I have noticed out during the last decade that a lot of more expensive products usually end up being cheaper if carefully maintained. For example, a lot of Arc'teryx (and Patagonia by that matter) products that I own are quite old but still look good and retain their functionality, and if I tear them Arcteryx will do the repairs for a nominal fee. So by paying 50%-150% more I end up with the item that can be used for at least three times longer, than the comparable products from some cheaper brands.