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submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by tuckerm@feddit.online to c/buyitforlife@slrpnk.net

I've just bought a backpack from Frost River, the "Arrowhead Trail Eco." I know that you can't assume that something is BIFL until you've owned it for a while, but waxed canvas definitely fits that long-lasting category, and this one certainly feels solid at first glance.

This is the first waxed canvas backpack I've bought. I've owned a few backpacks in recent years, trying to find the perfect everyday + work + gym backpack, but I'm new to waxed canvas. So I'm wondering if anyone has anything that I should pay attention to as I use it for the next couple months and develop an opinion about it.

The product page for it is here: https://frostriver.com/products/arrowhead-trail-rolltop-eco

I can post pictures tomorrow if anyone wants them. I've just picked up the package and it's the middle of the night right now, so I can't even really see what it looks like yet, haha. I usually find "first impressions" reviews to not be very useful (especially for products that you intend to own for more than a decade), but there were surprisingly few reviews for this brand available, so I might just do that anyway.

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[-] evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

That tannery is a subsidiary of red wing boots, so I bet it's really high quality. I've had stuff made from leather that looks like/sounds like that. I think it's just completely full-grain that hasn't been pre-"broken in", so it feels really stiff compared to a lot of cheaper products that beat it up ahead of time so it looks right out of the box. It's should take on a really nice patina.

Good news on the waterbottle pockets, though. Too many companies put them on bags assuming we are all still carrying around tiny bottles

[-] tuckerm@feddit.online 1 points 1 day ago

Oh nice, that's good to know. I wasn't sure if the name "Red Wing" was just a coincidence or not.

this post was submitted on 14 May 2025
37 points (97.4% liked)

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