I wanted to start a thread about gear that you wish was still around because it was perfect or close to perfect but that has been discontinued or axed for some reason. Also add in what gear you have found still available (not MYOG) that most closely matches the extinct item. I'll start with a few.

New Balance Fugu: maybe something from Montbell like the Permafrost?

Golite Reed Pants: Montbell UL Wind Pants.

Golite Helios Jacket: Montbell UL Wind Jacket

WM PODS. If/when mine ever wear out it may have to be a MYOG replacement.

Montane Aero wind smock.

Montane Rainjacket cut just like the smock, can't remember what it's called or what the fabric is, but very light and functional with good fit.

forgotten - cloudveil polarstretch run don't walk hoodie. the original one without the pocket. it fits perfectly. now that cloudveil has gone into self-preservation mode, they have skinnyed down their product offering to just a few of their most popular items. there are a number of substitutions available, but i think my choice would be between the patagonia r1 hoodie, which i've owned in the past and the first ascent bat hang hoodie. a hoodie and windshirt make up the base of my layering system (but i don't go out when there isn't snow on the ground).

Vargo Jet-Ti canister stove (just picked up a spare). Lowest CO2 emission of any canister stove.
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/vargo_jet_ti_stove.html

Mountainsmith Ghost pack.
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/mountainsmith_ghost_lt_backpack_review.html

Jansport Bivouac pack (ahead of it's time).
http://www.rei.com/product/733732

The North Face Westwind 4 season tunnel tent.
http://www.buachaille.com/p717-2-22/4-Season-Tents/The-North-Face-Westwind.html

Any Moonstone gear (DAMN you, Columbia!!!!!)
http://www.oregonphotos.com/Moonstone1.html

It saeems to me that if you find gear you like, you had better buy TWO, just in case.
By the way, anyone reading this with an old North Face Westwind tent, contact me if you are interested in selling.

Edited by bigfoot2 on 12/01/2010 21:42:03 MST.

Matthew
Have you seen the Macpac Olympus ?


Franco

Edited by Franco on 12/01/2010 21:57:03 MST.

eVent mountain tents (ID, Rab, anybody) - fireproofing schmierproofing. No replacements yet.

It appears that the classic 2.5 oz. Snow Peak Ti GST-100 is becoming more and more scarce. There are other good stoves though.

I dunno about the Montbell UL Wind Pants being a replacement for the GoLite Reeds. The Reeds were a WP/B pant, whereas the Montbell pants are just DWR coated nylon (aka water resistant) and not really rain pants at all.

Edited by dandydan on 12/02/2010 09:59:20 MST.

i know of a store that has them still

+1 on the Ghost Pack--My first venture into the UL world--ULA makes a similar pack --The Camino

Montbell Peak Shell and Peak Pants. Full featured rain gear at a decent weight and price. Montbell hasn't managed to make a replacement for them yet IMHO.

I think they would still be around if Montbell hadn't picked such awful colors for the jackets. As it stands, I'll baby mine until it dies and hope Montbell will eventually come out with something that offers the same features (at a lower weight).

The old Montrail Hardrock shoe before Columbia bought them out. (Matt, I agree exactly with your sentiments!) For me, absolutely the perfect-fitting shoe!

My '07 pair still have some miles left and I have another new pair in reserve, so I haven't had to find a replacement yet. What I need is narrow (unusually so) heel, wide and high forefoot, high arch support, excellent anti-pronation support. My '07 Hardrocks fit the bill exactly! I wish I had bought half a dozen pair instead of two, because I'd like to wear them around town as well as for hiking!

I did manage to find a pair of the GoLite Reeds quite recently and now know why they've had such a following! Google "GoLite Reed pants," choose the "shopping" feature and browse away. You might luck out!

Edited by hikinggranny on 12/02/2010 02:12:08 MST.

Montbell Sunnyside pants. The most comfortable pants I've ever had.

Coleman Xpert gas canister stove, a liquid feed type stove. Can't beat it for winter use. Bought a spare stove plus several repair kits, and enough canisters to last me a while.

Don't know of anything out there that functions as well in really cold conditions.

@Dan Agreed I think the replacement for the Golite Reeds are Golite Tumalo Pertex 2.5-Layer Storm Pant

@Matthew I believe the article Roger Caffin released stated the SnowPeak Gigapower Ti has the lowest CO2 emission, and if just measuring the stove is lighter to boot

Edited by HikeUltralight on 12/02/2010 10:57:47 MST.

Patagonia Yard Sale Board Shorts, seamless, polyester, simple style and colors. Do it all shorts really. Sadly didn't discover them until after they were nixed. If anyone has a smaller pair lying around that would amazing.

Montrail Hurricane Ridge Gtx shoes (pre columbia) luckily I bought an extra pair, but they aren't going to last forever...

Red Top Waterproof Matches. They were made in Australia and worked wonderfully. Then they moved to southeast Asia and didn't work anymore. Then they went away.

Though I use a stove with a piezoelectric igniter, and carry a Bic for incidental fire starting, I miss those matches that worked so well.

There is no closest match. Enjoy the really good stuff out there. It'll disappear soon enough.

Denis, have you tried the REI Emergency matches? They burn and burn, almost eliminating the need for fire starter!

heres a site with old golite. I cleaned out the 800 fill stuff sorry...

http://domsoutdoor.com/search.aspx?ss=golite&c=&sb=RANK&pgnum=1&pgsize=all

they have the helios that the OP is talking about

I love my Houdini windshirt and would love to get my hands on the discontinued Houdini wind pants- from all accounts as good as the top

Golite tarps with there beaks at either end!!
What ever happened to Golite? Ray Jardine must be disappointed in what he originally established with Golite and how it is today? Its not Golite it is Go-Heavy..