REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots Review

I am so happy to say that REI Co-op has come up with a new line of hiking boots! The reason why this makes me so excited is that I love REI Co-op products. One of my first hiking backpacks was the REI Co-op Flash. I still have it to this day because it is of excellent quality and it is pretty durable. Most of REI’s products are pretty affordable, and that includes the REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots. The hiking boots are great for beginner hikers or for people that would love some lightweight hiking boots. Another plus is that they are made from recycled material! I am all about companies that strive to make the planet a better place 🙂 So check out below to get my full REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots review. I talk about comfort, traction, water resistance, weight, support, value, and much more.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you. Thank you to REI Co-op for collaborating on this blog post. As always, all opinions are my own.

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REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots Review

How I Used The REI Co-Op Flash Hiking Boots

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I hiked with the REI Co-Op Flash Hiking Boots on 4 different trails around Washington State. I experienced these shoes on different terrains like crossing streams, steep rocky areas, and muddy trails. Overall my experience was pretty great with the REI Flash Hiking Boots, and I loved how lightweight they felt! Here are the trails I hiked to test them out:

Lake Stuart: 9 Miles Round Trip, 1665 ft. Elevation Gain
Emmons Moraine: 3 Miles Round Trip, 900 ft. Elevation Gain
Suntop Lookout: 2.1 Miles Round Trip,1100 ft. Elevation Gain
Colchuck Lake: 8 Miles Round Trip,2280 ft. Elevation Gain

Weight

The one thing that stops me from using hiking boots all the time is weight. Most hiking boots can be a little heavy or bulky when compared to hiking shoes. Luckily, the REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots is on the lighter side compared to many other hiking boots in the market. Many hiking boots are usually over 2 lbs, while the REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots is around 1 lb 13 ounces.

Usually, when hiking long trails, the boot’s weight can start to weigh you down, but luckily, while hiking Colchuck Lake (9 miles round trip), the weight of the REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots didn’t bother me.

Traction

Colchuck Lake trail is known to be one of the rockiest trails in Washington. I was thankful that the REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots worked well with the nonstop rocks and high elevation gain. This was especially true when going downhill, which is usually my least favorite part of the hike. Most of the time, I have trouble, and I slip or fall on trails, but the REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots prevented this while hiking Colchuck Lake.

Water Resistance

There are streams and rivers all over Washington, and I was able to test out how waterproof the shoes were. Even though I walked through countless streams, my socks stayed nice and dry. So I submerged them in a shallow river to test them out, and yup, my socks were still dry!

When hiking shoes are waterproof, there can be some problems with breathability. This usually leads to blisters because your feet start to sweat when hiking. I luckily didn’t get any blisters on my feet the whole time I was testing out the shoes, which means that the shoes are waterproof yet breathable. This is a huge plus!

Durability

After putting the boots through hell on those 4 hikes (I am not the most graceful hiker), the shoes still looked in pretty good condition. There were no major scratches, no major peeling, and the fabric looks fine.

Comfort

The REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots will need to be broken into. Like most hiking boots, it is recommended to use them around town, at home, or on leisure walks before going on a difficult hike.

They are stiff at first, but they eventually mold to your feet. I do like that there is room in the toe box. I ordered half a size over my regular shoe size (I am usually a size 7 and got a size 7.5), and it fit just fine. I had no problems with my feet swelling or my toenails feeling uncomfortable.

Support

My ankles usually bend like crazy after hiking many miles, and it definitely happened to me while hiking Colchuck Lake. Luckily, the REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots was able to help prevent any major damage to my ankle when it bent(I have injured my ankle this past year while hiking while wearing other boots). I was pretty happy with the ankle support the REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots gave me.

The boots’ insoles felt pretty supportive, but I know that this could be different for others. I have high arch feet, and the insoles felt perfect for me.

Value

I have reviewed and bought many hiking boots throughout the years, and the REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots is the most inexpensive boots I have had on hand. I always love that REI Co-op makes its products available to everyone while still maintaining good quality. The cost for the boots ($130) is a great price, especially for budget buyers and new hikers.

REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots Appearance

Colors

The REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots comes in three colors; Bark/Moss, Granite Black, and Smoke/Lilac. I picked the Smoke Lilac because I usually wear more pink colors on my hikes. I really loved the Lilac color and even got compliments of the color on the trails. I love when outdoor brands make hiking apparel more attractive and fun for women! I hope REI Co-op adds even more fun colors in the future!

Style

What I loved about the REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots is how little they resemble hiking boots. Some hiking boots can look pretty manly, rugged, and bulky. Luckily, I can pretty much wear the boots in many places, not just the trails. Hey, I am all about versatility!

The style of the shoes and the weight makes it pretty easy for me to head to the grocery store or to the mall. When it comes to hiking, looks are probably one of the least important factors (which is why I put it at the bottom), but it is nice if your shoes are versatile. Plus, I like looking cute on the trails because that is my jam and my brand!

Eco-Friendly Materials

Usually, when you think about hiking boots, you do not think about Eco Friendly. Well, my friend, the new REI Flash hiking boots are made with recycled materials. Here are some of the specs:

Membrane uses 75% recycled polyester
Upper sole is 99% recycled PET
Upper sole is also 30% recycled TPU
TerraGrip rubber is 20% recycled

As someone who loves the outdoors, I am always so excited to hear when outdoor brands use eco-friendly materials, which is a huge plus. Read more on the recycled materials they use here.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading all about the new REI Co-op Flash Hiking Boots! Let me know if you have any questions and make sure you check out some of my other hiking posts: