Reviews You Can Rely On

REI Co-op Flash Insulated Review

A versatile, all-around pad at a bargain price
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rei co-op flash insulated sleeping pad review
Credit: REI Co-op
Price:  $100 List
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Manufacturer:   REI
By Brian Martin ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 5, 2019
68
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Comfort - 30% 8.0
  • Weight and Packed Size - 30% 7.0
  • Warmth - 20% 5.0
  • Ease of Inflation - 10% 8.0
  • Durability - 10% 5.0

Our Verdict

Typically REI's inhouse brand products offer quality construction and decent value but rarely come in as a lightweight alternative to name brands. The REI Co-op Flash Insulated is an exception to the lightweight rule. The combination of low weight, warmth, and the low retail price is something rarely found in the sleeping pad world. While we didn't choose the Flash for our Best Buy Award, it deserves recognition for its performance to thrift ratio. While we are impressed with the Flash's light weight, the ultralight fabric used throughout requires a bit of extra attention to make sure the pad stays inflated from a minimal amount of leakage around the deflate valve.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
3-season warmth
Comfortable
Easy to inflate and deflate
REASONS TO AVOID
Narrower than other bargain pads

Our Analysis and Test Results

Hands-On Review of the Flash Insulated


The comfort, weight, packed size, and price of the Flash are on point.

rei co-op flash insulated sleeping pad review - the flash insulated might not be durable enough for an open bivy but...
The Flash Insulated might not be durable enough for an open bivy but it was definitely comfortable!
Credit: Brian Martin

Comfort


We were pleasantly surprised by the high level of comfort from the Flash. One of the biggest differences we noticed between the Flash and other sleeping pads of similar weight was the way the air chambers are engineered. Many sleeping pads essentially have one large chamber that contains the full air volume of the pad; the Flash is broken up into a waffle pattern, which keeps high pressure in one place from creating a bounce in another.

When we initially climbed onto the Flash, the waffle pattern made the pad feel too thin, and our knees and elbows poked through to the ground. Once we were situated and laying down on the pad, the feeling of being too thin disappeared. Having the full weight of our body on the Flash, be it on our back or side, kept us from pushing through to the ground.

rei co-op flash insulated sleeping pad review - while the flash insulated doesn't have four inches of plush padding...
While the Flash Insulated doesn't have four inches of plush padding like some pads we tested, it gets the job done even on hard ground.
Credit: Brian Martin

The non-bouncy feel from the baffles (which slow down air transfer) makes for a pleasant night's sleep. Inevitable shifting and adjusting didn't create excessive bounce, which is a huge bonus. Throughout the testing period, the only negative we noticed was the narrow cut for our legs.

rei co-op flash insulated sleeping pad review - the baffled design was cozy all night and added a significant cozy...
The baffled design was cozy all night and added a significant cozy factor to our morning coffee reflections.
Credit: Jeremy Bauman

Weight and Packed Size


Our regular length Flash Insulated came in at 16.3 ounces, which is just a touch heavier than advertised. For the price and level of comfort, it is unlikely you will find a lighter weight sleeping pad. That being said, if you are looking for an ultralight sleeping pad, there are certainly lighter options on the market. Making the choice to go lighter than the Flash may bring with it a sacrifice of comfort.

To attain such lightweight, the Flash utilizes 30 denier polyester fabric throughout the entire pad. This material is thin, light, and packs down quite well. The dual fiber insulation is also quite packable, as the Flash packs down into a stuff sack, making it one of the smaller packed pads tested. If you're used to packing along a closed-cell foam sleeping pad, the Flash will absolutely disappear in your backpack.

rei co-op flash insulated sleeping pad review - right at one pound is fantastic for a sleeping pad with a 3.7 r-value.
Right at one pound is fantastic for a sleeping pad with a 3.7 R-Value.
Credit: Brian Martin

Warmth


The Flash Insulated has a stated R-value of 3.7, which implies it should be a solid three-season sleeping. Our testing revealed excellent insulation that does have its limits. To start with the positives first, the Flash consistently kept us comfortable during a summer in the Colorado high country as well as on a few bikepacking trips around Flagstaff during a bit of a cold snap. On a recent supported bike trip around the White Rim Trail, we had an unexpected temperature inversion while camped by the Green River, and the Flash was a bit outgunned. We woke up with ice on the inside of the tent and a pretty cold backside. That said, the temps were probably in the mid-20s, and had we planned a bit better, we probably would have brought something with a burlier R-Value.

The Flash is prime for most backpacking and thru-hiking applications where you want something warm when the weather goes rogue but not something that is ultra-warm all the time. We found the Flash to be comfortable in the 40s and 50s and able to stretch it down into the 30s from time to time. If you're heading out to sled dog race the Iditarod, this is absolutely not the pad.

rei co-op flash insulated sleeping pad review - we guided backpacking trips with this pad in the summer in colorado...
We guided backpacking trips with this pad in the Summer in Colorado and never once got cold.
Credit: Jeremy Bauman

Ease of Inflation


The small air volume and dual valves make the Flash pretty dang easy to inflate, even without a pump sack. It took us one minute and fifteen seconds to go from fully packed to inflated and ready to use. This was a relaxed pace test where we didn't huff and puff; we just unpacked and inflated at a pace that didn't get us dizzy. We were initially frustrated at the omission of a pump sack, but after getting to know the Flash, we realized it really isn't needed. It inflates so quickly from lung power alone that it's probably not worth the extra money to buy a compatible pump sack. If you are heading into high altitude areas and are worried about huffing and puffing, the Exped Schnozzle pump sack is compatible and worked great to fill the Flash.

rei co-op flash insulated sleeping pad review - the inflate and deflate valves felt a bit vulnerable compared to...
The inflate and deflate valves felt a bit vulnerable compared to some of the chunky long-lasting valves of other pads.
Credit: Brian Martin

Durability


While we generally liked the Flash this shouldn't be considered a highly durable sleeping pad. Firstly, it didn't come with a patch kit as most sleeping pads do, and our experience in the outdoors has taught us that you will eventually have to patch your sleeping pad, even if you use a ground cloth and never abuse the pad. Secondly, the 30 denier polyester fabric used throughout the pad is relatively thin when looking at other more durable sleeping pads. We didn't have any issues with our Flash through the testing phase but have read many reviews of individuals stating the laminated waffles can develop micro-tears. Our advice would be to get a solid patch kit and know how to use it no matter what sleeping pad you end up using.

rei co-op flash insulated sleeping pad review - we abused the flash by folding it several times and using it as a...
We abused the flash by folding it several times and using it as a cushy chair on jagged rocks. The pad emerged from multiple ground-tarpless bivy's without a scratch.
Credit: Jeremy Bauman

Value


At the current retail price, the Flash is excellent value. While it might not be the outright best buy, it has fantastic performance for a pad that costs less than a Benjamin (if you hit the REI 20% off sale), and let's be honest, it's all about the Benjamins. If you are weight conscious when it comes to outdoor gear and don't want to shell out the better part of two Benjamins, this is the best choice currently on the market.

rei co-op flash insulated sleeping pad review - staggered baffles provide generous support for side and back...
Staggered baffles provide generous support for side and back sleepers alike.
Credit: Jeremy Bauman

Conclusion


The REI Flash Insulated pad is exceptional. We didn't experience any of the durability issues even though we thrashed it. Our main gear tester for this year weighs the better part of two hundred pounds, and if anyone could pop this thing, he could. What we did experience was a lightweight, comfortable, and packable sleeping pad that we would definitely recommend to a friend.

Brian Martin