SectionHiker.com Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs 
The REI Flash 22 is a frameless daypack for easy day hikes, commuting, and travel. It is loaded with features, including a fold-over top pocket, a laptop-compatible hydration sleeve, internal organizational sleeves, a hidden side security pocket, trekking pole holders, daisy chains, side bottle pockets and more. I’ve used the Flash 22 for the past four months as my pack for short hikes and commuting with great success and it’s my go-to bag for daily adventures in town and on the trail.
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- Gender: Unisex
- Volume: 22L
- Weight: 14 oz
- Access: Top
- Pockets: 4 + main
- Fits Torso: 16-21 inches
- Hydration Ready: Yes
- Hipbelt: Yes
- Pros: Hidden side security pocket, Removable/internal sit pad provides padding and structure
- Cons: Hipbelt is not removable, Sitpad is cumbersome to reinsert after use
With 22 liters of volume, the REI Flash 22 is large enough to carry all your daily essentials for hikes, commuting, and travel, including a laptop, snacks, water bottles or a hydration system, and extra clothing layers.
The pack has 4 pockets plus a main compartment. The main compartment closes with a drawstring and contains a hydration sleeve, a reservoir hang loop, and a key fob. The outside of the hydration sleeve also has two vertical pockets that are good for holding pens and are sized to hold a smartphone. The hydration sleeve has a foam sit pad in the back (behind the shoulder straps) that protects items and prevents them from poking you in the back. While the foam pad is removable, returning it to the pack is a PITA unless you completely unload the contents.
A fold-over pocket covers the main compartment and contains a large zippered pocket for holding hats and personal items. A hidden and zippered security pocket along the side of the pack keeps items organized. It also has an organizational sleeve inside to hold smaller items like your wallet or a passport. Finally, the pack has two external open bottle pockets, each large enough to hold a 32-oz Nalgene bottle.
The outside of the pack has a trekking pole holder, including a shaft bungee to secure the top of your poles – something that many backpack makers leave out. You can also use it to hold an ice axe if needed. There are also 10 external daisy chain loops sewn into the pack’s seams to which you can clip items like a hat or microspikes.
The shoulder pads and sewn-on hipbelt are made with breathable, unobtrusive mesh. Both are closed with big, durable buckles you don’t need reading glasses to see. The front sternum strap slides along webbing straps and is easy to adjust, while the hipbelt, which is also a webbing strap, holds the pack close to your body so it doesn’t bounce when you hike.
Comparable Hiking Daypacks
| Men's Model | Sizing | Women's Model |
|---|---|---|
| Osprey Talon 22 | Adjustable Torso | Osprey Tempest 20 |
| REI Flash 18 | Fixed Length | REI Flash 18 |
| TNF Borealis 28 | Fixed Length | TNF Borealis 27 |
| Osprey Stratos 24 | Adjustable Torso | Osprey Sirrus 24 |
| Deuter Speed Lite 21 | Fixed Length | Deuter Speed Lite 21 |
| REI Trail 25 | Fixed Length | REI Trail 25 |
| Gregory Zulu 30 | Adjustable Torso | Gregory Jade 28 |
| Gregory Nano 22 H2O Pack | Fixed Length | Gregory Nano 22 H2O Pack |
| Deuter Trail 30 | Fixed Length | Deuter Trail 28 SL |
| Mystery Ranch Scree 33 | Adjustable Torso | Mystery Ranch Scree 33 |
Recommendation
The REI Flash 22 Backpack is a fully-featured frameless daypack for hiking, commuting, and travel. At just $59.95, it provides tremendous bang for the buck with features rarely found on smaller-capacity backpacks. Its numerous pockets and internal sleeves keep your gear organized, secure, and accessible, while its external features, including large side pockets, daisy chains, and a trekking pole holder, let you load it up for outdoor adventures.
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Great review! You hit the nail on the head. This pack is so great in so many ways.
It’s my go-to daypack and the pack I use for traveling. I originally bought it as a backpack for my granddaughter for our backpacking trips when she was small. Now, she’s bigger than me and the pack is mine!
I have an older version of this pack, and I found that the shoulder straps were not firm enough to hold their shape. They sort of bunched up and bit onto my shoulders if the pack had much weight in it (like over 10 lbs or so).
Take a look at it in person before you get one is all I’m saying.
Frankly, with any pack, you’ll be well served if you go look at it and try it on before buying it. Putting sandbags in it and wandering around the store for some time isn’t a bad idea either. Some problems don’t present themselves until the pack is loaded and worn for a while.