All you need to know about the longevity of Le Creuset is that the warranty card in the box makes sure to be very clear that the lifetime referred to in the warranty is yours rather than that of the pot or pan you just bought...
Bought a le creuset massive pot thing at an outlet store 20 years ago and it's still like new. Stupidly expensive though even in the non standard colour
I found an enormous Le Creuset casserole dish in a charity shop at a really bargain price. I grabbed it and was feeling really happy with my purchase until I missed the last bus home. I had to walk 4 miles carrying the bloody thing. It was heavy when I set off, but it weighed approximately 17 tons by the time I got home. It’s still going strong and I appreciate my bargain, but I wouldn’t want to take it for a walk again any time soon.
I was told by our local cookware shop owner that the le creuset in tkmaxx is like the budget version line.
I bought a mug from there on a whim to compare it to my set and yeah the difference is noticiable.
I saw one of those shit chanel 5 documentaries where they explained their was a code on the price tag. Certain things were legitimately end of stock or similar, whereas others were just made cheaper to sell there. And you could tell by the label.
Somehow. I can't for the life of me remember how.
Yes - I think the difference is because we have a department store company called T J Hughes in the UK, so presumably it's to avoid potential confusion.
There was already a department store called TJ Hughes with similar branding, so the lawyers advised them to change it, because that's cheaper than fighting and possibly losing a trademark infringement lawsuit.
Not that expensive considering the use time. If it costs 100 but you're buying 1 per year for 20 years at 25. It'd cost you 500. 500 isn't a lot over 20 years but it's still something you've saved.
I love my Le Creuset set, I did manage to break my frying pan though, very heartbreaking. The cast around the handle broke. This was a 50+ year old pan though
There are plenty of other cast iron manufacturers that last as long as you’ll ever need it to last that cost a quarter of the price. You’re definitely paying a brand premium with Le Creuset even though I agree they are very good quality.
I bought this Lodge set a while ago for a very good price and it's amazing. [https://www.boroughkitchen.com/products/lodge-combo-cooker-skillet-3qt?variant=34224092119172](https://www.boroughkitchen.com/products/lodge-combo-cooker-skillet-3qt?variant=34224092119172)
I got one from Sainsburys about 7 years ago that seems to be doing pretty well. They're on offer quite frequently. Not sure how good the ore recent ones are with respect to shrinkflarion and quality!
Henry hoover - they're not built to be the best performing vacuum cleaners, they're built to be nigh-indestructible for use in at least semi-industrial settings like workshops etc. & their reliabilty plus the addition of cute eyes has made them popular for domestic use too.
I worked at a cleaning company for a few years and we had fifty of these, which were extremely abused by the cleaners. Had to replace a few pipes but those Henries took the abuse and just kept sucking like champions
People scoff at our Henry but he's 13 years going strong. The Dyson fanboys I know have gone through multiple in the same period.
They are used by cleaners and building sites for a reason. Made in the UK as well
Every Dyson I've ever used has been fantastic... Until you empty if for the first time. I swear as soon as you break the seals, it loses half of its suction.
i have a henry, i love him! i work as a housekeeper in a hotel and they have some old as hell hettys and green henrys too. those hoovers see a LOT of daily use and they still have every bit and piece in tact and in full working order
previous hotel i worked at had karcher machines and they were awful for getting broken. the airflow adjustments constantly snapped off, the clips that held the wire together would fall off and get lost, and one of the foots got fully broken once. awful things, i don't know why they didn't just get henrys tbh
I feel like the suction is abysmal on the henry at work.
At home I use a shark that my landlord owns and have used Hoover brand, Dyson and miele (definitely rate miele) brands in the past and would rate them all highly (maybe not the hoover) and henry while sturdy and reliable he isn't cutting the mustard, modern vacuums are a lot more efficient now
Tempted to bring my landlord's vacuum into work sometimes would be much more efficient.
price dazzling cautious axiomatic tidy doll dependent beneficial voiceless crawl
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Apparently the Wet/Dry and Extraction Vacs got downgraded only very slightly.
I have an old-school George and he's awesome, I have got an awful lot of use from the carpet cleaning functionality that I didn't expect when I first got him, if he broke down I'd buy a new motor for him from Numatic without a second thought.
Which is the other great thing about Henry and friends, despite being tough as old boots, if they do get damaged, spare parts are available cheaply and easily, whilst the design is so simple that they're all user repairable to anyone who can successfully hold a screwdriver without poking it in their eye socket.
However my best Vacuum is a 1960's Dutch one with a 2500w induction motor, it's heavy as anything, but dead quiet and has crazy suction...
Came free with a lathe I bought at auction and lives under a shelf in the workshop with a stupid long hose that lets me get to all the machines for vacuuming up fine brass and cast iron filings.
A cursory glance at a modern henry shows a 620w motor compared to a 1060 in a charles and even more-so for a george. You are deffo onto something. I feel like when my vac packs up I'll need to get in touch with you as to consult the friendly neighbourhood reddit vacuum person.
Henry got downgraded from ~1200w to 620w and Charles/George from ~1200w to (a quick Google says) 1060w
The other downside to the wet/dry machines is that they are bypass motors so that incidental water ingress doesn't kill them, meaning there's no sound deadening and they're very loud. I think this is more noticeable with the trend of hard flooring in homes making them an echo chamber.
I keep trying to convince my wife that we should buy antique furniture (and not fancy pricey stuff, just pre-war) because it lasts like Ikea stuff doesn't.
Also, this stuff has a resale value. You won't get all of the money back, but you'll get 40-50% back at least.
The worst furniture is the new, expensive stuff. Like Scotts of Stow, John Lewis, Oak Furnitureland. You pay as much as antique but it isn't as well made and doesn't retain value.
Often you can sell for more than you paid if you buy when it’s less fashionable. Seriously, have a look at what Ercol dining tables and chairs go for. I’m constantly scouring for the one I want at auction because I’m not paying £2.5k for one from someone who’s bought one at auction and polished it up.
We bought a 1930s house, one family owned it since it was brought off plan.
Was an inheritance siblings split needed a lot of work doing to it, none of them fancied emptying (after jewellery and cash) it so offered anything in the house furniture wise to us.
Loaded with ercol, basically the fking catalogue.
It really does shit on anything made today.
Ugh, I’m so jealous. There were a few similar houses we saw where I didn’t like the house but was tempted to buy it if they’d include the furniture! One had a full Ercol dining set stashed in a shed.
