The REI Flash Air 50 Backpack is an ultralight, roll-top backpack that weighs 1 lbs 14 oz. Accessible in males’s and girls’s sizes, it’s fairly much like the REI Flash 55 Backpack (hyperlink to our overview) with its reconfigurable pack-mod accent pocket and strap system however is a couple of pound lighter in weight, has a set size torso as a substitute of an adjustable torso size, and doesn’t have a prime lid pocket.
Each packs are nonetheless accessible in REI’s on-line retailer and whereas the Flash 55 is a couple of pound heavier (2 lbs 13 oz), it has higher aspect compression and comes with a roll prime closure and a detachable prime lid that are capabilities that make it extra appropriate for winter climbing and carrying smaller quantity masses along with bigger ones.
Like many ultralight backpacks, the Flash Air 50 has a roll-top closure that buckles collectively on prime however not alongside the edges. It has a big most important compartment, open aspect pockets, and an open entrance stretch pocket for stuffing layers and looser gadgets you need frequent entry to throughout the day. The Flash Air 50 additionally has devoted water bottle pockets, separate from its aspect pockets, a function first launched on REI packs a couple of decade in the past. These are situated behind the hip belt and in entrance of the open aspect pockets, making it a lot simpler to drag out a bottle whereas strolling. I’m shocked that different backpack corporations haven’t mimicked this function as a result of it makes water bottles a lot extra accessible and requires little or no additional material weight so as to add.
The Flash Air 50 additionally incorporates the REI Pack Mod system, which helps you to customise the pack by including accent pockets or straps to the backpack. These embody a water-resistant shoulder pocket sized for a Smartphone and compression/gear attachment straps (however not the opposite pack mod equipment accessible for the Flash 55). You too can add third-party pockets to the pack in the event you choose (See 10 Finest Backpack Accent Pockets.)
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Specs at a Look
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- Quantity: 50L
- Weight (complete): 1 lbs 14 oz (dimension medium)
- Gender: Males’s and Girls’s accessible
- Body: Inner, Wishbone-shaped spring metal
- Torso Size: Fastened
- Pockets: 8, together with Pack Mod mesh shoulder pocket
- Hydration prepared: Sure
- Load lifters: Sure
- Seam-sealed: No
- Torso Sizing: (S: 18 inches), (M: 19 inches), (L: 20 inches)
- Hip belt Sizing: (S: 32-40 inches), (M: 34-42 inches), (L: 36-46 inches)
- Most really helpful load: 40 lbs (our evaluation)
- Supplies: UHMWPE ripstop nylon
- Elective Add-on Pockets and Straps (accessible individually) – Waterproof shoulder pocket and additional accent straps.
Backpack Storage and Group
The principle compartment of the Flash Air 50 is big and can maintain loads of gear and meals: it feels far bigger than 50L as a result of REI, like most bigger backpack producers, doesn’t depend open pockets or the extension collar in its quantity computations. It has an inside reservoir hold loop, however the remainder of the inside area is unstructured with prime entry solely. A rain cowl just isn’t included with the pack, so that you’ll need to line the inside with a pack liner or trash compactor bag, significantly for the reason that skinny nylon/polyester exterior material does take in moisture in rain.
The edges of the roll-top clip collectively on prime of the pack slightly than alongside the edges, offering much less vertical compression. I choose packs like these from Hyperlite Mountain Gear that present each. Whereas the highest of the pack bag has a stiffener, it’s fairly versatile and solely on one aspect of the roll prime making it troublesome to get a decent roll except the pack is stuffed full, and may end up in leakage in rain. There’s a Y-strap that loops lover the roll prime but it surely makes use of an extended twine not webbing and requires that the pack bag be fairly full to supply any compression.
The Flash 50 has a entrance (strong) stretch pocket bordered on the edges with sturdy mesh that makes it straightforward to retailer damp or steadily accessed gadgets, so that you don’t should cease and open up your pack to entry them or put them away. The highest of that pocket has a twine lock for added safety, however the slack twine hangs free and might get hung up on vegetation in the event you hike off-trail.
The backpack has two strong sleeves (situated instantly behind the hip belt pockets however connected to the pack sides) to make it straightforward to achieve the bottles or snacks whilst you’re carrying the pack. The bottle sleeves are sized for tall skinny SmartWater bottles and it’s straightforward to drag them out. The sleeves have elastic cords to carry the bottles in place, which is especially vital whenever you place the pack on the bottom and it falls over.
