I received these headphone in 2012 for Christmas. I wore them most days and have put thousands of hours into them.

I replaced the ear cushions (faux leather flaking) with 3rd party sheepskin ones for $40 CAD after maybe 7 or 8 years of use. The headband got the same treatment a few years ago. Bought some leather and glued it on.

The only other deficiency is the padding on the headband has worn down but that doesn't bother my head shape. The only reason they're being retired is because I'm an idiot and sat on them which deformed them enough they don't sit well on my head now.

The replacement ATH-M50x reportedly sounds a touch worse but also comes with a detachable cable. Despite there being options that sound better at that price, I'm buying them anyway.

This thing has gone through the wringer and only died because I was an idiot. Audio-Technica will have my business for the foreseeable future because I *know* this product line is robust. I probably can't hear the difference between an M50x and competitor anyhow.

10/10 would buy again and they also make quality turntables. I cannot vouch for every single product they make but based on what I've seen, quality is an important part of their corporate culture.

Getting divorced and the ex is taking a lifetime of BIFL purchases. Looking to get the following replaced and seeing if there are newer/better options out there than what I had.

Bowls/plates

Bakeware

Tubberware

Air fryer

Laundry baskets (weird, I know)

Steam cleaner

Vacuum (robot?)

Standing desk

Bath towels

Sheets

Pillows

I do not buy junk, i would rather save for a week or do a side hustle that buy anything less than high quality (I realize quality is not necessarily/usually the most expensive).

TIA

Hey guys, winter's around the corner and I'm getting my wools out, oiling my leather and waxing my canvas.

I want more wool and leathers in my rotation.

Currently I have a bunch of vintage war time wool garments, Korean War era and newer.

I have some Patagonia and Fjallraven wools, some smart wool socks (and army wool socks) and a few other items.

What are some other good BUDGET brands to look at? I could get more $250 lambswool sweaters or another $500 patagonia but I have what I want and now brand names dont matter to me.

I just saw House of Bruar online, not sure if they're good.

Mainly I want leather & wool gloves, new pair of boots (LL Bean probably), definitely need a bunch of wool baselayers (decathalon probably), some new nice sweaters (LL Bean) and maybe a wool hat from Pata or Fjall.

Let me know what y'all are wearing, who gave you guys good quality, where you get custom work done (Toronto, Canada) and just other things that last that you think I might like.

I'm also a watch person, I need to service my SKX009J1 and I got rid of my fancier watch (I hated it). Gonna need something BIFL on the watch front, my SKX is great but one more wouldn't hurt

I recently found this old Cannonmate F3.5 camera at home, and it instantly made me think about how many memories it may have captured before phones and digital cameras took over.
My parents bought it years ago, and it was probably one of the earliest cameras in our family. It has visible scratches and signs of use, but that is what makes it meaningful. this little camera may have travelled with us for family functions, birthdays, school events, holidays, and ordinary days that are now precious memories.

I recently started to work from home full time, and I'm now in my office basement 10ish hours a day. The temperature of the office is fine, but it's a fully interior and underground room so no windows - or even a window near by.

This has resulted in incredibly stale feeling air, and a C02 sensor that constantly tells me I'm at a dangerous level.

I'd like to buy a fan I can put by the door to at least circulate some of the air in the office around the basement. I'm hoping for the following:

1. Able to move a lot of air to turn over the air in the office. Speed of air isn't a big deal (I'd actually rather it not cool the office down).
2. The quieter, the better. I'm on Zoom calls all day, so minimizing background noise is important.
3. Ideally, it would look nice. The way my office is set up, I stare at the door where this fan will be. I'll be staring at this for thousands of hours a year so would be willing to pay to have something visually appealing.

I understand that the best option would be a big, slow moving, DC motor fan, but hoping someone can point out a few good choices.

If there was a perfect fan that does all of the above and is long lasting I'd be willing to pay Dyson-level costs ($500 or so). In fact, my original thought was a Dyson fan, but those fans seems to be focused more on cooling a specific location rather than moving lots of air.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks everyone for feedback so far, rather than respond with the same answer to several posts, here are some answers to questions asked below:

* The room does have HVAC, but the house wasn't designed to have a finished basement so the vent is already at the very end of the system, and there is no return, so HVAC alone likely won't solve the problem.

