The plastic buckles and clips used are Us-Molding, made by Duraflex in the USA, and the zips are from the YKK brand. As you probably know, Duraflex and YKK are the two biggest manufacturers of accessories, and only produce quality products. Obviously, using these accessories increases the price of the bag, but at least I'm sure not only that the zipper on my pocket won't break, but also that its waterproofness is real and durable. It's a good investment, in a way. The designers also chose to use a bias binding at the most stressed points, which I personally find very reassuring since it strengthens the bag and the joints between the various textile parts. Before trying it on, my only hesitation concerned the fact that the bag's closing straps are elastic. These are areas that are subject to a lot of stress, and as an elastic strap is less resistant than a traditional polyester strap, I was concerned. So I wrote to the president of MW, who replied that it had never caused any problems, their elastic webbing being particularly resistant. What's more, the brand guarantees all its bags for life, so I know that if I have the slightest problem, I can contact them directly.