I bought this as a replacement for the 8 year old original Miele Capri canister vacuum hose. Judging by comparing the original to this one, this is a very good replacement. The hardware is a little firmer than the original but still works without needing any sanding. The fittings also don't appear to be as flexible as the original (which could mean they are more brittle than the original). Considering the value for money (1/4 the OEM cost) it still gets 4 stars. I will update the rating as I feel better about the reliability and durability after some use.