REI Co-op Trailmade 60 vs REI Co-op Flash 55
Quick take: The REI Co-op Trailmade 60 costs $40 less; the REI Co-op Trailmade 60 carries more (60 vs 55 liters); the REI Co-op Flash 55 is lighter (2.81 vs 3.44 lbs).
Which one to buy
How heavy your gear runs decides this, not build quality. Both are REI's own designs with the same 100D ripstop and REI's satisfaction guarantee, and both fit a bear canister. The REI Co-op Flash 55 weighs 2.81 lbs against the Trailmade 60's 3.44, and reviewers agree that its 30 lb comfort ceiling arrives abruptly: the hipbelt wings flex and the load slides onto thin shoulder straps. The Trailmade's comfort ceiling sits around 35 lb. Neither is a heavy hauler, but if your kit for a trip lands in the low 30s, the Trailmade is the one still carrying comfortably.
Fit is the other decider. The Trailmade's torso adjusts from 18 to 21 in, it comes in two widths, and REI offers extended hipbelts. The Flash comes in S-L sizes covering roughly 17-21 in, with only about 2 in of adjustment within each, so picking the right size still matters. A shorter torso is the one case where the Flash's range reaches further. Try both on loaded in a store if you can.
What the Flash gives you for its lower weight is flexibility. Its Packmod lid, pockets and straps come off, dropping it to about 2.35 lbs, and the roll-top plus side zip gives both compression and mid-pack access. Owners also like that its hipbelt pockets fit modern phones and that a BV500 rides horizontally. The cost is small removable parts that are easy to lose and pricey to replace. The Trailmade is the simpler bag: one big U-shaped zip that opens like a suitcase, which owners say makes packing easy for beginners, and nothing to detach or misplace.
Both use foam back panels rather than a suspended mesh, and neither includes a rain cover; the usual fix for both is a trash compactor bag liner. The Flash's owners split cleanly by load, with light packers happy and heavy packers not, and that split is the best test of which one you are.
REI Co-op Trailmade 60
Right for a first backpacking pack when your torso is 18 in or longer, you need a wider build, or your loads creep past 30 lb on longer trips.
REI Co-op Flash 55
Worth it if your kit is already light and stays under 30 lb, and you want a strippable roll-top that sheds weight for short trips.
| Spec | REI Co-op Trailmade 60 | REI Co-op Flash 55 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $189 | $229 |
| Rating | 4.3★ (13) | 4.2★ (98) |
| Type | Traditional Pack | Ultralight Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 60 L | 55 L |
| Weight | 3.44 lbs | 2.81 lbs |
| Max Load | ~40 lbs (tested) | 30 lbs |
| Torso Fit | 18-21 in adjustable, 2 widths | 4 sizes (S, M, L, L torso with S hipbelt), each adjustable: S 17-19 in, M 18-20 in, L 19-21 in |
| Material | 100D ripstop nylon | 100D ripstop nylon |
| Back Panel | Ventilated foam with steel perimeter frame | Framed foam with ventilation channel |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | Yes |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | REI satisfaction guarantee: returns within 1 year for members (90 days for non-members); defects in materials or workmanship returnable at any time | REI satisfaction guarantee: returns within 1 year for members (90 days for non-members); defects in materials or workmanship returnable at any time |
Pros & cons
REI Co-op Trailmade 60
- ✓Regularly cited in camping-gear discussions as the best sub-$200 starter pack because the torso, hipbelt, and load lifters all actually adjust.
- ✓The giant U-shaped front zip opens the pack like a suitcase — beginners rave about how easy packing and finding gear is.
- ✓Inclusive size runs (including extended hipbelts) fit bodies that mainstream packs ignore.
- ✓At 3.44 lbs it is lighter than most budget competitors and even some $300 packs.
- ✓Dual hipbelt pockets, bottle pockets, and a front stuff pouch cover the organization basics without add-ons.
- ✓REI's return policy effectively lets new backpackers trial it for a season risk-free.
- ✓Frequent co-op sales push it near $140, at which point owners call it unbeatable.
- ✓Simple, durable construction with few failure-prone gimmicks — reviews show very low defect rates.
- ✗The 35 lb comfort ceiling arrives quickly; loaded for a week it sags onto the shoulders in a way step-up packs don't.
- ✗The foam back panel runs sweaty on climbs — there's no real ventilation channel.
- ✗No raincover included, and the fabric wets out faster than coated premium cloth.
- ✗The hipbelt padding is thin, and several reviewers report hot spots on bony hips by day two.
- ✗No removable lid or top-access flexibility; the design is take-it-or-leave-it simple.
- ✗The steel perimeter frame is heavier material than the aluminum in pricier packs.
- ✗Bottle pockets are tight to reach with the pack on.
- ✗It's a starter pack by design — most owners upgrade within a couple of seasons, so factor resale into the math.
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.
REI Co-op Trailmade 60 vs REI Co-op Flash 55: common questions
Is the Flash 55 too small to replace the Trailmade 60 for a beginner?▾
Volume is close, 55 L against 60 L, so space is rarely the issue. Load is: reviewers say the Flash sours above 30 lb, while the Trailmade's comfort ceiling sits around 35 lb, so a heavier beginner kit fits the Trailmade better.
Which REI pack fits better if I'm between torso sizes?▾
The Trailmade 60, because one pack adjusts from 18 to 21 in and comes in two widths. The Flash 55 now adjusts too, but only about 2 in within each size (S 17-19, M 18-20, L 19-21 in), so picking the right size still matters.
Does the Flash 55's Packmod system matter if I only do weekend trips?▾
It can. Stripping the lid, pockets and straps takes the pack to about 2.35 lbs, which suits short trips with a small kit. The downside is that the loose pieces are easy to lose and cost real money to replace.