The tale of a deprecated backpack, or My final year with the REI Flash UL

I think I got this pack in about 2008. In 2010, I added the reflecto stripes and the pockets. It's pretty much the perfect pack to take when you really don't want to take a pack. OR for mountain biking: it's got a bladder holder stitched in and it's perfect size for long day rides.

It's got all those little mountain climbing loopy loops all over it, so it's very handy if you are a carabiner carrier, which I am. In fact, I used this pack as a harness for pulling Liza and Maddie on the kicksled. Good set up.

It's small enough to just have crammed into a bigger pack or bag for "just-in-case" scenarios. The small/lightness of it combined with its useful, well-designed features is what makes this such a great pack.

As is the case with a lot of great gear (MT-60s, XT hubs, original Ibex Breakaway, and a bunch of other stuff that is not coming to my brain right now...ah! Gortex mitten shells!), this pack doesn't exist in this form anymore. It's been complicated with heavier materials, zippers, pockets, and other features. In fact the "UL" (ultralight) version of the Flash pack doesn't even exist anymore. And that's a damn shame, cause I'd love to see the UL sold as I have it here: with the pockets (tilted for optimal on-bike access) and reflection.

All this crap fit in there...

My bag has developed a couple holes and has started its slow slide towards death. I could try and patch and fix -- and I probably will, unless a suitable replacement emerges -- but once that nylon-y fabric starts fading away, it can be hard to stitch up...