Frost River

Why r/BuyItForLife recommends Frost River

39 mentions from real owners

• #1Dec 3, 2025

  Didn’t realize how attached I was to my old backpack until it finally started falling apart

  Frost River 100%

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• #2Dec 1, 2025

  Didn’t realize how attached I was to my old backpack until it finally started falling apart

  I totally get this. When something just quietly works for a decade, it becomes part of your life without you even noticing. Then the moment it starts falling apart you realize nothing you’ve bought since has come close. Most new bags feel “premium” but somehow way flimsier. If you want something that has that same no-nonsense, sturdy vibe, you might like the canvas packs from Frost River or Duluth Pack. They’re not flashy at all, just heavy materials and overbuilt stitching the way older gear used to be. They age really nicely too, so you get that same long-term relationship with it instead of feeling like you’re replacing it every couple years. Your old one definitely earned its retirement.

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• #3Dec 1, 2025

  Didn’t realize how attached I was to my old backpack until it finally started falling apart

  A good backpack becomes part of life without you noticing, If you want something built like your old canvas one, check out Frost River, Duluth Pack, Or Filson-Simple,heavy-duty,and genuinely built to last.

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• #4Dec 1, 2025

  Didn’t realize how attached I was to my old backpack until it finally started falling apart

  Ooph, feel your pain – especially now everything feels a bit more disposable. If you're looking for a new bag, Duluth is often a go-to brand for bifl, just watch which one you’re looking at. Duluth Pack is the old-school Minnesota brand with proper lifetime-level build. Duluth Trading is a different company – their stuff is OK, but mostly imported and not in the same league. If you want that heavy canvas vibe without being a walking billboard, check out Frost River. Same city as Duluth Pack, solid brass hardware, heavy Martexin waxed canvas. Whatever you go for, check how the shoulder straps are attached – leather straps with copper rivets and washers will last. If they’re just stitched into the seam, that’s usually the first thing to blow out. Hope you find a new friend :)

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• #5Nov 8, 2025

  Need a backpack for everything

  Frost River makes a phenomenal leather and canvas bag that will not die.

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• #6Nov 5, 2025

  Wife wants a high quality leather purse for Christmas (NOT “luxury” brands)

  Look at Frost river out of Duluth MN

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• #7Nov 5, 2025

  Wife wants a high quality leather purse for Christmas (NOT “luxury” brands)

  Frost River out of Duluth, MN

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• #8Nov 4, 2025

  Backpack suggestions?

  Frost River! 100% made in the USA (even down to the straps, canvas, and buckles) and the straps are riveted on with brass into leather straps. Like real leather. The thing smells like a baseball glove. A bit pricy to be sure but these things are bulletproof. Plus they have a really cool store if you are in Duluth.

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• #9Nov 2, 2025

  Waxed canvas messenger bag

  https://naturalman.uk.com/products/frost-river-correspondent-brief

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• #10Oct 6, 2025

  Best bifl for bag in this style? A lot seem mass produced and poor quality

  I'd go with Frost River

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• #11Oct 4, 2025

  Best bifl for bag in this style? A lot seem mass produced and poor quality

  Frost River and Bradley Mountain!

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• #12Oct 4, 2025

  Best bifl for bag in this style? A lot seem mass produced and poor quality

  Frost River. Don’t listen to this Davan nonsense

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• #13Oct 4, 2025

  Best bifl for bag in this style? A lot seem mass produced and poor quality

  [Frost River for American made](https://frostriver.com/) I used to suggest Duluth Pack but they hosted some of the Trumps during the first admin and I don't support that.

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• #14Oct 4, 2025

  Best bifl for bag in this style? A lot seem mass produced and poor quality

  Frost river for sure. Me and my gf love our bags by them. We got the smaller less fancy ones and they were still a little pricey tho.

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• #15Oct 4, 2025

  Best bifl for bag in this style? A lot seem mass produced and poor quality

  Frost River makes high-quality bags with a similar vibe.

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• #16Oct 4, 2025

  Best bifl for bag in this style? A lot seem mass produced and poor quality

  I'd recommend Frost River or Bradley Mountain. Have products from both and I am very pleased.

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• #17Oct 4, 2025

  Best bifl for bag in this style? A lot seem mass produced and poor quality

  Duluth packs or Frost River. 

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• #18Jul 10, 2025

  Trying to get a new backpack but also have questions

  I am not going to say that Frost River or Duluth Pack don't make good bags. The differences are likely negligible and if you take care of waxed canvas anything, it will outlast you. Other than zippers jamming up with age, I suspect the only thing that can go bad is the canvas if it was never re-waxed to maintain it waterproof-ness or if someone never conditioned the leather straps and let them dry out. That will be the same on each. I have a Duluth Pack bag that I bought second hand at a price point that I couldn't find anything close to new from either Frost River or Duluth Pack. If I were recommending anything, I would just mention to look at the price and does the bag have everything you want in terms of size, pockets, and zippers. Both will last a long time if cared for.

