How to Choose Daypacks
Bend, Oregon
Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20
$159.95
Members get an est. $15.99 in rewards
With up-front storage for water, phone, maps, sunglasses or food, the Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20 pack keeps gear organized on big trail runs, long hikes or fast-and-light overnights.
- Back panel system combines seamless Infiknit™ mesh with FastFlow technology to increase breathability and moisture-wicking
- Large front storage holds essentials like water, phone, maps, glasses or food
- Roll-top closure expands or contracts to accommodate varying amounts of gear
- Zip-down main compartment allows easy access to gear
- Large external stretch mesh pockets offer quick access
- Easy-access pocket with key fob
- 2 sliding-rail sternum straps
- Removable, height-adjustable T-hook waistbelt helps balance heavier loads
- MonoRip Mesh is strong and extremely breathable
- Daisy chains let you secure extra gear
- 2 large side pockets fit larger water vessels
Imported.
View all Ultimate Direction Daypacks| Best Use | Running Hiking |
|---|---|
| Bag Style | Backpack |
| Frame Type | Frameless |
| Gear Capacity (L) | 23.4 liters |
| Gear Capacity (cu. in.) | 1,428 cubic inches |
| Weight | 1 lb. 2.4 oz. |
| Fits Waist/Hips | S/M: 25-40 inches M/L: 30-48 inches |
| Material(s) | MonoRip mesh/nylon |
| Pack Access | Top / Panel |
| Number of Exterior Pockets | 6 + main compartment |
| Hipbelt | Yes |
| Raincover Included | No |
| Reservoir Compatible | No |
| Gender | Unisex |
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Chris15
Pack more than an overnight with this UD backpack
1 year ago
This 20L vest pack is superb. More than enough pockets to store the many things I take with me while out and about. Stylish enough for non hiking activities, definitely more than a 1 day pack device. Multipurpose compartments. Extremely elastically durable. Seems this pack been out for sometime, had the Ultimate scram pack before which I used until it fell apart. This vest pack is even better. I highly recommend.
Yes , I recommend this product
Zach
Durham, NC
Terrible redesign of the superior Fastpack 15
3 years ago
I purchased the Fastpack 20 directly from Ultimate Direction when they had a sale in summer 2021. After two 20+ mile hikes, I returned it. It was overall a terrible pack. I decided to try the discontinued Fastpack 15 which was on sale at REI Outlet for almost half the price of the Fastpack 20. The Fastpack 15 is the second most used pack in the last 9 months, and it is superior in every way to the redesigned Fastpack 20. Here are the major issues with the Fastpack 20 and why I think you shouldn't buy it. 1) The hipbelt is uncomfortable and more appropriately a belly strap, but luckily it is removable. 2) The side water bottle pockets are garbage. The material is too loose and stretchy, and the height of the fabric is too low. My 32 oz bottles bounced around and fell out when hiking. When you run they will most certainly fall out. 3) They added way too many pockets and sleeves to the shoulder straps. The older Fastpack 15 only has 2 sleeves and 3 pockets. Because the Fastpack 20 has more of both, they are smaller and cannot fit many items. Good luck trying to fit your phone, headlamp, water bottles, and snacks in the Fastpack 20. 4) The fabric used on the Fastpack 20 is more stretchy than the Fastpack 15 to accommodate overpacking of the main compartment. But this material is so stretchy that the entire pack sags with significant weight (i.e., a 2 L water bladder). The pack sagged down to my lower hips on top of my butt, and bounced with every step. The older Fastpack 15 has more standard pack material and does not sag, and thus it rides more comfortably. 5) While the roll top is nice, the two-way access zipper on the Fastpack 15 is a really nice feature they eliminated so they could add one large front mesh sleeve and two water bottle pockets. The Fastpack 15 instead has two tall mesh sleeves around the two-way zipper, you can fit a 32 oz bottle plus food in both sleeves. Honestly I can't think of one thing Ultimate Direction improved on with the Fastpack 20, outside of neon yellow as an option and the more burly side compression straps.
Height:5'9"
Age:35–44
Weight:175–200 lbs.
No, I do not recommend this product
Anonymous
Palmerton, Pennsylvania
Versatile Pack!
3 years ago
This pack is of great quality. At first I thought a lot of the construction on it was overkill, but after multiple uses I realized that the design makes it applicable for various uses. I initially bought this item for speed hikes(and it exceeded my expectations), but it also makes a great day pack for running, hiking, xc skiing, and alpine climbs/scrambles. The shoulder strap pockets are great and allow for various permutations of gear and food/water placement. The shoulder straps also have pole carries for z-poles, which is a huge bonus! One thing that was a little misleading from the description and pictures is the zipper pocket up front. Pictures display a phone in the zipper pocket - this isn't really possible with larger phones, even with the case off. A smart phone the size of an Iphone 5 will fit with a slim case, but I wish these pockets had bigger dimensions to accommodate larger phones or odd sized gear such as a bulky map or head lamp. Ultimate direction's website also states that the side pockets can accommodate "large" water bottles and even displays a pack with a Nalgene in its pocket. Fitting a bottle as large as a Nalgene is pretty optimistic. I wouldn't really expect to fit any bottle with a diameter larger than a smart water bottle in it, and even then you'll have to place your bottles in the side pockets before loading your pack for the day since the expansion of the inner volume of the pack takes a lot of useable space away from the side pockets. The side pockets and back panel pocket are made of a stretchy material, but they can only conform so far. Nonetheless, this is a great pack for a super reasonable price. For sizing purposes, I chose the small/medium. I have worn both sizes and each fit me relatively good. I'd say if you're anything like me, and your dimensions are middle of the road, go a size down(Height - 5'10", weight - 160lb). Also, Ultimate Direction's website has a better sizing guide than REI's.
