Cassi Creek: Shortly
after we moved to TN, it became apparent that I needed to replace my Gore-Tex
shell parka. I had donated my 16 year
old Marmot shell, a first generation product that had begun to leak badly, to one
of the charity organizations.
I found a great shell in the LLBean catalog, I bought the
down vest insert for it the first winter we lived here. I decided to hold on the shell. By the next winter, I realized I needed the
shell as well. To my surprise, it was no
longer listed in the catalog. I called
the company and they found one in the returns warehouse in the guide gold color
I wanted. I paid, it arrived here, and I
have worn it through rain, snow, wind, and other foul weather ever since.
Last Wednesday
I noticed that the Gore-tex tapes around the water resistant zippers had begun
to delaminate. Every time I put the
shell on, the damage became more apparent.
What to
do? I called LLBean and told them my
favorite shell was failing in function.
They did what most companies don’t, offered a replacement They are sending me the current analog to my
Mountain Guide Jacket. The color won’t
stand out like the school bus effect Gloria laughs about when I wear my current
shell. But the cayenne color should provide a moderate degree of visibility
that may make it safer to walk around these roads in rainy, misty, or cold
days.
The new one
has shipped. When it arrives, I’ll pack
up the old one and send it back to LLBean.
They never questioned me about use or misuse, took my work for what I
recalled paying for it, and demonstrated why I spend most of my clothing money
with them.
Gore-Tex – laminate (film) at 6 years.
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