I bought an REI Flash 30 daypack

Posted by: aimless

I bought an REI Flash 30 daypack - 06/26/10 04:51 PM

I bought an REI Flash 30 daypack today. My 20 year old daypack is finally showing the kind of wear that could cause it to fail me on the trail. I plan on using the Flash 30 on several day hikes next week. I will report back on it once I've given it a test drive.

On the whole it seems to be trying to fill the same sort of niche that is occupied by the GoLite Jam or Speed packs. It has a modest suspension and should manage up to 20 lbs with (almost) comfort.

Ironically, my old daypack was so basic and feature-poor that even though it was very rugged and bombproof, it's still lighter than almost anything I could find out there today.
Posted by: nickinchicago

Re: I bought an REI Flash 30 daypack - 07/02/10 12:05 AM

I was actually looking at picking up this same pack. Please do update when you get a chance. I would love to see what other think about it. I currently don't have a daypack cause most of my trips call for me to carry more gear but am looking to start taking shorter ones.

Thanks
Posted by: aimless

Re: I bought an REI Flash 30 daypack - 07/04/10 02:55 PM

OK. I just returned from a five-night car-camping trip where I day-hiked each day using this pack.

I can't say what weight I carried with much accuracy, since I didn't have a scales and I'm not in the habit of gram-counting for day hikes. I can say that I generally carried nearly 3 liters of water at the start of the day, plus maybe 5 or 6 lbs. of other stuff, so a fair estimate of weight would be in the neighborhood of 12 lbs. More than 10 and less than 15 for sure.

The suspension transferred all the weight to my hips quite well and the load carried very comfortably for me. This was the primary benefit I was looking for. The pack has room to fit as much as I would need for a dayhike in any season, given that I always carry enough gear to bivy overnight, if necessary.

The four hikes were on rough trails, poorly maintained and sometimes overhung with brush. No damage occured to the pack, but that isn't saying much, really. The outer mesh pockets would have been the most vulnberable to damage and they did fine.

I am quite certain I will keep the pack - so now I can start trimming off the doodads I won't need or use. I'm just happy to find a lightweight day pack that works for me. It seems like every pack out there is over-featured and overweight.
Posted by: ringtail

Re: I bought an REI Flash 30 daypack - 07/04/10 05:26 PM

Originally Posted By aimless
It seems like every pack out there is over-featured and overweight.


Well said. I share your frustration.
Posted by: nickinchicago

Re: I bought an REI Flash 30 daypack - 07/05/10 02:07 AM

Thanks for posting your experience with this pack. I think after reading what you had to say about it I will pick one up and do some testing of my own. Thanks again.
Posted by: bmwrider

Re: I bought an REI Flash 30 daypack - 07/19/10 11:25 PM

I own one and have been using it for 3 yrs and no signs of real wear yet, called the jet ul then but same pack in every way