REI Co-op Flash 55 vs Gossamer Gear Skala 38
Quick take: The Gossamer Gear Skala 38 costs $4 less; the REI Co-op Flash 55 carries more (55 vs 38 liters); the Gossamer Gear Skala 38 is lighter (1.3 vs 2.81 lbs).
Which one to buy
Base weight decides this one. The Skala 38 is a frameless roll-top at 1.3 lbs complete, and its 14.5 oz body sheds the Fastbelt and pad on easy days; Gossamer Gear rates it to 25 lbs with comfort fading past 20. The Flash 55 weighs 2.81 lbs with a frame, and reviewers say it shines under 30 lbs, though that ceiling arrives abruptly as the hipbelt wings flex and the load sags onto thin shoulder straps. They are $4 apart.
The Flash gives you more of everything except lightness. It holds 17 L more, a BV500 fits horizontally, which is why many canister-country hikers choose it, and its hipbelt pockets fit modern phones. The Packmod system lets you remove the lid, pockets and straps to get down to about 2.35 lbs, though the loose pieces are easy to lose. Fit comes in S-L sizes covering roughly 17-21 in, each with about 2 in of torso adjustment, and REI's in-store fitting and return window make it the lowest-risk way to try ultralight. Its foam back also runs sweaty in summer, and a compactor-bag liner is the rain plan.
The Skala comes in one size, 18-21 in, with a Fastbelt that has no pockets and no frame or ventilation. If your kit is dialed under 20 lbs and you don't need a canister, it saves about a pound and a half. For a first ultralight pack, canister routes or loads up to 30 lbs, the Flash 55 is the safer buy.
REI Co-op Flash 55
Right for hikers building their first light kit, carrying up to 30 lbs or a BV500, who want to try it on and return it if the fit is wrong.
Gossamer Gear Skala 38
For hikers with a dialed kit under 20 lbs and an 18-21 in torso who want a frameless roll-top they can strip even lighter.
| Spec | REI Co-op Flash 55 | Gossamer Gear Skala 38 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229 | $225 |
| Rating | 4.2★ (98) | — |
| Type | Ultralight Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Frameless |
| Capacity | 55 L | 38 L |
| Weight | 2.81 lbs | 1.3 lbs |
| Max Load | 30 lbs | 25 lbs (20 lbs for comfort) |
| Torso Fit | 4 sizes (S, M, L, L torso with S hipbelt), each adjustable: S 17-19 in, M 18-20 in, L 19-21 in | One size, 18-21 in |
| Material | 100D ripstop nylon | Riptide Ripstop, 100D recycled Robic and UHMWPE stretch mesh |
| Back Panel | Framed foam with ventilation channel | Frameless with removable foam pad |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | No |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | No |
| Removable lid | Yes | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | No |
| Warranty | REI satisfaction guarantee: returns within 1 year for members (90 days for non-members); defects in materials or workmanship returnable at any time | One year against manufacturing defects, US purchasers |
Pros & cons
REI Co-op Flash 55
- ✓Often named the best-value ultralight pack; many ultralight hikers rank it the cheapest pack that doesn't compromise the essentials.
- ✓The Packmod system is genuinely clever: strip the lid, pockets, and straps to drop from 2.8 to about 2.35 lbs.
- ✓REI sales periodically cut the $229 list price, at times to near $150.
- ✓The roll-top plus side zip gives both compression and mid-pack access, a combo rare at any price.
- ✓Hipbelt pockets come standard and fit modern phones — a dig at the Exos in every comparison thread.
- ✓A BV500 fits horizontally, which canister-country hikers specifically buy it for.
- ✓The 100D recycled ripstop wears better than its weight suggests; multi-thousand-mile PCT reports exist.
- ✓REI's return window makes it the lowest-risk way to test whether ultralight works for you.
- ✗The 30 lb comfort ceiling is real and arrives abruptly — reviewers agree it sours above that line faster than the Exos.
- ✗The foam back panel ventilates poorly compared to trampoline designs; sweat is the common summer gripe.
- ✗Torso adjustment spans only about 2 in within each size, so picking the right size still matters.
- ✗The hipbelt wings flex under load, letting heavy carries sag onto shoulders.
- ✗Shoulder-strap padding is thin, a frequent complaint from higher-load users.
- ✗The bottle pockets angle awkwardly; retrieving a bottle one-handed takes practice.
- ✗Removable pieces are easy to lose and cost real money to replace.
- ✗Its 4.4-star REI average hides a bimodal split: light packers love it, heavy packers don't.
Gossamer Gear Skala 38
- ✓The body alone is 14.5 oz, so stripping it down saves real weight.
- ✓Roll-top closure adapts to resupply size.
- ✓UHMWPE stretch mesh is tougher than nylon mesh.
- ✓Hydration loop and tube routing built in.
- ✗The Fastbelt has no pockets.
- ✗One torso size only.
- ✗Comfort fades past 20 lb.
- ✗No frame or ventilation.
- ✗One-year warranty limited to US buyers.
REI Co-op Flash 55 vs Gossamer Gear Skala 38: common questions
Can the Skala 38 carry a bear canister like the Flash 55?▾
The Skala 38 isn't built around one, and at 30 L in the main body a canister is a tight squeeze. A BV500 fits horizontally in the Flash 55, which is a big reason canister-country hikers choose it.
Which one fits a short torso?▾
The Flash 55, whose S size adjusts across 17-19 in. The Skala 38 is one size for 18-21 in torsos with no adjustment, so hikers under 18 in have no option there.
How much weight do I save going from the Flash 55 to the Skala 38?▾
About 1.5 lbs complete, 2.81 lbs against 1.3 lbs. Stripping the Flash with its Packmod system gets it to about 2.35 lbs, and the Skala's body alone is 14.5 oz once the belt and pad come off.