The Flash Air 50 additionally has aspect pockets behind the water bottle sleeves for holding gear and longer objects, like tent poles, chair kits, fishing poles, and so on, and lashing them to the aspect of the pack with a compression strap. It’s an vital function, particularly on a pack that will probably be used for long-distance journeys. These pockets should not reachable when carrying the pack.
The pack comes with one non-compulsory pocket, a mesh pocket that’s not waterproof, sized to carry a smartphone. It’s connected to the pack by looping a plastic toggle by a webbing strap on the shoulder strap. Earlier fashions of the Flash 55 had a water-resistant shoulder strap pocket which was significantly better, however can nonetheless be bought as an add-on. You too can add a third-party pocket, just like the Gossamer Gear Shoulder Strap Pocket to the Flash 55 shoulder straps fairly simply.
The zippered hip belt pockets are sewn on and never detachable. Each are solid-faced and huge sufficient to carry snacks, a Smartphone, or perhaps a pair of fleece gloves
Backpack Compression and Exterior Attachment System
Daisy chains run alongside each side of the entrance stretch pocket and prolong up the entrance seams to the highest of the body. These can be utilized to lash accent gear to the entrance of the pack with carabiners or accent cords however are considerably restricted as a result of there is just one anchor level alongside the rear aspect of the pack alongside the shoulder straps. I’d choose at the very least two so you possibly can lash snowshoes or a pad to the aspect of the pack. Whereas you may get by with out this added attachment functionality for three-season backpacking, it’s rather more vital in the event you plan to make use of the pack in four-season (winter) circumstances when it’s good to carry very cumbersome gear on the outside of the backpack.
Out of the field, there may be one aspect compression twine operating from a aspect pocket to some extent just under the highest of the shoulder strap. One finish of this twine runs by a line loc that’s girth hitched to its attachment level, so it’s simply detachable, whereas the opposite is knotted onto the nook daisy chain. I’ve discovered such cord-based compression to be nearly nugatory for actual compression and like webbing-based compression straps as a substitute since they’re a lot wider and can compress gear.
The pack additionally comes with an ice axe loop on the base and an elastic shaft holder connected to one of many daisy chains. It may be used to hold an ice axe or a pair of trekking poles, ideas down.
Backpack Body and Suspension
The REI Flash Air 50 has a set torso size and a slender dimension vary from 18″-20″ in males’s torsos and 16″-18″ in girls’s. The hipbelt just isn’t detachable and is molded into the froth again panel which is roofed by effective mesh offering some air flow between the blocks of froth padding. Whereas not as cool as a suspended mesh again panel, the pack sits very near your torso and the well-padded and pre-curved hip belt offers excellent load switch to the hips, significantly when carrying a heavy or cumbersome load. I can carry 40 kilos comfortably with the Flash Air 50, which is rather more weight than most ultralight backpacks from cottage producers.
The Flash 50’s body is a light-weight wishbone-shaped metal perimeter wire (not detachable). It offers nice torsional flex, so it strikes with you, in addition to the horizontal rigidity that’s vital for correct load lifter perform and hip belt load switch. The hip belt is sewn on to the pack in order that the load is carried very near your core muscle groups and hip girdle for max effectivity, whereas the tender lumbar pad and pre-curved hip belt wings grip the iliac crest. I’m actually fairly impressed with the hip stick with it the Flash Air 50, which is comfy and doesn’t slip down.
The hip belt closes with push-forward straps for mechanical benefit, with a single central buckle, which I choose on packs as a result of it may be used whereas carrying gloves and since it’s higher for winter use when snow will clog smaller buckles.
The shoulder straps are S-shaped making them comfy for males with load lifters. The sterum strap buckle is straightforward to shut and slides vertically making it straightforward to regulate. There are three horizontal straps on every shoulder pad that are good to be used with a hydration system however will also be used to connect accent pockets.
Comparable Ultralight Backpacks
Suggestion
The REI Flash Air 50 is an ultralight rolltop backpack that weighs beneath 2 lbs. It’s greatest used for 3-5 day backpacking journeys the place you’ll be able to fill the backpack up with meals, clothes, and kit however turns into a bit awkward to make use of for shorter journeys as a result of it has comparatively poor compression or exterior gear attachment capabilities. It’s nevertheless a superb possibility for prolonged or gear-heavy journeys or journey as a result of its light-weight body and padded hip belt present excellent load-to-hip switch for masses as much as 40 lbs. If you need a pack with a prime lid and higher compression or gear attachment capabilities, we additionally suggest the REI Flash 55 backpack which is kind of related however has a richer and extra strong function set however weighs a couple of pound extra though it’s nonetheless beneath 3 lbs in weight.
Disclosure: REI donated a backpack for overview.
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