When I recently shared in the Nomadico newsletter that I was finally discarding a pair of Darn Tough Vermont socks I’d used for fifteen years, many readers reached out, saying, “Don’t throw them away—the company offers a lifetime warranty!” I was aware of that, but I’m trying to stay out of the USA as much as possible these days and thought I had certainly gotten my money’s worth. I have other, newer pairs from them and I’ll be happy to purchase more later, especially if they are on sale.
I’ve mentioned this brand before in my article about travel gear I couldn’t destroy. Generally speaking, if a company has a policy guaranteeing their products for the entirety of a person’s life, you can trust that they manufacture high-quality items that will endure. Conversely, when a company only offers a limited warranty or only a selection of their products has a lifetime guarantee, it suggests they are hedging their bets by implying, “Our products might last, but there’s no certainty.”
Some corporate entities led by accountants may argue that certain customers might exploit the policy, but if you inquire with the truly outstanding travel gear companies, you will find that this concern is baseless: very few customers actually take advantage of the warranty because they find they don’t need to. For instance, the typical return rate is around 1% at Osprey and Eagle Creek.
I have been traveling since the early 1990s and spend as much time away from home as I do at home, so the items I pack really endure some rigorous use. The items I still use ten years or more later have accompanied me on countless trips and often look as good as new.
Over the years, I’ve learned to prefer quality, trusting the brands that won’t fail me at inconvenient times. Like a dependable friend who is always there for you, well-crafted clothing and luggage won’t let you down just because circumstances become challenging.
Here are the clothing brands, luggage brands, and accessories you can trust, ones that offer a lifetime guarantee not wrapped in legal jargon and convoluted return policies. Unless they go out of business, these brands will support you for as long as you require their products.
Travel Clothing and Outdoor Adventure Apparel
There’s significant overlap in the travel gear market, with companies frequently offering clothing, footwear, luggage, and more. Here are those that primarily sell travel apparel and also have a robust guarantee and return policy. There aren’t many of these—LL Bean and Eddie Bauer both eliminated lifetime guarantees that had been in place for years—so the few that still provide that (or a close equivalent) truly deserve your patronage.
Just bear in mind that your expectations must be reasonable: just as you wouldn’t return a pair of running shoes after completing eight marathons, they wouldn’t appreciate you sending back a shirt worn continuously for four months from Cairo to Cape Town because it showed signs of fading.
Craghoppers
The British travel clothing brand Craghoppers temporarily exited the US market around the same time ExOfficio stopped selling anything but underwear, so I was thrilled when they began offering their durable apparel in the states again. They launched a year after I was born, and I’m no spring chicken.
I possess garments of theirs from the early 2010s that still look and perform brilliantly, so I’ve never had to test their warranty, which states, “All our outdoor clothing and equipment is Guaranteed For Life.” Particularly in the realm of travel shirts, these are some of the best-made options available.
Darn Tough Vermont
Socks guaranteed for life? With this company, indeed. Picture acquiring a pair of hiking socks, using them for over 50 hikes in various countries over the span of a decade and a half, and still not wearing them out. That’s my experience with my initial pair of Darn Tough Vermont socks that are finally reaching their end. From Patagonia to Mexico to Kyrgyzstan, those socks kept my toes blister-free in the mountains and never came anywhere near wearing a hole.
When I visit Patagonia again next month, I’ll be taking some newer pairs that I know will uphold their reputation. Purchase them directly, on Amazon, or at your nearby outdoor apparel store.
Orvis
This outdoor gear and clothing company has been operational since the 1850s, and such longevity is built on substantial customer loyalty. Their promise is: “100% customer satisfaction has been our commitment since 1856. It defines us. If you aren’t satisfied with a product or service, we want to know. And we’ll make it right.” It’s not strictly a lifetime guarantee, but their online feedback suggests they don’t create hurdles when customers return items that have worn out.