REI Co-op Trail 25

$ Budget

tldr; 25L day hiker with daisy chains for gear, waist/chest straps for stability. Doubles as travel pack at REI value pricing.

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Sentiment Breakdown

57%Positive
Positive
57%
Neutral
40%
Negative
3%
Based on 204 Reddit opinions

Strengths & Weaknesses

Each axis shows what % of Reddit comments are positive about that topic. Higher = more praise.

Key Features

  • U-shape panel with 2 zipper sliders for quick and total access
  • Durable water repellent (DWR) finish on main body fabric
  • Highly abrasion-resistant recycled oxford nylon bottom
  • Side mesh pockets with elastic closures for quick access
  • Daisy chain and bottom accessory straps for additional attachment points
  • 🥾 Day hike optimized
  • 🔗 Daisy chain webbing
  • 🧳 Travel pack versatility

Sentiment Over Time

50%75%100%Apr '25Jun '25Aug '25Oct '25Dec '25Feb '2650% (Apr '25) - 1.3 comments100% (May '25) - 6.3 comments100% (Jun '25) - 7.6 comments100% (Jul '25) - 7 comments100% (Aug '25) - 3.6 comments43% (Sep '25) - 6.6 comments50% (Oct '25) - 1 comments100% (Nov '25) - 4.3 comments85% (Dec '25) - 6.6 comments100% (Feb '26) - 4 comments

What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for REI Co-op Trail 25

Best Praise
+5 pts
REI Trail 25. Big opening, rain cover, comfy straps and seems larger than 25 liters. $80. What's cooking? 😎
r/Backpacks
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Top Criticism
+10 pts
Just picked up the new Recon last week (the pinecone brown and black model). I love it so far. I had been using a Timbuk2 messenger bag for commuting and trips to the coffee shop but it was bothering my back when loaded down. Tried using a basic day-hike bag (REI Trail 25) but the lack of organization ended that experiment. Was in REI last week to spend my annual dividend and saw the Recon. It ticks all the right boxes for me. The only change I made was to attack the massive white NORTH FACE logo with a black sharpie. can still see the logo but it's a lot more subtle.
r/Backpacks
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13 more quotes available below

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the REI Co-op Trail 25 worth buying?
25L day hiker with daisy chains for gear, waist/chest straps for stability. Doubles as travel pack at REI value pricing.
What do Redditors love about the REI Co-op Trail 25?
Redditors highlight: 🥾 Day hike optimized. 🔗 Daisy chain webbing. 🧳 Travel pack versatility.
What are the downsides of the REI Co-op Trail 25?
Some criticisms include: "I like hipbelts, I don't really like the one on the 25 because it doesn't have pockets and I do know about pocket mods."
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Products with more mentions (REI Co-op Trail 25 has 204) tend to have more reliable scores.

204 Reddit opinions analyzed • Last updated 4/10/2026