Height:5'10"
Age:25–34
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Yes , I recommend this product
Honey Badger
Oregon
Awesome day adventure bag!
1 year ago
I love my Fastpack 20! I like to carry extra stuff with me on my runs and this pack is perfect! I use a 1.5l bladder instead of bottles so I can use the pockets for my inreach. I do carry soft flasks as well on my long runs and feel the pockets are perfectly located but my inreach has to go into the main pouch. The inreach mini would fit into the other pockets but i like the full size. My phone (s20) just barely fits in the zippered pocket but it DOES fit! Your computer will not fit. I havent found the skinny pockets on the straps good for much besides garbage. The zippered access on the bag is only usable if the bag is full but I usually have it rolled down alot unless its cold. The mesh pouch holds stuff securely and I have never lost anything out of it. I never go out on a run or day hike without this bag! I would 100% buy this again.
Height:5'11"
Age:35–44
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Yes , I recommend this product
wanderingnow
Seattle, WA
Not the best of both worlds
4 years ago
This bag is meant as an ultralight trail runner but with the capacity of about 25liters its not really in that category. I mainly used this as a daypack, the waist traps fail to really work since this is a vest design and the frame is very soft so it does not really provide any support. Also breathability is not great for a hot day, I would rather have one of those osprey suspended bags.
No, I do not recommend this product
DogMom34
Not my favorite, but making it work
1 year ago
Great for a day hike of the Grand Canyon and a 20-mile day hike on the AT where I wasn't bouncing around, but awful for a trail run on the AT. So many weird things flapping, water bottle holders in the front aren't high enough to accommodate my Salomon 500ml flasks and aren't tight so that's bouncing around, the roll top sticks up weird and gets caught on overhanging branches, the waist strap left a bad chafe mark across my stomach. It does fit everything you need for an all day hike or run in the backcountry, but the stretchy material in the back pouch lets stuff flop around everywhere if it's not super full and if you have a heavy load, as someone else mentioned, it sags. Most annoying is that here's no way to tuck the straps in so they stay put. At least I alerted bears with all the stuff flapping around and the dangling straps swatted the deer flies. Going to cut and burn some of the excess strap length and reorganize to see if I can get it to work better. I love the bright yellow color and it didn't make me overheat like a backpack would have, so that's a plus. I also appreciated having snacks up front, but wish there was a larger front pocket that was large enough for a phone.
Alex
Colorado
Mostly Great
1 year ago
I use this pack exclusively on big alpine days, and pack it inside my larger backpacking pack as a summit bag. It has been a great bag overall. Pros: - HIGHLY customizable fit. Between the shoulder straps, adjustable torso length, compression straps, the removable hip belt, the dual chest straps, and the removable back pad, it may take some tinkering, but it's hard to imagine not finding a way to make this fit comfortably on your back, regardless of the weight you are carrying. - Main compartment has plenty of room for the gear I typically take on an outing, and the bladder pouch has plenty of room for the 2.5L bladder I typically carry (though you could go bigger). - Chest pockets are great for everything else you might want easy access to. I carry water in a bladder, so I typically fill these with my inReach, my large phone, a few snacks, electrolyte pills, sunglasses, pocket knife, etc. - Side pockets are great for additional easy-to-access items, though I usually stow my Z-Poles in these and tuck them under the compression straps for security. - Mesh back pocket is stretchy but secure, and great for tossing a jacket in. - Main compartment zipper makes getting things out of your pack super easy without undoing the roll-top. - Super durable. I've used a few different vest-style packs, and this one is by far the toughest. I'm guessing it will last many seasons. Cons: - There is a fold of tubing used for the adjustable chest straps that sticks out and rubs uncomfortably on your collarbone/shoulder. I was able to fix this by taking a pair of vice grips and squeezing the fold flat. An irritating defect that I hope UD corrects, but not unfixable. I am not an ultralight fanatic, and this probably wouldn't fit the amount of gear I'd feel comfortable with on an overnight. That said, if you are interested in a lightweight day pack that can fit a bunch of stuff, has chest pockets, lots of customization, and can be used to run down a mountain without bouncing around too much, give this one a serious look.
Height:5'11"
Age:25–34
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Yes , I recommend this product