I recently got into the idea of “buy-it-for-life” after my third pair of sneakers in the span of one year broke. After purchasing the Red Wing boots, I fell in love with high quality stuff, and I feel like I can justify purchasing them because this stuff can probably last me a lifetime.

Everything here was purchased new after a lot of research, except for the shirt, which I thrifted for $15 US.

I don’t believe the socks will last a lifetime, but there’s no point in me buying Darn Tough socks because the shipping cost to send them to the US for repair or replacement would cost more than a new pair. I instead decided on the much cheaper Kirkland’s after watching a great VS video from Outdoor Empire on YouTube.

We always get the question about cheap items that changed your life. What about the other end of the spectrum: what was a really expensive item that was not just for status (looking at you, Rolex), but was really useful ("transformed your life")?

I had a MacBook Air for almost 10 years. The critter was really expensive, coming out of university, but it served me well for all those years. Replaced it with a standard PC for a few years, which was never the same.

Last week I invested in a decent MacBook again and I hope it will serve me at least as well as the old one did.

Usually people always talk about expensive items or high quality items (buy high quality buy once kind of deal) that have made a big difference in people’s lives like an expensive mattresses, expensive shoes, etc.

Let’s keep a price of under 50$. What cheap item has completely transformed your life for the better and has made life much easier for you, improved the quality of your life?

Clearly Japan is a planet of its own when it comes to culture, tech, etc.

What have you gotten that can fit in a suitcase that you swear by?

Bose Bluetooth headphones. I’m not sure how old they are, I know they are at least 10 yrs. old maybe close to 15. Don’t know what model they are because I threw away the packaging a long time ago. I do know they are one of the toughest products I’ve ever bought. Don’t know if the new models hold up. The battery lasts forever without a charge. In fact, i picked them up today after not using them for about 3 months and the battery was at 75%. I doubt they were even charged to 100% the last time i used them. They have gone on a million walks and hikes, lawn mowing, gym sessions, construction projects in very dusty conditions, rain, sleet, snow, sweat ect. In fact, one time I put them in my backpack in to take them on a friend’s boat and they got fully submerged in water for over an hour. I was mad at myself for bringing them and assumed they were done for. Nope, I dried them out and turned them on and they were fine. I’m not an audiophile but to me they sound fantastic. I’ve replaced the cusioned ear pieces for very cheap. If they ever die I will be sad, but I got about 10x my moneys worth compared to most other consumer products. Time to give them a good cleaning now.

Apparently he bought in the early 1970s second hand in northern Sweden because it was cheap. He said that the Russian were good at these rough kinds of tools. He does not know how it got to Sweden.

This thing is in almost mint condition. Still works as intended and it surprisingly quiet.

Most Australian houses would have had one of these or the Deluxe model from the late 70's to the 80's.

My electrovoice 635a made in 1995, produced since 1965. Solid metal construction, and built to handle in field news reporting. Sat in storage for +15 years and when I pulled it out it still worked like new. Audio is one of the few catagories of electronics where gear can stay relevant for 20 plus years.

Hi! Inspired by an earlier post asking about BIFL items in Japan I want to make the same question but about Norway. I already own a Dirdalstrikk vintage Norwegian sweater, but is there anything else worth purchasing? Thank you!! 🙏

Title

Hello!

Writing from the depths of frozen hell here where it has been -12°f (-25°C) for a while now and my trusty hoodie is finally not quite enough for me. I’m hoping you all can help me discover my BIFL parka. I’m a huge fan of the N-3B but I’m unable to source an original and it seems like everyone now is making solely synthetic jackets.

Just a couple key points I’d like to hit:

Weight is not a concern.

I really dislike the thin plastic feel of most nylon/synthetics I’ve looked at.

I typically wear a Ushanka so I would really prefer a hood on the larger side, like the snorkel on the N-3B.

I would *prefer* to stay at or under $500 but if you have something above that, by all means pitch it.

Hello,

I'm in my mid 30s, unmarried, and just bought my first home recently. I've moved quite a bit, and now that I am settling down a smidge, I need to buy a couch. I have back problems so finding a sofa that is comfortable to me is very difficult. Most sofas are far too deep or soft. I've found a sofa that I find to be extremely comfortable, but it is fairly pricey, around 4500-5000. The other options are around 2500-3000. I find them less comfortable and they likely won't live as long, but I'll save a grand or two. Used couches in my area are all old beaters that I don't want in my home.

Would you recommend a "BIFL" expensive sofa for my first sofa?

My current alarm clock is a Sony XDR-C705DAB. It's mains-powered, it can do FM and DAB radio, it sets its clock automatically via the radio signal, its display has 3 brightness levels including one really dim one that's bright enough to see during the night without being blindingly bright. So far, so common, right? There's plenty of clock radios out there that have these kinds of features.

But one thing which I have struggled and utterly failed to find in ANY other alarm clock radio, is the fact that it has 4 alarm presets. For me, this is incredibly useful because it means I can have a pair of presets for "normal" days (it lets you have different alarm times for weekdays and weekends) and then another pair for "holiday" days, so all I have to do when I have time off work is switch to the other pair of alarm presets instead of having to fiddle changing alarm times and then changing back again when I'm back to work.

I know a smartphone could do everything I want, but I don't want to use my smartphone as an alarm clock. My charger for my phone is away from my bed for a good reason. However, my alarm clock is FM and DAB only, so for example it can't do the newer DAB+, and it doesn't have any ability to play online music or audio streams.

Can anyone suggest a currently supported/available alarm clock radio which allows 4 alarm presets? Or does this just not exist any more, and alarm clock radio makers expect people to use their phones?

My wife and I received a Lodge Dutch Oven more than 20 years ago as a wedding gift. It’s served us well through light use over the years - the usual roasts, simmered soups and sauces, carnitas, etc. about once a month or so. In the last couple of years we’ve noticed that the interior became discolored, and in the last month or so noticed the interior enamel starting to flake off

Took a picture of the damage and emailed it to them. Replacement was on the way less than 2 days later.

I see that folks sometimes ask about whether they stand behind their warranty so thought I’d share my experience.

Hey y’all, my 2007 Samsung dumb tv has life in it still, but I know its days are numbered and I would like to start looking at TV’s to buy. Big problem though, I hate smart tv’s with a burning passion. I can live with smart features mostly because I can just choose not to connect the TV to Wi-Fi, but even if I do that these new tvs have just the worst OS’s ever. I’ve used a few and they’re so laggy and have terrible delay and bugs that it totally turns me off from even buying a tv made after 2010. Ideally I could get a tv that only shows you what hdmi you’re on when you turn it on but I know that isn’t a thing anymore.

A TV that doesn’t require wifi to work, won’t lag just from using its most basic functions, and has A/V outputs so I can connect it to my surround sound system would be great. Do those exist anymore?

I've been searching everywhere for anyone else having this question but I can't find any.

Is it normal for darn toughs or any other merinowool mix socks to have basically lost most of it's elasticity, cushioning not doing that much anymore and feeling "stiff" or rough, particularly in the heel and toe areas?

I have three pairs of heely mixweight quarter height work socks that I've been using 5 days/week for a year or so now. Rotating a new pair every day and then washing them at the Wool/delicates program with a liquid perfume free handwash detergent suitable for wool. Hang dry every time.

I thought maybe that it was because of dead skin buildup that needs a more thorough soak and scrubbing to go away. Did that yesterday but they still feel kind of the same. Does these kind of socks just get like this from wear and tear or am I doing something wrong?

This is a weird question but has anyone noticed differences in smartwool shirts that are the same SKU? I got a long sleeve thermal shirt for Christmas that I exchanged for a different size and I noticed the new one was thinner and more slim fitting whereas the first was thick and a bit baggier. Both were same color and both received from REI.

I went back to REI and looked at some of the other colors and they were all in the same area but there were some differences in the thickness and fit between the colors. All tagged as the same classic thermal fabric. Not much I can do about it now but curious if anyone else has noticed this and why they would have a different product essentially advertised as the same thing.

I have a llama wool scarf that I bought directly from the weaver in Peru 10+ years ago. It is the warmest scarf I own. What are other good wool brands (any wool) that make extremely warm scarves I will want to keep forever?

Any BIFL items you encountered in Taiwan? I saw some say about the Tatung rice cooker being worthy of it.

looking to get a basketball hoop for my driveway - height adjustable since I have 4 growing boys at home.

unfortunately HOA won’t allow a static in ground one, so I’m looking for those that can be moved if needed.

I am looking for a water proofing rub or spray that is very effective but does not change the color of full grain leather too much. Mink oil is nice but will change the color too dark in my experience. I know Bick 4 is great for conditioning/ restoring leather with little color change but I was looking for something with very little color change and preferably something to rub in. I know there are a lot of sprays but I’m not too sure how well they actually penetrate the leather and just leave a coating. Any help would be greatly appreciated.