Ask Lemmy

Solovair are better than doc martens by a mile.

For shoes, take a look at Arcopedico. Portugese made and kind of hard to find in USA, but without a doubt the most comfortable. They weigh almost nothing, and they seem to be undamageable.

I believe my 1998 Kelty backpack, Leatherman PST II, 1990 Volvo 240 Wagon and Mohawk Royalex canoe will outlast us all.

Outdoor Research for hiking/outdoors wear. Great quality and they stand behind their lifetime warranty. My father in law had his winter gloves split open after owning them for 30 years and they replaced them.

I know it's only one data point, but I was gifted a Zanussi fridge freezer by my best man as a wedding present in 2004. It is still going strong. I will never buy any other brand if and when the time comes.

Looking around my immediate environment, I see very few things that aren't

A. already 30 years old made by companies that are essentially defunct and if the brand does even still exist it's transitioned to another parent company as a zombie brand that produces identical temporary garbage to the rest of the industry, like my Kenmore 80 series washer and dryer.

B. Modern shit with a single-digit year life expectancy, like any computer hardware I have, my cell phone, my printer, etc.

C. Isn't from a company that has completely pissed me off glares at my very, very last Dell products

D. I didn't make myself from scratch, like an increasing amount of my furniture.

The only item that falls in my eye line that I can say "buy it now and your grandchildren will actually want it" is my Revere stainless steel frying pan. It's not as ragnarok proof as cast iron but it also won't cave in my glass cooktop. I think my grandmother bought mine in the 80's, you can still buy them today.

I do want to mention my Kitchenaid mixer. The unit itself is well made, I've made at least one pizza a week with it for the past...six years? It's a quality power tool. I dislike the company and their product range. They have a tendency to discontinue attachments in favor of incompatible and worse ones. For example, I'm aware of three different meat grinder attachments, one metal one and two plastic ones only one of which the food mill attachment is compatible with, and they did their best to prevent people from learning that, because the difference between the plastic one you probably already have, that was possibly packed in with your mixer, and the one that's compatible with the food mill, is like, a few millimeters in diameter here and there. If I show you their marketing pictures (of white plastic on that White Marketing Void background) you couldn't tell them apart, and the model numbers are very similar. That has rubbed me the wrong way in a bad place.

At this point, I don't generally give trust to brands but products. Too many companies that used to be a name to trust have decided to monetize that trust (or get acquired by another company that doesn't see the value in maintaining that trust), but they might still have good quality products in their lineup along with the cheap ones.

Though I've also done well with the "just buy one to see how important it is to have quality in this particular thing". I just sold my old cordless drill after owning it for about a decade. It was weak but I didn't even really notice that until I wanted to drill a hole through a stone counter top. A bought another cheap corded drill for that, but have since also bought a quality cordless drill set that might even allow me to sell the corded drill.

And if you need quality, look for stuff marketed to professionals. People who use their drill every single day aren't going to be using the ones that can't hold a charge or break after 20 hours of usage. Booster Juice doesn't have shitty blenders where the connection between the motor and blade wears down with each use such that the motor spins but the blades do not before 3 digit uses, or even 4.

Don’t think I saw this one yet, but Briggs & Riley luggage. Lifetime no-questions-asked repairs for all functional damage, even if intentionally inflicted.

They’re also just very good. The BIFLness is cool but I’d have gone with another if it weren’t also the best in general. Super practical design.

This maybe a bit of a niche thing but I am using Sandisk Clip Sport mp3 player (although it has lossless FLAC support too) for something like 10+ years of nearly everyday use with no problem, which is crazy.

Also another weird thing is this cheap wireless mouse from A4Tech that lasts still for now like 8-6 years with no single issue. I maybe just rolled natural 20s on random cheap Chinese crap and got a perfect specimen or maybe it's actually good. I have no idea.

Request: Fridge brands?

My Samsung fridge broke down. I just got a Frigidaire from Costco and it arrived broken so I'm returning it.

Filco Majestouch keyboard. I've been programming on mine for over 5 years.

It probably won't outlast my IBM Model M, but it does feel lighter on the fingers.

Lee Valley makes durable tools and various other stuff. These measuring cups and spoons are going to end up in my will.

GoRuck backpacks. I bought mine a decade ago and it still has impeccable quality.

Red Wing boots (only the classic ones). I've had my Iron Rangers for ~~6 years~~ edit: 7 years now as my primary pair of non-athletic footwear. Occasional brush with a bit of conditioner and they look and feel amazing with no signs of slowing down. Will be replacing the sole when it eventually wears out but the original minilug is still going strong

Baggallini bags are virtually indestructible in my experience. I have a tote and a purse that I've used daily for 5 years, and they both look exactly like they did the day I bought them.

-Good year welt leather boots in general last a very long time. I have a pair of chippewa boots that have lasted me since 2016 and they're still good. Haven't needed to resole them, they're very comfortable. I've worn them maybe 20-30% of the time(I let them rest at least a day between wears). -Straight razors and DE razors last a very long time, and they can both be significantly cheaper than regular disposable razors and electric shavers. -PIAA silicone windshield wipers (I think many silicone based wipers in general) are as BIFL as can be for windshield wipers. I think I have the same pair on my car from 2016.

Outdoor clothing in Europe - Mammut