REASONS TO BUY
Affordable
Can transition from running to a longer hike
Nice features
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
No real framing for back
Fabric is thin and could easily tear
REI Co-op Flash 22L - Women's Review
The REI Flash 22L is a great, affordable bag that can bridge the gap between hydration pack for running and day hike essentials bag
The Flash can be fully loaded up for a long day on the trail (left) or cinched down with just the basics for a trail run (right). It easily accommodates different sized loads to match whatever sort of outing you plan to have.
Credit: Katie Brown
RELATED: Best Daypacks for Women of 2024
Our Verdict
The REI Flash 22L was a favorite when it came to a pack that was easy to strap down tight for a run, pack for a longer hike, or throw in a suitcase for a trip. We used this pack primarily for trail running, shorter day hikes, and days spent on a bike, and found that it transitioned well between each activity. We enjoyed the easily accessed bladder storage and that the hose had a port at either shoulder, depending on user preference. We also appreciated that it had reinforced wings on the hip belt, which added a bit more support and comfort than the webbing-only options of similar models. It also had a few fun add-ons, such as a foam back panel that was removable for sitting on and a drawcord closure with buckled top flap that gave us vintage vibes. If, however, you need a pack with a frame for hauling larger loads, this isn't the ideal bag, but if you are looking for a great, lightweight adventuring bag that will work well for a variety of activities, the Flash is a great option.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
REI Co-op Flash 22L - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  A Great Value for Versatile Use |  Best Daypack for Casual Day Hikes | |||
| Price | $60 List Check Price at REI | $40 List | $26 List $21.99 at Amazon | $49.95 at Backcountry | $65.00 at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A great, affordable, lightweight running/hiking pack to have in your arsenal but not the most ideal for serious, full or multi-day hiking | A useful and well-fitting daypack that will serve your purpose without breaking the bank | A lightweight, packable and affordable bag that holds a lot and can be easily thrown in a suitcase for travel | A durable, fast, and light pack for quick outings where hydration is the main supply needed | Plenty of wild color combos and a good level of usability and easy access that make it a good casual pack |
| Rating Categories | REI Co-op Flash 22L... | Decathlon Quechua M... | Venture Pal 35L - W... | Gregory Nano 18 - W... | Cotopaxi Batac 16L |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Versatility (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Weight-to-Volume Ratio (15%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (10%) | |||||
| Specs | REI Co-op Flash 22L... | Decathlon Quechua M... | Venture Pal 35L - W... | Gregory Nano 18 - W... | Cotopaxi Batac 16L |
| Advertised Volume | 22 L | 20 L | 35 L | 18 L | 16 L |
| Measured Weight | 17 oz | 28 oz | 12 oz | 17 oz | 11 oz |
| Weight per Liter | 0.77 oz/L | 1.40 oz/L | 0.34 oz/L | 0.94 oz/L | 0.69 oz/L |
| Back Construction | Mesh back with removable pad | AirCooling Ventilated back | Lightweight nylon | Die-cut back panel | Lightweight nylon |
| Hydration Compatibility | Internal hydration sleeve | Inner hydration sleeve | None | Hydration Compartment | Internal hydration sleeve |
| Hip Belt | Yes | Yes | No | Yes, tuck-away | No |
| Compartments | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Number of Pockets | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| Pocket Descriptions | 2 mesh side pockets, 1 side zip pocket, 1 top zip pocket, 1 internal bladder pocket | 1 front vertical zipper pocket, 2 mesh water bottle pockets, 1 internal zipper pocket, 1 bladder pocket, 1 hip belt zipper pocket | 2 mesh side pockets, 2 front zipper pockets, 2 internal pockets, 1 bladder pocket | 1 zipper bladder pocket, 2 mesh side pockets, 1 front zipper pocket w/ 2 internal pockets | 2 mesh side pockets, 1 front zip pocket, one internal zip pocket |
| Outside Carry Options | Deep side pockets, accessory bungees, zipper side entry pocket | Daisy chain, 2 side pockets, trekking pole holders | Mesh side pockets, side compression straps, reflective tape | Mesh side pockets, outer zipper pocket | Daisy chain, 2 side pockets |
| Whistle | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Key Clip | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rain Cover | No | No | No | No | No |
| Materials | 70D recycled ripstop nylon | Coated polyester | Nylon | 210D honeycomb CryptoRip nylon (body), 420D high density nylon (bottom) | 75D-210D deadstock nylon and polyester (sometimes ripstop; individual pieces may vary) |
| Notable Features | water bottle pocket, hydration port + tubing, trekking pole attachments, side zipper pocket, bungee holder, sunglass loop, exterior loops | daisy chain, mesh side pocket, load lifters, padded hip belt, front buckle holder, side and inner zip pocke, trekking pole loops | packable, safety whistle, reflective material, adjustable side buckles | zippered hydration/tablet pocket, tuck-away webbing hip belt, key hook, zipper front pocket, mesh water bottle pockets, reflective webbing loops | Side-opening small pocket, internal organizational pockets |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The REI Flash 22L is a lightweight, affordable adventuring daypack made of recycled ripstop nylon with a DWR finish. It has an integrated mesh hip belt and a padded, breathable mesh back. The shoulder straps have fold-over padding for comfort, and the sternum strap can be removed if desired. It includes a drawstring closure with a top flap for extra security and five total pockets for storing additional items. In addition to its bladder storage system, it also has two exterior water bottle pockets that are deep and double as jacket or trekking pole holders and exterior loops for hanging gear or strapping the pack down to a smaller size.
Performance Comparison
The REI Flash makes a convenient companion for a quick day's outing, is lightweight, affordable, and can crossover between a variety of activities.
Credit: Katie Brown
Comfort
We found the Flash to be quite comfortable relative to its intended uses. The removable pad at the back, in addition to the padded mesh of the pack itself, gave us just enough cushion to protect against any items in the pack that might be slightly jutting or awkward in shape. We also really like the additional mesh reinforcement of the hip belt, which added just enough support. The shoulder straps were breathable and thin, but still had just enough padding to avoid undue chafing. The shape of the pack was such that the load carried low in the pack, meaning that there was less weight on the shoulders.
Within these parameters, however, it is worth mentioning that this pack is not meant for very large or heavy loads, so it lost a couple of comfort points due to that point alone. It's truly a light and fast pack, but the fabric is thin, so items can protrude, and it lacks a proper frame or padded hip belt.
The Flash's hip belt provides a bit more support than just webbing.
Credit: Katie Brown
Versatility
We enjoyed the versatility of the Flash and used it for a variety of activities. We found that it easily held all of our day hike essentials, but we were also able to load in just a water bladder and dog leashes, strap it down to a tight size, and take it running. It also performed well during our sweat test, despite not having a proper frame, and was lightweight and easy to maneuver in. A quick day of rock scrambling is always easier when the pack is easy to move in.
In addition, we appreciated the versatility of fit. This pack truly fits a wide variety of sizes and has a sternum strap with a full range of sizes. Petite users or those with a short torso may be frustrated by the lack of range in the sternum strap and sometimes find that they need to buckle the sternum strap below the bust line, which isn't ideal. Other than this issue, the Flash's sternum strap does not disappoint.
The Flash's sternum strap works well for even the most petite users, which can be a rare find in a unisex daypack.
Credit: Katie Brown
Where the Flash lost versatility points was when carrying larger loads. While it had plenty of space for all of our day hike essentials, we did have to pack them so that items would not protrude into the back. In addition, the thin fabric, while great for weight and quick-drying capabilities, was not designed to hold extremely heavy items, and we worried about tearing, should there be outside abrasion. Lastly, the top drawstring closure holds items securely, but also means that it's not as easy to load or unload as a pack with a large, U-shaped opening.
The Flash can be fully loaded up for a long day on the trail or cinched down with just the basics for a trail run. It easily accommodates different sized loads to match whatever sort of outing you plan to have.
Credit: Katie Brown
Weight-to-Volume Ratio
At .77 oz/Liter, the Flash was one of our highest performers in the weight-to-volume category. This means that you are able to carry a large amount of gear for each ounce of weight of the pack itself.
We also found that it performed well relative to comparable packs in our lineup, given that it also had additional support at the back, hip belt, and shoulder that other similarly weighted packs did not have.
The Flash is easy to throw on for an impromptu hike to look at a mountain vista.
Credit: Katie Brown
Ease of Use
We enjoyed the functionality and intuitive features of this pack. Its streamlined design keeps extra 'bells and whistles' to a minimum, allowing for optimum freedom of movement.
Although it didn't contain the highest number of pockets in our lineup, each pocket was useful and well thought out, including the exterior pocket, which was moved from the front to the side in the newest version of this pack. We liked that it was easy to slip the pack from one shoulder and grab a quick item, such as chapstick or keys.
The easy access, side stow pocket of the Flash.
Credit: Katie Brown
One small feature that added to this pack's ease of use was the bungee attachment at the front, which allows you to strap the pack tighter for even smaller, lighter loads. This was a feature we hadn't seen in other packs but enjoyed in this one.
This pack has a unique strap system, allowing you to cinch down the pack to make it even more streamlined when carrying lighter loads.
Credit: Katie Brown
We also liked how large and deep the side pockets were. The newest model of this pack has switched the pockets from mesh to the same recycled ripstop nylon of the rest of the pack, which we found better protected items and was less prone to catching and tearing than the mesh. In addition, the double port for a bladder hose was a thoughtful addition, making it easy to switch your hose from one shoulder to the other.
The only negative we had for the Flash in the Ease of Use category was the top closure. The buckle flap and the drawstring closure together secures your load nicely, but also adds an extra step to getting into the pack, which could be frustrating for some users.
Construction Quality
The Flash is well constructed for what it is, but it is a light and fast pack, and sometimes, what you gain in weight and ease of movement, you lose in durability. The recycled ripstop nylon is thin, and although it has a DWR finish, it is far from the most waterproof of the bags we tested. It's also more prone to tearing and abrasion than other fabrics, so this is something to take into consideration if you are in the market for a very durable bag that will stand up to a lot of rubbing or protruding objects.
Should You Buy the REI Flash 22L?
If you are looking for a daypack that is light, affordable, and can crossover from running, hiking, biking, or rock scrambling, this bag is a great option. If you are in the market for a super durable daypack that can withstand a full load of supplies, this might not be the bag for you.
The Flash is a great crossover bag that can be cinched down tight for trail running.
Credit: Katie Brown
What Other Daypack Should You Consider?
The Gregory Nano 18L is a similar bag to the Flash if you are looking for something similar but made with a thicker material. At 18L, it definitely doesn't hold as much as the Flash and is quite long for those with a short torso, but it is a worthy alternative that performs well and has added durability points. The Decathlon Quechua also has a great price and is an excellent option for casual day hikes.
The Gregory Nano and REI Flash side-by-side.
Credit: Katie Brown
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Katie Brown
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