REI Co-op  Flash 18 Print Pack

I bought the pack in the desertscape blue wink pattern because as a desert girl, it is very attractive to me. The pack weighs next to nothing on its own and fit everything I needed for my short distance hike. The tab to pull it open and closed is a little confusing at first but now I can do it with ease. I actually liked it so much I bought the slightly bigger version, same pattern but with water bottle side pockets. They both seem durable. Also, pulled the foam pads out of both because I personally don’t use them or want them. Can’t wait to do some more hiking this summer (while keeping a safe distance from others on the trail). Love REI products.

This is an amazing back pack, great as both a casual carry-all wandering around town and a day pack for heavy-duty day hikes. I used my Flash 18 daily while hiking through the canyons and mountains of Arizona (7+ miles per day for 6 days). It comfortably fit a 3L water pack (insulated Hydrapack, even though it didn't fit in the sleeve), food/snacks, individual first aid kit, pack towel, 8 fl oz sunblock, rain jacket and my mobile phone. It sits comfortably on the shoulders even without the chest/waist straps and is well designed with a port and sleeve for a water pack hose. I also filled this pack with 20# weights for ruck training and the pressure on the traps was minimal. It affixes cleanly to the outside of my 26L back pack as well. Used as a daily bag/purse, it gets thrown on the floor or seat of my truck, set on dirt and concrete and still looks band new. It also stays very dry--I am not sure if the ripstop nylon is technically waterproof, but caught in a deluge even the items in the side zip pocket stayed dry. It's also my new favorite carry-on for air travel. It fits a lot, and fit nicely under the seat. :) Solid and worthy little pack.

I bought this bag in a beautiful bright turquoise almost two years ago and it is hands down my favorite piece of “gear,” which is a term I use loosely because it’s also my gym bag/biking bag/outdoor activity bag/bag when I don’t feel like carrying a purse around. I’ve used it so much in my daily life and it is perfect, from the light and soft shoulder straps to the perfectly convenient interior pockets. I’ve gone on plenty of day hikes with it and it’s the perfect size for a water bottle/bladder, snacks/lunch, and a light jacket. I convinced my boyfriend to get one too and he loves his as well. I hope I never have to get a new one...but knowing I’d get to choose from some other beautiful patterns and colors would make it ok. Never stop making these REI!!

I was looking for a pack to carry small essentials and a water reservoir while at a music festival and a day pack was just a little too big. The Flash 18 was the perfect size for what I needed and I had no idea I would use it so much every day. I'm not a fan of using purses personally and this has been an incredible substitute for daily essentials when I go to work or out in general. If you're getting by with a drawstring bag I can't recommend this product enough as the straps don't dig into your shoulders and it's a far better design.

This is a GREAT day pack for traveling, walking around town, or going to the beach. But NOT good for hikes. I went on a 2 hour ascent over 2,000 feet and the bag stressed out my shoulders. Very weak support, so the bag needs to be very lightly filled, and you need to have to the opportunity to take it off to give your shoulders a rest. It kept falling down to my lower back, even with the shoulder and waist straps on. Good for casual use, but not useful for hiking.

Took this with me to Switzerland -- it was perfect for bringing water, raincoats, and snacks on our hikes in the alps. Super comfy and light, but also spacious! Kept our stuff fairly dry during a rainstorm, too! Love the front zip pocket for keys and stuff. Also used this when walking around cities so I didn't have to carry a purse or bags.

This little pack is great. It is perfect for carrying a few essentials and fits my both my Platypus 2L and Gregory 3D 2L reservoirs perfectly. It weighs practically nothing and has tons of straps and loops to hook things to. If I could change anything about this pack, it would be to give the straps a little more padding. I tend to clip things to my straps for easy access (hydration mouth piece, air pods, face mask, hand sanitizer, etc.) and the super thin straps tend to get tangled and twisted up any time you take the pack off to get something out. Not a deal breaker though, I still love this pack and will continue to use it a ton.

just got this bag in the mail. ordered it while they awesome sale was going on. haven't tried it out but it's super cute. (I got the orange one) & I was checking it out and examining it. I noticed this extra part on one of the chest straps. ITS A BUILT IN WHISTLE. It really is the small things for me :)

I bought this pack for roaming Disneyland with my kids. It is simple and lightweight but also holds a lot - all the jackets and hats, water, snacks and supplies we needed for all day in the park. I've also used the pack for day hikes and it held lunch for 4, water and supplies and was easy to carry on the trail. One note, DO buckle the chest strap, otherwise the edges of the straps may cut into your armpit area and get abrasive. This happened to me the first day but once I buckled up it fit just right.

I love this backpack. It fits way more than I ever thought would fit. I usually throw two regular chalk bags in, with my bouldering shoes, and a bag of chalk to refill, snacks, and even a small change of clothes. This backpack feels super lightweight despite how many things you fill it with! The closure system is cool and the straps are super thin yet durable and comfy!