

I already had a pack before I bought this but it was not as light as I wanted it to be. I took this to a few back-packing trips last year including San Jacinto and Mt. Whitney. I'm more of a recreational hiker/ backpacker. The longest trip I've taken this is a 3-day w/ reliable water source. The kind of trip where you wear the same things over and over w/ just an extra set of base layer and socks. It is also compressible (w/ some minor strap adjustments) so I've also used it as a summit pack.

So for the trips I've used this pack, I was able to carry water, food, cooking gear (jetboil), tent, cold gear, first aid etc. The compartment inside the bag for the water bladder is great. My 2.0 L camel pack fit right in it. The loop at the top for hanging your bladder is great, and you have a choice of 2 outlets (left or right side) for the hose of your bladder. I did not experience any kinks or pinching of the tube at any of these trips. The front pouch is a good size, that is where I store my shell jacket, a few snacks and the map. Also I like how the front pouch's straps can be adjusted so the compartment between the front pouch and the bag can be as big or as little as you want. The top flap which also doubles as storage is where I store my ID, first aid, sun block, lip balm, toiletries, mobile and maybe other electronic gear. I like that there are 2 zippers for the same compartment. If you are taking stuff out from your pack you can access it from the interior side. And then you can also access from the exterior side if you want to grab something real quick...or sometimes (many times for me) you find yourself all strapped in to your pack perfectly and you forget to take something out so you just ask your hiking buddy to grab something for you real quick haha. I also love that you can unzip the bottom panel, so you can grab something that you packed at the bottom of your pack without digging through the whole thing or having to take everything out, and this is while your tent or sleeping bag is still strapped to the outside at the bottom of your bag. Super smart design! Shoulder straps, waist belt, and frame support are all decent!

My only wish is there are individual mesh pockets on the sides that are stitched in so I can carry extra water bottles without them sliding into the middle. Most packs have it but I am guessing it has been edited out to save on some material and weight, that's probably why I give it 4 stars and not 5. Overall the pack is still great!

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

I like the upgrades over the old Flash 50, but I think the bottom loading zipper is a very unnecessary addition of weight. A few too many new bells and whistles for an ultralight pack.

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

I have been backpacking in Grand Canyon for 30 years now and as I get older lightening up has become very important to me. I went through another brand's ultra light pack in two trips, it just didn't hold up to lowering or raising a pack by rope. I picked up the Flash 52 pack for my last hike, a four night solo along the Tonto Trail. I still can not believe how comfortable this pack is. I never once had that thought, "I have got to get this pack off NOW!" The Flash 52 hauled 7 liters of water like it was nothing. I really can not say enough how comfortable this pack is. I am thinking of picking up a spare in case REI changes anything on this pack. I didn't have to use ropes to lower the pack this trip, so I don't know how it will hold up to more rugged use, but the comfort of this pack can not be beat!

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

After breaking this pack in on a few 2 nighters, I took my Flash Pack out on the a thru-hike of the Long Trail. I was concerned about the strength of the stiching and buckles, but I was totally wrong. The pack impressed me with how well it held up--all the straps, buckles, zippers and fabric made it though the 3 week trip. The pack was very comfortable, very light and the right size for my gear, even when I loaded it up for an 8 day stretch.
I like the floating front pocket. I stuffed my rain gear and crocs in there. They were securely held and easy to pull out when needed. The top pocket/lid was very adjustable. As I ate down my food and my load became smaller, I could sinch the top down tight.
This pack still has the classic problem of keeping your water bottles in the side pockets just out of reach when wearing the pack.

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

Love this pack! I'm 5'4" with a fairly long torso but smaller waist, and had a tough time finding something that fit me. The S worked perfect.

It distributes weight very well, and doesn't throw off my balance. I actually find it helps my posture a bit! I highly recommend REI's instructional videos on how to fit and adjust your pack - those strap adjustments can make or break how you feel in it.

Nice construction, good padding on shoulders and hips, but still very lightweight. The straps are well-placed to compress down your load. I'm usually a fan of lots of internal organization, but was happy to sacrifice some of that for the weight.

I've done international travel (though beware, it's slightly too big for most carry-on restrictions) and 1- to 3-night backcountry trips with this pack -- it'll be staying with me for a while.

Comments about REI Flash 52 Pack - Women's:

I am on a mission to lighten my load, and this pack shaved more than 3 lbs compared to my old pack. I never realized my old pack didn't fit properly and the helpful salesperson at REI convinced me to get a small instead of a medium Flash and it was perfect--fit close to my torso and was very comfortable. I used this for a nine day trip on the High Sierra Trail and managed to cram everything in, including a bear barrel. I loved the way the main compartment can be accessed from the top or bottom and the expandable pocket was perfect for storing my rain jacket which I needed almost every day. The outer pocket fit my camp shoes so I could air out my feet at lunch. There were enough straps and with some carabiners on some loops it was easy to attach items. It doesn't have that many adjustments but I didn't find it to be a problem since the pack fit well. This pack worked very well for me.