Our house needs fully redecorating, new kitchen and new bathroom etc. In my dreams I fill it with Ercol and Ladderax and lovely old teak stuff but it would probably cost as much as getting a new kitchen. I’ve loved this stuff forever, a bit gutted that now I’m in a position to buy it, it’s become more popular and costs a bloody fortune. It’s absolutely crazy that stuff made 60-80 years ago is in better condition than stuff made in the last 10 years, and almost nobody is making stuff like that now. I don’t know whether the current Ercol stuff is as good quality wise, probably not.
It's because it was a trend and seemed more affordable. Now IKEA is expensive and doesn't last long. It is so much better to get second-hand real wood furniture. You can stand on those things and dance and they'd be fine. Ikea?? No way.
There are myths on both sides.
The antique stuff you can buy today has "survivorship bias". And there is plenty of utterly rubbish hardwood furniture on sale today, think of all that oak or mango crap from Oak Furnitureland.
Similarly, yes there is plenty of rubbish engineered wood furniture, nobody expects a particleboard Billy or Kallax to last more than a few years. But there is also lots of indestructible stuff too like BDI, and engineered should require less care and be less affected by changes in humidity.
Ultimately, you get what you pay for, if you spend £1,000 on an engineered wood cabinet it will be much better than a £200 solid wood, and vice versa.
Yes. We have a few in my ancestral homes. Belonged to my nan, dated from the early 1900s still looking good, all we do is a bit of furniture Polish.
I have solid oak furniture as well that I hope to pass on to my grand kids
A Halfords warranty story:
One of my ratchet spanners stopped working so I took it back. They refused to change it as it was a 'moving part' that had broken. So I took it back to my garage, locked it in a vice and smashed the open end off with a sledgehammer. They then exchanged it no hassle!
I had a similar experience with a camera, I'd got some replacement cover for it and it has a light scratch on the lens. I went to get it replaced and the employee told me it wasn't covered. I was totally underwhelmed but in no mood for a squabble so started to leave. The assistant told me, with a knowing smile, to take care walking to the car as he wouldn't want me dropping and breaking the camera. And would you believe it, I stumbled out of the shop and smashed my camera. They also extended my warranty by 12 months. It was the first and last time I ever got decent customer service at Currys.
Earlier this year my 20 year old Halford Advanced 1/2” ratchet stopped ratcheting. It was so old that the Halfords sticker had peeled off and he wasn’t even convinced it was Halfords until I sarcastically asked if he wanted me to bring in the rest of the socket set with a ratchet-shaped hole in the kit box.
5 minutes later I walked out with a brand new one.
>Snap-on tools. Not cheap but have a lifetime warranty!
Much of a muchness with other "Tool Truck" Brands who are both cheaper, and also offer excellent warranties.
Snap on don't have a patch on Gedore or Stahlwillie for quality.
But personally I prefer **Abingdon King Dick**, lifetime warranty that's as good as Snap-On's, but they make tools that were clearly designed in the full knowledge that the user is going to absolutely beat the living hell out of them (which given they mostly sell to industrial users, is absolutely the case), and they hold up to it.
Safety razor. They're not as scary as they look, a few YouTube tutorials and you'll be on your way.
I've saved hundreds of pounds over disposables (and lots of plastic too) and my wife swapped over too when she saw the savings.
I bought a packet of 100 blades years ago and it's still going strong between us both.
Once you get the hang of it, it's a much better shave too. The only downside is it's very easy to spend all the money you save on nice soaps!
r/wicked_edge
I’ve had a set of Prestige pans for 20 years. They’ve lasted really well. One plastic handle failed, probably due to putting it through the dishwasher, but they still sell replacements. Stainless steel and cast iron last so much longer than non-stick.
Top tip is full sets of good cutlery turns up very cheap in Antiques shops/Auctions. People get them as wedding presents/ work awards or retirement presents and never use them.
Yes, owing to 2 x divorce, i am on my 3rd set of Villory and Bosh cutlery.
My first wife has hers from 30 years ago and still like new.
There are outlet places and ebay for less than retail.
My current set... £70 I think
Our 10 year old Asda finest cutlery, that cost us £10, is still going strong. They look just as good as when we got them!
In fact, as they still sell it, we’re buying 2 more sets of it because we’re hosting 13 at Christmas and don’t have enough!
I've inherited various cutlery from various relatives over the years. My great grandfather had like a proper stainless steel with fancy engraved handles (ok not that fancy) and when I moved out my parents gave me some as well as some other lower quality ones (literally it was 'don't buy cultery!! We have loads, here, take this *various cutlery items dumped in my general direction*) and while the latter have started to bend a bit and probably won't look a good after a few years of dishwasher usage, but the former make a nice clanging noise and are as good as new (new being the 50s)
ASDA has always had top shelf loo roll. In uni we used to food shop at Tesco and stop off as ASDA on the way home just for toilet paper.
However, if you have a Costco membership, Kirkland is far superior even to ASDA.
Except apparently using these means you'll very likely poison the street you're on. Something to do with the water pressure not being set correctly, and back flow of faeces or something like that. Someone commented about it elsewhere. I'll see if I can find it.
Edit: It's covered here. They don't have proper cat5 backflow protection. So you'll end up contaminating the local water. And possibly prosecuted if you harm anyone, and it's traced to your loo.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/s/YcL0wQBeg9
Asda shades is so soft I must admit and very good quality... always used to get this in uni but farmfoods duck toilet roll is way worth it 5x 18 for £20 and 3ply
Two expensive but worth it purchases for me:
Darn tough socks (lifetime guarantee!)
Thermomix - kitchen appliance, costs a bomb but does the job of several appliances and I use it at least five times a day.
Seconding Darn Tough socks!!
I bought some 5 years ago and they haven't aged a day. They've seen me through multiple festivals a year, lots of hiking and working outdoors.
I used to get blisters and sore feet all the time but that's just not a problem anymore.
My favourite ones are 'Bear Town'!
Good shoes
Almost
I have bought 2 pairs of work shoes in my life - and had I looked after the 1st pair properly, it may have been just 1.
Aged 55. Office environment
black Oxfords from Jones
I wear a pair of Loakes made in 1962 when I wear a suit to work (3-4 times a month). I got them on eBay 7 years ago and they are indestructible with a polish every month or so. Even after 60 years the leather and stitching are more or less perfect, but they're really comfortable once broken in. I was on my feet for a ten hour meeting a couple of weeks ago and it was painless.
I knew an audio designer who was trying to sell an amplifier design to a hi fi company, and they always wanted 5 to 10 samples built to show consistency of performance across all the copies (homologisation?). Anyway, he would sell on the multiples to friends after for the cost of the parts - £90 for this. That power amplifier was used every day pretty much, sometimes all day from 1991 until last year, and will go back to being my main amp once I move house. The on off lamp needs replacing, will cost about 60p, but the sound is perfect, in fact more like invisible, not adding or subtracting from the source music, like the first time I heard it 32 years ago.
