Summit Expedition Pack

This is my third and newest acquired FR pack, my other two being the Arrowhead and a Vintage. My Arrowhead has previously been my go-to daypack and has served me well during 5 years of daily use. It has just now started to show its first real signs of wear, the bottom corners wearing through. I purchased this pack to outlive my Arrowhead and it has become my new favorite. The most notable features include the padded shoulder straps which handle heavier loads well, and the variety of pockets to organize my gear. The side pockets hold two full Nalgene bottles, which is sufficient for most day hikes. The small front pocket and the pocket inside the top flap provide places to store small items such as pens, dog bags and snacks. The main compartment also has plenty of room for most day hikes. From an aesthetic angle, there’s nothing not to love about this bag. It has the classic look of a FR which is drastically different than byproducts of the nylon world of Colorado where I reside. If you are the type of person who needs an immaculately clean bag, I would consider seeking out the black version. I personally love the patina of a well aged FR pack in tan. My only criticism on any of these packs is that there should be a removable external frame made available for times when heavy loads over long distances are necessary. In this area only, the nylon packs draw the advantage.

What an outstanding pack. Fantastic design, solidly built and the buckskin shoulder strap upgrade is well worth the $45 bucks. A lifetime purchase!

I purchased the summit expedition pack thinking it would be a nice bushcraft pack for a day trip I was wrong I dont want to go home this pack can keep me out in the bush for days beautiful waxed canvas tough as nails brass hardware is quality and the pack rides comfortably.i recommend the pack for a day trek or night after night in the bush. Excellent job frost river I'd love to see what else you got for an outdoorsman like myself thank you

Looked at this pack for a few years and just recently purchased. Wish I had ordered it sooner the bag is great and the quality is top notch. Only pet peeve was the plastic clinch on the top of the main compartment.

Let me start by saying I'm a bag junkie. I've owned what would be considered a gratuitous amount various "grail bags" over last 10 years. For the longest time my GoRuck GR1 was my staple bag and I didn't think anything would replace it. However, it has been replaced by this beauty. I wanted something with a timeless carry appeal and a bag that would look better the age of each passing year. I opted for the Heritage Black version of the bag and could not be happier. It rides comfortably, has ample storage for 2-3 day business trips and to boot sheds water. It can handle everything you throw at it and then some. I opted for the added sternum assembly and love it. In the even I'm carrying a few additional lbs the sternum strap enables a more snug position to the back. Do yourself a favor and buy this bag. You will not be disappointed.

Still in the infant stages of my review with this backpack. I did a lot of research and in wanting to find a lifelong friend in a pack I decided upon this one. So far I'm in love, superior quality makes you feel like you purchased a real rucksack from days of old. Excited to continue seeing how it goes. Only smallest note is the front pocket zipper clinks on the zipper metal and makes a noise every step. I'll be wrapping mine with twine so it's an easy and aesthetically pleasing fix. Thanks Frost River.

I had been looking for a new pack to replace a MH brand one I had been using for travel. Wanted a pack that could hold at least two changes of clothes, a light jacket and a laptop. This one holds all of that with a little room to spare for chargers. It is far better made than the one I was using and has made numerous flights and miles of walking already. Fits easy in the overhead bin or under the seat. Love it.

I wanted a pack that could do it all. It would be at home in the woods, on the plane and at the zoo with the family. So far, this pack has done just that. It worked great for carrying gear on a snowshoeing trip and on several day hiking trips in the Rockies. It has taken plane rides where it carried what I needed for travel and then switched gears to carry what I needed for trips to the Redwoods, waterfall hikes and days on the beach. It is very comfortable. I grew up around the Nebraska Ranch life and this pack reminds me of the craftsmanship put into saddles. Handmade, well thought and meant to last. My Summit Expedition Pack has the upgraded shoulder straps and they are impressive. If you are a gear junkie that wants to talk ounces, this isn't the pack for you. If you want a well thought pack that will be a life long companion, this is the backpack for you. There is a good chance that I will be passing this pack on to a grandkid or my family will throw it in the casket with me. It will be one of the two.

I purchased the Summit Expedition in Heritage Black from Frost River after having inherited the simple Summit Pack. I cherish both bags, but hands down, the folks at Frost River built a beautiful pack for me in the Heritage Black Expedition. As an investment, I upgraded to buckskin shoulder straps and had a sternum strap installed. Both upgrades look sharp, and make the pack extra-comfortable to carry. The features—the carefully stitched and riveted premium full-grain leathers, the antiqued solid brass, the charcoal briquette colored waxed canvas—all make this pack a treasure to behold. Yet, its great design follows function, and even when lightly packed, the Expedition stands up and carries flat against the back. The side pockets can hold my 32 oz insulated growler (and still fasten down to their tightest). The 2-in-1 side pockets between the pack body and the buckled side pockets are extremely useful too. Depending on how much is packed in the main body, these side pockets can securely stow a surprising amount, keeping things like wallets concealed yet easily accessible. Features aside, I can also testify to the burliness of this pack. I’ve used it daily, and on several occasions have been caught in downpours without an umbrella. Even after 20 minutes of waking through the rain, the pack repels water very well! It does begin to penetrate the fabric, but the contents inside the main pack compartment and inside the buckled side-pockets remained dry! I emptied the pack on such occasions, wiped the beaded water off, and the fabric dried quickly. There’s only one design element that doesn’t handle water well; that’s the zipper on the front outer-pocket of the pack. Water will get through it, and begin to pool in the bottom of that pouch. My humble suggestion to Frost River: consider making a lapped zipper on that pouch, so that waxed canvas covers and can protect that one susceptible area from rain water. And a tip to those who are interested in this pack, when full, picking it up by the shoulder straps may seem convenient, but to insure their integrity for years to come (particularly the soft buckskin), my recommendation is to pick the pack up by the solid brass yoke or the grab handle utop the back of the pack. Enough said. To the good people at Frost River, thank you so much for the stellar goods and your undying commitment to quality. I love my pack!