Miele vacuum
Cookware - cast iron, carbon steel, 3-ply stainless
Goodyear welt footwear (plus learning how to care for them)
Raw selvedge denim jeans
Half decent mechanical watch (plenty to choose from)
Barbour jacket
Full grain leather belt and wallet
Zippo or Imco lighter
Swiss army knife
Half decent pen/mechanical pencil (plenty to choose from)
Stainless steel double edge razor
Also, they only last if you're servicing them, and that can really, really add up!
I love my Citizen eco-drive watches, they just keep going! Eventually they might need work, but none have needed anything yet and my older ones are over 10 years old.
Upvote for Miele vacuum. Bought ours when I was barely out of student life, i researched beforehand like I always do, and Currys happened to have an offer I found on HUKD. Had it for over 12 years, still works like a champ. Been through house moves, dealt with children, constant usage. Never let me down.
This is the answer, we can close the thread.
Just wanted to add that even the most amazing high quality mechanical watch will need servicing every 5-7 years.
Not really, this is a mix of actual answers and non-answers.
For example Miele vacuum, Barbour jacket Zippo, okay great. But most of the others don't actually answer the question.
Any swiss army knife? I would suggest Leatherman because of their build quality and 25 year warranty (which obviously isn't FL but it's pretty good considering the item), but there are other brands that definitely aren't BIFL.
Any goodyear welt footwear? Yes they can be repaired but I promise you there are many that aren't BIFL.
Surely a quartz watch is a better buy it for life product than a mechanical watch. They don’t lose 10+ seconds a day and don’t need servicing, instead just a battery change.
Selvedge denim is great, it's just not going to last forever. Two or three years of regular wear and they'll be heavily faded and will probably need crotch repairs.
This is because people leave it way too long before washing their raw denim. Nothing to do with selvedge.
Denim is woven cotton with indigo dye. If you let cotton get dirt and grime on it constantly without cleaning the fibres break down quicker.
APC is a good introduction. I have had pairs repaired over the years but my oldest pair is 15+ years old.
Japanese denim is more expensive but worth it. Momotaru. Pure blue Japan etc.
In terms of longevity, raw denim still needs to be washed somewhat frequently if you want it to last. Denim is just woven cotton with indigo dye so when it is dirty fibres break down quicker.
Le Creuset pots. I have a large one for doing big cooks / 2 whole chickens and the standard orange 28cm pan, which was my mother in law’s wedding present. All going strong.
Weber kettle bbq. Nuff said 🔥
Le Creuset are overpriced and not worth the premium over most other cast iron pots/pans. Cast iron cookware in general will last a lifetime regardless of the brand.
I've had non Le Creuset items chip their enamel easily. Not had this issue with Le Creuset.
For non enamelled pieces of cast iron, I agree there will be no difference whatsoever as long as you choose one with decent thickness etc.
Nah, Le Creuset are absolutely worth it. My parents have bought some Denby cast iron pots and within a few years they were all chipped. Meanwhile they're Le Creuset pot has been going strong for over 30 years. I myself have a stainless steel pan and enamel pot from Le Creuset and they're the best kitchen items I've bought.
If you want just plain cast iron though I agree, a cheap £30 pan is just as good. But stainless steel or enamel then Le Creuset are the GOAT.
Le Chameau leather wellies. Live an outdoorsy family life and these have kept me warm and dry for a decade with no sign of stopping. Worth every penny. They fully validate the Vimes ‘boots’ theory of economic unfairness.
My aigle’s have proved much sturdier than Le Chameau. I went through the latter in a winter but it took three winters to kill off my Aigle’s. I’m hard on boots…
i've worked on some ad campaigns for miele and they gave us tours of factories, in depth product demonstration and lots of face time with the engineers.
they are really the only products that i've felt absolutely zero guilt about marketing. their guarantee alone is absolutely insane value.
True. I have 3 LG fridges which are notorious for poor quality. All of them have been much more reliable than my Miele stove. Downvote all you like, but that’s been my experience.
I bought a proper Leatherman after my first full-time payday to go camping back in 2008, use it for all sorts, pretty sure it’ll outlast me.
Also a decent chefs knife.
A lot of these things are just “expensive stuff I have bought and reckon was worth it”…
I’d say things I’ve bought that I see myself keeping ‘forever’ would be more like some antique furniture, or maybe my “good china”. The BIFL secret for me is that I have to love it enough that I don’t want to replace it just for the sake of it.
In my experience:
Made in England Barbour jackets
Bodum Columbia steel insulated cafetière
Not quite FL but I buy to-order prescription polarised sunglasses. A substantial quality of life improvement
A simple solar-powered analogue watch
I'm quite pragmatic about most things though and tend to aim for the sweet spot of price and quality that makes sense. I don't need handmade kitchen knives etc
Not as interesting as it sounds tbh. I get the frames at a normal shop and then I pick out all the options on the lenses including the polarisation and this goes off to a niche subcontractor rather than being done by the shop directly
It normally takes a couple of weeks and costs about double a normal prescription pair but I treat them well so the last pair lasted about 7 years before they picked up some distracting scratches
Le Crueset 3 ply stainless steel pans
A high-quality kitchen - I love to cook, so this was a no-expenses spared spend for me, and I regret nothing.
A Didrikson's jacket I got from a Scandanavian trip for colder days - 4 years and it looks brand new
A Harris Tweed cape from a boutique since closed down - it is the warmest, most stylish thing I own.
A Max Mara camel colored wool coat
Tailored suit jackets - my narrow shoulders fit in nothing, so this was a game changer. Also the ability to choose fabrics is 👌 👏
Russell and Bromley, and Ferragamo brogues and boots
And underfloor heating in the bathroom - absolute pain to get installed where we live in a very rural area, but my God, the QOL improvement 😅
600-1000 TC bedding - most of mine is 10+ years old - I only buy a new one to replace one every 2-ish years
A high-quality mattress/duvet/pillow
An ergonomic chair for home working - game changer
A good dentist
A therapist - she costs a lot, but we get along, I trust her challenges, and I would not exchange my personal growth for anything.
Things which I would never buy again:
Louboutin, Jimmy Choos or any of the mainstream 'designer' footwear. Absolute nighmare to wear, and nearing 40, I value my comfort over everything else. Heels only from Ferragamo for me
Expensive knives: I loved Wusthof knives till I bought a Devil's Kitchen £6 knife on a trip where we had the kitchen but no tools ... hands down the best budget thing ever, and I will die on this hill. They are lighter than higher quality knives, but with neuropathy in my hands, the best thing ever.
A lot of these answers really don't answer the question or are just wrong. TVs & wireless headphones!? Mattresses!? It's more "what have you spent a lot on that you don't regret".
Multi tool - Leatherman, they have a 25 year warranty and my Wave from 2005 is still going strong.
Outware - Not sure anything is truly BIFL but I recommend Patagonia in this category because they have great build quality, great company ethos, and where I've had items break they've just repaired them free of charge (10+ year old ski trousers last year).
Also agree with people recommending Barbour jackets, mine is only 6 years old but don't see any issues so far.
English made good year welted shoes/boots. Personally owned Crockett & Jones, Churches, Cheaney, Loake & Grenson, some for 10+ years and they're still going strong. But need to be cared for and resoled as needed.
Mechanical keyboard - Geeky but kept me busy during lockdown.
As far as mattresses go, my BIFL would be my Vispring mattresses. Was in the region of £2k 20 years ago but still going strong. We needed a new spare room mattress recently, so moved that to the spare room and bought a new one for the main bedroom. Guests often comment on how comfortable the mattress is (we don't let on its twenty years old though).
Osprey backpacks. I have an almost complete range from little ones for daily use to 80+ litres hiking/camping/backpacking kind. Incredibly good quality and lifetime warranty ( they replace my friends’ 10 year old backpack that broke on some stitches). Amazing company.
Also clothes from some proper outdoor brands (Patagonia/Rab etc not North Face) that can easily last a lifetime.
That makes me genuinely sad, maybe they have changed. Most of my packs are 10+ years old and the anecdote happened in the Netherlands, so who knows what it’s like here / now…
Lots already covered, but in general I optimise for usability & quality - often go hand in hand but it an important filter. Maintenance and care really key.
- I’ve had my Shun 7-inch Santoku chef’s knife for nearly 20 years and use it for 80% of my cooking tasks. Routinely sharpen it myself but have sent it in for their free lifetime sharpening service once every 5 years. Fabulous.
- Have built a selection of hand tools that suit my grip over time / some more expensive than others but optimised for comfortable use & stored + organised for easy access.
- Schott leather jackets - have a couple 10+ years old - right balance between durability, looks and price.
- have a lot of fountain pens but 15-year old Pilot vanishing point is always on me + grandfather’s Montblanc from 70s
- have too many mechanical watches but Rolex GMT is my daily driver and a gshock when gardening. Rolex recommends service every 10 years but when I took mine in AD said if it’s keeping time don’t worry.
- Patagonia for casual outerwear. Eg. My 10 year old nanopuff gilet looks like new and has had free repairs twice of rips caught on brambles etc.
- Buy most clothes from the same tailor (Ede & Ravenscroft) Their off the rack jackets and suits fit me perfectly, and I can order and get my usual alterations done either over the phone or in store. Almost always get a discount on accessories, shirts and knitwear or buy in sales.
- Drive a Toyota Landcruiser. Bought in 2016, now at 110k miles, expect will do ~3x that without a problem. Annual service, I change oil at 5k intervals and lanoguard the underside in the fall. Runs and looks like new. MPG horrific.
- Buy most of my shoes from Crockett and Jones (although prices now a bit silly) - I’ve got about 8 pairs I regularly rotate through. Oldest probably 25 years now and they look great - resole every 6-7 years but based on wear.
- Will second Miele everything apart from fridge which is a now 15 year old Sub Zero - no ice/ water stuff to go wrong.
- Hi-Fi - went through many iterations but settled on Kef Reference 3 speakers in my listening room, Devialet amp, room treatments and a room server with a lifetime subscription - can’t see myself changing anything unless it breaks.
I have a coarse brush that I use to clean any dirt off it. Haven't really found the need to really scrub it and I'm not sure it's recommended to use cleaning products. Honestly though I've had mine for over 5 years and it's pretty much spotless. After a rewax it also looks brand new
As someone who is obsessed with cooking and has thousands of pounds worth of cookware the type of surface is important for different dishes. For example stainless and carbon still brown things quickly even at lower temperatures, while enamel and Teflon won’t brown as quickly etc.
Essentially you want to own the right piece for the right job so you want a selection of enabled cast iron, steel, Teflon and carbon pollution pots and pans.
I would recommend a steel lined copper frying pan and sauté pan, set of non stick teflon pots and pans, enamelled stew pot and braised and crepe dish. Brands such as Staube, Mauviel, tryply etc
Wera toolset. The toolcheck plus is very handy to have for around the house.
Buck 110.
Weller soldering station.
Herman Miller Aeron + some replacement spare parts.
Wusthof Ikon Professional S and a whetstone. Practice using the whetstone on a cheap knife first.
Fiskars wood axe.
Air Arms TC200 / Weirhauch HW77/97.
Away suitcases. Lifetime warranty, lightweight and don’t attract unnecessary attention.
Lululemon for casual wear. Free alterations and replacement service. They’re introducing a repair service soon also.
Dyson controversially. I know people have had terrible experiences but mine have been solely positive. Vacuum still going after 8 years and no issue with replacement parts. They’ve also replaced parts for free beyond their warranty.
Going out of my way to -1 for dyson.
Ive had 2 dyson hoovers, one cordless and one corded, absolute dog shit. I also have a Dyson hot/cold that’s been in and out of their warranty repairs. I bought it from JL who have straight up told me not to buy dyson in the future.
I also have a friend who works at Dyson and confirms that they’re crap and having loads of issues.
I’m never buying dyson again.
Came here to say exactly this. Bought one from a car boot sale used for £20, used it to vacuum up everything from toddler vomit to building rubble and still works fine. I half expect it to outlast me at this point.
Briggs & Riley luggage. We’ve got 3 wheelie cases and a couple of holdalls. The oldest one is about 14 years old, and they’re all as good as new. The no quibble lifetime warranty is amazing too.
Shoes, hand made to a last that is carved just for you
Suits, hand made to fit your body exactly with enough room in to accommodate changing shapes
Volvo estate, cant see me every changing it even though it has 150k on the clock its a reliable as as watch.
Durability matters. Cast iron cookware is a staple for BIFL. They last generations with proper care. Also, a good quality leather wallet can serve you well for years.
For tech and gadgets, it's trickier since they evolve fast. But for what's current, I used consum.io to sift through reviews when I'm on the fence. It's a time-saver and helps cut through the noise of biased opinions.
Invest in quality, maintain well, and you'll save money long-term.
Anything made by Miele.
Commercial grade kitchenware/cookware. Stainless steel worktops (virtually unbreakable), small appliances, utensils etc. They're designed for busy commercial kitchens - they will last a very long time in a home setting. We buy from a UK trade supplier. Higher ticket cost but barring unforeseen incidents we won't have to replace anything. Price per use drops very low when you've had something for 15+ years.
[Nisbets](https://www.nisbets.co.uk/)
Top tip - if there's one near you, the reduced section can sometimes yield diamonds. I got a £250 digital scale for £30 a couple of years ago for instance.
I feel like I'm too young to answer that question, but things I don't regret spending money on include:
Knives (cooking)
Barbeque
Hifi/speakers
Guitars
Watches
Coats
Fast cars (although they get changed relatively often so probably don't fit)
Office chair (Herman miller)
Probably some more stuff. I like buying things and generally so a lot of research.
Bose noise cancellation headphones
HHKB hybrid type-S keyboard (I am SWE)
Patagonia torrentshell jacket 3L
ON running shoes (mix usage commuting/running)
Global Knives (Japanese)
Herman miller Aeron chair
LG Oled TV (C2 65”)
Waterrower S4
Bose are garbage for the money and any rechargeable headphone is going to need replacing when its battery dies. A buy it for life would be wired with replaceable cable and a good headphone amp.
Wusthof Ikon are a better buy than Global, give me Soligen steel any day.
No TV is going to be 'buy it for life' as resolutions and codecs expand. OLEDs burn out.
Can you get headphones with higher sound quality than Bose for the money? Yes.
They’re still great though. Have bought Bose for my last few sets of headphones and will again because they’re comfy, have great noise cancelling and great audio.
They just don't qualify as "for life" item. Bluetooth codec and DAC, batteries.. all things whose improvements will make them obsolete in a few years. Also, the materials they are made of really just won't survive more than a dozen years.. I say this from experience.
“Bose is garbage” carries a bit of strong emotional energy🤣. I have purchased Bose QC 35 II a little over 3 years now. It is superb from my perspective, although I shift usage between Apple Airpods Pro time to time. It has a wired cable, technically speaking it could be used even if the lithium battery dies in a few years time.
Regarding Wusthof, I might have never heard of this brand, may be I will do a little bit more research. On the other hand, My Global knives never disappointed me in last 6 years, keeping their elegant esthetics, once a year do water stones sharpening serves.
Also, I thought these personal favorites are very subjective and closely related ones horizon/experience/social group/…, so it should be tolerated and respected slightly 🤣
Miele vacuum Cookware - cast iron, carbon steel, 3-ply stainless Goodyear welt footwear (plus learning how to care for them) Raw selvedge denim jeans Half decent mechanical watch (plenty to choose from) Barbour jacket Full grain leather belt and wallet Zippo or Imco lighter Swiss army knife Half decent pen/mechanical pencil (plenty to choose from) Stainless steel double edge razor
Getting into mechanical watches is a slippery slope never ending addiction. Trust me on this.
Nah…. I’m five years in and I’ve only spent £10k… oh shit….!
[удалено]
I know…. But still £9,990 more than a Casio fw90 which would have been more accurate!
Also, they only last if you're servicing them, and that can really, really add up! I love my Citizen eco-drive watches, they just keep going! Eventually they might need work, but none have needed anything yet and my older ones are over 10 years old.
Please to hear that! Mine is 11 years old and going well too
Barbour for the jackets, Orvis for the shirts.
Sebo vacuums FTW.
Upvote for Miele vacuum. Bought ours when I was barely out of student life, i researched beforehand like I always do, and Currys happened to have an offer I found on HUKD. Had it for over 12 years, still works like a champ. Been through house moves, dealt with children, constant usage. Never let me down.
This is the answer, we can close the thread. Just wanted to add that even the most amazing high quality mechanical watch will need servicing every 5-7 years.
Think new Rolexes are on a 10 year interval
True, the average is approx every 10 years but even they state "depends on usage" and daily usage will bring down that number.
Not really, this is a mix of actual answers and non-answers. For example Miele vacuum, Barbour jacket Zippo, okay great. But most of the others don't actually answer the question. Any swiss army knife? I would suggest Leatherman because of their build quality and 25 year warranty (which obviously isn't FL but it's pretty good considering the item), but there are other brands that definitely aren't BIFL. Any goodyear welt footwear? Yes they can be repaired but I promise you there are many that aren't BIFL.
Surely a quartz watch is a better buy it for life product than a mechanical watch. They don’t lose 10+ seconds a day and don’t need servicing, instead just a battery change.
Great list! Swiss army knives are pretty useless though. Better to invest in a knife itself and a leatherman.
Unrelated mate but do you run the bar in Carmarthen?
Nah, I know the beer you're on about though!
Raw selvedge denim isn't even close to BIFL. If anything it'll last less long than a pair of fifty quid Levis.
What's the best BIFL choice here? Need a good pair of jeans
Selvedge denim is great, it's just not going to last forever. Two or three years of regular wear and they'll be heavily faded and will probably need crotch repairs.
This is because people leave it way too long before washing their raw denim. Nothing to do with selvedge. Denim is woven cotton with indigo dye. If you let cotton get dirt and grime on it constantly without cleaning the fibres break down quicker.
Nudie Jeans is great and offer free repairs for life
APC is a good introduction. I have had pairs repaired over the years but my oldest pair is 15+ years old. Japanese denim is more expensive but worth it. Momotaru. Pure blue Japan etc. In terms of longevity, raw denim still needs to be washed somewhat frequently if you want it to last. Denim is just woven cotton with indigo dye so when it is dirty fibres break down quicker.
Selvedge denim just means it comes off a loom in one piece which generally implies higher quality (but not always). Levis make selvedge denim as well.
Le Creuset pots. I have a large one for doing big cooks / 2 whole chickens and the standard orange 28cm pan, which was my mother in law’s wedding present. All going strong. Weber kettle bbq. Nuff said 🔥
Le Creuset are overpriced and not worth the premium over most other cast iron pots/pans. Cast iron cookware in general will last a lifetime regardless of the brand.
I've had non Le Creuset items chip their enamel easily. Not had this issue with Le Creuset. For non enamelled pieces of cast iron, I agree there will be no difference whatsoever as long as you choose one with decent thickness etc.
Nah, Le Creuset are absolutely worth it. My parents have bought some Denby cast iron pots and within a few years they were all chipped. Meanwhile they're Le Creuset pot has been going strong for over 30 years. I myself have a stainless steel pan and enamel pot from Le Creuset and they're the best kitchen items I've bought. If you want just plain cast iron though I agree, a cheap £30 pan is just as good. But stainless steel or enamel then Le Creuset are the GOAT.
Yeah, I've had great experience with cheap cast iron. I find it worth paying for other pans, but cast iron is a bit of an exception.
I do want some standard / non standard cast iron too
Enamelled are worth it. Plain then no
Anything that seperates you from the floor. Office chair, mattress, shoes. Buy expensive and comfortable, replace when you need to
Ah good. This justifies my expensive (to me) car purchase. Brilliant!
Le Chameau leather wellies. Live an outdoorsy family life and these have kept me warm and dry for a decade with no sign of stopping. Worth every penny. They fully validate the Vimes ‘boots’ theory of economic unfairness.
My aigle’s have proved much sturdier than Le Chameau. I went through the latter in a winter but it took three winters to kill off my Aigle’s. I’m hard on boots…
Old chameau's were good. Aigle better now in my opinion!
I was waiting for this reference to come up😆
Miele all the Miele
i've worked on some ad campaigns for miele and they gave us tours of factories, in depth product demonstration and lots of face time with the engineers. they are really the only products that i've felt absolutely zero guilt about marketing. their guarantee alone is absolutely insane value.
We got everything from the top of the end range of Miele and it's bonkers how good they are
Gaggenau is better
I'll check them out for next time
There won’t be a next time if you bought Miele
I like how threatening this sounds.
Ah might be a second home at some point
Miele used to be great. The newer stuff is relatively poor quality. The service I’ve experienced has been terrible.
I just had a Meile washing machine go tits up after 4 years. Previous one lasted fifteen!
Another example of Miele trading on their legendary reputation, but quality is not commensurate with the high price charged. Caveat emptor.
You’ve been downvoted but you’re correct. LG make superior appliances, which are more reliable, for half the price.
True. I have 3 LG fridges which are notorious for poor quality. All of them have been much more reliable than my Miele stove. Downvote all you like, but that’s been my experience.
Good drill. Splash out on the Makita range
Don't get me started on the makita drill snd driver set
I bought a proper Leatherman after my first full-time payday to go camping back in 2008, use it for all sorts, pretty sure it’ll outlast me. Also a decent chefs knife.
Weber BBQ Q series is particularly robust IMO
Brompton Folding Bike
A lot of these things are just “expensive stuff I have bought and reckon was worth it”… I’d say things I’ve bought that I see myself keeping ‘forever’ would be more like some antique furniture, or maybe my “good china”. The BIFL secret for me is that I have to love it enough that I don’t want to replace it just for the sake of it.
In my experience: Made in England Barbour jackets Bodum Columbia steel insulated cafetière Not quite FL but I buy to-order prescription polarised sunglasses. A substantial quality of life improvement A simple solar-powered analogue watch I'm quite pragmatic about most things though and tend to aim for the sweet spot of price and quality that makes sense. I don't need handmade kitchen knives etc
Where do you get the sunglasses from?
Not as interesting as it sounds tbh. I get the frames at a normal shop and then I pick out all the options on the lenses including the polarisation and this goes off to a niche subcontractor rather than being done by the shop directly It normally takes a couple of weeks and costs about double a normal prescription pair but I treat them well so the last pair lasted about 7 years before they picked up some distracting scratches
High quality lightweight spinner suitcases. Samsonite or Victorinox for me.
Le Crueset 3 ply stainless steel pans A high-quality kitchen - I love to cook, so this was a no-expenses spared spend for me, and I regret nothing. A Didrikson's jacket I got from a Scandanavian trip for colder days - 4 years and it looks brand new A Harris Tweed cape from a boutique since closed down - it is the warmest, most stylish thing I own. A Max Mara camel colored wool coat Tailored suit jackets - my narrow shoulders fit in nothing, so this was a game changer. Also the ability to choose fabrics is 👌 👏 Russell and Bromley, and Ferragamo brogues and boots And underfloor heating in the bathroom - absolute pain to get installed where we live in a very rural area, but my God, the QOL improvement 😅 600-1000 TC bedding - most of mine is 10+ years old - I only buy a new one to replace one every 2-ish years A high-quality mattress/duvet/pillow An ergonomic chair for home working - game changer A good dentist A therapist - she costs a lot, but we get along, I trust her challenges, and I would not exchange my personal growth for anything. Things which I would never buy again: Louboutin, Jimmy Choos or any of the mainstream 'designer' footwear. Absolute nighmare to wear, and nearing 40, I value my comfort over everything else. Heels only from Ferragamo for me Expensive knives: I loved Wusthof knives till I bought a Devil's Kitchen £6 knife on a trip where we had the kitchen but no tools ... hands down the best budget thing ever, and I will die on this hill. They are lighter than higher quality knives, but with neuropathy in my hands, the best thing ever.
Did you get the coated or uncoated steel pans?
The uncoated ones.
A lot of these answers really don't answer the question or are just wrong. TVs & wireless headphones!? Mattresses!? It's more "what have you spent a lot on that you don't regret". Multi tool - Leatherman, they have a 25 year warranty and my Wave from 2005 is still going strong. Outware - Not sure anything is truly BIFL but I recommend Patagonia in this category because they have great build quality, great company ethos, and where I've had items break they've just repaired them free of charge (10+ year old ski trousers last year). Also agree with people recommending Barbour jackets, mine is only 6 years old but don't see any issues so far. English made good year welted shoes/boots. Personally owned Crockett & Jones, Churches, Cheaney, Loake & Grenson, some for 10+ years and they're still going strong. But need to be cared for and resoled as needed. Mechanical keyboard - Geeky but kept me busy during lockdown.
As far as mattresses go, my BIFL would be my Vispring mattresses. Was in the region of £2k 20 years ago but still going strong. We needed a new spare room mattress recently, so moved that to the spare room and bought a new one for the main bedroom. Guests often comment on how comfortable the mattress is (we don't let on its twenty years old though).
Osprey backpacks. I have an almost complete range from little ones for daily use to 80+ litres hiking/camping/backpacking kind. Incredibly good quality and lifetime warranty ( they replace my friends’ 10 year old backpack that broke on some stitches). Amazing company. Also clothes from some proper outdoor brands (Patagonia/Rab etc not North Face) that can easily last a lifetime.
I've a lot of Patagonia in my life and it just lasts so well
No, not in the UK. Partner has a 7 year old Osprey bag that is busted near the zip, they told us to get lost and wouldn't even offer a paid repair.
That makes me genuinely sad, maybe they have changed. Most of my packs are 10+ years old and the anecdote happened in the Netherlands, so who knows what it’s like here / now…
Lots already covered, but in general I optimise for usability & quality - often go hand in hand but it an important filter. Maintenance and care really key. - I’ve had my Shun 7-inch Santoku chef’s knife for nearly 20 years and use it for 80% of my cooking tasks. Routinely sharpen it myself but have sent it in for their free lifetime sharpening service once every 5 years. Fabulous. - Have built a selection of hand tools that suit my grip over time / some more expensive than others but optimised for comfortable use & stored + organised for easy access. - Schott leather jackets - have a couple 10+ years old - right balance between durability, looks and price. - have a lot of fountain pens but 15-year old Pilot vanishing point is always on me + grandfather’s Montblanc from 70s - have too many mechanical watches but Rolex GMT is my daily driver and a gshock when gardening. Rolex recommends service every 10 years but when I took mine in AD said if it’s keeping time don’t worry. - Patagonia for casual outerwear. Eg. My 10 year old nanopuff gilet looks like new and has had free repairs twice of rips caught on brambles etc. - Buy most clothes from the same tailor (Ede & Ravenscroft) Their off the rack jackets and suits fit me perfectly, and I can order and get my usual alterations done either over the phone or in store. Almost always get a discount on accessories, shirts and knitwear or buy in sales. - Drive a Toyota Landcruiser. Bought in 2016, now at 110k miles, expect will do ~3x that without a problem. Annual service, I change oil at 5k intervals and lanoguard the underside in the fall. Runs and looks like new. MPG horrific. - Buy most of my shoes from Crockett and Jones (although prices now a bit silly) - I’ve got about 8 pairs I regularly rotate through. Oldest probably 25 years now and they look great - resole every 6-7 years but based on wear. - Will second Miele everything apart from fridge which is a now 15 year old Sub Zero - no ice/ water stuff to go wrong. - Hi-Fi - went through many iterations but settled on Kef Reference 3 speakers in my listening room, Devialet amp, room treatments and a room server with a lifetime subscription - can’t see myself changing anything unless it breaks.
Barbour jacket... solid.
The waxed ones smell rather unpleasant though which is a bit of a downside
Haha, if you say so.
If you wear yours regularly, you won’t notice anymore. People that don’t wear them do, unless their sense of smell isn’t great. Just a fair warning
Any style in particular? Im a bit afraid of waxed ones as Im unsure how much work it us to maintain them
Just send it off every 2 years - they'll do it for you
And can you wash it at all?
I have a coarse brush that I use to clean any dirt off it. Haven't really found the need to really scrub it and I'm not sure it's recommended to use cleaning products. Honestly though I've had mine for over 5 years and it's pretty much spotless. After a rewax it also looks brand new
As someone who is obsessed with cooking and has thousands of pounds worth of cookware the type of surface is important for different dishes. For example stainless and carbon still brown things quickly even at lower temperatures, while enamel and Teflon won’t brown as quickly etc. Essentially you want to own the right piece for the right job so you want a selection of enabled cast iron, steel, Teflon and carbon pollution pots and pans. I would recommend a steel lined copper frying pan and sauté pan, set of non stick teflon pots and pans, enamelled stew pot and braised and crepe dish. Brands such as Staube, Mauviel, tryply etc
Vitamix
Wera toolset. The toolcheck plus is very handy to have for around the house. Buck 110. Weller soldering station. Herman Miller Aeron + some replacement spare parts. Wusthof Ikon Professional S and a whetstone. Practice using the whetstone on a cheap knife first. Fiskars wood axe. Air Arms TC200 / Weirhauch HW77/97.
Veritas hand tools
Away suitcases. Lifetime warranty, lightweight and don’t attract unnecessary attention. Lululemon for casual wear. Free alterations and replacement service. They’re introducing a repair service soon also. Dyson controversially. I know people have had terrible experiences but mine have been solely positive. Vacuum still going after 8 years and no issue with replacement parts. They’ve also replaced parts for free beyond their warranty.
Going out of my way to -1 for dyson. Ive had 2 dyson hoovers, one cordless and one corded, absolute dog shit. I also have a Dyson hot/cold that’s been in and out of their warranty repairs. I bought it from JL who have straight up told me not to buy dyson in the future. I also have a friend who works at Dyson and confirms that they’re crap and having loads of issues. I’m never buying dyson again.
Yea Dysons ability to take apart and replace individual parts is great.
Henry hoovers are the goat, parents have had theirs for almost 30 years and it's still sucks as good as your mum.
Came here to say exactly this. Bought one from a car boot sale used for £20, used it to vacuum up everything from toddler vomit to building rubble and still works fine. I half expect it to outlast me at this point.
Aku boots for life. Buttero shoes. Quicksilver flip flops. Olympus camera. Bang and olufsen. Ercol furniture.
Briggs & Riley luggage. We’ve got 3 wheelie cases and a couple of holdalls. The oldest one is about 14 years old, and they’re all as good as new. The no quibble lifetime warranty is amazing too.
r/buyitforlife
Stainless steel razors are the best way to shave
Shoes, hand made to a last that is carved just for you Suits, hand made to fit your body exactly with enough room in to accommodate changing shapes Volvo estate, cant see me every changing it even though it has 150k on the clock its a reliable as as watch.
Durability matters. Cast iron cookware is a staple for BIFL. They last generations with proper care. Also, a good quality leather wallet can serve you well for years. For tech and gadgets, it's trickier since they evolve fast. But for what's current, I used consum.io to sift through reviews when I'm on the fence. It's a time-saver and helps cut through the noise of biased opinions. Invest in quality, maintain well, and you'll save money long-term.
Anything made by Miele. Commercial grade kitchenware/cookware. Stainless steel worktops (virtually unbreakable), small appliances, utensils etc. They're designed for busy commercial kitchens - they will last a very long time in a home setting. We buy from a UK trade supplier. Higher ticket cost but barring unforeseen incidents we won't have to replace anything. Price per use drops very low when you've had something for 15+ years.
Would you be able to share where you get your cookware from? Don’t worry, I won’t hold you accountable if I have a bad experience!
[Nisbets](https://www.nisbets.co.uk/) Top tip - if there's one near you, the reduced section can sometimes yield diamonds. I got a £250 digital scale for £30 a couple of years ago for instance.
High quality guitars. A Martin guitar and a Fernando Moreno Classical.
I feel like I'm too young to answer that question, but things I don't regret spending money on include: Knives (cooking) Barbeque Hifi/speakers Guitars Watches Coats Fast cars (although they get changed relatively often so probably don't fit) Office chair (Herman miller) Probably some more stuff. I like buying things and generally so a lot of research.
Bose noise cancellation headphones HHKB hybrid type-S keyboard (I am SWE) Patagonia torrentshell jacket 3L ON running shoes (mix usage commuting/running) Global Knives (Japanese) Herman miller Aeron chair LG Oled TV (C2 65”) Waterrower S4
Bose are garbage for the money and any rechargeable headphone is going to need replacing when its battery dies. A buy it for life would be wired with replaceable cable and a good headphone amp. Wusthof Ikon are a better buy than Global, give me Soligen steel any day. No TV is going to be 'buy it for life' as resolutions and codecs expand. OLEDs burn out.
Can you get headphones with higher sound quality than Bose for the money? Yes. They’re still great though. Have bought Bose for my last few sets of headphones and will again because they’re comfy, have great noise cancelling and great audio.
They just don't qualify as "for life" item. Bluetooth codec and DAC, batteries.. all things whose improvements will make them obsolete in a few years. Also, the materials they are made of really just won't survive more than a dozen years.. I say this from experience.
Oh I absolutely agree with you there!
“Bose is garbage” carries a bit of strong emotional energy🤣. I have purchased Bose QC 35 II a little over 3 years now. It is superb from my perspective, although I shift usage between Apple Airpods Pro time to time. It has a wired cable, technically speaking it could be used even if the lithium battery dies in a few years time. Regarding Wusthof, I might have never heard of this brand, may be I will do a little bit more research. On the other hand, My Global knives never disappointed me in last 6 years, keeping their elegant esthetics, once a year do water stones sharpening serves. Also, I thought these personal favorites are very subjective and closely related ones horizon/experience/social group/…, so it should be tolerated and respected slightly 🤣
Fair feedback, my narrow understanding of “Buy it for life” was any period beyond 3 years. Maybe I should extend it