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• #19Jul 10, 2025

  Trying to get a new backpack but also have questions

  Yeah, I agree. For this, 18oz is not much heavier than Duluth’s and still not a crazy heavy canvas. I have a few of their bags and it’s pretty comparable to a Fjallraven G-1000 Heavy Duty. It’s a really tight weave on the canvas so it’s not super thick, but still hits that high of a weight. And you’re right, I am not a fan of marking something as BIFL just because it is made of thicker material. Often, with canvas and leather goods, thicker is worse as the creases have far more pressure on them than with a thinner fabric. Plus weight, like you mentioned, can start being an issue. Another example is a pair of rugged twill filson pants I have- they suck. They are way too thick of fabric to actually work in. I used to work in logging and I’d much rather prefer normal weight pants and some safety chaps than than rugged twill. I do like Frost River as a company, and if made is USA is important and matches someone’s style, I like recommending them. I knew that they were ex Duluth pack employees, but I hadn’t heard politics stuff about the Duluth pack owner, I’ll have to look into that.

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• #20Jul 3, 2025

  Trying to get a new backpack but also have questions

  Duluth Pack is good, Frost River is a little better in my opinion but they are essentially the same in most areas - Duluth Pack uses thinner canvas but gives more color options. I had no idea that Frost River existed until I saw some random picture of Daniel Craig walking through an airport with a very cool looking bag- looked up the bag and it’s Frost River. They also had a bag of two in the new Indiana Jones. Very cool company. I have a few bags and their Heritage Brief.

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• #21Jul 3, 2025

  Mission Mercantile any good?

  If someone asked me what I thought about Red Wings, I’d say, “It depends on the model, but as a whole they make pretty good shoes.” I would also add that Red Wings has a heritage line that is hard to go wrong with. Mission Mercantile really only has two lines - fully leather and canvas and leather. A better example would be Frost River. If you said I am buying a product from Frost River, I would “Well, all their stuff is great so you can’t really go wrong.” - because all their stuff is pretty much the same. I agree that there aren’t many brands like that, but specifically Mission Mercantile has such a consistent catalog that I feel like it’s the perfect brand to ask about as a whole.

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• #22Jul 3, 2025

  Trying to get a new backpack but also have questions

  Please don’t buy that bag. It is a very poor example of a waxed canvas and leather bag. The wording is very odd too: brass hardware (it should say solid brass hardware so it makes me think these are plated), “Waterproof” waxed canvas is a red flag. Waxed canvas is not waterproof it is water resistant and no legit brands market it as waterproof. If it is actually waterproof than it has a liner, which pretty much defeats the purpose of the waxed canvas. The straps are held on by cheap magnets. This bag should be $40 on Amazon and I’m sure you will find equal quality for $15 on Temu. For that price, you are limited in your options, but a Jansport from Walmart would be more durable. At around that price you can get some Fjallraven packs which are great. If you want the real version of the pack in the picture it will cost more than $129. Look at Frost River or even Filson (Filson on sale) to get a waxed canvas and leather bag worth having. Note: the materials for these bags (not the knock-off from rockcow but legit and well made bags) are very expensive and usually only come from a variety of places. Because of that they will tell you where they get their leather and where they get their canvas. If they don’t, it’s not worth your money. You want: Canvas from Halley Stevensons (a mill is Scotland) or the British Millerain, or a few American canvas makers Leather: lots of good tanneries, but it should say “full grain” not “genuine.” Genuine leather and even “natural genuine leather” like your bag says is scrap leather that is glued together and pressed into shape. Some of the best tanneries are: Horween, Wickett and Craig, SB Foot (great oil tanned leathers- very water resistant) and Sepici, Hermann Oak, and many others. But they should tell you where it’s from.

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• #23Jul 3, 2025

  Need Help Choosing a Backpack

  Try the Raven Backpack from Fjallraven. Really any of their G-1000 backpacks will do the trick. My wife uses their Haulpack for a diaper bag and it’s been about 3 years and it looks brand new. If you go a more traditional route, you could try Frost River or Filson, but the prices go up and the look isn’t for everyone. If you like their stuff, respond to this comment and I can tell you about the ones I have of these brands. My go-to travel backpack for years was the Black Diamond Street Creek 24. Lots of features while still being a stuff sack type. Took that bag around the world and it too, looks new. The biggest failure points on packs are zippers. Look for branded zippers YKK or RIRI (RIRI is better, but probably wont see it on most bags). And generally the bigger the zipper, the longer it lasts. Things can get in between the teeth and it will still work unlike a smaller zipper. #10 is as big as you’ll typically see them and that’s great if you want a beefy zipper. 8-9 is good too. People have mentioned Osprey, and I have plenty of their stuff, but it’s a hiking brand. They have a few heritage line packs with a cleaner look, but unless you want ultralight and full synthetic fabrics, I’d look elsewhere.

