You could get some decent Channel Lock pliers from a homedepot.

Jansport backpacks are inexpensive and extremely durable, which is why it's one of the default bookbags in the US. The iconic leather bottom bags are also relatively affordable and easy to find (get the one with actual leather, not pleather). You can likely find one in a mall or a store like tilly's

My last suggestion is to go to a US army surplus store. Most surplus gear is made in the US and well made. Dont expect to find M65 jackets those are long gone. And a lot of stores will sell "recreations" or reproductions, which should be avoided since that defeats the purpose of buying surplus if it's not really surplus.

Get Yak Trax to wear with them. The tread is not great in the snow and is totally ineffective on ice.

A longer warranty would be reasonable

You can still get them repaired, and if there is an initial defect or failure you are covered by a 1 year warranty. So that seems pretty reasonable, especially sense you can get them repaired long after you bought them.

People on this sub use the lifetime warranties like a subscription to get free replacements indefinitely. It sucks paying money to replace stuff, but how is it fair to expect a replacement for something that failed from natural use? You should support a company if it made a product you liked

Using lifetime warranties to get a free replacement for something you got a full and fair lifetime of use out of is like asking McDonalds for free food because you got hungry again. (yes this will be an unpopular opinion)

What? LL Bean boots are still well made, and there is no difference between my newer ones and the pair my mother bought 35 years ago. I've used mine a lot, no problems.

The lifetime warranty stopped being a thing because of unscrupulous people buying old ones and then using them to get a new pair from LL.