Well, I haven't had the coat long enough to know for sure about the toughness, but so far I really like this jacket. I wanted a warmer jacket for skiing during the cold months of the season and this thing is perfect for that. I was told that Columbia gear runs big, so I originally got a medium. I ended up trading it in for a large (which is what I usually wear), so I would say this jacket runs true to size. Plenty of pockets and it keeps you warm and dry during inclement weather. The only drawback is that it is a little heavy, but I'll trade that for warmth. For the price, I think this is an excellent buy.