I’ve read some recent reviews on doc martens being total garbage now.

Timberland boots also last. Docs have gone down in quality

I doubt it matters much, but I’ve had the same cloak from Cloak and Dagger for close to a decade now. The only issue was that the clasp detached, but it was an easy fix.

!buyitforlife@slrpnk.net

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.

Doc martens are not so great quality now. The general consensus is that Solovair are the spiritual successor (in terms of quality) to what Dr Martens were. This video has more info: https://youtu.be/vkhCcvfVHRs?si=21bH9fSvkNgmjwm1

For laptops O would recommend framework laptops. The idea is that they have upgradable and repairable.modules. You can follow them on mastodon too: @frameworkcomputer@fosstodon.org And we have a Lemmy community too: !framework@lemmy.ml

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

For hiking and camping gear: Savotta

If you’re not from Finland you’ve probably never heard of them but I’m yet to buy one product from them I’m not satisfied with. They make gear for the Finnish defence forces aswell.

I have good luck with Duluth products, I have shirts from 5 years ago that still look new.

Miele (European) (dish) washing / dryers / fridges

Solovair are better than doc martens by a mile.

Been about 10 years now and my GoRuck gear doesn’t even look used despite being carried any time I take a trip, which is quite often. Multiple continents, planes, trains, hiking, backpacking, etc. I’d say GoRuck (at least the American made stuff) is BIFL. knocks on wood

I recently bought some “cheap” underwear at Walmart. I really don’t like Walmart and avoid going there but I decided that underwear lasting for a decade or longer is just too long. So I’m intentionally NOT doing BIFL with underwear, socks and other things. Because it just seems cleaner and healthier to replace that stuff more often.

With many things I do prefer better quality, BIFL-class products:
LEDs are a much better value even than CFLs bulbs and incandescent are actively eliminated in my house.
I have a Deere mower that seems like it will never die.
Corelle dishes seem to last forever, I have had many of mine for 30 years.
Victorinox knives (pocket and chef’s).
KaBar and Morakniv knives.
Kohler plumbing fixtures.
Rotel or McIntosh audio equipment.
Vitamix mixer.
DeWalt, Makita, Craftsman, Milwaukee, Husky and Hitachi tools.
Deckmate or stainless steel screws for outdoor use.

For espresso machines I would recommend Gaggia. I bought one that was at least third hand and from 2000. It still works great and if anything breaks all the parts can be bought online

A bit off the rails, since it’s not a particular brand. But anything leather (wallets, belts, pouches, etc). I’ve had my leather wallet for nearly 7 years, maybe more. I haven’t really taken care of it (though I should). It’s been through a lot, and it has held up so well. Leather also ages very well. Whether it’s scuffed or dented, it’ll still look good with added character. As long as you don’t lose it or cut it (and craftsmanship is good), you’ll probably have it for a very long time.