Buy once/ last a lifetime / indestructible clothing
- Thread starter just_john
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I have a buffalo systems jacket that's at least 20 years old and I wear it every winter winter. Its had 3 zip replacements and is at the point where it will need to be relegated to a garden jacket but still has life in it.
I also have a Swanndri pullover thing made from felted wool, nothing like the normal "hairy" wool Swanndri shirts, I've had that for 25+ years. Its already been relegated to a garden jumper but it is pretty un-killable, I'm not sure if this is still available though.
Trousers I would have to say my Rohan synthetic canvas trousers, they held up well and I still wear them often, being synthetic though they do melt if you get sparks on them but as they are outdoor trousers I don't care. The Rohan's are probably 10 years old.
I also have a pair of wool trousers from a company called Miklagard that seem to be holding up very well and have nice features but are winter trousers.
All were used in a work setting and used quite hard and have stood up extremely well.
I also have a Swanndri pullover thing made from felted wool, nothing like the normal "hairy" wool Swanndri shirts, I've had that for 25+ years. Its already been relegated to a garden jumper but it is pretty un-killable, I'm not sure if this is still available though.
Trousers I would have to say my Rohan synthetic canvas trousers, they held up well and I still wear them often, being synthetic though they do melt if you get sparks on them but as they are outdoor trousers I don't care. The Rohan's are probably 10 years old.
I also have a pair of wool trousers from a company called Miklagard that seem to be holding up very well and have nice features but are winter trousers.
All were used in a work setting and used quite hard and have stood up extremely well.
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Avoid Regatta and Craighoppers as for me they wear out in the under groin area.
I think you would have to make your own to get really good quality.
I think you would have to make your own to get really good quality.
There is no such thing as "Indestructible" clothing, everything wears out eventually.
But robust and repairable clothing is available and any item can be made more robust by designing properly and sewing in or adding on an extra layer of fabric on high wear areas.
Simply put there is no profit in doing so for anybody other than the military so sew your own/modify your own is the way forward.
Having said that modern clothing is remarkably durable, especially when you consider how lightweight many garments are, polyester and nylon last for a very long time.
If you want to wear woollen shirts and pants the bum, knees, shoulders and elbows benefit from an added layer of fabric and Cordura works better than waxed canvas but soft suede leather was the traditional material used
But robust and repairable clothing is available and any item can be made more robust by designing properly and sewing in or adding on an extra layer of fabric on high wear areas.
Simply put there is no profit in doing so for anybody other than the military so sew your own/modify your own is the way forward.
Having said that modern clothing is remarkably durable, especially when you consider how lightweight many garments are, polyester and nylon last for a very long time.
If you want to wear woollen shirts and pants the bum, knees, shoulders and elbows benefit from an added layer of fabric and Cordura works better than waxed canvas but soft suede leather was the traditional material used
I used to wear a buffalo windshirt when doing conservation work in the temperamental weather you can get at times. I didn't have a good waterproof for work use so I got by with that. Still, I put a hole in the sleeve once, a proper big, snag hole. Got home at the end of the day to see if it could be repaired. I couldn't find the hole at all.
Now back then the windshirt was around before a lot of the modern ultra lightweight windshirts you get now. It was considered very light back then but as I experienced, it was very tough with it. I still have it but no longer fit into it. I guess I've grown a bit since my early 20s. BTW the arms are too short not the girth too small. Honest!
Weight isn't always the same as durability. I think my scarpa sl boots are testament to that! Boots half the weight have lasted 4 times longer.
Now back then the windshirt was around before a lot of the modern ultra lightweight windshirts you get now. It was considered very light back then but as I experienced, it was very tough with it. I still have it but no longer fit into it. I guess I've grown a bit since my early 20s. BTW the arms are too short not the girth too small. Honest!
Weight isn't always the same as durability. I think my scarpa sl boots are testament to that! Boots half the weight have lasted 4 times longer.
That's not my experience.
I wear good old Craghopper Classic Kiwis all the time (it's the zips on the pockets that does it for me) and I have NEVER had a pair go in the groin.
And I do a reasonable amount of walking in them - up to 30 miles a week.
I have three pairs on rotation and each pair has got to be at least 3 or 4 years old. At least.
When they die it's usually because I've ripped them somehow. Although even then I'll stitch them back up, unless it's a catastrophic death.
I agree they're not the hardest wearing trousers - they are thin material. But that's what I like about them. If you were mountaineering or scrabbling over lots of rocks and jagged areas they may not fare the best.
But for hiking and a good old walk or a day out in the woods...well, I've never had problems. Not at my level of activity anyway.
Bought my Paramo jacket in March 2007. Every day since it's either been worn or carried in my daysack. Like me, it's showing its age but hopefully good for a few more years yet.
I bought a paramo about 3 years ago, one of the analogy light fabric version of the velez. I caught it with a hawthorn branch on the shoulder and put a small hole in it. The hole has not got bigger and I've seen no reason to bother repairing the hole.
