It provides great torsional flex, so it moves with you, as well as the horizontal rigidity that is important for proper load lifter function and hip belt load transfer. I’m curious if the Medium or Large will fit it this way. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Get the flash. The largest load I carry now just fills a 45-50 liter pack nicely; the small GG packs are in the 35-40 liter range, and the larger packs are in the 55-60+ liter range. For a reasonable $199, the Flash pulls out all the stops: ample storage, removable features including a top lid and compression straps, and a modular design that’s extremely customizable. I hike frequently in 90-degree, 90% humidity conditions. My wife purchased one earlier this year and has used it on a few trips in Yosemite and Canada and has really liked it. ), The best-ventilated packs today are no better than the external-frame packs I used when I started hiking around 1980, and there’s a perfectly good reason: the new stuff (including Osprey’s Levity, Exos, and Atmos series) are the same basic design as those Camp Trails and Kelty packs of long ago. Ideal for: Ultralight Backpacker, Wilderness Backpacker. OSPREY-PACKS: 2020 Model Clearance! Picking one is pretty easy after that. My usual base weight is 15-16 depending on the temps. The exos doesn’t have hip belt pockets. I wouldn’t worry about it too much. 10 Tips for Climbing Mt Washington in Winter, Ice Axe Insulation Hack for the CAMP Corsa, Gear Tech Interview with Hyperlite Mountain Gear Co-founder, Mike St. Pierre, Salomon Toundra Mid WP Winter Hiking Boot Review, Foam Sleeping Pads vs Inflatable Pads on the Appalachian Trail, 200g vs 400g Insulated Winter Hiking Boots: How to Choose, What are the Differences Between Men’s and Women’s Sleeping Bags, Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest Backpack, Sea-to-Summit Etherlite XT Ins. But with the new 55 is available now, this will change. If it rains, ah-hem, you’re going to get wet from internal condensation even if you’re wearing rain gear. In total, 80% of the people interested in the REI Flash bags choose one of these two models. Does ventilation help – I suppose, but (like Gore-Tex) it’s a case of “better than what we once had,” not a miracle cure. Flying under the banner of the Flash series, the new 55L backpack is designed for the lightweight backpacker. I loaded both the flash and the osprey Exos with 23 lb. I’m at the technical definition of UL, but have often needed to carry up to 30 lbs with food and water. There are a lot of variations possible, though. And the Flash 55’s retail price is an affordable $199, especially for the versatility it offers. The weight-to-volume ratio is poor and the very flexible simple frame does a poor job transferring weight to the waist belt. If you think she’s only going to go on trips with you, you’re fooling yourself. Different people have different needs and preferences for different trips and regions. The crown 2 38 has actually turned into one of my favorite packs. That’s why all of them still tent to move the load away from your back, and why we feel some “bounce” to the pack. I like the Granite Gear Crown 2 because it has an adjustable length hip belt and none of the fixed length hip belt sizing issues of the Flash 55. The mesh is stretched across soft dorsal and lumbar padding and integrated with the pre-curved wings of the hip belt. Another nice aspect of the circuit is if you don't pack it above the frame, you can usually carry it on a plane. The nice thing about having an optional top lid is that you can add it when it’s needed, in cooler weather for example, to carry extra gloves, navigation gear, or smaller items that are handy to have easily accessible on longer hikes. I bought this pack this year. The REI Flash 55 is a top … Are those additional side pockets large enough to fit a thermorest z lite foam pad? Namely comfort-wise and if the silverback is worth the extra $$. I carried roughly 30 pounds, and the ergonomic frame design handled it well, holding its form when fully loaded. Still its a far more durable pack than the Flash 55. Available at REI, 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. The REI design team set out to make a pack that was modular: The hip pockets, shoulder pocket, side straps, hip belt, and top brain are all easy to detach and customize to fit your needs and hiking style. By signing up, you agree to receive emails from GearJunkie and Helux. I’ve read a ton of reviews on different packs lately, and this is the best review I’ve ever read, by a country mile. Half the battle is figuring out what you need a pack to do. Why can’t I decide? It requires more advanced skills and experience to pack. These pockets are not reachable when wearing the pack. One note of caution… ventilation tends to be overrated as a spec. One knock I will say about it so far is that it does not fit my BV500, horizontally. Well-integrated suspension adds carrying comfort. The advantage of using a roll top is that it lets you compress loads from the top in addition to the sides using compression straps. They served me well. KEEN-FOOTWEAR: Take 20% off your next order over $100 Coupon Code: "20PercentKEEN2020" Thru 12/31. the top lid w/ Rainshield pocket (1.9 oz), Rainshield shoulder strap pocket (0. Sure it shaved a bit of weight, but the comfort of this pack compared to the Osprey is what makes it particularly amazing!! Shop for REI Co-op Flash at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. 2 oz. I also like the pockets / compression system / external attachment options on granite gear packs a whole lot – plus it has much bigger hip belt pockets.
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