REI Flash 65 Pack - Men's - 2013 Special Buy

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack - Men's - 2013 Special Buy:

Got this as a complement to the Flash 50 I already have and love. I have not found a better fitting pack for a bigger person. I broad shoulders and finding something that is comfortable can be a task. I have used the 50 for some time now and just wanted that little bit more space for the winter or a longer trip. I will be disappointed when I can't get this pack anymore.

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack - Men's - 2013 Special Buy:

I used this pack for the first time on a 2-night backpacking trip this past weekend. I bought this to replace my trusty old Kelty external frame pack. Right away I love that I dropped 3 pounds off of my empty pack weight! I was worried about the durability of lightweight materials, lack of external pockets, and lack of attachment points. After using this pack this past weekend I am no longer concerned about any of these things. The quality seems great--I had no issues at all. However I would expect any backpack would hold up to a 3 day trip. I expect this thing to hold up well. I found the external pockets to be very useful on this pack, but I did need to figure out a way to stow the gear that I used to tuck into the many external pockets on my old pack. I ended up buying a few small stuffsacks and packed the ger into the large main compartment and I was very happy with this. Finally, I found the lashing points on this pack worked well for adding gear from my 8 year-old's pack when he became tired. There are PLENTY of places to attach gear to this thing.
Overall I am very pleased with this pack and feel like I got an awesome deal on it from the REI Outlet. I am very much looking forward to using it again soon.

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack - Men's - 2013 Special Buy:

This pack is certainly lightweight for its volume and I have used it during all four seasons. It carries snowshoes better with a full pack but that is a trade-off with being lightweight. The volume allows for stuffing numerous layers of extra winter clothing and I like the large pockets on the lid with the key ring snap. My favorite feature is the large front pocket which will carry my folding camp chair!

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack - Men's - 2013 Special Buy:

I have used this pack on several multi-day hikes, a canoe trip, and some day to day use. It has proven durable and flexible.

On the multi-day hikes I had it fully loaded, with some firewood strapped underneath as well. Must have weighed 50 pounds for a good part of the trip. No tearing, sagging, etc. There are numerous adjustment points, so I was comfortable the whole time, doing about 12 miles per day. As I shed weight and packed differently, it was just a quick adjustment to compensate. There was no sway at all, and I felt well balanced on the technical segments. With my reservoir in place, my camera within easy access, and a waist pocket for my compass and other essentials; I never had to take off my pack to retrieve an incidental. If I had any complaint at all - and this is very minor - I had a tough time reaching a spare water bottle in my outside side pockets.

On the canoe trip, the pack got thrown from the boat in some rapids. It survived just fine after bouncing around, and floated to shore downstream.

It's so quick to pack, I actually use it in everyday life. Walking to the farmer's market, etc. I don't think it would withstand neglectful use, so I treat it responsibly. But so far it hasn't torn a seam or stuck a zipper, so I could probably beat it more if I wanted.

I got size Large, and I am 6' 2" and 220 lbs. I have owned the pack for 1 year and put about 150 miles on it.

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack - Men's - 2013 Special Buy:

I was trying to decide between the Flash 50 and the Flash 65, so ordered both. I loved their low weight and excellent price.
I have not used the packs yet, but did want to pass on that the Flash 65 will hold a Bearvault 500 both vertically and horizontally. The Bearvault 500 will fit tightly in the bottom of the pack while horizonital, should you want to carry it there. It will not fit horizontally that far down in the Flash 50. Both packs carry the canister vertically with ease.
This is evidence of the slightly larger size, about an inch in all directions of the 65 compared to the 50.
Otherwise it looks extremely well made and with some very thick padding in the shoulder and hip straps, as opposed to some models of ultralight packs. Hope this helps your decision.

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack - Men's - 2013 Special Buy:

Been using this model for almost 3 years now and I love it. It has been used to carry everything for 6+ week long backcountry trips, and several more shorter trips.

Wear after that long: excellent...nothing is torn or has broken in those years.

The capacity of this pack is incredible...you can just keep stuffing and stuffing and it never seems to end. Compression straps abound and secure contents nicely for the long mileage days. Plenty of pockets and storage for everything imaginable.

Only cons I have is that I would prefer pocket for my sleeping bag, and the top loading, no-side entry can be annoying if trying to reach something at the bottom or mid-way.

I really wanted to look for an upgrade, but with its excellent condition and many miles left, its hard to justify and this pack will probably be on my back for a few more years.

Comments about REI Flash 65 Pack - Men's - 2013 Special Buy:

It's just right for its intended purpose.