* Yes, I know the C02 levels being high are not good. It tends to be around ~1200-2000 (with the trigger going off at 1800). The cause seems to primarily be me - if I'm not in the office for a couple of days it drops to ~900, but as I'm in the office working it steadily grows over time. Thankfully, radon has already been resolved via radon abatement (the radon sensor also has a C02 sensor in it, which is what led me to seeing it being so high)

I'm at the point where I'd rather spend a lot upfront than replace bedding every few years.

I’ve been looking into eiderdown because every normal duvet I’ve owned goes flat or gets cold spots after a few years. From what I’ve read, eiderdown clusters interlock like Velcro so the down never shifts, making it last literally decades without losing its loft. 

Icelandic Down caught my attention because they specialize in eiderdown beddings and their duvets are handmade and positioned as long-term pieces rather than disposable bedding.

Has anyone here used eiderdown for a while chime in with your experience? Any suggestions for BIFL duvets?

Hello!

Thuma and Tatami bed frames are both made from rubberwood but I have an allergy.

Any alternatives in a similar price range that are great quality, eco friendly, and either a simple platform or one with headboard is fine too. I don’t want the platform too low to the ground.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

so i work at an arena where we can have pretty long shifts ranging from 8 to 10 hours where we're on our feet all day and my feet always kill me after every shift i don't really know much about the insoles and i was wondering if they actually work and what type should i go for. i also bought some cheap shoes from walmart mostly because i had a tight budget and dress code called for black shoes.

My dad bought me this back in 2005 when I moved into my first apartment. It was just before having a Vitamix became popular/mainstream. He has also never been one to get caught up on a brand name if the specs/warranty are better for a lesser known brand. My pops has always been OG BIFL mindset… he’s 78 now and still goes out of his way to BIFL with most things.

I live in the US and am looking to buy a very comfortable pillow. I want it to be in hotel quality.
Any suggestions?

Preferably affordable and of course long lasting without issues althought those usually dont match
also i live in europe so something from european brands is probably gonna be priced the best less taxes
in terms of type im pretty flexible but leaning towards condenser dryers since they have good price/performance ratio and are easy to "install" my only fear is more moving parts more points of failure

Anyone got recommendations? Was gonna buy a Nab leather wildlife belt but they’re sold out of dark brown which is the only color I’m looking for

Hey everyone,

I am looking for my first sling bag for daily use and could use some recommendations. I am completely open to other brands, as long as they are budget friendly.

I found a Bellroy Sling Lite Mini (4L) for around 75 euros. Would that work well, or should I look at other options?

That price is already quite high for my usual spending, so I definitely do not want anything more expensive. I would prefer options that cost around that much or less.

Sizing and Daily Carry

For context, I am a smaller guy (163 cm and 53 kg). I was originally worried the standard 7L Bellroy Lite Sling would look too huge on me, but I think the 4L mini version should fit my daily carry:

• Phone
• Wallet
• Keys
• Tissues
• Pills
• Either sunglasses or regular glasses (depending on the day)

The Water Bottle Question

Since these smaller bags will not fit a regular 500ml water bottle, I would also love to hear suggestions on how people usually manage water when carrying a compact sling.

Style and Aesthetics

I want something minimal that works with any outfit, since I am still a bit self-conscious about wearing a sling bag for the first time.

What models and setups should I consider?

Ive been looking into getting a new air fryer and did the usual rounds on cnet/reviewed etc, most of em have the Ninja Crispi Pro as top pick. problem is its pricier than stuff like cosori or instant pot that also get decent reviews.

anyone actually used the crispi pro, is the extra cost worth it? trying to figure out if im paying for actually better performance/capacity or just brand premium tbh. also down to hear about other brands that dont show up as much in these review site rankings, feel like reddit usually knows better anyway. tia!

As title says, I am looking for a washer and dryer. I have done lots of research, read many posts on here, and I still have no idea what to choose haha. Reviews for most machines are very mixed and there’s just so many to pick from. I keep finding a set I like, then I’ll start looking for all the bad reviews about it and end up back at square 1. I am very indecisive when it comes to big purchases so I think information tailored to my needs will help me decide.

What I'm looking for-

Front load, stackable, reliable, durable, gentle on clothes, average maintenance.

I would like to get at least 12 years before any big maintenance, preferably 15-20 but I know that's hard to come by nowadays.

I already know to stay away from Samsung, and I know many swear by Speed Queen but after research I don’t think that’s what I’m looking for.

I want something a little more analog, it’s fine if there are some electronics but I will only purchase a machine with actual buttons or knob- staying away from the touch screens.

