The REI Flash 22 Hiking Day Pack
Table of Contents
Disclaimer: The Following Article contains Affiliate Links. That means that when you make a purchase through said links, I get a small commision. You get a brand new REI Flash 22, and I get to eat food again. It’s a beautiful thing.
With a simple design, and at a very fair price point, the REI Flash 22 Daypack can bring a lot of functionality to any outdoor adventurer. The Flash 22 is designed for day hikers, fastpackers, and alpine peakbaggers, but I found equal use for it as a basic crag pack.
I tested the Flash 22 in use for several outdoor activities, and under a variety of conditions. I scraped it, tossed it around, dropped it, kicked it, and overstuffed it (among other things). After it all, I’ve found it to bring together the right combo of minimalism, function, durability, and weight.
To see if the REI Flash 22 is the right daypack for your needs, read on to for my full review!
Related: We recently compared the Osprey Daylite Plus to the REI Flash 22-a similar daypack. Check out our full comparison here to find the best daypack for your needs.
REI Flash 22
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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| Check out the REI Flash 22 at REI.com | |
 REI Co-op Flash 22 Pack | REI Co-op $34.93 | |
Features and Specs
Equipped with several useful features, the Flash 22 is a simple pack with a lot of heart. Ripped from the REI website, here’s a rundown of the Flash 22’s design highlights:
- Weight: 13 Ounces
- Capacity: 22 Liters (1,343 cubic inches)
- Unisex
- Pockets: Main Compartment + 3 External
- Drawcord Closure for cinching close the main compartment.
- Internal Hydration Sleeve
- Tool Loops for Lashing Poles, Axes, or a picnic Baguette
- Detachable waist belt and Sternum Straps
Where the Flash 22 lacks a zipper, or a laptop sleeve, it more than makes up for in weight and comfort. This pack is meant for outdoor use, pure and simple.
REI Gear
REI has long been the premier retailer of outdoor gear in the United States. They sell all sorts of quality stuff, and their return policy is well loved by frugal consumers (*cough*).
REI’s in house gear, though, has a wavering reputation. Much of it is copied from popular items, and sold at a lower price. It seems to either be pretty decent, or so-so. In the past, I have used REI’s camping and Backpacking gear, and been satisfied. Their clothing has been known to have odd proportions, and the seams are prone to ripping.
REI does make good stuff, no doubt. Shoppers just need to pay attention to user reviews to sort out the good from the bad.
The Flash 22 falls on the better end of REI’s gear spectrum. It is comfortable, lightweight, and represents one of the best daypacks available at the price point.
Capacity
It’s all there on the label-the Flash 22 can fit 22 Liters worth of stuff. This hits a pretty standard mark among day packs-more than enough for a simple day hike, but most would be hard pressed to take it overnight.
If experience tells me anything, it’s less about how much one can fit in the pack, but how it fits. Dimensions and compartments govern storage just as much as raw capacity. Example: I’ve owned packs that claim a certain capacity, yet fit less gear than lower rated packs.
It may just be that I pack inefficiently, but I haven’t had trouble packing hiking, climbing, photography, and school gear into my REI Flash 22.
Comfort
Equipped with padded shoulder straps, and a light frame, hikers touting the Flash 22 will find it both comfortable, and breathable. It sits close to the back, with little dead space. When all the straps are clipped and adjusted, the Flash 22 stay firmly in place. Even when overloaded, I found that the design of this backpack still conferred some measure of comfort.
For load, this pack’s maximum is about 10-15 lbs. More than that, and the straps begin to dig into the shoulders, and the back pad begins to give way.
Durability
Durability wise, I am impressed (but not surprised) by the toughness of the REI Flash 22. It is made of a thinner material than some similar packs, but I’m not worried. After dragging it around rough, Joshua Tree Quartzite, there is little visible wear.
One weak point that I foresee is the side mesh pockets. Mesh is prone to ripping and tearing. It may stretch well, but is easily snagged on twigs and rocks. Many backpacks use mesh for side and front access pockets, but I think it is a risky move.
After several hikes and scrambles, I am confident that the Flash 22 can hold up to some major abuse. The pack’s stitching may be another weak point. Two previous REI backpacks that I have owned both exhibited ripping in the bottom seams. The REI Flash is different, though. Thanks again to the simple design, the stitching will likely not become an issue. Online user reviews tell me that this fear is unfounded.
Performance
The simplicity of the Flash 22 is it’s greatest strength. It’s lack of frills does not hinder this pack, but instead propels it. Not just hikers, but many adventurers, will find the Flash 22 to be a useful piece of gear.
I tested it across three activities: climbing, hiking, and lifestyle use. As it is a hiking backpack, I focused most of my testing in this capacity.
Hiking
The Flash 22 has many uses, but out on the hiking trail is where this pack shines. It’s many fine features (or lack thereof) make this backpack a great choice for day hiking, and fast packing overnights.
