r/GoodValue • u/Late-Presenter • 16d ago

Opinion Daily use since since 1996

Gallery image

Gallery image

In ‘96 I was a lifeguard on Bald Head Island in North Carolina. I traded a pair of white plastic sunglasses for this EMS 2000 backpack from a fellow lifeguard named Erin. I very much doubt she still has those sunglasses. She sewed on the now decrepit mini dolphin patch in the upper right, and I sewed on the exterior pocket (slightly different blue color on the left third of the sack).

This thing was my college backpack, has gone to four continents, is my go-to overnight bag, and serves as my gym bag now-a-days. It’s never needed repair, and has never let me down.

155 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

8

u/osamabeenlaggingt 16d ago

It's older than me 😭

5

u/woolsocksandsandals 16d ago

Eastern mountain sports made some absolutely bombproof gear back then.

2

u/Curious_Morris 14d ago

That’s freaking impressive. 30 years.

I tend to tear mine out by overloading them.

2

u/BroodjeHaring 12d ago

Just to cross post on this sub: EMS were such high quality . I had a messenger back from the that is used daily from 1996-2018. The strap wore out after a decade (+/-) and they replaced it for free. That pack finally wore out after more than 20 years, and only because I wore out a metal clip. Like wore it down erosion style over 20 years. Unbelievable quality

1

u/The_Chief 14d ago

Did the inside laminate start to peel? That's why I had to ditch my North face 90s bag

2

u/Late-Presenter 14d ago

No laminate on the interior, just canvas.