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• #24Jun 9, 2025

  Hi I’m looking for a suggestion for a messenger bag that

  100% Frost River Messenger Bags. I have one of their satchels that I use for the office. They're made of waxed canvas and leather, handmade in the US, and come with a lifetime guarantee - they'll fix any of their bags or replace the parts for as long as the bag exists. I haven't had to use this service though because the satchel is tough as nails. I'd recommend checking them out, I also love the classic style of their bags.

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• #25Jun 4, 2025

  What are your favorite niche BIFL items that are currently available?

  - Tongs from Rosle - Anything from Nordicware Naturals - Handmade carbon steel cookware from Irons in the Fire - Waxed canvas lunch bag from Frost River - I don't know if my Staedtler 2mm mechanical pencil is truly bifl but the quality seems on par to be one. If it's not in sure Kaweco's pencils are. - Lodge cast iron products (non enameled). - Cast iron waffle iron from Appalachian cast iron - Maybe not super niche but Fjallraven bags don't get mentioned enough here.

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• #26May 10, 2025

  Brands you swear by that have Buy It For Life quality products

  Malkoff devices for flashlights Buck for knives and cutlery Darn tough for socks Osprey and frost river for bags and packs Zippo lighters

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• #27May 5, 2025

  Proper heritage style hiking backpack

  Okay. They do have other options like the arrowhead. Please shop around their site. Or Royale Jr is just my favorite. It's more designed for bushwacking and bushcraft purposes. They will last a lifetime if not purposely abused. Frost River has ones like the Rambler, wanderer, and urban pack that have some more features you might be looking for. If you don't mind their straps. I'm a strap snob, I need to have a comfortable pack harness as a priority.

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• #28May 5, 2025

  Proper heritage style hiking backpack

  I've got a Isle Royale Sr. and use it primarily for BWCA trips - paddling/portaging. Great bag but they are a bit heavy. To me, it's worth it because synthetics really don't last as long with the abuse plus are not very repairable. As a native of Duluth, most folks have left Duluth Pack behind for a number of reasons, but one of the last straws was when they hosted Ivanka Trump. Not trying to get into politics, but if that plays into your decision-making, then Frost River is a more conscientious choice.

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• #29May 5, 2025

  Proper heritage style hiking backpack

  What's your budget. Frost River, Isle Royale Jr is the one I would love to own. It's out of my price range to justify. Doe skin padded straps. Brass hardware. Heavy for a bag but such a beater. Only reason I'd recommend Frost River over Duluth is strap quality. But they make similar style bags. Built well and very photogenic, I can't help but drool.

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• #30May 5, 2025

  Proper heritage style hiking backpack

  Thank you. I like the style of Frost River. Just their back support looks quite nonexistent. I must dive deeper to some reviews.

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• #31May 5, 2025

  Proper heritage style hiking backpack

  The main two are Duluth Pack and Frost River, though I'm not sure if either manufacturer offers a version with a frame or a dedicated hydration bladder area.

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• #32Mar 9, 2025

  Can't decide on a backpack

  Check out frost river

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• #33Mar 7, 2025

  Looking for a great quality large leather duffle bag

  I have a Frost River large duffel for travel that’s fantastic

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• #34Feb 6, 2025

  BIFL - Best products from the USA

  I love bags, and there are many high-quality small bag makers out there who are making their products entirely in the US. Many even use US leather or canvas, although some are using imported leather. Here are some I've purchased from or heard great things about: Rough & Tumble Satchel Savannah Go Forth Goods Juliette Rose Designs Frost River Lindquist Object Frank Clegg Lotuff Hemlock & Hyde North End Bag Company KMM Coastal Hillbilly Range Leather I know there are more, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. If anyone has suggestions for bags that are made in the US, please share.

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• #35Feb 3, 2025

  What are your thoughts about Filson bags?

  Check out [Frost River](https://frostriver.com/). Made in the US and cheaper.

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• #36Jan 9, 2025

  BIFL, any budget, comfort and style be damned, warmest winter gloves possible

  Look at Frost River Great Northern Choppers with liners. Waxed canvas, warm as hell, and so BIFL you're grandkids will be wearing them.

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• #37Jan 5, 2025

  Favorite Artisan-Made BIFL Goods?

  Frost River backpacks, absolutely quality that will last generations if taken care of.

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• #38Dec 3, 2015

  Overland Equipment Waxed Canvas Pack

  all the frost river are waxed. if wax isn't a big deal to you, both companies make good stuff.

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• #39Dec 3, 2015

  Overland Equipment Waxed Canvas Pack

  little to no info is a bad sign. It's very easy to buy a bunch of cheap bags, make a new brand, sell them until word gets out that they are a bad deal, then move on with your profits in hand. For waxed canvas, try frost river.

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