The REI gear design team must have figured out a secret recipe. I found the Flash 22’s capacity and dimensions to be the ideal combo for carrying around hiking gear. Within the main compartment, I could fit:
- Platypus Hydration Bladder.
- Softshell Jacket (Outdoor Research Ferrosi)
- Melanzana Microgrid Fleece (or similar Microgrid Fleece)
- Down Jacket (Arc’teryx Atom Lt)
- Camera (Sony a6000)
- Buff
- Warm Hat
- Lunch
In the Flap Pocket:
- Headlamp
- Snacks
- Small Rite-In-Rain notepad
- Small First Aid Kit
- Pens/Pencils
- Spork
- Camera Batteries
- Anker Powerbank
Lashed to the Outside of the Flash 22:
- (2) 32 oz. Nalgene Water Bottles
- Trekking Poles or Ice Axe
- Tripod
- Climbing Rope (Under the Flap closure)
Oh, and the stealthy front zipper pocket is the perfect space for maps, permits, or any other flat objects (like pancakes).
As you can tell, the Flash 22 can fit a lot of stuff. Day hikers will have all the room they need. While hiking I very much enjoyed the feel of this pack. There is nothing awkward feeling about how it conforms to my back. The shoulder straps held firm, without digging into me. On more challenging scrambles, the waist belt, and sternum strap kept the Flash 22 in place, even when squeezing myself between narrow canyon walls.
Climbing
If the Flash 22 is like similar packs, then it makes a pretty decent climbing pack. Single pitch climbers will be pleased to find that it can fit a rack of quickdraws, anchor gear, shoes, and a harness. A Trad Rack will fit with some creative packing.
The REI Flash 22 solve a problem for multi pitch climbers. That is-where do I put all my extra stuff? Food, water, headlamps, and all the gear needed for a long day in the mountains can ride shotgun in the Flash 22. It rides just above the harness, out of the way of climbing gear. At belays, a carabiner will clip the pack into an anchor. There is no need to fiddle with zippers with a pancake flap hood.
This is not a true climbing pack, by any means. Stuffing it with climbing gear pushes the Flash 22 to the bounds of its design. With careful packing, it is possible to strap a butterfly coiled rope between the main body, and the pancake flap hood. Yet, even when tightly cinched down, there was not much to keep the rope from slipping out. I can’t recommend this tactic for anything longer than 10 minute crag approaches.
The Flash 22 is not the best climbing pack, but it gets by. It is made for hiking, after all. But I like to test the applicable limits of my gear. If any climber will find a use for this pack, it will be sport climbers, and muiltipitch followers. I’d think it to also be a good choice for alpine scrambles.
Lifestyle
Not all of us need (or want) multiple backpacks. Some prefer to keep it simple, and would like to own just one pack for lifestyle use. One that can go beyond the outdoors, right onto the city streets. A hiking backpack for commuters and students.
As much as I enjoy hiking and scrambling with the Flash 22, it’s not built for frontcountry use. It’s minimal features and pockets work well for the outdoorsy set, but I’ve found that it is too lacking in features for anything else.
For one, there are too few compartments. Organizing books, notebooks, pens, paper, and electronics is more difficult, when you have no choice but to throw them all together into a sack.
Getting wide, flat objects through the drawstring opening of the Flash 22 is not ideal. Books and laptops tend to get stuck while fitting through it’s narrow opening. A zippered opening is better for this purpose.
If I prioritized school over my outdoor adventures (like I should be doing), I’d use a different pack, like the Osprey Daylite Series. Still, it will get your stuff from home to office to gym to kombucha bar or whatever it is that young people do these days.
Similar Backpacks
The REI Flash 22 is a great deal, packed with a ton of features. That said, it may not be right for everyone. Here’s a few alternate packs that may be a better fit.
- Osprey Daylite Plus (Amazon | REI)-With a similar capacity and price, the Osprey Daylite is a fair alternative to the Flash 22. Though not as lightweight, the Daylite/Daylite plus is ideal for commuters and students. If you’d like to learn more about my Daylite Plus, you can check out my recent review.
- REI Co-op Ruckpack 28–The Flash 22’s older sibling. With a beefier capacity, fastpackers, trad climbers, and photographers may prefer to use the Ruckpack 28.
Conclusion
Many high quality day hiking backpacks are available, but none are quite so cost effective and feature packed as the REI Flash 22. It’s not the best day pack around, but it’s slim, light, and minimalist. The REI Flash 22 can carry all you need for a pleasant day hike, a trip into a deep slot canyon, or even up a multi pitch rock climb, all for a very wallet friendly price.
Where to Buy the REI Flash 22 Day Pack
The REI Flash 22 can only be purchased new in one place-REI. Here’s an affiliate link to help you out.
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