Despite being a lightweight paramo it seems to be going well. However all modern paramo are not a patch on the earliest versions. My alta original model bought early 90s if not earlier is as good as new if I got it reproof again that is. It's just poor design with poppers on the sleeves not velcro. As I was told and read when they first came out, long before outdoors magazines started to include them in reviews. They deliberately chose not to use velcro because in the cold ice could get in and stop it working. Now they have velcro. It seems velcro works in the cold now or they don't expect most jackets will see the truly cold weather. Either way the designs are better now but the durability was a lot better in he past. Perhaps if i put velcro on the cuffs of my ancient paramo alta I'd find it useable, if only for dog walking! It's possibly as heavy as my buffalo special six shirt with hood though. They didn't n do lightweight back then!
Despite being a lightweight paramo it seems to be going well. However all modern paramo are not a patch on the earliest versions. My alta original model bought early 90s if not earlier is as good as new if I got it reproof again that is. It's just poor design with poppers on the sleeves not velcro. As I was told and read when they first came out, long before outdoors magazines started to include them in reviews. They deliberately chose not to use velcro because in the cold ice could get in and stop it working. Now they have velcro. It seems velcro works in the cold now or they don't expect most jackets will see the truly cold weather. Either way the designs are better now but the durability was a lot better in he past. Perhaps if i put velcro on the cuffs of my ancient paramo alta I'd find it useable, if only for dog walking! It's possibly as heavy as my buffalo special six shirt with hood though. They didn't n do lightweight back then!
All said already but I still own after many years a buffalo sp6, a Barbour jacket and Rohan bags trousers. Also a berghaus polar plus 300 and a Rab doublepile fleece jacket.
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Threw my rohan uplands out after they failed in about 3 years. Replacement had a different name for basically the same thing but it lasted a year. Replaced with a pair of keela softshell trousers at a lower price that lasted a lot longer despite getting even more frequent use over the years. I stopped buying Rohan after the supposedly tougher uplander style, mountain use failed at the stitching so quickly.
I do wonder why some find one brand more durable and others find it less durable. Same brand, same model in some cases too. Is it variability in quality? Is it how or for what the individual uses it? There's been lots of cases of opposite views on items or brands on here. It only goes to perception of quality and durability is very personal and individual.
I do wonder why some find one brand more durable and others find it less durable. Same brand, same model in some cases too. Is it variability in quality? Is it how or for what the individual uses it? There's been lots of cases of opposite views on items or brands on here. It only goes to perception of quality and durability is very personal and individual.
I guess old stuff is higher quality. Newer not designed to last or more likely poorer quality and poorly made
I worn them as my daily casual wear so every day for years and every pair went on the cross under the groin. Apart from that they were bomb proof.
It like groceries staying the same price however the pack is getting smaller. Any way they can save money and take more of ours.
Nowadays it’s still surplus gear or better still workwear clothing you can still rely on more I guess
Scots_Charles_River
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
North Cape - pile mitt waterproof gloves. From the 90s but still use them as a a backup in winter. Amazingly warm.
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I have some "Adventure tech" light weight walking trousers. Not sure if they are still available. Lasted 25 years so far for pretty much every UK season. Thin and shiny enough that they layer well and dry very fast. Minor repairs and letting out of waist tiny bit. 
2nd hand Swazi big smock thing, tough but too much coat sometimes. But you can pretend to be Ray Mears.
Tennier ECWCS Parka. I think even a lot of the copies are pretty good. Mine is an old one but still looks good (for a shapeless goretex bag) and that's with sleeping in it. Not as refined as the Swazi though!
Thorlo socks, good marching sock.
Helikon clothing, mine have held colour and stitching better than my 5.11 pants (which I like too) which blow out at the crutch. Probably me as I have fat bottom however.
2nd hand Swazi big smock thing, tough but too much coat sometimes. But you can pretend to be Ray Mears.
Tennier ECWCS Parka. I think even a lot of the copies are pretty good. Mine is an old one but still looks good (for a shapeless goretex bag) and that's with sleeping in it. Not as refined as the Swazi though!
Thorlo socks, good marching sock.
Helikon clothing, mine have held colour and stitching better than my 5.11 pants (which I like too) which blow out at the crutch. Probably me as I have fat bottom however.
Tailored fit trousers... I have no idea who they are sized for?
Also they are advertised by footballers so I apparently have more developed calves than a professional athlete!
I think there is a big problem with so called fast fashion and quality.
The toughest and longest lasting bit of clothing I have found is the Austrian army boiled wool jacket. I managed to find one with a full length zip. I wish our soldiers were routinely issued clothing of this quality (although its somewhat outdated compared to modern insulated jackets). I doubt I'll ever wear it out. If I want extra protection I have an old leather over vest that was issued in WW2 and is still going!
Good idea for thread, but... bl**dy hell the price of some of this kit is eyewatering. I don't doubt it's well made, but I'm not sure any trousers outside of bomb disposal or nuclear power plant specials could justify £400.
I have tried a few different makes and types and have come to the conclusion that, with specialist stuff like for chainsawing apart, my trousers will get trashed, end of story. Fencing will always see the barb ripping somewhere, oil, much, mud etc. will stain, stone and wood will abrade, and I will find a way of damaging bits already missed.
I have tried a few different makes and types and have come to the conclusion that, with specialist stuff like for chainsawing apart, my trousers will get trashed, end of story. Fencing will always see the barb ripping somewhere, oil, much, mud etc. will stain, stone and wood will abrade, and I will find a way of damaging bits already missed.
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