REI Flash 65 Review

Likes
We liked the suspension of the Flash 65 considering how light it is. It transferred the load well and protected our backs from strangely shaped or sharp items (think stoves, cams etc.) from jabbing us in the back, a problem on some similar weight, "frame-less" packs.

We thought this pack compared well with other packs in our review when carrying 30-35 pounds and under. Once we got to 35 pounds we thought the Gregory Z 65 pack was more comfortable, along with all the other packs in our review. We liked the pockets on back and used them a ton for smaller and easily accessible items. It was harder to get bigger items (like a big 10 oz. container of sun block) out of the back zippered pocket when the pack was super full. We did like the "Kangaroo pocket" and, depending on the trip, we loved to put wet cloths, flip flops (or five fingers, depending on your preference) and it even seemed like the prefect place for our smelly garbage bag.

The straps underneath the pack are nice and just barely long enough to fit most sleeping pads. But we wish that they didn't put on the plastic strap end holder things – they make the straps harder to adjust with sleeping pads or other items in there. So we just cut them off. At first we were a little skeptical of the Velcro closure pocket underneath the lid but if worked fantastically. We have no complaints after using this pack on several trips in the North Cascades.

There are also several lash points on the back and top of this pack which we used to attach crampons. They are in versatile positions and could have many applications. We also thought the Flash 65 was the one of the best of any pack in our review for holding one or two ice axes. Axes attached firmly and securely without leaning back or to the side at strange angles.

Dislikes
We didn't love the shoulders straps on this pack. They were lightweight and breathed okay, but with loads more than 30-35 pounds, after a few hours on the trail testers agreed they weren't nearly as comfy as other packs we looked at. Same goes for the waist belt. A couple testers thought the frame was "too stiff" and despite the stiffness the frame didn't transfer the load effectively to the waist belt because they didn't have enough structure to take it.

As a whole most of our testers thought that for loads under 30-35 pounds the Flash 65 stood up just as well as other packs we tested. Once over 30-35 pounds, however, the Flash quickly fell behind. This is where the Flash straddles the line of an ultra-light pack and a more traditional pack. It can carry more weight than a frame-less or minimalist frame pack but doesn't carry heavier loads nearly as well as a traditional pack. But, hey, it's one to three pounds lighter than all the other packs, so what can you say. We also thought that the fabric on the Flash 65 was the least durable in our review. We just used it on hiking trails (Which are often overgrown in North Cascades National park) and the mesh pockets on the sides of the pack ripped quickly; so did a few small holes on the side of the pack.

Best Application
The people who will be the happiest with the REI Flash 65 are climbers, lightweight backpackers or trekkers who pack fairly light and keep their loads under 30-35 pounds. We think average backpacker would use the REI flash for 2-5 days, but you could go longer. The Flash 65 is a nice way for folks who want to save more weight but aren't ready for or don't want an ultra-light frame-less or minimalist frame pack.

Value
At $170 the REI Flash 65 is the least expensive pack in our review. It is also by far the lightest. It almost competes with a different category of pack but still crosses over nicely. So if you were on the fence whether you should get a true ultra-light pack or a more traditional pack then you should at least check out the Flash 65. It most closely compares with the Gregory Z 65, which at $230 is $60 more. While the Gregory sports more bells and whistles and is more durable the Flash is 25 percent less expensive and around a pound lighter.