{"id":167326,"date":"2021-03-12T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-12T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=167326"},"modified":"2021-03-16T16:05:34","modified_gmt":"2021-03-16T23:05:34","slug":"flash-22-pack-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/flash-22-pack-stories","title":{"rendered":"A Favorite REI Pack Gets a Sustainable Upgrade"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Like most good ideas, the latest version of the REI Co-op Flash 22 Pack<\/a> started out as an accident. In the summer of 2019, the REI materials team fielded a call from their textile mill in Daegu, South Korea. The glitch? The mill had accidentally made too much of a highly technical, bluesign\u00ae-certified<\/a> fabric while manufacturing another REI pack. Back at headquarters, the product team had to think on their feet\u2014what could they do to prevent the undyed fabric from ending up in the trash? During a meeting, a lightbulb went off: The team could use the textile to design a more sustainable version of the already popular Flash. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some, their favorite piece of outdoor gear is a pair of hiking boots, lovingly callused by singletrack. For others, it\u2019s a bulky but comfy sleeping bag that\u2019s spent countless nights under a thin layer of mesh. And for others, it\u2019s the Flash 22<\/a>, a versatile day-hiking pack that perfectly houses a Nalgene, snacks, the Ten Essentials<\/a> and more, all while weighing less than a pound. The Flash has earned cult status since launching in 2012. Now, thanks to this latest round of innovation, the REI team is more excited than ever about the new undyed version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustainability\u2014that endless quest to make things less impactful\u2014is baked into every aspect of the undyed Flash, which debuts this month. For starters, the product team\u2019s decision to apply the extra material from the Korean mill helped divert more than 4,000 yards of fabric from the landfill. And leaving the pack undyed during the manufacturing process reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 14% and water scarcity impacts by 18%, according to the Higg Materials Sustainability Index<\/a>*, an industry tool available to brands seeking to measure materials impacts. The product team also looked for ways to make the pack\u2019s trims\u2014like foams, buckles, stays and webbing\u2014more sustainable. They exchanged stretchy pockets for the same undyed fabric, hunted down 50% recycled EVA foam for the back panel pad (which doubles as a sit pad) and left the nylon webbing and plastic buckles undyed, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud of doing something right by the environment and right by our members,\u201d said Lauren Meyer, senior product developer for REI Co-op. \u201cNow go out adventuring and make it your own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The undyed Flash 22 Pack<\/a> and the compatible Trail 2 Waistpack<\/a> hit the market this month\u2014ready for members to make their mark once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To celebrate, we asked our member audience how they’ve loved their Flash 22 Packs over the years. Here’s what a few of them had to say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amanda Laca, co-op member since 2018<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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A post shared by Kiki Laca (@lacalicious)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>