Daypack for traveling to replace my legendary 2014 REI Flash 22?

I have been happy with my REI Trail25 pack for international travel. It’s heavier, but I was able to strip some of the weight by judicious snipping of unnecessary or superfluous features.

I just picked up an Outdoor Products Cycler as a lightweight travel pack / airline carry-on because at $21.42, why not?  Outdoor Products has it listed at $39, but my local Walmart has several in stock for $21.42.  Seems totally appropriate for a 2-3 night summer backpacking trip if you’ve got a compact tent/tarp and quilt.

https://outdoorproducts.com/products/cycler-day-pack?variant=12346788479078&utm_campaign=gs-2018-08-29&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign

29 liters, roll-down top closure, family tall and close to the back, which I like.  22.5 ounces before removing any of the tags or trimming the strap lengths.  So probably 21 ounces, ready for the trail.
Cycler: 19.4 x 12.1 x 5.9 inches versus Flash 22: 18 x 10 x 8 inches

It’s got a foam-padded sheet frame, a sleeve inside the bag for a hydration bag / laptop (could hold a very large laptop: 19″ x 12″), a pass-thru hole for hydration hose / head phone cable.

Externally, there’s a small mesh pocket, a small zippered pocket, a velcro pocket, and a large zippered pocket inside of which are two subdividers and another zippered pocket (maybe that counts as your security pocket, if not, you could hang a organizer bag inside the main compartment from a provided velcro loop).

Lifetime warranty.

1/3 more capacity than the Flash 22.

It seems to tick all your boxes except it’s a bit heavier at 21 versus 16 ounces, the back sheet is fixed, and there are no side pockets.  But for $21, maybe there are some trips it’s appropriate for (I see it more as a plane/train/city travel bag than a trail bag due to the lack of side pockets – on the trail I want my water bottle very handy.  Around town, in airports and train stations I want a slimmer less snaggy pack.) while you save wear&tear on your Flash 22.

The Flash 22 biggest convenience feature are those nice side pockets for water bottles, umbrella, or rain jacket but it has no external organizer pocket.  The Cycler’s organizer pocket keeps boarding pass, map, keys, wallet very convenient but would only accommodate a small water bottle.

I’ve had good luck with OP stuff from Walmart.  It’s not SUL like cuben-fiber packs would be, but it lasts a lot longer and costs 1/20 as much.  A smaller book bag is my go-to carry-on bag for domestic travel (I fly about 100,000 miles a year) and still fine fine after 5 years of such use.  My daughter’s got 3 years of daily school use out of a somewhat larger OP book bag stuffed with laptop, math books, etc and it only now showing some wear.

You might take a look at the Osprey Talon 22.  I don’t have one but certainly see lots of people wearing them.  If you don’t need the hip belt, Osprey’s Daylight or Daylight Plus might work for you.

<p style=”padding-left: 30px;”>I like my GG Minimalist. It doesn’t have an internal bladder holder though. https://www.gossamergear.com/collections/backpacks/products/minimalist-24-daypack</p>

You say “it’s getting too old.” Not sure I understand that… why does it need replacing? 2013 isn’t exactly old.

I’m a full time traveler and use my pack way way more than any hiker ever would, unless they lived full time in the woods or something. The fabric is basically starting to disintegrate with little frayed holes popping up everywhere. The internal waterproof coating is gone. I’ve had to repair the anchor points of the shoulder straps to the body twice and the shoulder straps themselves a couple times.

Unfortunately the GG Minimalist is just begging for someone to steal your stuff from behind with the completely exposed drawstring opening. The Flash 22 has the same opening but the entire thing is covered by a top pocket that clips in place. Getting into the main compartment requires pushing aside the top pocket/compartment and would certainly be noticed by me. I strongly advise against taking the Minimalist traveling, especially to third world countries, unless all you plan to stuff in it are clothes or things with no value.

The side pockets are absolutely essential. I can’t understand the reasoning of backpacks without side pockets. On the Flash I’ve had to repair the side pockets 4 times due to use but I’ve been able to stuff an umbrella, water bottle, and GoPro all into one pocket securely. The other pocket has been used for things like maps, tissues, camera lenses (when in a secure area), poncho, etc.

