Rei flash 62?

It's a fine lightweight pack, and that price is reasonable. The pack has a decent suspension and will hold a light kit. Two comments:

1. It needs to fit well, or it's not worthwhile at any price. Can you get to an REI and try it on? No real worries if you can't, as you'll be able to return it even as a mail order item.

2. It won't carry a traditional kit, like a 20-F synthetic bag, 8 pound tent, monster cook kit, many layers of fleece, etc. The max weight is probably 30-35 pounds in this one. If you have a lightweight kit, like a 20-F down bag, Tarptent, alcohol stove with a single pot, etc., it'll do just fine. (If you have a true ultralight kit, this pack is far too big, but in that case you wouldn't be asking.)

Brad,

Never buy the pack first!

First step:

Assemble / collect all of your gear you intend to carry first.

Put everything you intend to carry in your pack in a cardboard box. Make sure it all fits below the top of the box. Measure height of your gear, width and depth of the box. Solve for the volume of your gear. H x W x D = CID of your gear.

Make sure to allow for and add the volume of your food to the above result. then add about 10 to 20 percent more to the total cubic inch displacement.

Second step:

Weigh your gear. Anything over 25 pounds including your carried water is the point at which you might consider a pack with some sort of frame sheet, internal frame or external frame. Hip belts come into the equation at or about 18 to 20 pounds IMO.

Third step:

Start looking at packs that will hold your calculated volume and weight.

Fourth step:

If at all possible try the pack(s) on with the requisite weight inside of the pack.

Fifth step:

Make your pack purchase. ;-)

Gear Hints 101

Try to carry dual or triple duty items so that your load is as light as it can be.

Camp kitchen items that "nest" together help to reduce overall volume.

Party On,

Newton

REI is really good about letting you try stuff in the store. When my hubby and I bought our first backpacking setup we bought the packs last. We loaded everything into a huge wheeled duffel and took it to the store with us. When we walked in we asked for an associate to help us with the backpacks so a) they could use their handy measuring device on us and b) so they didn't think we'd just walked round the store loading stuff into our duffel! The guy that helped us was very nice and patient, and helped us pick out some great packs.

Now we're getting into going a bit more minimalist we're definitely going to do the same thing once we have our lighter gear assembled (we are also looking at the Flash packs). The other nice thing about REI is that their return policy is spectacularly good, so even if you take the pack out for a couple of weekends to test it and decide you don't like it, you can return it for a full refund. That kind of service is why I'm happy to pay a bit more for stuff that I have to try on.

…

The 2011 GoLite Quest is similar to the REI Flash, but much cheaper.
It's just $79 + shipping, directly from GoLite.
http://www.golite.com/Ms-Quest-2011-P735.aspx

I really like my Quest.