REI Co-op Flash 22 vs Cotopaxi Batac 16L
Quick take: The REI Co-op Flash 22 costs $10 less; the REI Co-op Flash 22 carries more (22 vs 16 liters); the Cotopaxi Batac 16L is lighter (0.69 vs 0.88 lbs).
| Spec | REI Co-op Flash 22 | Cotopaxi Batac 16L |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $60 | $70 |
| Rating | 4.3★ (569) | 4.8★ (1,096) |
| Type | Daypack | Daypack |
| Frame Type | Frameless | Frameless |
| Capacity | 22 L | 16 L |
| Weight | 0.88 lbs | 0.69 lbs |
| Max Load | 15 lbs | Not specified by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | One size, ~16-19 in | One size |
| Material | Recycled ripstop nylon | 75D-210D deadstock nylon and polyester |
| Back Panel | Removable foam sheet | No support structure |
| Adjustable torso | No | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | No | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | REI 1-year satisfaction guarantee | Manufacturer warranty; terms not published |
Pros & cons
REI Co-op Flash 22
- ✓The perennial budget answer on Reddit — nothing under $75 comes close to its weight, comfort, and durability combination.
- ✓At 14 ounces it stuffs into luggage as a bonus pack, which is how half its owners use it.
- ✓The removable foam back sheet doubles as a trailhead sit pad.
- ✓Simple top-loader with a drawcord and cinch — nothing to break, and owners report years of abuse.
- ✓The side stretch pockets fit Nalgenes and stay reachable while wearing it.
- ✓Frequent sales drop it to $40, at which point it's essentially free gear.
- ✓Light enough that runners and fastpackers use it for mellow efforts.
- ✓REI's return policy removes all purchase risk.
- ✗Frameless with webbing hip straps means loads past 12-15 lbs sag onto shoulders quickly.
- ✗The unpadded back telegraphs poorly packed contents into your spine — pack soft layers against the panel.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets or organization beyond one zip pocket.
- ✗The thin fabric, while tougher than it looks, will lose to granite and thorns eventually.
- ✗One-size fit runs short for tall torsos.
- ✗No raincover and the fabric wets through in sustained rain.
- ✗The drawcord closure isn't secure enough for transit-crowd travel.
- ✗It's a daypack, full stop — owners who try overnights with it regret the hip straps.
Cotopaxi Batac 16L
- ✓11 oz is the lightest pack in this entire catalog, less than a third of most daypacks.
- ✓$70 is the cheapest entry point of any pack here.
- ✓Deadstock fabric genuinely diverts material that would otherwise be waste, rather than being a recycled-content claim.
- ✓Packs down small enough to live inside a larger pack as a summit bag.
- ✓The colourway lottery is a feature for buyers who want something not mass-produced.
- ✓Simple construction means very little to break.
- ✓Doubles as a travel daypack without looking like technical gear.
- ✓Cotopaxi's Del Día programme has a genuine sustainability record behind it.
- ✗No support structure at all -- the load sits directly against the back.
- ✗16 L is too small for a full day's winter kit.
- ✗No hipbelt, so everything rides on the shoulders.
- ✗No maximum load figure is published, and the construction implies a low one.
- ✗Fabric weight varies between 75D and 210D depending on what deadstock was available.
- ✗Not a technical hiking pack despite being sold as one.
- ✗No rain cover and the fabric is not waterproof.
- ✗Colour and fabric cannot be chosen, which some buyers dislike.