Gear Review: REI Flash 18 Pack

One of the challenges I had during my running streak over the summer was trying to find time to do the runs while at the same time staying in lab as much as possible, getting up to walk the dog in the morning, maintaining a relationship with my wife, etc.  To put it another way, it's hard to find time to do runs.  One solution I had for this was to make my runs part of my commute - whether taking the bus or getting a ride to work, it usually took the same amount of time to run to or from the lab, so it wouldn't result in a hit in my time during the day, with the added bonus that my run would then be done.  The challenge I had was that, if I did decide to commute to or from work, I would have to plan well ahead with clothing, towels, and food for the week so I wouldn't have to worry about arriving at work and incubating in my sweaty clothes all day.

The alternative to this was to get some sort of bag I could use to transport my stuff with me while running.  In fact, I had seen on numerous occasions another gentleman running by me in the morning, pack strapped on his back, and thought that I should be doing that as well.  I had, on occasion, used drawstring bags that I had gotten for running and volunteering at the Illinois Marathon, but I found that the bag moved wildly while I was running, and any attempt to restrain the straps resulted in them digging into my neck from either side.  Suffice to say, I wasn't happy with the performance, and needed something different.

My criteria - relatively small and lightweight; able to hold clothes, a towel, and other random necessities; adjustable so I could strap it tightly to my back; and, most importantly, inexpensive.  Through several rounds of research at local stores and online, I decided upon the REI Flash 18 pack.  

This pack fit the bill - about the size of a stuff sack (and those, if you don't know, are small bags that can be used to hold sleeping bags and other junk), lightweight, rugged, and much less expensive than other packs that were available (about 30 bucks).  It was pretty light on the features (not many pockets, for example), but for the price I was thinking it would be a good choice.  Plus, it was pretty well reviewed, so at least I knew that other folks had liked it.

It's been a few months, so I think I have a pretty clear idea of my thoughts on this pack.  In short, it works pretty well!  I am able to pack in what I need - for example, yesterday, I had my outfit (jeans, underwear, socks, long sleeved shirt), towel, accessories, toiletries, and lunch, with some room to spare.  The pack had adjustable shoulder and waist straps, so I'm able to position it tightly to my upper back with minimal movement.  The straps can be tightened while running, so if they do get loose (and they will reach an equilibrium where they're not incredibly tight, leading to some movement) they can be adjusted accordingly.  There are additional features I haven't taken advantage of yet - the daisy chains could be used to attach additional gear, and there's a pocket for a water bladder so it could be used as a hydration pack, which may be helpful for hiking later down the line. 

The biggest issue with the bag has been the position of the straps - if you want the bag to sit high and tight on your back, the waist strap comes down about mid-stomach.  This has actually been a bit of a problem for breathing deeply, as tightening the straps can constrict your breathing a little.  I've adjusted it to place the bag lower on my back, so the waist strap actually goes around my waist, but I've found the bag moves around too much for my liking if it's placed there.  I've dealt with having the straps up high just fine, however, as the lack of movement makes up for the somewhat constricting placement of the bag. 

Overall, I've been quite happy with the bag, and I would highly recommend it as a running or hiking pack.  It has enough room for the important stuff, can be easily compacted for transport, and seems to be durable enough to use for a long time.  Go out and get one!  (I think REI is having a sale, in fact, so now's a good time to get it!)

I'm Adam L.
Thanks for listening. :/-