There are few pieces of gear that get used and abused as much as outdoor gear. For stuff that gets dragged through mud, submerged in water and likely put away dirty, it’s equipment that takes a beating.
Yet still, the outdoors industry stands behind its products with some of the most generous warranties in all of retail. We searched for the best warranties among our favorite outdoor companies to find out how they stacked up.
Some offer replacements or repairs for defects for up to a year, others for the lifetime of the product. Some extend a warranty to the lifetime of the buyer and simply for less than complete satisfaction. Here are the all-time best warranties in the outdoors industry.
Bushnell: Yes, that’s covered
Regardless if your Bushnell binoculars get broken, busted, shattered, cracked or crushed, the company offers a lifetime warranty, no questions asked it calls, “Yes, that’s covered.” The company states on its website, “It’s Bushnell’s absolute, everlasting pledge to honor your purchase with the security of our No Questions Asked Lifetime Warranty. We’re proud to guarantee your complete satisfaction, and promise to repair or replace your product and ship it back to you at absolutely no charge.”
Kelty Lifetime warranty
At Kelty, they believe gear should last as long as you do? That’s why the company honors a warranty on defects of material and workmanship for the duration of the the owner’s natural life. The warranty does not apply to lighting, trekking poles, furniture, sleeping pads and air beds, which are covered up to a year.
Outdoor Research Infinite Guarantee
The good people at Outdoor Research are so confident in their apparel and gear that they guarantee total satisfaction forever in what they call its Infinite Guarantee. That’s right, forever. Did the product fail to meet your needs? No problem. They are happy to replace it.
L.L. Bean Anytime Return
At L.L. Bean it doesn’t have a reputation for being one of the oldest outdoor clothing makers in the business for nothing. If at any time you are not 100% satisfied with an L.L. Bean product, you can return it at anytime. You must have a receipt and the product must have been bought at an L.L. Bean.
Patagonia Ironclad Guarantee
If you are not satisfied with a Patagonia product, the company states you may return it at any time to the store you bought it for a repair, replacement or refund.
Gore-Tex Promise
If you get wet in any Gore-Tex product, regardless of the manufacturer, Gore-Tex will repair it, replace it or refund your purchase price. The warranty applies to the useful life of the product. They call it the “guaranteed to keep you dry promise.”
Mountain Hardware
Any defects in material or workmanship in Mountain Hardware gear and apparel is covered by a guarantee for the “practical lifetime” of the product. We aren’t exactly sure what that means, and it’s up to the discretion of the company, but still a great warranty.
North Face
At North Face too, the manufacturer guarantees a warranty, excluding footwear, for the duration of the product lifetime. Again, this is somewhat arbitrary, so your sleeping bag might not last 70 years. But if it has defects in materials or workmanship, say, before about 40 years, it will likely get covered, excluding normal wear and tear.
REI 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Although the REI warranty only extends up to a year after purchasing the item, a return or replacement at REI often does not require a receipt and you can make the return at any REI regardless of where it was purchased. So if you bought something in Maine, you could return it in California, no problem.
Photo credit: Bushnell