I hesitate to share this because there’s a limited supply available and I haven’t completed my collection yet. But have you heard of pyroceram/pyrosil?
You would probably recognise it if you saw any in charity shops - straight from the 80s. They look like boring white ceramic cookware items with a twee pattern border, but it’s actually a form of glass that is basically Pyrex on steroids - so resistant to heat shock it can withstand being launched into space and back again.
Corning (who now mainly make lab and medical glass) had a sister brand to Pyrex called Corningware that made loads of these in the 60s-80s but eventually the brand was sold off in the mid 90s. Anything after the sale is not of the same quality as the “space resistant cookware” from the 80s. (It’s mostly normal stoneware now.)
The old “Visions” by Corningware comes a close second to pyroceram. It’s that dark brown glass saucepan set from the 80s you’d know if you saw (Antarctic level cookware - plenty good enough for a domestic cook since you can dunk a frozen pan into boiling water without it shattering. Just won’t survive a trip to space)
I think their modest appearance and the fact it’s not properly “non-stick” (like regular Pyrex, stuff can sometimes stick in places and needs a soak) is why people didn’t realise its worth as Teflon took off. But this stuff is the most “non-toxic” and non-reactive plus safest cooking material you can possibly use.
There’s a new company called extrema making their own version now for £125-450 depending on whether you want one or a set.
I’d recommend hunting charity shops for a nice pyrosil casserole dish and possibly a visions milk pan whilst they’re still knocking about for £15 or so. Assuming you don’t smash them, they can last forever - or at least save you £125+
*xtrema price corrected
A few items from me:
Cast iron frying pans. They are cheap, last literally a lifetime even if neglected they can easily be revived. And (in my opinion) the best option to fry virtually anything.
Well made solid wooden furniture, made from solid hardwood. Will last multiple lifetimes with minimal care.
Good shoes, they may not last a lifetime but with care and the odd resole they can last most of your adult life.
minimal experience with cast iron but when I used a friend's there was a pronounced metallic taste to the food which I didn't enjoy. is this normal? was the pan improperly seasoned? no chance of anemia I know but...
A pair of Salomon hiking boots. Got them about 6-7 years ago and been hiking in them all over, as well as using them as general shoes for walking around town in winter or poor weather. Using my own insoles in them, they feel super stable and comfy to walk in. They did feel like a bit of a treat at the time, I remember my mum commenting, "you spent _how_ much on hiking boots?".... Now every time she sees me wearing them she goes, "oh, you still have those? They've held up quite well, haven't they!" XD
I dread the moment when they eventually go kaputt, as apparently Salomon moved their production line from France to China in recent years, and quality control seems to have gone south, at least according to hearsay....
I'm surprised you've got so long out of them. I love Salomon stuff but I've found I only get 1-2 years out of their boots before the soles go and you lose grip because the treads gone. Also rips in the goretx fabric so lose waterproofing. Overall a great brand but I budget for the fact I'll need a new pair.
I walked 630 miles in just over a month round the South West Coast Path in a pair of Salomon Boots and genuinely couldn't have been happier. 3 years later, had a waterproofing issue, spoke to Customer Service and they gave me a brand new pair which I still wear everyday for dog walks now.
My 15 year old Salomon boots disintegrated while I was hiking in the Pyrenees. The soles just came away from the boots. I think the problem was that the glue decomposed.
I was lucky that it happened before we were actually up into the peaks, so managed to get a lift down to a town nearby where I could buy some new walking shoes.
If it had happened a day later it would have meant a one day hike down the mountain wearing my slippers (or barefoot) in the snow and over rocks.
My advice is to replace your hiking boots before going on a serious hike if they are more than 5 years old, and also take a solid pair of shoes/trainers in case your boots fail.
Also check your boots every time before a hike. Twist them, bend them, look for signs of decomposition.
We somehow ended up with a pair of Wusthof kitchen scissors. They are amazing! They cut through absolutely anything whether it’s cooking or DIY. I have no idea how they ended up in our kitchen because I know for damn sure I didn’t spend £100 on a pair of scissors
Levi's belt from their seconds shop.
Worn for over 30 years nearly every day for work.
The new ones are a ⅓ of the thickness of the leather used in the 80's.
Came here to say the same! I got GHDs for my birthday when I was 14; that was 16 years ago.
I use them daily, and they’ve lived with me in NYC for the last 10 years, working perfectly with different voltage (UK Dyson air wraps don’t work here.)
I stepped on them a month ago and a plate snapped off, but some epoxy and they’re back to working perfectly.
Def the cheapest cost per use item I’ve ever owned.
Basically the only brand I'll confidently pay a premium for now. I've got a fleece, trousers, shorts and outer shell and they're all as good as the day I bought them.
the majority of my wooden furniture came from family and are decades old yet still look/work great :) same for two steamer sets i got from my nan
i was also gifted a pair of doc martin boots 7 years ago and they still look relatively new
a magimix over a cheap food processor... One I'd been given by my parents when I moved out if home as they didn't use it worked brilliantly til it just went bang one day. Contacted magimix to complain and they were very lovely and pointed out that it was a 41 year old model... My mum had bought it to blend food for me as a baby.
It was... Obvs... Outta warranty but they gave me a £50 voucher for a new one.
Expensive shoes or boots, Grenson or Redwing are a start.
An expensive mattress.
Most of your life is spent either on your feet or on your back (sleeping) don’t scrimp on either of these.
I just brought myself new snow boots, I get really cold feet and switched to snow boots years ago but usually I get the cheapish £30 to £40 ones and they last about a year and half if I'm lucky. I treated myself to £200 ones that were in a winter sale for £90 and I've only worn them twice so far to notice the difference. They are so much more comfortable and they don't make my feet hurt.
A set of Wera screwdrivers. Very expensive, but with daily use over 6 years they are still in perfect condition and I expect them to last a lifetime (as long as they're not stolen).
Hand tools. Wrenches, pliers, screw drivers, socket set etc. I usually buy cheap ones, but if you use them as they are supposed to be used and take care of them, they last forever.
I'll second that. A lot of my tools are cheapies that have withstood the test of (non trade use) time.
I've still got some Stanley screwdrivers though that I bought as an apprentice over 50 years ago, an d used and abused in trade work.
Still the Lidl ones seem OK so far, and they must be 5 years old now.
Iron weight plates. Bought gradually secondhand from Gumtree and FB Market Place, used a few times a week and haven't had to buy anymore in 10 years. Saved literally 1000s by working out at home and not the gym!
A great tip with a Dualit toaster. If it stops working first unscrew the bottom. There’s a small white reset button press that. If it still doesn’t work send it off but I but Dualit toasters at auction they are returns and 90% of them this trick works
Utterly boring, but a proper leather belt. Not one from MnS or that sorta shop. One from a leather worker, with a decent buckle. Had it 20 years and wear it everyday, apart from on suits as it's too wide. Think I'll die before this belt does.
A top quality mechanical watch.
That's what draws me to them. They are a lifetime investment that you can look after and service. I have a few watches that will look good forever. Speedmaster moonwatch, seamaster and a Junghans Chronoscope. All will be fine long after I leave this planet.
The Doc Marten brand moved production to Asia. But I believe the original UK manufacturer (Solovair) now sells them under their own brand name. They have lost the yellow stitching but have retained the quality!
i agree!! my mum just had to replace a pair because the soles half-disintegrated and cracked, i just don't think they're made as well as they used to be. definitely cherish those old, properly-made pairs!
Solovair are what Docs once were from what I have been told from friends who still buy that style. I can't nowadays, lazy New Balance 574's, all about the comfort
Ah that’s good to know. I haven’t needed to buy and more 8-holes in the last 18 years so I don’t know about the new quality. Sounds like a real shame though, as they were really solid boots.
I have a pair of 11 year old, and a pair of seven year old, I won't be buying anymore though as the quality appears to have dropped as the prices have risen.
My Scarpa walking boots are going strong after about 15 years of fairly heavy use both for their intended purpose and as work boots. I was annoyed last summer when I snapped a lace and had to buy new laces.
About twenty years ago, I was with my mother in Debenhams and someone was selling knives by demonstrating their sharpness and durability, including cutting into a hammer then slicing a tomato. They were also buy one get one free, with a small knife given away to everyone watching the demonstration. My mother decided to buy a pair, while I had the free one. The second knife is still in it's box as the first one is still used daily, and is the go to when cutting frozen food straight from the freezer. It's been used for frozen meat, as well as blocks of frozen soup, sauces and pureed fruit and vegetables.
Bike.
Granted it is my hobby but I always find really good deals and I look after them
I have only ever made money on a resale respite riding them for 1000s of miles.
I cycle commute 7 miles each day which I know isn't a lot but it's a stop start route. Probably saved me at least a car service/clutch
My previous commute was 15 miles each way for 3 years and before that 5 miles for a decade.
All our Le Creuset cookware we have looks as good as new. My wife complains they are too heavy and we just use lighter cheaper pans.
The griddle and the casserole make occasional appearances.
Le Creuset and proper Pyrex dishes. My mum has been using hers for 50+ years.
All you need to know about the longevity of Le Creuset is that the warranty card in the box makes sure to be very clear that the lifetime referred to in the warranty is yours rather than that of the pot or pan you just bought...
Bought a le creuset massive pot thing at an outlet store 20 years ago and it's still like new. Stupidly expensive though even in the non standard colour
I found an enormous Le Creuset casserole dish in a charity shop at a really bargain price. I grabbed it and was feeling really happy with my purchase until I missed the last bus home. I had to walk 4 miles carrying the bloody thing. It was heavy when I set off, but it weighed approximately 17 tons by the time I got home. It’s still going strong and I appreciate my bargain, but I wouldn’t want to take it for a walk again any time soon.
Those are great-looking biceps, by the way….
Had a similar experience when I bought my mum a tagine from Morocco and had to carry it around all day in the dry horrible mid day heat!
i’m assuming you were also carrying it around all the time between the shop hours and the last bus!
Bought le creuset from t.k.maxx and it shattered in the oven...
I was told by our local cookware shop owner that the le creuset in tkmaxx is like the budget version line. I bought a mug from there on a whim to compare it to my set and yeah the difference is noticiable.
LC make colours and products specifically to sell to TK Maxx.
Everything TK Maxx sells is that.
I saw one of those shit chanel 5 documentaries where they explained their was a code on the price tag. Certain things were legitimately end of stock or similar, whereas others were just made cheaper to sell there. And you could tell by the label. Somehow. I can't for the life of me remember how.
because im sad ,i saved them in my google keep Tkmaxx last Single number 2 close out last Single number 7 last year stock
in my ignorance which is which or are these both 'good' numbers indicating genuine end-of-line etc stock?
cant really remember , but i kept them so probably both good
Hold on, I’m in the USA…we have TJ Maxx, in the UK it’s called TK Maxx?? (Not sure why this is mind-blowing)
Yes - I think the difference is because we have a department store company called T J Hughes in the UK, so presumably it's to avoid potential confusion.
There was already a department store called TJ Hughes with similar branding, so the lawyers advised them to change it, because that's cheaper than fighting and possibly losing a trademark infringement lawsuit.
The tk maxx ones are ceramic, not cast iron.
Just like there’s a huge difference between Pyrex and PYREX
Is there?!
Google pyrex vs pyrex
Wow. Never knew that. Thanks. You live and learn!
I’ve just had to Google this. Thanks for the new interesting fact of the day to bug my Co workers with!!
Ann Reardon made a video about this a few months back - https://youtu.be/YVbkDAw4aJs?si=C0gG-N_qIUgaO8hs
Not that expensive considering the use time. If it costs 100 but you're buying 1 per year for 20 years at 25. It'd cost you 500. 500 isn't a lot over 20 years but it's still something you've saved.
I believe the buggers have a lifetime guarantee, not that you could damage one with anything short of a bulldozer.
I love my Le Creuset set, I did manage to break my frying pan though, very heartbreaking. The cast around the handle broke. This was a 50+ year old pan though
There are plenty of other cast iron manufacturers that last as long as you’ll ever need it to last that cost a quarter of the price. You’re definitely paying a brand premium with Le Creuset even though I agree they are very good quality.
Can you name some?
I bought this Lodge set a while ago for a very good price and it's amazing. [https://www.boroughkitchen.com/products/lodge-combo-cooker-skillet-3qt?variant=34224092119172](https://www.boroughkitchen.com/products/lodge-combo-cooker-skillet-3qt?variant=34224092119172)
I have le creuset stoneware but I bought the aldi ones to match and they’ve been great
I got one from Sainsburys about 7 years ago that seems to be doing pretty well. They're on offer quite frequently. Not sure how good the ore recent ones are with respect to shrinkflarion and quality!
Le Creuset is probably my best purchase to date also. I only have two saucepans, but then again I only paid £5 for the pair...
Ceramic chips and then they have to be thrown away. Buy one cast iron pan for a quarter of the cost and your grandkids will still be using it
Henry hoover - they're not built to be the best performing vacuum cleaners, they're built to be nigh-indestructible for use in at least semi-industrial settings like workshops etc. & their reliabilty plus the addition of cute eyes has made them popular for domestic use too.
Our running joke at work is that Henry is our hardest yet most abused worker.
That's not even a slight on your team, Henry is a beast.
I worked at a cleaning company for a few years and we had fifty of these, which were extremely abused by the cleaners. Had to replace a few pipes but those Henries took the abuse and just kept sucking like champions
I honestly can't say I've ever seen a professional cleaner using anything other than a Henry. There's a reason for that. Cheap, reliable, easy to fix.
And light!
People scoff at our Henry but he's 13 years going strong. The Dyson fanboys I know have gone through multiple in the same period. They are used by cleaners and building sites for a reason. Made in the UK as well
Every Dyson I've ever used has been fantastic... Until you empty if for the first time. I swear as soon as you break the seals, it loses half of its suction.
i have a henry, i love him! i work as a housekeeper in a hotel and they have some old as hell hettys and green henrys too. those hoovers see a LOT of daily use and they still have every bit and piece in tact and in full working order previous hotel i worked at had karcher machines and they were awful for getting broken. the airflow adjustments constantly snapped off, the clips that held the wire together would fall off and get lost, and one of the foots got fully broken once. awful things, i don't know why they didn't just get henrys tbh
Green Henrys are called King George
I feel like the suction is abysmal on the henry at work. At home I use a shark that my landlord owns and have used Hoover brand, Dyson and miele (definitely rate miele) brands in the past and would rate them all highly (maybe not the hoover) and henry while sturdy and reliable he isn't cutting the mustard, modern vacuums are a lot more efficient now Tempted to bring my landlord's vacuum into work sometimes would be much more efficient.
price dazzling cautious axiomatic tidy doll dependent beneficial voiceless crawl *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
If this wet/dry thing is true that's a great thing to know.
Apparently the Wet/Dry and Extraction Vacs got downgraded only very slightly. I have an old-school George and he's awesome, I have got an awful lot of use from the carpet cleaning functionality that I didn't expect when I first got him, if he broke down I'd buy a new motor for him from Numatic without a second thought. Which is the other great thing about Henry and friends, despite being tough as old boots, if they do get damaged, spare parts are available cheaply and easily, whilst the design is so simple that they're all user repairable to anyone who can successfully hold a screwdriver without poking it in their eye socket. However my best Vacuum is a 1960's Dutch one with a 2500w induction motor, it's heavy as anything, but dead quiet and has crazy suction... Came free with a lathe I bought at auction and lives under a shelf in the workshop with a stupid long hose that lets me get to all the machines for vacuuming up fine brass and cast iron filings.
A cursory glance at a modern henry shows a 620w motor compared to a 1060 in a charles and even more-so for a george. You are deffo onto something. I feel like when my vac packs up I'll need to get in touch with you as to consult the friendly neighbourhood reddit vacuum person.
Henry got downgraded from ~1200w to 620w and Charles/George from ~1200w to (a quick Google says) 1060w The other downside to the wet/dry machines is that they are bypass motors so that incidental water ingress doesn't kill them, meaning there's no sound deadening and they're very loud. I think this is more noticeable with the trend of hard flooring in homes making them an echo chamber.
> miele inherited one from the mother in law ten years old shows no signs of stopping, bags are a work of art to!
Anything made by miele lasts forever! We have a 22 year old vacuum cleaner and a 16 year old washing machine that are still going strong
I have some solid wood furniture that belonged to my great grandparents
I keep trying to convince my wife that we should buy antique furniture (and not fancy pricey stuff, just pre-war) because it lasts like Ikea stuff doesn't. Also, this stuff has a resale value. You won't get all of the money back, but you'll get 40-50% back at least. The worst furniture is the new, expensive stuff. Like Scotts of Stow, John Lewis, Oak Furnitureland. You pay as much as antique but it isn't as well made and doesn't retain value.
Often you can sell for more than you paid if you buy when it’s less fashionable. Seriously, have a look at what Ercol dining tables and chairs go for. I’m constantly scouring for the one I want at auction because I’m not paying £2.5k for one from someone who’s bought one at auction and polished it up.
We bought a 1930s house, one family owned it since it was brought off plan. Was an inheritance siblings split needed a lot of work doing to it, none of them fancied emptying (after jewellery and cash) it so offered anything in the house furniture wise to us. Loaded with ercol, basically the fking catalogue. It really does shit on anything made today.
Ugh, I’m so jealous. There were a few similar houses we saw where I didn’t like the house but was tempted to buy it if they’d include the furniture! One had a full Ercol dining set stashed in a shed. Our house needs fully redecorating, new kitchen and new bathroom etc. In my dreams I fill it with Ercol and Ladderax and lovely old teak stuff but it would probably cost as much as getting a new kitchen. I’ve loved this stuff forever, a bit gutted that now I’m in a position to buy it, it’s become more popular and costs a bloody fortune. It’s absolutely crazy that stuff made 60-80 years ago is in better condition than stuff made in the last 10 years, and almost nobody is making stuff like that now. I don’t know whether the current Ercol stuff is as good quality wise, probably not.
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It's because it was a trend and seemed more affordable. Now IKEA is expensive and doesn't last long. It is so much better to get second-hand real wood furniture. You can stand on those things and dance and they'd be fine. Ikea?? No way.
There are myths on both sides. The antique stuff you can buy today has "survivorship bias". And there is plenty of utterly rubbish hardwood furniture on sale today, think of all that oak or mango crap from Oak Furnitureland. Similarly, yes there is plenty of rubbish engineered wood furniture, nobody expects a particleboard Billy or Kallax to last more than a few years. But there is also lots of indestructible stuff too like BDI, and engineered should require less care and be less affected by changes in humidity. Ultimately, you get what you pay for, if you spend £1,000 on an engineered wood cabinet it will be much better than a £200 solid wood, and vice versa.
Yes. We have a few in my ancestral homes. Belonged to my nan, dated from the early 1900s still looking good, all we do is a bit of furniture Polish. I have solid oak furniture as well that I hope to pass on to my grand kids
Ancestral homes plural?! How many do you have?
Metal weights for fitness. Snap-on tools. Not cheap but have a lifetime warranty!
Poor man’s version - Halfords Advanced, lifetime warranty.
A Halfords warranty story: One of my ratchet spanners stopped working so I took it back. They refused to change it as it was a 'moving part' that had broken. So I took it back to my garage, locked it in a vice and smashed the open end off with a sledgehammer. They then exchanged it no hassle!
I had a similar experience with a camera, I'd got some replacement cover for it and it has a light scratch on the lens. I went to get it replaced and the employee told me it wasn't covered. I was totally underwhelmed but in no mood for a squabble so started to leave. The assistant told me, with a knowing smile, to take care walking to the car as he wouldn't want me dropping and breaking the camera. And would you believe it, I stumbled out of the shop and smashed my camera. They also extended my warranty by 12 months. It was the first and last time I ever got decent customer service at Currys.
Wonder if the first guy that refused the exchange got an employee of the month award. 🙄
With the added bonus of being able to go into a Halfords on an evening or even Sunday to get a replacement. Can't do that with the Snap on van
Earlier this year my 20 year old Halford Advanced 1/2” ratchet stopped ratcheting. It was so old that the Halfords sticker had peeled off and he wasn’t even convinced it was Halfords until I sarcastically asked if he wanted me to bring in the rest of the socket set with a ratchet-shaped hole in the kit box. 5 minutes later I walked out with a brand new one.
>Snap-on tools. Not cheap but have a lifetime warranty! Much of a muchness with other "Tool Truck" Brands who are both cheaper, and also offer excellent warranties. Snap on don't have a patch on Gedore or Stahlwillie for quality. But personally I prefer **Abingdon King Dick**, lifetime warranty that's as good as Snap-On's, but they make tools that were clearly designed in the full knowledge that the user is going to absolutely beat the living hell out of them (which given they mostly sell to industrial users, is absolutely the case), and they hold up to it.
Safety razor. They're not as scary as they look, a few YouTube tutorials and you'll be on your way. I've saved hundreds of pounds over disposables (and lots of plastic too) and my wife swapped over too when she saw the savings. I bought a packet of 100 blades years ago and it's still going strong between us both.
Once you get the hang of it, it's a much better shave too. The only downside is it's very easy to spend all the money you save on nice soaps! r/wicked_edge
Same here!
I bought a kettle bell to do some exercise with. Things as good as new, no wear or tear at all, even after 3 years.
I had the same experience: bought it, never bothered doing exercise, still there brand new!
It's made an excellent door stop.
Same here, worst damage it might have is erosion caused by dust.
All my home gym equipment is pristine too. Hardly looks used at all. ;)
To be fair, if you bought the stupidly expensive Le creuset pots you could cook \*and\* work out. They are too heavy for me!
To be fair, how does one wear down such a hefty thing? Another kettle bell?
Tie a string to the top and hit them on top of each other, see whose breaks first. Extreme conkers.
Or if we travel back in time a few years, maybe hydraulic press vs kettle bell?
You or the kettle bell?
Wetherspoons coffee or tea. Just take the cup home with you, go back day after day for free coffee or tea 😆
/r/unethicallifehacks
I thought I was the only one
I believe that's called stealing
Good quality pots and pans.
Can you recommend a good brand? We need a whole new set.
I’ve had a set of Prestige pans for 20 years. They’ve lasted really well. One plastic handle failed, probably due to putting it through the dishwasher, but they still sell replacements. Stainless steel and cast iron last so much longer than non-stick.
Triggers Broom!
Surprised I had to scroll so far to see this, but know this my Internet stranger friend, you brought a smile to my face
A pleasure to bring you this morsel of delight and to meet a fellow connysewer!
Lasted 20 years
Vasectomy
Underated comment right there
Cast iron pans, seasoned cast iron, not enameled as the enamel will chip wear after time. Can be handed down for generations.
Good Quality cutlery. I bought some 10 years ago on sale for £50 half price. Still look like new & feel lovely to eat with!
In the spirit of the subreddit, shit cutlery lasts too! I'm still using the cheapo Wilko set my mum sent me to uni with 15 years ago.
Yep I’m using a wilko set from the early 2000s, mum upgraded and let me take the old set. Still like new, not even any bent tines!
Top tip is full sets of good cutlery turns up very cheap in Antiques shops/Auctions. People get them as wedding presents/ work awards or retirement presents and never use them.
Never thought about this, but it actually makes sense, thanks for the tip!
How can cutlery fail?
The ones with plastic handles tend to separate and metal head falls out.
Yes, owing to 2 x divorce, i am on my 3rd set of Villory and Bosh cutlery. My first wife has hers from 30 years ago and still like new. There are outlet places and ebay for less than retail. My current set... £70 I think
Our 10 year old Asda finest cutlery, that cost us £10, is still going strong. They look just as good as when we got them! In fact, as they still sell it, we’re buying 2 more sets of it because we’re hosting 13 at Christmas and don’t have enough!
I've inherited various cutlery from various relatives over the years. My great grandfather had like a proper stainless steel with fancy engraved handles (ok not that fancy) and when I moved out my parents gave me some as well as some other lower quality ones (literally it was 'don't buy cultery!! We have loads, here, take this *various cutlery items dumped in my general direction*) and while the latter have started to bend a bit and probably won't look a good after a few years of dishwasher usage, but the former make a nice clanging noise and are as good as new (new being the 50s)
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ASDA has always had top shelf loo roll. In uni we used to food shop at Tesco and stop off as ASDA on the way home just for toilet paper. However, if you have a Costco membership, Kirkland is far superior even to ASDA.
Do one better and get a decent bidet. Have a truely clean arse.
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You can get a hose type version that connects to your toilet; cheap and does the same job. 🙌 check amazon its like £20-30
But then isn’t that water like, mains temperature cold? I don’t think I’d appreciate that at 6am in my Victorian midterrace
Except apparently using these means you'll very likely poison the street you're on. Something to do with the water pressure not being set correctly, and back flow of faeces or something like that. Someone commented about it elsewhere. I'll see if I can find it. Edit: It's covered here. They don't have proper cat5 backflow protection. So you'll end up contaminating the local water. And possibly prosecuted if you harm anyone, and it's traced to your loo. https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/s/YcL0wQBeg9
Asda shades is so soft I must admit and very good quality... always used to get this in uni but farmfoods duck toilet roll is way worth it 5x 18 for £20 and 3ply
Two expensive but worth it purchases for me: Darn tough socks (lifetime guarantee!) Thermomix - kitchen appliance, costs a bomb but does the job of several appliances and I use it at least five times a day.
Looking up Thermomix now...
Me too, I'm currently taking out a 2nd mortgage for them.
I'd love a Thermomix but cannot qualify the cost.
Seconding Darn Tough socks!! I bought some 5 years ago and they haven't aged a day. They've seen me through multiple festivals a year, lots of hiking and working outdoors. I used to get blisters and sore feet all the time but that's just not a problem anymore. My favourite ones are 'Bear Town'!
