When buying outdoor clothing, gear, or footwear, the warranty can be just as important as performance. A company’s guarantee reflects its confidence in quality and durability, and almost always saves you money in the long run.
My experience with my Patagonia Down Hoodie inspired this article. I got a great Black Friday deal in 2017. Two repairs from Patagonia, one for a broken pocket zipper and anopther for small rip, and I am still wearing the same jacket. In the same time, my husband has worn through two down jackets and just bought a third. I’ve saved at least $300, but probably closer to $500.
Warranty-backed products are not only a safer investment when purchased new, they also hold their value in the secondhand market. If you’re disappointed by a product, you know that you can return, replace, or sell it. This also applies to kids’ gear. Paying more for a known brand means you will have hand me downs or be able to sell outgrown gear.
The coverage and timeline of warranties vary. A true lifetime warranty extends beyond the original buyer, for the full lifetime of the product. Even if coverage doesn’t transfer, many brands will still repair items to extend their usable life. Most brands offer limited lifetime warranties. In contrast, a 1-2 year warranty may not seem like much but compare that to all the brands that don’t offer any guarantee, especially for footwear.
The promise of durability is also more sustainable. Wearing gear for as long as possible or reselling reduces material consumption and waste. Even better, it saves money.
This is a list of outdoor brands that offer lifetime or long-term guarantees, starting with the very best. The order is alphabetical.
Buy It For Life Brands – Unconditional Life Time Warranty
These brands stand behind their products with unconditional lifetime guarantees or extremely generous “anytime, any reason” coverage. If you want to buy it for life, these are the brands to look for, whether you’re purchasing new or secondhand. They will repair or replace any product, no questions asked.
This category is becoming rare. There are only three companies on this list. When choosing between similar products at similar price points, I always choose Darn Tough, Osprey, or Patagonia.
1. Darn Tough
“If these aren’t the most comfortable, durable and best fitting socks you’ve ever owned, return them for another pair.”
That’s the warranty. Darn Tough sets the gold standard with its unconditional lifetime guarantee.
Darn Tough only makes one thing – socks- and they make it well.Their socks are designed to be worn hard, and if they ever fail, the company will replace them. Just mail in the damaged socks, no proof of purchase required, and you will receive a credit. More recent purchases can be returned or exchanged (within 90 days).
2. Osprey
“Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge. If we can’t repair it, we will replace it.”
Osprey has been making backpacks, luggage and gear for travel since 1974. They back up that expience with their All Mighty Guarantee. Unlike most warranties, it doesn’t exclude wear and tear.
I’m sure you’ve also had the experience of a zipper breaking on gear, only to find it’s not covered by the warranty. Not with Osprey. Whether your pack is ten months or ten years old, they will fix it and if that’s not possible, they will replace it
3. Patagonia
“We guarantee everything we make. If you are not satisfied with one of our products, return it for a repair, replacement, or refund.”
Patagonia’s Ironclad Guarantee is the highest level of warranty and is the only that offers a refund instead of replacement. I experienced this with a rain jacket that was peeling waterproofing on the inside. It was a hand-me-down but the store replaced it for me with the latest version. Even better, Patagonia no longer uses forever chemicals in their Durable Water Repellent.
Sometimes Patagonia is referred to as “Patagucci” because of the cost of its products. What that nickname misses is Patagonia’s warranty: they’ll repair, replace, or refund any item, without a receipt. Gucci doesn’t do that.
Limited Lifetime Warranties
No-questions-asked lifetime warranties are rare, probably due to overuse and abuse. Most outdoor brands define “lifetime” as the lifetime of the product, not your lifetime. These policies cover manufacturing defects but exclude normal wear and tear, accidents, and misuse. Whether or not the zipper that is always the first thing to break is covered depends on the brand.
Key things to note:
- “Lifetime” = product lifespan, not your life.
- Wear & tear is rarely covered.
- Receipts are often required.
Even with those limitations, these warranties still provide peace of mind. They show that brands stand behind their quality, just not forever. That’s fair because it’s not always the products fault that it is damaged.
These are organized by brands that make hiking clothing and gear, just hiking gear, and camping gear.
Hiking Apparel + Gear Brands Warranties
| Brand | Warranty |
| Arc’teryx | Will repair or replace items for the practical product lifespan |
| Black Diamond | Repairs or replaces gear with defects for the product’s lifetime |
| Columbia | Covers defects for the practical lifetime of outerwear and gear |
| Cotopaxi | Warranty tied to expected product lifespan (~61 years) |
| KÜHL | Repairs or replaces defective items, excluding wear and tear |
| MEC | Return any disappointing item in saleable condition it for an exchange, refund, or credit. |
| Mountain Hardwear | Guarantees products will be free of defects for their practical lifetime |
| Norrøna | 5 year warranty on defects, 7 years for Loyalty members |
| Outdoor Research | Infinite Guarantee ensures gear performs throughout its lifetime |
| Ridge Merino | Coverage against defects for the product’s lifetime |
| Stio | Protects the original owner against all defects, will repair or refund with a gift card |
Hiking Gear Brand Warranties
| Brand | Warranty |
| CamelBak | Got Your Bak Lifetime Guarantee, defined as product lifetime |
| Gregory | Packs covered against defects “as long as you own it” |
| Hydro Flask | Lifetime warranty against defects, but limited to product lifespan |
| Mystery Ranch | Lifetime coverage for defects, tied to product lifespan |
| Smith Optics | Warranty covers defects for the lifetime of the product |
| Suncloud Optics | Warranty against defects for the product’s lifetime |
| Victorinox | Swiss Army knives covered against defects for the product’s lifetime |
Camping Gear Brand Warranties
| Brand | Warranty |
| Big Agnes | Lifetime defect coverage; repairs wear for a fee |
| Cascade Designs | Coverage for the product’s life across brands like Therm-a-Rest and MSR |
| Klymit | Packs covered against defects “as long as you own it” |
| MSR | Limited lifetime warranty on tents, stoves, and gear |
| NEMO Equipment | Lifetime warranty for the original owner |
| Sierra Designs | Lifetime coverage against defects |
| Therm-a-Rest | Limited lifetime warranty against defects |
Time-Limited Warranties
These are straightforward. The warranty ends a specific time frame after purchase. Keep our receipt.
4. Footwear: Shoes, Sandals & Boots
Shoes have their own section because they have the shortest warranty. Most hiking and running shoes have 1-year or less of coverage. The exceptions are Brooks and Salomon, which offer 2 years. That’s pretty good because I can go through a pair of shoes every year if I’m Hiking Daily.
| Brand | Warranty |
| Adidas | 6-month warranty against manufacturing defects |
| Brooks | 2-year warranty against defects plus a 90-day “Run Happy Promise” |
| Columbia | 1-year coverage on footwear |
| Danner | 365-day warranty for the original owner (excludes wear and misuse) |
| HOKA | 1-year limited warranty plus a 30–60 day satisfaction guarantee |
| Keen | 1-year limited warranty (sometimes honored beyond that) |
| Lowa | 12-month warranty against defects; sometimes applied flexibly |
| Merrell | 1-year warranty; repairs or replaces at its discretion |
| Oboz | 1-year warranty |
| Salomon | 2-year warranty against defects |
| Vasque | 1-year warranty, with strong service reputation |
5. Satisfaction-Based Guarantees
This type of guarantee is typically store-based. Costco is the most famous, taking back any product at any time. REI is the next best. You can return almost anything within 356 days.
| REI Co-op | 1-year satisfaction guarantee (90 days for electronics). Repairs offered through partners. |
6. Warranties and the Secondhand Gear Market
A strong warranty and used gear go hand in hand. Something you no longer use may still have plenty of life left and a warranty makes resale easier.
Many brands now operate official buy-back and resale programs, where items are repaired, cleaned, and resold. This makes it easier to buy premium gear at a lower price and ensures quality products don’t go to waste. I’m not a fan of buying or selling clothing through Facebook or Craigslist and these programs make it easy to get good gear without worrying about scams or parking lot exchanges.
Brands With Resale Programs
| Patagonia Worn Wear | Trade in used gear for credit – items repaired and resold |
| REI Co-op Re/Supply | Trade in gently used gear for gift cards – REI refurbishes and resells |
| Arc’teryx ReBird | Repairs and resells used gear alongside recycled products |
| Stio Second Turn | Trade-in program for store credit – gear resold online |
| Danner Recrafting | Restores boots by resoling, re-stitching, and rebuilding |
Key Takwaways
- True Lifetime Coverage Is Rare: Only Darn Tough, Osprey, and Patagonia stand out with truly open-ended policies.
- “Lifetime” Usually Means Product Lifetime: Most brands exclude wear and tear, and warranties expire once gear wears out.
- Repairs Are Growing: Patagonia, REI, and others actively promote repair culture.
- Keep Your Receipts: Proof of purchase is essential for most claims.
Pro Tip: If you want absolute peace of mind, stick with Darn Tough, Osprey, or Patagonia. These brands guarantee their products in a way very few others do.
Here’s a master list of all the brands and warranties. Let me know if I’m missing anyone.
| Brand | Warranty Policy |
| Adidas | 6-month warranty against manufacturing defects |
| Arc’teryx | Will repair or replace items for the practical product lifespan |
| Big Agnes | Lifetime defect coverage; repairs wear for a fee |
| Black Diamond | Repairs or replaces gear with defects for the product’s lifetime |
| Brooks | 2-year warranty against defects plus a 90-day “Run Happy Promise” |
| CamelBak | Got Your Bak Lifetime Guarantee, defined as product lifetime |
| Cascade Designs | Coverage for the product’s life across brands like Therm-a-Rest and MSR |
| Columbia | Covers defects for the practical lifetime of outerwear and gear |
| Columbia Footwear | 1-year coverage on footwear |
| Cotopaxi | Will replace any defect item for the lifetime of the product |
| Danner | 365-day warranty for the original owner (excludes wear and misuse) |
| Darn Tough | Will replace any damaged socks – just return them by mail |
| Deuter | 2-year warranty |
| Gregory | Packs covered against defects “as long as you own it” |
| HOKA | 1-year limited warranty plus a 30–60 day satisfaction guarantee |
| Hydro Flask | Lifetime warranty against defects, but limited to product lifespan |
| Keen | 1-year limited warranty (sometimes honored beyond that) |
| Klymit | Packs covered against defects “as long as you own it” |
| KÜHL | Repairs or replaces defective items, excluding wear and tear |
| Lowa | 12-month warranty against defects; sometimes applied flexibly |
| MEC | Rocksolid Guarantee backs returns, repairs, and refunds, but defect-based |
| Merrell | 1-year warranty; repairs or replaces at its discretion |
| Mountain Hardwear | Guarantees products will be free of defects for their practical lifetime |
| MSR | Limited lifetime warranty on tents, stoves, and gear |
| Mystery Ranch | Lifetime coverage for defects, tied to product lifespan |
| NEMO Equipment | Lifetime warranty for the original owner |
| Norrøna | 5 year warranty on defects, 7 years for Loyalty members |
| Oboz | 1-year warranty |
| Osprey | Unlimited guarantee to repair or replace |
| Outdoor Research | Infinite Guarantee ensures gear performs throughout its lifetime |
| Patagonia | Unlimited guarantee to repair, replace or refund any item that doesn’t satisfy |
| prAna | 3-year warranty |
| REI Co-op | 1-year satisfaction guarantee (90 days for electronics). Repairs offered through partners. |
| Ridge Merino | Coverage against defects for the product’s lifetime |
| Salomon | 2-year warranty against defects |
| Sierra Designs | Lifetime coverage against defects |
| Smartwool | 2-year satisfaction guarantee |
| Smith Optics | Warranty covers defects for the lifetime of the product |
| Stio | Protects the original owner against all defects, will repair or refund with a gift card |
| Suncloud Optics | Warranty against defects for the product’s lifetime |
| Therm-a-Rest | Limited lifetime warranty against defects |
| Vasque | 1-year warranty, with strong service reputation |
| Victorinox | Swiss Army knives covered against defects for the product’s lifetime |
