Hi Tom et All
My wife still wears my 20 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> year old original TNF goretex mountain light jacket as her winter goretex shell [we live in Bend] <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />and it still functions perfectly, shows little wear, the snaps still work and the zipper is like new. The don't make em like they used to... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

My TNF mtn 24 tent is as bomber and well made as any tent. OTOH I have had two different Marmot coats delaminate. My old Marmot 40 below down hybrid expedition coat simpley cannot be replaced so I live with a bit of measles in it. Most of my gear is Marmot and most of it is very fine.

I bought my Kelty White Cloud for $500 in 1988. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I returned my backpack to Kelty in 2005 Because the waterproofing was coming off like dandruff on my gear, after several hundred nights use, and kelty replaced it for free with a new $850 backpack, <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />also spectra. My old pack is a Kelty Tioga external frame - yep just as good as new. You pay for quality, but with it you get service. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />