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GET OUTFITTED
![man hammering a buckle on the wing of a pack](https://ucarecdn.com/8d32f7bb-a90a-417b-bf42-32f1192e0a72/-/format/auto/-/preview/120x120/-/quality/lighter/FrostRiver_Solar_094%20Banner.jpg)
Tales from the trail
CUSTOMER Reviews
This bag is freakin fantastic! Gucci as the kids say? I bought 2 shoulder pads cause the straps looked a little thin and I'm glad I did. If you worried about the pocket on the outside don't. They work great and would be close to impossible to open on accident. Overall 10/10.
I was introduced to Frost River products due to my passion for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny connection. I traveled through and spent the night in Duluth in June of ‘23, and I wish I had been able to visit the factory then. My Geologist pack was purchased through the recent returns/seconds sale that was available, but I can’t find anything that would qualify my pack as a second. It is perfect for my throwing in a few items for an overnight camping trip or a weekend visit to my folks in Florida. The materials are stout, and I mean solid and substantial. The canvas is thick, the leather is sturdy, and the seams are strong. I could not be happier with the build quality. Also, as a bonus, I can pair it with a few of my Indiana Jones items as part of my costume for Halloween. Thank you Frost River! I will definitely try to visit the next time I am in your area.
Great pack, beautifully made with quality materials. Thanks for the fast shipping. This pack willl be in my rotation for years to come!
I received my pack a few weeks ago and decided to try it out on a few trips while gathering my thoughts.
The first you'll notice with the pack is that the materials used are high quality, feels rugged and durable.
Second thing that I noticed was that the finishing work, attention to detail, and care in construction are severely lacking. The stitching poorly done with sections completely leaving the seam and only getting applied to one piece of fabric instead of both or the seam. The leather straps are neither straight nor clean cut and absolutely NO attention was given to the edges or long term life of the straps. Continuing with the straps the holes for the buckles zig zag all over the place on the strap instead of centered or in line with each other.
Thirdly the Leather shoulder straps suffer from the same lack of care or attention they wave back and forth as they were not cut straight. If you are carrying anything over 2.5 or 3 pounds of weight in the pack these straps will dig and cut into your shoulders horrendously. No exaggeration I have made packs and straps using paracord that are more comfortable and have less cutting into my shoulders. I recommend that the option for wider straps or the deer hide straps be made available.
Fourthly. Time. They claim that the item is "In Stock" and "Ships in 1-2 Business Days." In actuality it took them 5 business days after confirmation for them to ship out the pack. This paired with the poor quality of craftsmanship leads me to believe that this pack was made after I placed the order and rushed out the door in to "meet" their deadline.
Fifthly my Rating. The quality of materials is 5 stars, but craftsmanship is 1 star(although deserves no stars). These even out to 3 stars. The Cost is where I subtract a star. You are paying for a Masterwork quality item that is advertised as a once in a lifetime purchase item unless you desire more than one item. You receive an item that in reality feels like an inverted 5 dollar bag from Walmart. The $5 bag has poor quality materials, but decent craftsmanship. This frost river bag is the exact opposite.
This pack "as is" is a massive disappointment and your 5-6 year old nephew, niece, or cousin could do a better job making a bag from the same materials. I honestly thought about returning the bag in hopes for getting a bag that represents the company and their pride in their works better, but I have the feeling that the craftsmanship will not change. Under the directions of a Master Leatherworker I know I will likely be making alternations to make this pack be what was advertised.
Save your money and go buy an Osprey Backpack or another bag for your laptop. You'll enjoy the money that you save and your back, shoulders, and wallet will thank you.
As it happens I am a professional archaeologist, and after my dig last summer in Mongolia I decided I needed a slightly larger pack before heading off this summer to Belize.
I have three other Frost River packs and several accessories you make the toughest gear out there. The pack holds volumes. It would be nice if it had a divider or two, but I made bags to hold the pointy stuff.
I look forward to using it!