REI Co-op  Flash 18 Pack

Great bag. My wife and I got a pair of them for our honeymoon to Ireland. Great bag for the plane. Even better for around town. Holds a ton of stuff, i.e. raincoat, umbrella, snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and anything else you can throw at it. Looks small but holds a lot. Lightweight, but very durable. We used it all over Ireland and on the flights. Great bag, great price, well worth the investment. Water resistant, but not water proof (tested in numerous Irish rain storms). Very comfortable all day. Packs into itself for easy storage for use as a daypack on longer hikes. Get this bag, its awesome!

I bought this bag to use on a trip to the Caribbean (St. John) as a small day/beach bag. St. John has a lot of small hiking trails to get to the beaches so I wanted something lightweight and big enough to carry the beach essentials. It was perfect for carrying a DSLR, underwater camera, two towels, extra sunscreen and some extra lightweight clothes. I've also used this pack on dayhikes and trail work trips. The hydration pouch fit my 3L camelbak bladder nicely. The external loop straps were great for tying things to the outside of the pack. It was a bit of a pain to get to things in the bottom of the bag, but really not that big of a deal. It's so lightweight that I can deal with the packing/unpacking of everything to get to the bottom.

I was looking for a better solution for my daypack needs once base camp was set up during my backcountry trips. Instead of lightening the load on my larger external frame and lugging that around on a day hike or packing a backpack that weighs and takes up space in your pack. I found a perfect match for my needs in the REI Flash 18. By it being able to double as a stuff sack I was able to omit my current stuff sack I was using to pack gear and use the REI Flash 18 instead. It packs light into my larger pack and is perfect for day hikes as a stand alone pack. The added bonus hydration bladder compatibility is a plus. Also for the price this was by far one of the smartest investments I've made for my backpacking passion. I loved it so much I bought my girlfriend one. Thanks REI.

I have finally used this on a few hikes in the Utah mountains. I added about 8 feet of shock cord and weaved it through the daisy chains on the back to increase the packs versatility, and I must say, I highly recommend this add-on. I have been able to hold items with the cord quickly and securely. Although this pack is not the biggest, it pack a punch for fast outings. I have been able to carry a 2L hyro pack and a 1L platypus plusBottle with ease. For longer outings and once that require more gear, this is not the pack to choose. I will most defiantly be getting a larger one for use in colder months.

I love this pack, I use it everyday for the gym and the daisy chains are awesome, I usually just clip my rock shoes and chalk bag on. Doubles great as a stuff sack!! A few weeks ago I took it on a day hike, it was awesome but the only con (and a big one a that) is that after a while if its not lightly packed the straps do cut into your shoulders and it can be quite painful. Other than that I highly recommend it!

I fall somewhere in between minimalist and comfort driven .. This is one awesome day pack! This is more for carrying a few things but can also carry 3 liters of fluid, lunch, snacks, first aid kit, extra set of clothes if needed. Probably designed more for when you don't need to carry so much though. It is so light and comfortable that you hardly notice that it is on.

This pack is great! I've been on the lookout for something lightweight that I can use as a hiking pack and for school. The flash 18 can definitely do the job. I've used it for multiple day trips and even an over-nighter and its held up great. The straps are deceptively comfortable and there is ample room to put what you need. I use it to get around town and have tested it out for next semester by putting my usual book load in it.They fit great! You may not be able to fit a lap top in it though. I'm also concerned about the durability of the pull cord. It seems to be the weak point in the design. Overall an amazing pack for an amazing price.

I love this pack!! My husband and I are just getting started in minimalist backpacking and we were given this pack as a gift. My favorite thing about this pack is that I can roll it up and stick it in another pack and it is still got a hydration sleeve. It is somewhat difficult to load since it has no frame, but that's worth it to fit it in my big pack. It works really well for a day pack. It fits an extra sweater, a few weater bottles, and extra snack bars and has lots of dasiy chains for things. I also love that the colors avaliable are bright and easy to see through the trees. This pack makes going on a day hike easy and lightweight!!

I thought this might be a waste of space and weight on my bike tour, but it was used so many ways that it was well worth taking. I pack pretty minimal (22 pounds of gear including panniers for a mild weather 25 day bike tour). The original plan was to use this pack to carry extra stuff on top or the rear rack (I was using only front panniers). I never used it that way, but it was a great stuff sack, laundry bag, day pack, air travel personal item, and bear bag (for hanging). It was also great for going to the store when in camp. It has become one of my favorite pieces of gear and I an sure I will continue to find more and more uses for it.

This pack is great for me. I can pack a weekend's worth of gear, food, and clothing in here with room for my water bladder. My only gripe is the daisy chain stiching is very weak.