10+ Years of Use, What Worked

[FairWeather]

I think the only things I have are a couple pairs of gloves.

I’ve got a set of OR suppressor gloves that I have used for most outdoor activities since 2012-13ish. They’re falling apart, and they stink, but they’re still kicking.

The other set is a set of buckskin gloves I bought off a guy at a crafts fair in NE OH back in 2003ish. They only get use as my general winter gloves, so not really put under much stress, but used almost daily. I’m mostly surprised I haven’t lost them yet.

 

[Brad]

A nice thread.

I've got a fair bit of stuff that has 10 years of use. Most stuff doesn't make it 10 years because it just doesn't work that well. An example would be the ULA Catalyst. I got my first in 2015. I didn't work to my expectations, so I had a custom one made in 2016. I was never more than about 75% happy with the pack, but it was better than most packs available, so I stuck with it. I retired it last year to a Superior Wilderness Designs Wendigo. Then this fall I had SWD build a modified one to my specs (it's now called the Wolverine). I've only used it a year, but I don't see myself using a different pack for the next decade. It's just that good. I don't need ten years with it to know it works. For me, it's far ahead of anything ULA makes.

A good piece of gear I like and constantly use is an 11 year old Jetboil Ti Sol. Another is a 13 year old Western Mountaineering Versalite. A Taylor pencil thermometer has been in my pack since 1976, and goes on every trip I've taken since then. My old Svea 123 I got in the Spring of 1974 still works like the day I got it, but I just don't use it. I retired it sometime in the 90's. Ditto the Sigg pots I used from the mid 1970's until the early 2000's. I had a North Face VE24 tent I got in 1979. I used it into the late 1990's. I still have ice axes and crampons going back to the 70's and early 80's that are fully functional, but don't see use anymore.

This morning our power and heat was out, and since it was -31F, I pulled out my circa 1977 REI booties that I first bought for winter climbing, snowshoe and skiing trips. I still use them, and they were handy this morning lol.

 

[Brad]

1970's climbing stuff... still functional, but today's stuff is better.

 

[Aperventure]

I've got an energizer headlamp that I keep in my pack that my Uncle bought me in 2005. It seems to last 4x as long as all my Black Diamond headlamps do.

Black diamond headlights are garbage. They do seem to know this and warranty them at least; I’ve gone through a least a dozen. Warranties of warranties of warranties

 

[mdhunter]

This old girl will be 12 in May. I have a Benelli Super Black Eagle that is mid 1990’s that won’t quit either.

 

[Moserkr]

This old girl will be 12 in May. I have a Benelli Super Black Eagle that is mid 1990’s that won’t quit either.

View attachment 315495

Happy pup with a nice goose. Always fun watching them retrieve big birds. I inherited a 90's SBE, glad to know yours is still going. Mine still has lots n lots of life left then.

 

[benclimbing]

Grivel G12 Crampons
Charlet Moser Vanoise Ice Axe
Petzl NAO+ Headlamp
Vortex Ranger 1000 RF

 

[Hertervillian]

Surefire flashlights I carry a P6 that is 20 years old. It spent the first 6yrs on my hip. After 3 lamps I upgraded it with an LED, that must be 15yrs old now.

Lately it’s been supplanted by a Surefire Stiletto, it carries easier, and is better suited to closer in use.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

Pack Goats
Nemo tent
Jim Shockey pack
Gerber knife
I believe that’s everything as of right now.
Matt

 

[geetar]

Early on I was too poor / cheap to buy quality. I've have started buying a lot more quality and I look forward to the day I look back and realize how well some of it has served me for a long time.

 

[Redman2216]

My knees, back, feet, and shoulders are all still original and working, but I wouldn't classify any of them as being in great condition. That's about all I can add to this thread.

Maybe a Big Agnes 3-person fly creek I got back at an REI garage sell when I was a poor college kid. BA sleeping bag my buddy gifted me in college as well. He had a bunch of mountaineering stuff for a guy right out of high school and was tired of me carrying my Walmart stuff on all our mountaineering trips. I rarely use either of those items anymore, but when I do they still work great.

They make great sleeping bags too.

 

[Redman2216]

Pack Goats
Nemo tent
Jim Shockey pack
Gerber knife
I believe that’s everything as of right now.
Matt

Pack goats are the way to go!

 

[yakimanoob]

Hennessy hammock. Was going strong ~13 years until it got stolen a few weeks ago.