Marmot kompressor summit pack review11/11/2023 You’ll find mesh across the majority of the shoulder straps-keeping air flowing across your neck, shoulders, and armpits-but that’s about the extent of the pack’s ventilating features. Whereas some daypacks feature suspended mesh backpanels or ventilated hipbelts for increased airflow, the REI Co-op Flash 18 keeps things simple with its design. Overall, the Flash 18’s low weight and packability come with a fair share of tradeoffs, but such a versatile pack will be well worth the compromise for many. Packs with more robust padding (the Deuter Speed Lite 20 or Gregory Nano 18, for example) don’t compress nearly as small, making us more likely to leave them at home. Whether you’re stuffing it into your backpacking pack for a week-long outing or throwing it into your duffel for a trip abroad, it’s a good bet that there’s always enough room to fit the Flash 18. Without an internal frame, thick fabrics, or a beefy hipbelt, it rolls up to the size of a large burrito (and smaller if you remove the foam backpanel). Outside of the ultralight realm, most daypacks range between 1 and 3 pounds, with popular models like the Osprey Talon 22 clocking in at 2 pounds 1 ounce (for the small/medium size).Īlongside its minimalist weight, the Flash 18 is exceptionally packable. Another comparable bag is the Marmot Kompressor, which at 10.2 ounces adds a top lid, side pockets, and compression straps (similar to the REI Flash 22). While this might be an impressively low weight for a backpack, we think that the Flash 18 is a better compromise of weight and features. In terms of the competition, the 20-liter Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil goes extreme with a 2.5-ounce build that forgoes all padding, features little in the way of pockets and organization, and removes the hipbelt completely. But as mentioned above, you’ll want to be strategic with what you store inside and keep your weight under about 10 pounds total.Īt only 9 ounces for the one-size-fits-all pack, the REI Co-op Flash 18 is one of the lightest daypacks available (removing the foam pad, hipbelt, and sternum strap drops the weight to 7.4 oz.). For climbers, it accommodates a full rack, or alternatively a pair of climbing shoes, harness, belay device, and helmet. In terms of daily use, the Flash 18 easily fits our 15-inch laptop, a stack of books, a few Tupperware containers full of lunch food, a water bottle, and more. Hikers will find that they can fit all of their supplies for a day-2-liter reservoir, jacket, snacks, camera, sunscreen, etc.-and still have room to spare. But for the right uses and with a little creativity in your packing, it’s a fine companion.ĭespite its small 18 liters of carrying capacity, we’ve been impressed by what the Flash 18 is able to store inside. In the end, if you carry a lot of gear for full-day adventures, the Flash will likely come up short. The adjustable hipbelt and sternum strap helped it stay snug against our backs, and its minimalist build meant we had less overall weight to haul around. We hauled it and the 22-liter model around on multiple full-day hikes on a recent trip to Patagonia and had no comfort-related concerns. We’ve found if we keep weight to 10 pounds of gear or less (a realistic day-hiking or travel kit) and place softer items or hang a hydration reservoir along the backpanel, the bag becomes an ideal companion. If you set reasonable expectations and pack it well, however, the Flash 18’s versatility really shines. If you want a comfort-first design, we recommend stepping up to a more structured and cushioned build like the Osprey Talon 22 or Deuter’s Speed Lite 24. I’ve opted to haul the Flash 18 during many rock climbing adventures (due to its minimalist build) and have endured climbing gear jutting into my back, overloaded straps digging into my shoulders, and the sharp pressure of a burdened hipbelt. With just a thin foam framesheet for structure, minimal padding in the shoulder straps, and a simple webbing hipbelt and sternum strap, this is a pack that clearly prioritizes weight-savings and packability over carrying capability. We’ll get the bad news out of the way first: the REI Co-op Flash 18 is not built to handle a heavy load. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best daypacks. Below we outline our experiences with the legendary and affordable Flash 18. I recently became reunited with the latest version of the Flash 18 while day hiking in Patagonia and was reminded why this pack has achieved such popular status amongst outdoor adventurers of all kinds. This versatile hauler has served me well, from its role as travel bag during a study-abroad semester in Europe to the follower pack on my first ever multi-pitch rock climb. REI Co-op’s popular Flash 18 was my very first daypack, as I’m sure it is for many.
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