REI Co-op Diamond Pin vs REI Co-op Member Exclusive Flash 22 Pack

Lightest of them all, but BULKY! It absolutly need to be out of your backpack, bike saddles and maybe your car too. I dont have a problem having it outside of my pack, but if its raining it wont fit under my pack's rain cover. Comfort is an issue for some people, I find it OK for me as I mainly sleep on my back. Dont even consider it if you're a side sleeper, unless you use it as a base mattress for winter camping with another inflatable one (like the Xterm)

I wouldn't use this for hiking, we have a better backpack for that, but that's not what I bought it for. It's perfect as a commute bag, especially when you will only need it full when going and not when returning (or vice versa.) I also like that the bag itself adds practically no weight to whatever you're carrying. I've used packable shopping bags before this, and it's very similar, but seems a lot sturdier and definitely more comfortable since the weight can be distributed better

I like the longer tree straps that Eno makes as well, even though they add a little weight, they are longer, more versatile, stronger, and easier to set up by yourself, especially using screw gate carabiners, which are a must!

Cons: The straps are not comfortable. They are rather thin in width and made of a netted material that’s kind of scratchy. I wore this backpack in the hot sun while wearing tank tops and I personally didn’t like the way the straps felt on my skin. When I packed the bag with heavy items, the straps rubbed my shoulder and it felt uncomfortable

Using paracord/550 cord, or line of your choosing, the tarp can be quickly setup to provide instant shelter for a quick lunch on the trail. I did bring 4 titanium 'tent' stakes, which aided in the setup anywhere aspect of the hammock/tarp. These coupled with my trekking poles also allowed me to set this system up on the ground as a tent-like system. I found the quality to be excellent, the weight perfect for a solo hiker, and the ease of setup commendable

The old version had a zipper pocket in the interior of the pack’s body. This is the feature I'm missing most. The new design has no good place to put my wallet and keys. I don't want those on an exterior pocket, as those pockets contain things I want to access during the hike (sunscreen, food); nor do these pockets have key loops (unlike the older version, where every pocket had a key loop)

I find the pad too narrow as my arms over and over again fall outside the pad at night and I wake up because the cold under my arms. If it would come in a wider version – wow! Then this would be the absolutely best sleeping pad ever invented as it has perfect stiffness, especially compared to other similar mattresses on the market (says me who doesn't like inflatable mattresses). Please make a wider version!!

Size and Layout: Both backpacks have the exact same layout. The Matador Daylite's stuffsack is slightly smaller, which I've actually found makes it difficult to get the backpack in (must be rolled a very specific way). The 4Monster's stuffsack is slightly larger, which makes packing much easier. Note that both backpacks can compress down to the same size; it's just the stuffsack that is different

The Z is perfect for additional insulation on ice or snow. It is light and warm for warmer temps too.

THis is a great little backpack. Only giving it 4 stars because the zipper didn't work very smoothly. Otherwise, no complaints!