Status Frost River

[Mastino]

Given there is some interest, courtesy of archivalclothing.com:

Here is an update on where things stand with Frost River:

-Our website at frostriverdesigns.com went live on Friday September 11,
2009.
-We have our machinery in our new space up and running.
-We have hired 4 former Frost River employees who are currently working for
us, or who are due to start in the next couple of weeks.
-We have set a goal for ourselves to have our pricing figured out by October
1st.
-We plan to start taking orders and building products to order during
October (however order lead time may be several weeks in the beginning while
we get things up and running).

I will be sure to update you with information from your request once
available. We have every intention to get the biking products back up and
running as soon as possible as they were very popular.

Thank you for your time and interest!

Chris Benson
Frost River
www.frostriverdesigns.com
(218) 727-1472
fax (218) 727-1645
frdinfo@frostriverdesigns.com

[Overlander30]

Do you mean November, Chris?

[Mastino]

I'm not Chris. Chris is the guy from Frost. I just copied the mail posted on archivalclothing.com.

[Prawnster]

It looks like they've started trading on the bay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250496537138

This is old stock from the warehouse apparently

[Prawnster]

Another update.

I added my address to the Frost River mailing list and they've just sent me an email with 'Holiday Offers'.

The email included, wait for it, actual photographs of some of their packs including these:

The Nessmuk

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/nessmuk_pack.jpg

Knapsack

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/knapsack.jpg

Manitou Shoulder Bag (Medium)

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg182/Prawnster/manitou_shoulderbag.jpg

So they seem to have got things moving again. Very nice looking packs.

Cheers
Sean

[Noddy]

Very interested in these packs - and I had a little email chat with the new people there about a knapsack

Still very difficult to get any detailed photographs of them, as we know - anyone got any of their own? :)

[bigjackbrass]

Very interested in these packs...anyone got any of their own? :)
A few years ago - about five, now I come to think of it - I bought a Nessmuk pack from Gwaltney Gear, selling through eBay. Although badged for Gwaltney I believe that it was manufactured for them by Frost River.

It's a great pack, comfortable and quite roomy, with a good length on the top straps if you need to overload it with a blanket or coat. Water resistant, but certainly not waterproof. The external pockets are well sized and sensibly placed, the shoulder straps comfortably wide and stiff enough not to curl. The only things I would change are the inside zipped pocket and front papers pocket: the small zipped pocket sags badly if you put anything in it and don't have the pack fairly full; likewise the papers pocket, which I think would be better on the inside rear of the bag where you could easily slip a foam sitmat in for a bit of padding and support against the back. These are fairly minor quibbles, though.

Not cheap, but I've been delighted with mine. I'll put up some pics if I have time. No promises :D

[bigjackbrass]

Some snaps of the Nessmuk ('phone camera, unfortunately, so not the finest images) showing the inside pocket, internal flaps, shoulder straps and pack from the front:

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee147/BigJackBrass/Pack1.jpghttp://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee147/BigJackBrass/Pack2.jpg
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee147/BigJackBrass/Pack3.jpghttp://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee147/BigJackBrass/Pack4.jpg

Let me know if there's a particular feature you'd like to see.

[Noddy]

Thanks very much for these - most convincing (unfortunately for my bank balance)

I have some pics en route from Frost River, and I found a few blogs with pics too

The big problem is that the entire range is appealing - the Manitous and field satchels, book bags, even the tote bags!!

I am guessing that the application of the old Barbour wax is going to help a little :):)