How to Choose Daypacks

Lightweight yet big enough to hold the Ten Essentials, our REI Co-op Flash 18 Pride Edition pack is a trail favorite of hikers everywhere. It's durable, water-resistant and made with recycled fabric.
Imported.
View the REI Co-op Flash Product LineView all REI Co-op DaypacksBest Use | Hiking |
---|---|
Bag Style | Backpack |
Frame Type | Frameless |
Ultralight | Yes |
Gear Capacity (L) | 18 liters |
Gear Capacity (cu. in.) | 1,098 cubic inches |
Weight | 9.5 ounces |
Fits Torso Length (in.) | 15-21 inches |
Fits Waist/Hips | 26-42 inches |
Material(s) | 70-denier recycled ripstop nylon with polyurethane coating (bluesign approved) |
Pack Access | Top |
Number of Exterior Pockets | 1 + main compartment |
Hipbelt | Yes |
Raincover Included | No |
Reservoir Compatible | Yes |
Dimensions | 18 x 10 x 8 inches |
Gender | Unisex |
Sustainability | Contains recycled materials Product meets the bluesign® criteria From a Climate Label Certified brand |
From feedback to field testing, all of our gear is dialed-in by REI Co-op members. Their adventures informed every stitch and detail—making for better, longer-lasting gear.
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REI flashbacks are pretty handy. I've had several over the last couple of years and they've held up pretty well. This design in particular is fantastic. Love the beautiful colors and what they represent. I hope certain other reviewers stay mad about it - they sound like genuinely miserable people who don't understand why representation is important 🥱
To the person who gave this one star because it featured a pride flag and claimed there weren’t any options available for them, I want to assure you that all other options are designed to accommodate your preferences.
This is a great trail bag! Easily fits my water bottle and other day-hike essentials, lightweight and comfortable to wear, cute design, and well-made. Shoulder straps, collar straps, and waist straps are easily adjustable. I do wish the loops/small straps on the shoulder straps were sewn slightly higher. I like to clip items (safety whistle, small flashlight, sunglasses) to the shoulder straps for easy access and I find that, even though the shoulder straps themselves are adjustable, those smaller loops/straps are lower (sitting at my ribcage) than I would like (sitting beneath my collarbone). There is a sleeve-like pocket against the back panel which is convenient for a small dromedary pouch or even a tablet, but only one other pocket on the outside of the bag, which I like to use for easy access to sunglasses, chapstick, sunscreen, etc. Wish there was a smaller zippered pouch inside the bag itself for keys/phone/the like when that outside pocket is already full. Without it, this bag kind of has the tote-bag effect of all my little things ending up at the bottom and difficult to dig out.
lovely light day pack, love the thought put into modularity :)
I got this bag a few weeks ago before a hiking trip. It worked, but the drawstring closure annoyed me after a while. I will be returning and looking at zippered options. I also wish there was a place for a water bottle on the outside (without having to go through the zippered pocket!)
I love this ultra lightweight day pack. It has all the essentials: a light padding in the back panel to minimize getting poked by what you're carrying. It has a REMOVABLE waist strap so you don't have straps dangling down all the time. It has a sternum strap and a surprisingly large hidden side pocket for easy access to small items. Hidden so it's not apparent to pickpockets. Opening the main compartment requires pulling on loops with two hands, so it is similarly secure. So no one is likely to surreptitiously open either compartment while you're wearing it. Closing only requires a quick pull of a draw string. I used this extensively while traveling and as well as to hold a jacket and water for local dayhikes. I highly recommend it.
Really great sack pack! Easy to throw in a travel suitcase. It fits great on the shoulders. You can crumble it up into nothing.
I really like this bag. It’s light and there is a place to put a water bladder if you like that sort of thing. I don’t like drinking out of plastic, but there is a very well hidden long zipper compartment along one side that fits a Path metal water bottle very well. There is a cross-chest strap that I use all the time, and a removable hip strap (that I removed, because I don’t carry much weight when I hike. Drawstring top is really cleverly done. And I LOVE the colors! I ❤️🌈
I am keeping my product review focused on the product and the use of it, it makes me feel bad. I am not pride flag material and they do not have a special backpack for me or people like me. This is divisive and what we do with our intimate time with others should not go into creating gear for the outside. So sad that REI feels the need to make a few bucks on these with a rainbow flag - where are all the other flags in the world that represent all of us?
I got this pack to use as a summit pack when backpacking, which I think it is perfect for. I removed the back panel/sitting pad as well as the waistbelt and sternum strap, though in the future, I will leave the straps since when carrying two liters of water, the shoulder straps dug into my arms a bit. The pack is extremely minimal which suited what I was looking for, though while using it as a daypack, the lack of external pockets was definitely inconvenient at times. I think that they payoff for the weight and price is worth it for me. My one concern with the pack is that the stitching and material don't feel the most durable and when packing it, I have to be careful not to put too much strain on it, it doesn't quite fit two nalgenes side by side comfortably. I can reach the zippered side pocket while wearing the pack, though it doesn't fit a nalgene. I think that this is a great value pack that is simple and functional.