Not too small, but not too large (and thus wasteful) – a Goldilocks design. After all, I had to be sensitive to weight as we were required to carry our own water for 10 miles as there were no options for filtering during that stretch. It was one of those planned events in 2020 that was delayed for years, from what else, but the Covid-19 pandemic. Since the trip was three years in the making, the anticipation was doubly intense.
Combining the on-the-go storage of a running vest with a hiking-inspired design, the REI Co-op Flash 15 is a great tool for the job. Like most vests, the Flash rides high on the torso and forgoes a hipbelt, but underarm adjustments and two sternum straps effectively cinch the load close to your body. All told, if you like the style of a running hydration vest but prefer a bit more features and durability for hiking (we especially love the removable backpanel that doubles as a sit pad), the Flash 15 is a solid pick.
This tent was close to foolproof when it came to the rain fly because it was already connected. The only issues I have with the bag is that the stitching isn’t as good as you might find on the more expensive bags and its weight. The more expensive will use higher quality materials that are generally stronger ozark trail chair and lighter weight. All this means that your bag will be a little heavier than a premium bag when fully packed. Because it’s basically a single compartment stuff bag, I did have to make sure the items inside were distributed properly. I have used the hydration compartment for items like my iPad.
If it doesn’t suit my needs, one of my daughters would be able to use it. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. While much of the trail is under shaded tree canopy, you’ll still want to use sunscreen to prevent any burns.
If you’re on the trail for several days, toilet paper and a cathole shovel are necessities. When you do have to answer the call of the wild, make sure to stay at least 100 yards away from a water source and bury any solid waste at least 6 inches deep. Temperatures can swing from chilly mornings to sweltering afternoons. Pack rain gear to stay warm and dry, and consider bringing one set of clothes to change into at camp as well as one or two sets of clothes for hiking. Overall, it could have been roomier, but the weight savings were attractive to me with only one spar instead of two.
In the Ozark Trail tent, it has only one spar traveling down the center lengthwise with a single rib to open up the area in the middle. The four or six tent pegs hold the structure down but are crucial for the tent to stand by itself. The Ozark does need those pegs in the ground to be self-standing so setting up on rocks would be infeasible (at least without applying some clever tenting skills). The set-up was understandably a few steps shorter, which is always nice when setting up in the dark. More than once in the dark I’ve attached a rain fly upside down and we had to restart that particular step.
On the other hand, screw-top reservoirs can be a lot easier to fill. For example, we were able to replenish our Gregory Pace 6 H2O without removing the reservoir from the pack, but had to take the Osprey Skimmer’s HydraPak out of its sleeve to fill. Of course, this all depends on your water source—if you’re scooping from a lake or river, you’ll want to remove your reservoir regardless, in order to keep your pack from getting wet. Further, most reservoirs (including both screw-top and slider varieties) now feature handles on the top to leverage the opening and make the filling process even easier.
If you’re looking for a daypack, or a carry-on that fits everywhere, this is the deal. I bought this pack recently on a whim while shopping Walmart. I needed a day pack and didn’t really have lots of time to search at REI for the various styles provided having only gone to one store.
We should also note that there are a few running-inspired designs on our list above that forgo the hipbelt completely. However, these are specialized designs, and we don’t recommend them for the average day hiker in the market for a hydration pack. One of our favorite pack features is a large exterior mesh pocket along the front or sides of the pack, known as a “shove-it” pocket. This expandable space is great for items you may need quick access to (or want to dump quickly) like a rain jacket or snack. In addition, you can throw wet gear into this outer pocket to avoid soiling the contents of your main compartment.
I did some quick adjustments and gave the bag a try. It was heavier than the premium brands but still light enough for our needs. Once I got home my wife helped me fit the bag to my size and shape.