The removable semi-rigid back pad has been great because it allows the pack to be rolled up into a small ball. And honestly for a daypack I don’t see too much need for something like a padded back pad. Maybe a trampoline-style back pad would be nice for airflow with the ability to de-tension it and break it all down into a ball.

Victor…..  Question to educate me.  I’ve been fortunate to travel to exactly 60 countries.  #61 coming up this April.

Are you saying this 22L REI pack is your main pack?  I thought I was doing well using only a 35L pack….. Or is this 22L pack just your walk around day pack?

Outdoorgearlab.com has a list of many daypacks in their ‘Best of daypacks for 2019’.  Maybe one in there?

No, definitely not my main pack for travel – for that I have a… gosh… 15 year old Granite Gear Nimbus Ozone.

But it is the pack that I use most often. After I drop my stuff at the hostel the Ozone stays behind and the Flash 22 goes absolutely everywhere with me. Unfortunately I’m the kind of traveler that needs a lot of space and it’s hard for me to downsize and I live 100% on the road so some luxuries are also present that more casual travelers can forego, like a Nanopresso coffee maker. I need to have my laptop, DSLR, drone, hard drives, GoPro, batteries, backup phone, and my eyes require a whole kit for my custom contact lenses.

Without any of these I would still find it really difficult to travel with only the Flash 22, and I even hand wash my clothes every day and hang dry so my clothes are minimal.

The Flash 22 is also used as my ski bag so every time I go out it’s got clothes, food, water, etc and takes some hard falls when I’m pushing it.

I’d say that 35L is probably the minimum for a primary travel pack for someone without all the technological requirements as I do. But with that said, the old Flash 22 like mine is an absolutely awesome daypack that you can take along with close to zero downsides. Like I’ve said, take out the thin plastic back sheet and it rolls up into a small ball. I’ve also added a sternum strap and some small zippered chest pockets to mine for holding cash, lens cleaner, headphones, and extra batteries.

That’s a drone, selfie stick tripod, and external battery all in one pocket.

Chest pockets.

The Gossamer Gear Vagabond deserves a good look. Their Type 2 Summit pack was perfect— and has been discontinued. GG packs have the best shoulder straps, which is a weakness in so many smaller packs. I had a Flash 22 and hated the shoulder straps. The sternum strap was junk.

Pacsafe is the 800 pound gorilla if you want security. Look for used in eBay as they are far cheaper slightly used. Don’t carry cash, cards and documents in a pack and always on your body, preferably in a tick away money stash.

The REI Stoke 19  was a nice pack in that range, but it has a waist belt with pockets. The Osprey Talon 22 is similar. In fact Osprey has a bunch of packs that size and various features.

Tom Bihn is legendary — and pricey.

– It is very lightweight and packable. 450 grams.

I’m struggling to understand why you’re using a lightweight (translation: fragile) for the activities you describe? Why not just get a slightly heavier day pack with more robust fabric and keep it for the next 3 decades?

We love our Patagonia Lightweight Black Hole 26L. Always on sale somewhere 30-50% off. Best lifetime Iron Clad Guarantee/repair service too.

Pataguchi sez:

• Lightweight, bomber nylon ripstop is weather-resistant and highly packable
• Zippered main compartment provides easy access to your gear; large zippered stash pocket; stretch-mesh water-bottle pockets
• Micro daisy chain provides various lash points
• Highly breathable mesh shoulder straps and back panel; adjustable sternum strap
• Hydration compatible
• Top-mounted, reinforced haul handle
• 510 g (1 lb two oz)

“I can’t understand the reasoning of backpacks without side pockets.”

If you’ve ever on the trail or even for lots of around-town uses, the ability to put a water bottle or a puffy in a side pocket is, yes, well worth the slight added weight and cost.

But if you’re only Nordic skiing or traveling in crowded train stations, then some people prefer a slimmer, less snag-able profile.