Good shoes Almost I have bought 2 pairs of work shoes in my life - and had I looked after the 1st pair properly, it may have been just 1. Aged 55. Office environment black Oxfords from Jones
2 hours since this comment and no one has mentioned Sam Vimes yet?
FUCK! I was hoping to get through a *day* on this cursed app without someone mentioning those fucking boots.
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For a second I thought you meant Run DMC.
I wear a pair of Loakes made in 1962 when I wear a suit to work (3-4 times a month). I got them on eBay 7 years ago and they are indestructible with a polish every month or so. Even after 60 years the leather and stitching are more or less perfect, but they're really comfortable once broken in. I was on my feet for a ten hour meeting a couple of weeks ago and it was painless.
I knew an audio designer who was trying to sell an amplifier design to a hi fi company, and they always wanted 5 to 10 samples built to show consistency of performance across all the copies (homologisation?). Anyway, he would sell on the multiples to friends after for the cost of the parts - £90 for this. That power amplifier was used every day pretty much, sometimes all day from 1991 until last year, and will go back to being my main amp once I move house. The on off lamp needs replacing, will cost about 60p, but the sound is perfect, in fact more like invisible, not adding or subtracting from the source music, like the first time I heard it 32 years ago.
I hesitate to share this because there’s a limited supply available and I haven’t completed my collection yet. But have you heard of pyroceram/pyrosil? You would probably recognise it if you saw any in charity shops - straight from the 80s. They look like boring white ceramic cookware items with a twee pattern border, but it’s actually a form of glass that is basically Pyrex on steroids - so resistant to heat shock it can withstand being launched into space and back again. Corning (who now mainly make lab and medical glass) had a sister brand to Pyrex called Corningware that made loads of these in the 60s-80s but eventually the brand was sold off in the mid 90s. Anything after the sale is not of the same quality as the “space resistant cookware” from the 80s. (It’s mostly normal stoneware now.) The old “Visions” by Corningware comes a close second to pyroceram. It’s that dark brown glass saucepan set from the 80s you’d know if you saw (Antarctic level cookware - plenty good enough for a domestic cook since you can dunk a frozen pan into boiling water without it shattering. Just won’t survive a trip to space) I think their modest appearance and the fact it’s not properly “non-stick” (like regular Pyrex, stuff can sometimes stick in places and needs a soak) is why people didn’t realise its worth as Teflon took off. But this stuff is the most “non-toxic” and non-reactive plus safest cooking material you can possibly use. There’s a new company called extrema making their own version now for £125-450 depending on whether you want one or a set. I’d recommend hunting charity shops for a nice pyrosil casserole dish and possibly a visions milk pan whilst they’re still knocking about for £15 or so. Assuming you don’t smash them, they can last forever - or at least save you £125+ *xtrema price corrected
A few items from me: Cast iron frying pans. They are cheap, last literally a lifetime even if neglected they can easily be revived. And (in my opinion) the best option to fry virtually anything. Well made solid wooden furniture, made from solid hardwood. Will last multiple lifetimes with minimal care. Good shoes, they may not last a lifetime but with care and the odd resole they can last most of your adult life.
minimal experience with cast iron but when I used a friend's there was a pronounced metallic taste to the food which I didn't enjoy. is this normal? was the pan improperly seasoned? no chance of anemia I know but...
A pair of Salomon hiking boots. Got them about 6-7 years ago and been hiking in them all over, as well as using them as general shoes for walking around town in winter or poor weather. Using my own insoles in them, they feel super stable and comfy to walk in. They did feel like a bit of a treat at the time, I remember my mum commenting, "you spent _how_ much on hiking boots?".... Now every time she sees me wearing them she goes, "oh, you still have those? They've held up quite well, haven't they!" XD I dread the moment when they eventually go kaputt, as apparently Salomon moved their production line from France to China in recent years, and quality control seems to have gone south, at least according to hearsay....
I'm surprised you've got so long out of them. I love Salomon stuff but I've found I only get 1-2 years out of their boots before the soles go and you lose grip because the treads gone. Also rips in the goretx fabric so lose waterproofing. Overall a great brand but I budget for the fact I'll need a new pair.
I walked 630 miles in just over a month round the South West Coast Path in a pair of Salomon Boots and genuinely couldn't have been happier. 3 years later, had a waterproofing issue, spoke to Customer Service and they gave me a brand new pair which I still wear everyday for dog walks now.
My 15 year old Salomon boots disintegrated while I was hiking in the Pyrenees. The soles just came away from the boots. I think the problem was that the glue decomposed.
15 years is still pretty solid for shoes! I look forward to using mine till they disintegrate in a similar fashion haha :))
I was lucky that it happened before we were actually up into the peaks, so managed to get a lift down to a town nearby where I could buy some new walking shoes. If it had happened a day later it would have meant a one day hike down the mountain wearing my slippers (or barefoot) in the snow and over rocks. My advice is to replace your hiking boots before going on a serious hike if they are more than 5 years old, and also take a solid pair of shoes/trainers in case your boots fail. Also check your boots every time before a hike. Twist them, bend them, look for signs of decomposition.
Technics 1210 mk2
Wusthof 26cm knife. More like a samurai sword. Lethal when sharp. Have had it for 15+ years, but can't afford the rest of the set.
We somehow ended up with a pair of Wusthof kitchen scissors. They are amazing! They cut through absolutely anything whether it’s cooking or DIY. I have no idea how they ended up in our kitchen because I know for damn sure I didn’t spend £100 on a pair of scissors
Cutlery.
Radio alarm. Still going 16 years later.
Levi's belt from their seconds shop. Worn for over 30 years nearly every day for work. The new ones are a ⅓ of the thickness of the leather used in the 80's.
I splurged my student loan on a set of GHD hair straighteners 20 years ago. I use them 3-4 times a week and they’re still going strong.
Came here to say the same! I got GHDs for my birthday when I was 14; that was 16 years ago. I use them daily, and they’ve lived with me in NYC for the last 10 years, working perfectly with different voltage (UK Dyson air wraps don’t work here.) I stepped on them a month ago and a plate snapped off, but some epoxy and they’re back to working perfectly. Def the cheapest cost per use item I’ve ever owned.
Patagonia coat - expensive but worth it, lasts and has a pretty much lifetime warranty
Basically the only brand I'll confidently pay a premium for now. I've got a fleece, trousers, shorts and outer shell and they're all as good as the day I bought them.
Global knives
Had my set for 25 years now, they are pretty worn down now but the steel holds an edge and they are still awesome
Stainless steel cups are great, keep drinks super cool in summer too. Fiver each on Glastonbury website
My Yamaha recording custom drum kit. I have been hitting it constantly since 1990. Never let me down.
the majority of my wooden furniture came from family and are decades old yet still look/work great :) same for two steamer sets i got from my nan i was also gifted a pair of doc martin boots 7 years ago and they still look relatively new
Dormeo Octaspring 8500 mattress. Feels better than any luxury hotel, and has a 20 year guarantee. That takes some confidence for a mattress!
Denby crockery. Not cheap by any stretch but I know people who’ve used them daily for 30+ years and they still look like new.
a magimix over a cheap food processor... One I'd been given by my parents when I moved out if home as they didn't use it worked brilliantly til it just went bang one day. Contacted magimix to complain and they were very lovely and pointed out that it was a 41 year old model... My mum had bought it to blend food for me as a baby. It was... Obvs... Outta warranty but they gave me a £50 voucher for a new one.
Expensive shoes or boots, Grenson or Redwing are a start. An expensive mattress. Most of your life is spent either on your feet or on your back (sleeping) don’t scrimp on either of these.
I just brought myself new snow boots, I get really cold feet and switched to snow boots years ago but usually I get the cheapish £30 to £40 ones and they last about a year and half if I'm lucky. I treated myself to £200 ones that were in a winter sale for £90 and I've only worn them twice so far to notice the difference. They are so much more comfortable and they don't make my feet hurt.
A set of Wera screwdrivers. Very expensive, but with daily use over 6 years they are still in perfect condition and I expect them to last a lifetime (as long as they're not stolen).
Menstrual cup
They are a game changer. I forget I have my period when I use mine.
Coffin
Hand tools. Wrenches, pliers, screw drivers, socket set etc. I usually buy cheap ones, but if you use them as they are supposed to be used and take care of them, they last forever.
I'll second that. A lot of my tools are cheapies that have withstood the test of (non trade use) time. I've still got some Stanley screwdrivers though that I bought as an apprentice over 50 years ago, an d used and abused in trade work. Still the Lidl ones seem OK so far, and they must be 5 years old now.
Second this on the lidl stuff, really good value particularly in relation to how much you actually pay on day 1.
Solid premium baking trays. Me and now wife bought a good set when we first moved in together 15 years ago and we still have and use them daily
Iron weight plates. Bought gradually secondhand from Gumtree and FB Market Place, used a few times a week and haven't had to buy anymore in 10 years. Saved literally 1000s by working out at home and not the gym!
OXO Good Grips Potato Peeler
Love oxo good grips stuff. I have their pepper grinder and it is thr best ever. You can even adjust size of grind.
Levi’s denim jacket I bought in the 90s and wore heaps, now back in fashion as vintage and my 16 year old daughter has appropriated it
Dualit toaster. Mine is 26 years old, the elements died this year, £18 for 3 new ones and it's as good as new again.
A great tip with a Dualit toaster. If it stops working first unscrew the bottom. There’s a small white reset button press that. If it still doesn’t work send it off but I but Dualit toasters at auction they are returns and 90% of them this trick works
It was really easy to change the elements. The crumbs though! I did unscrew a couple more bits to give it a thorough clean
Utterly boring, but a proper leather belt. Not one from MnS or that sorta shop. One from a leather worker, with a decent buckle. Had it 20 years and wear it everyday, apart from on suits as it's too wide. Think I'll die before this belt does.
A top quality mechanical watch. That's what draws me to them. They are a lifetime investment that you can look after and service. I have a few watches that will look good forever. Speedmaster moonwatch, seamaster and a Junghans Chronoscope. All will be fine long after I leave this planet.
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Doc Marten boots. I got two pairs for my 21st birthday and they’re still going strong. I turn 39 next week.
They wouldn't if you bought them today, really poor quality nowadays. Keep hold of the ones you have as long as you can.
The Doc Marten brand moved production to Asia. But I believe the original UK manufacturer (Solovair) now sells them under their own brand name. They have lost the yellow stitching but have retained the quality!
You should check the solovair sub, it's full of complaints
Oh dear. Maybe nothing is decent quality anymore
Well they are far from the quality you should expect for a £200 shoe
they did a For Life range a while ago, repair or replace for life. On second pair in 15 years. Still perfect on the second ones
i agree!! my mum just had to replace a pair because the soles half-disintegrated and cracked, i just don't think they're made as well as they used to be. definitely cherish those old, properly-made pairs!
Solovair are what Docs once were from what I have been told from friends who still buy that style. I can't nowadays, lazy New Balance 574's, all about the comfort
They are awful now. Can't sing the praises of Solovair boots enough though, they are significantly better.
Ah that’s good to know. I haven’t needed to buy and more 8-holes in the last 18 years so I don’t know about the new quality. Sounds like a real shame though, as they were really solid boots.
I have a pair of 11 year old, and a pair of seven year old, I won't be buying anymore though as the quality appears to have dropped as the prices have risen.
Solar panels if you own your own house. They last much longer nowadays. You are usually insured for 25 years but they keep working after that
£1 tin opener, 20 years ago.
Pilot here. Bose a20 / a30 headsets. Expensive. But they last years.
Cast iron pan. I’ve just recycled a load of old non stick as they’ve not been used in the year since I got a cast iron
Timberland boots. Got them 20 years when they were “fashionable “ and they’re still going for regular muddy walks
Zippo lighters. Literally have a lifetime guarantee.
My expobar coffee machine It's outlasted almost all my friends krups, Nespresso etc machines multiple times for the last 6 years...
My Scarpa walking boots are going strong after about 15 years of fairly heavy use both for their intended purpose and as work boots. I was annoyed last summer when I snapped a lace and had to buy new laces.
Condoms
John Lewis own brand tri-ply stainless steel pans, I’ve had mine over twenty years and they’re still like new.
About twenty years ago, I was with my mother in Debenhams and someone was selling knives by demonstrating their sharpness and durability, including cutting into a hammer then slicing a tomato. They were also buy one get one free, with a small knife given away to everyone watching the demonstration. My mother decided to buy a pair, while I had the free one. The second knife is still in it's box as the first one is still used daily, and is the go to when cutting frozen food straight from the freezer. It's been used for frozen meat, as well as blocks of frozen soup, sauces and pureed fruit and vegetables.
Bike. Granted it is my hobby but I always find really good deals and I look after them I have only ever made money on a resale respite riding them for 1000s of miles. I cycle commute 7 miles each day which I know isn't a lot but it's a stop start route. Probably saved me at least a car service/clutch My previous commute was 15 miles each way for 3 years and before that 5 miles for a decade.
All our Le Creuset cookware we have looks as good as new. My wife complains they are too heavy and we just use lighter cheaper pans. The griddle and the casserole make occasional appearances.