REI Co-op  Flash 22 Pack

I have carried this daypack every day for the past year. I don’t carry a purse like most women. This pack is great for organization and hands free work. The top pocket fits my cell phone and other small necessities easily. I keep a journal in the water bladder space and tablet. The water bottle pockets are my only complaint. The bottles fall out easily when you bend over. The chest strap is awesome when walking long distances and feels comfortable too. I love the grey color (goes w/everything). Very durable, no rips or holes with daily abuse. Cleans well too. Couldn’t be happier!

This pack is great. I purchased it almost 2 years ago and it is still going strong. I use it for hiking, climbing, school, work, field work, and travel. For me it was large enough for a 2 week trip to Costa Rica as well as being the right size for day hikes ranging from a few hours to even an overnight in prime conditions. The ice axe loops stash nicely and are available for trekking poles or an axe when youre on those early summer snow climbs and it looks clean and inconspicous enough that I was not targeted while abroad, flying, riding public buses, and walking in cities. I love this pack and after 2 years of heavy use it is showing very little signs of wear.

Super comfortable and stylish! Perfect size for a day hike - carries enough water, an extra layer for sun protection, some sunscreen and a small first aid kid with a little extra room for snacks without being too heavy. I used a camelback insert with a flex frame bc the pack itself has no frame but I think it would have been fine either way since it’s not too large.

The pack is overall pretty solid. Pocket layouts are good and mesh on the side can fit numerous items. The ripstop used here, however, is SUPER lightweight. To some that may be a plus but it takes away from the structure of the pack. Attempting to stand it up to load or unload it is impossible as it crumples under its own weight. If you are day hiking and only need to throw a jacket, water, snacks and a few small things in there it should work fine. Using it for travel, like I did, makes it an organizational nightmare. With the lack of structure every pocket becomes a black hole and it is hard to keep things where you want them to be able to access quickly.

Bought this to replace a day pack that I had used for over 15 years. After checking out several YouTube videos on lightweight day packs, I decided on the Flash 22. It’s large enough to carry the 10 essentials, snacks, water and clothes for layering for most day hike situations. If I need more room, I’ll use my 48 liter Gregory pack. I did add a length of 2.5mm shock cord strung through loop points on the bag to provide additional external carry.

I recently bought this for my daughter after I have used the same pack for about 1.5 years. It is the perfect size! I have used it for dayhikes, have carried a small laptop to work, and used as a personal item on a flight and as a beach bag when on a cruise. It has ample space and two zippered pockets. My only complaint is if a Smartwater 1L bottle is placed in the side pocket, it can fall out if you bend forward when the bag is worn. I have used the trekking pole elastic holder though on the L side to secure the water bottle around the bottle neck which does help. However, this did not keep me from buying and advocating this bag to others. I love it!!

I’ve looked at lots of similar bags and eventually chose this one. After a few months of every day use I am very pleased with my decision. The side water bottle pockets easily fit a 32 oz nalgene/camelback or my thinner hydroflask without slipping out when I bend down. I appreciate the outer zip pocket and the top flap pocket for easy access while bike commuting and on longer hikes and day rides. The removable back foam cushion is a fun added bonus for a rest after a long ride. The size is great- fits my 13 in laptop in a case, change of clothes, snacks, several books, and water bottles just fine.

This bag fit my needs perfectly! My type of hiking typically consists of well-marked trails of a moderate difficulty, so I usually need to take extra layers, water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and snacks. This bag was perfect for that! The top pocket was great for keeping sunglasses or chapstick handy and the front pocket was good for maps or other info. It’s also a very light bag that takes up very little space in a suitcase. My husband and I are able to both use it so it really checked all the boxes for me. Plan to have it for a long time!

I have worn out my Flash 18 backpack, and while it was the ultimate ultralight day pack, I missed having "access pockets". It seemed like a black hole with the item I wanted invariably ending up on the bottom, requiring me to dig. The Flash 22 solved my problems with a zipper pocket in the cover, for easy access to my 2oz sunscreen refresher and spf lip balm, and the side pockets for other quick grab items (snacks) during a day of hiking, biking. And the side pockets are handy for a wallet or water bottle on any ol' day running around town, when you might not want to carry a full water bladder. And ultimately...not a significant weight difference for hard core "ultralight" requirements...or at least the features are worth the weight.

I've used the Flash 22 as a mountain biking bag, a day-hike bag, and most recently, a crag bag. It's a great all-arounder and has held up really well. The water bottle pockets on this bag comfortably accommodate bigger water bottles, like 32 oz Hydroflasks and Nalgenes. If you're between the 22L and the 18L Flash packs, I'd recommend the 22L -- the top zipper pocket is a great quick access pocket, and you can also strap a helmet or folded rope underneath it. Ample loops for attaching gear. I was initially afraid I'd be bothered by how unstructured this bag is when it doesn't have much in it, but its mushiness can more or less be remedied by cranking the straps down. Overall super versatile and an awesome bag, especially for the price point.