Brands I’m considering:
(open to other suggestions)

LG, Miele, Bosch, Asko. Asko is too small, sadly, or I probably would've gone with that. Swedish and German made are superior imo. Willing to look into Miele and Bosch again, but I am in the US so I would like a large (but not ultra large) washer and dryer.

Where I’m at in my search currently:

I’ve been thinking about doing a Miele washer and different make dryer. But not sure. Heard they are expensive to repair, poor customer service, but they do last about 20 years.

I also like the LG WM4000HWA washer, has pretty good reviews and less expensive to fix comparatively. It seems like the best value overall, and it’s not like I’m buying a car. I almost feel like it’s more worth it to get the brand that is cheaper to repair.
I was thinking about the matching^ LG heat pump dryer, but the reviews are mixed. People on the LG website said the lint trap doesn’t go down all the way and clothes get caught, snagged and ruined. 😬

So please, share your experiences with me!!!

I am buying new so I would prefer advice from people who have experiences with newer machines, not people who have their grandma's machine from the late 1900s that is still running great. (hopefully you caught humor there and not attitude haha)

All right, suggest away!

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a backpack or briefcase for the new job I’m starting in two weeks that has a laptop compartment and ideally a good amount of space (to hold a water bottle, a book, and maybe my lunch bag but not necessary). I just graduated law school and am looking for something that looks professional since I’ll be bringing it into court all the time, but simultaneously is made by a brand that sustainably makes their bags.

I don’t have a specific price range but the cheaper the better - however, I’m hoping to not have to buy this again for many years and ideally for life! I don’t mind real leather again as long as sustainably sourced/made.

Thank you in advance for your help!

I saw someone recently post about a piece of furniture their parents bought and never replaced saying that it was BIFL. Without actually opening the link, I saw the photo of the wardrobe and thought it looked so shabby and ugly (sorry no offense!)

It made me think of this rudimentary bookcase that I’ve seen in in my childhood room and everytime I visit for last 25 years. My parents got this really bare bones, skeleton of a bookcase, and they never replaced it either. It wobbles, it has all these awful marks and stains. While it’s true that it is effectively standing fine with all the books piled high, after just buying my first oak bookcase secondhand for where I live now, I find that this bookcase is also, very shabby and ugly lol.

It struck me that just cause something technically works or lasts for very long time does not necessarily mean that you will enjoy it for as long as it lasts; central to BIFL is *quality*, not just a pencil worn down to the nub.

This really exposed really amazing and important part of what I think this community is about; not only wanting to buy things that will last a long time that you will actually enjoy using and appreciate for as long as they last - now that, my friends, is truly BIFL.

Was debating on getting a cheap mattress off of amazon, but I don't want it to go bad after a few years. How much should I spend if I want a mattress to last 10 - 20 years? $3k+?

For me it's Godrej Almirah.

I'm searching for a suitable headphone for conference calls on my MacBook(M1 Air) . I don't like to use the laptop's speakers and have a soft voice.

My preferences:

has 3.5mm jack (I don't prefer USB, bluetooth ones, or Blue Yeti type)

Ideally closed ear that covers each ear completely

Mic: could keep it close to my mouth while speaking

Noise cancelling microphones

I'm based in Canada, and could buy it from Amazon, Aliexpress, or other sources. My budget is under US$100, though please be flexible to suggest higher priced models as well.

Which ones would you suggest and if you could also suggest the model name (or the product link) please?

Edit: Please suggest higher priced options as well.

Preface: this pair of scissors are fine and for sure BIFL, but my overall suggestion is ANY top-grade scissors come in more handy than you'd think. French, German, Italian (like this pair) can all be fine.

I'm kind of surprised how often we use the scissors we keep in our kitchen drawer--they're not made for food, but I certainly have used them to cut up tougher food items, but mostly for packages/packaging, trimming things, etc.
I also keep a pair of quality German ones in my office and when you have them around they seem to get used more vs teeth or box cutters.

As my sister taught me: spend the money on the things you use every day (or in this case often), and $25 won't break the bank, and they're like razors when we get them back from the knife sharpener--only sharpened them once in maybe ten years, and only bc... why not, we're bringing our Shun knives over to the shop anyway.

I've spent years buying high end titanium frames, flexible hinges, and scratch resistant lenses thinking they'd last a lifetime. But after snapping my second durable pair last week, I'm fed up.

At $300+ every couple of years plus contacts, glasses feel like a fragile money pit. ​Is there an actual BIFL prescription frame brand out there, or did you guys just give up on buying physical gear and pay once for vision correction instead? Looking for long-term experiences