I have a royal navy blue (with purple bits) North Face Gore-Tex jacket that I bought all the way back at the turn of the year in 1999. As I remember, North Face wasn’t nearly as ubiquitous or fashionable as it is now. If you were into the outdoors then you knew about the brand, if not you probably didn’t have a clue.
Rather than for specific outdoor needs, I bought it to take on my first round the world backpacking trip, thinking especially of being in New Zealand’s South Island during May and June (winter in the southern hemisphere). Twelve years later, I can honestly say that it still looks almost brand new! As somebody who too often looks at the price first, it is a real eye-opener to the longevity afforded by buying quality and therefore substantial long-term savings in money. If you are somebody who tends to buy things only when you NEED them, then this is a good lesson.
The main thing that I love about it – which might be part of the reason why it has survived so well – is the little drawstring bag that it came with and which I still have. You see, sometimes I will go off to another continent where I know that every now and then I will need something waterproof or to act as an extra layer, yet most of the time I won’t be using it. So by using the bag, I can simply pack it compactly away in the corner of my backpack somewhere behind where I put my dirty clothing! In fact, there have been 2 months long trips that I have taken where I don’t think I’ve used it even once, but it was never a liability to take it.
I also love it because although my weight has fluctuated, my faithful GoreTex waterproof coat has always seemed to fit me. Never too tight and never too loose. Admittedly, sometimes it doesn’t seem like the warmest coat in the world, but I’ve always been able to put it over other layers without looking like a bloated bear!
This coat has been in torrential dowpours the equivalent of going for a swim, but it still retains exactly the same exterior look as always. Perhaps ever so slightly worn-in, but nothing much else. No problems with the velcro, the zips, the hood, leaking – nothing. I even still love the colour that I chose. Is it a good or bad thing that my tastes haven’t changed in all of that time?!
Actually, the only thing that puts me off is that the brand seems to be really fashionable these days, but luckily for me the brand marking is quite subtle, being in just another shade of blue. Oh, and it can be a bit stinky after a lot of rain, but that’s understandable and nothing that a a quick airing outside can’t fix.
I think I paid over £150 to buy it, which seemed like a lot of money even in 1999. Other clothes (particularly fleeces!) have come and gone, but my North Face Gore-tex jacket remains to hopefully serve me for another 12 years. No doubt continuing to hide away in a little bag at the bottom of my backpack, poor thing!
