Pilot Brief

I have been looking at multiple bags to replace my Chrome Messenger Bag.
And I do mean, I looked.
I viewed several different messenger and luggage bags made by competitors there in Duluth as well as those with the fun, yet slightly NSFW name from Oregon also.
So, before I took the leap, I called.
Because calling is a lost art.
The customer rep in the store was great, took the time to answer all my questions and was just plain nice.
And that means a lot that in this day and age of automated responses.

But, the review -
Basically, this is just a great, damn bag.
I’m a big fan of waxed canvas and leather and this just fits the bill for me. Especially with the brass rollers and swivel hooks.
The pilot brief holds my Macbok pro, iPad mini, remembrance book, James Gatecliff notebook sleeve plus lots of room for my cords, wallet and cords, etc in addition to my daily lunch. Because lunch matters.
The interior sleeves of the bag are great and so are all those extra pockets.
And I repurposed the business card slot to hold my favorite challenge coin.
One quick note - I ordered the padded sleeve in black and that has been a life saver as I walk everyday to work.

All in all, it’s a great bag.
Yes, the videos on Youtube are very much out of date, but if you’re considering a step up from the messenger bag look and want a functional item which looks good in your office as well as while waiting to board your plane, this is the item for you.

I originally got this bag for travel, but have ended up using it every day for my laptop & other work materials. Classic look, thoughtful design, excellent construction; it checks every box that I think of whenever I see Frost River product. My only complaint is that the brass rivets holding the 3 pouches to the front should maybe have some backing behind them because two of mine have pulled through with routine use. Still functional; just annoying.

The moment I unwrapped this bag I fell in love with it. You can tell just by looking that it's high quality, and a touch confirms it. The leather is so smooth and dense, and the brass hardware so strong. And pockets! I love a bag with many pockets to keep things organized. In fact I splurged on this one over the Carrier Messenger because I wanted more pockets and dividers. I bought it to take to work in an office, but I carry a LOT of stuff with me so I needed a large, durable bag to stand up to my tossing it around. Will also double as a perfect travel bag. It's constructed so much better than designer crossbody purses I've bought in the past, and made in the USA to boot. Also shoutout to customer service for answering my color questions. I went with the black version and I'm glad I did, feels a little more stylish.

This is both the beauty and the beast. Beautiful look and feel. Rugged construction with a ton of room and additional pockets. I also have two packs I previously purchased. You get what you pay for with Frost River. High craftsmanship with excellent support. They are my go to BWCA supplier.
40 years of BWCA trips.

I’ve been searching for the perfect work bag for awhile now and I think I’ve found it. I have several bags from Frost River and the quality is always great. This particular bag is roomy enough to hold everything I need for work but still not too bulky. It’s rugged, yet stylish and big enough for a short weekend trip. I’m sure it will be a perfect travel companion for years to come! 👍🏻