After a lot of research, for Christmas 2020 I got a few "Airpro" masks[1] ($40-50). In short, it's a wearable HEPA filter that pumps filtered air into any standard N95 or KN95 mask.
In theory this gives better filtration (both from higher efficiency and positive pressure), but mainly I love it because it eliminates hot mask face.
My original unit is still going strong. I'm pretty careful, but it's still had numerous drops.
Tips after >2 years of use:
* I always use it on high, unless the battery is low.
* I bring my own N95 masks that I prefer, the (sadly discontinued) Harbor Freight N95s. Choose one you like. I change it about once a month.
* I (gasp!) convert my head straps to ear loops. Much easier to eat that way: open, shovel, close.
* The design is made to accommodate a carbon pre-filter, so I just cut rectangular prefilters out of standard surgical masks. Changed monthly, I still haven't needed to replace the original HEPA filter.
* Be sure to check out the review from "TX gadget nut" for how to seal the internal leak paths.[2] I potted the entire board with food-grade caulk, since I noted small through-holes in the PCB.
* To protect the silicone hose from strain, I hang the unit sideways using the lanyard.
* If you're really obsessive (guess how I know...), you can use a small file to remove the mold lines inside the outlet port, slightly reducing the pressure drop.
* As with any mask, it's important to perform hand hygiene before and after touching or adjusting it. A dollar store conical spray bottle and rubbing alcohol works fine.
* It's surprisingly nice to completely avoid wood smoke and diesel exhaust. I didn't realize how ubiquitous it was until I had the option to not breathe it in.
Fingers crossed, but so far it's been very effective and comfortable. All told I estimate it's about 15¢/day.
I'm ordering a couple spares, since I never know when a product I like will get discontinued...
(not exactly BIFL given the consumables, but before this I went through an N95 per week so I'm still ahead)
[1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YWLBVF2/
[2] https://www.amazon.com/portal/customer-reviews/media-gallery...
- Cast Iron cookware: This is on the opposite end of the price spectrum, since cast iron cookware is (usually) quite reasonably priced (and maybe even cheaper) compared to really fancy cookware, but I'm quite religious about maintaining my cast iron cookware, and I expect to be able to keep using it as a stable cooking equipment for all sorts of cooking for a few decades more at least.
- Safety razor for shaving: This is a bit sentimental, but when I turned 18, my father gifted me an old-school safety razor for shaving, as a kind of "Welcome to adulthood" gift. I've used it for over a decade now, and despite having a modern electric shaver, I do find myself going back to the razor every now and then, and expect to use it for a few more decades. Yes, it needs fresh razor blades, but the safety razor itself is as sturdy as ever.
Wigwam, smart wool, and other brands of socks may at one time have been durable but now the heel wears out after a single season of wear. Horrible quality!
We're not quite there, but almost all of our furniture in the house is solid wood. One exception is the sofa,though it's also a "buy it for life" item from Knoll:
https://www.knoll.com/product/florence-knoll-sofa
Woodworkers:
https://www.thosmoser.com (highly recommended)
https://hedgehousefurniture.com
http://www.57thstreetbookcase.com (some veneer and plywood)
https://www.spekeklein.com/home
These two makers are in a league of their own, extremely expensive, incredibly beautiful hand-made pieces:
https://www.sammaloofwoodworker.com
https://nakashimawoodworkers.com ($10-15K for a coffee table, plus shipping)
And if you're in the market for some high-end leather goods that'll last a lifetime:
https://tsuchiya-kaban.com/ (highly recommended)
https://www.marlondoleather.com (highly recommended)
- several fountain pens, especially Pilot Metropolitan F, Lamy Safari M; also the Platinum Preppy is really great, did not expect much from such a cheap pen; contemplated buying better fountain pens now and then, but these are so great; I write exclusively with fountain pens now
- physical books that I buy, I buy because they are worth keeping, others I just borrow from library, friends, or buy ebooks
- mechanical keyboard, a chinese-made rip-off of a famous brand, but really great, and just as same as the original
- leather notebooks (refillable), gets better with the passing of time, can refill them with notebooks from market
- as for software, I pay for/use stuff that are open, and easy to migrate from, has good support, etc. vim, ObsidianMD, git, etc. come to mind
I am a person who always looks for durable products. Because I like the ease and comfort that comes from using stuff that you are using for years. I look for durable products when I am in the market for anything.
Here's what I'm into:
- Barbour waxed jacket - Bought for brand new at a significant discount from a retailer in the UK
- Two mechanical keyboards
- Patagonia better sweater fleeces - Although I bought one of my fleeces at full price, the quality, warmth, and fit are second to none and it was 100% worth it.
- Two pairs of goodyear welted boots - Goodyear welting means that the soles can be repaired easily, and I'm aiming to have the boots around for years to come.
- A narrow-width backpack from Timbuk2 - I've heard the brand has dipped in quality, but the model I'd gotten was still classified as BIFL at the time of purchase.
- Zojirushi thermos - It's never leaked on me and years later, it still keeps my water cold for long periods of time.
- Zojirushi rice cooker (a Made in Japan model, versus one made elsewhere) - Bought it used on eBay and it works like a charm.
- Good socks (Darn Tough, Smartwool, etc) - I get mine at TJ Maxx/Marshall's/etc and they're significantly cheaper than getting them online or at a retailer like REI.
[1] https://www.sony.net/Products/proaudio/common/img/headphones...
I “bought it” for around 0 usd 15 years ago and used it everyday since. It never got worse, no sign of depreciation whatsoever.
One day, while editing an obscenely large code, I thought I broke it forever but the thing just refused to stop working.
And, what’s more mindblowing, no move to subscription in sight.
Has made more pots of chili, chicken soup, bone broth and pasta than I can count.
Other items not nearly as old: Le Creuset 5qt Dutch Oven, Lodge 10", 12" and 6" Cast Iron Skillets, and an old Griswold 8" which I really like because it is half the thickness of the Lodge, so temp changes more rapidly and it is lighter.
Turns out, speaker tech evolves pretty slowly. I bought a pretty high end set 15 years ago and it’s still miles ahead of most of what’s currently on the market. I don’t expect to change them for another 30 years.
The brand I bought is Monitor Audio. https://www.monitoraudio.com/
Pentel Kerry mechanical pencil (https://www.pentel.com/products/sharp-kerry-mechanical-penci...)
Concord nail clippers (https://www.amazon.com/Concord-Black-Executive-Nail-Clipper/...)
Leatherman Micra (mine is made in USA) (https://www.leatherman.com/micra-20.html)
Relatively recent discovery merino wool clothing - extremely comfortable, breathable and most of the time, you don't even have to wash it since it contains some kind of natural anti bacterials that kills any odour. Amazing !
- A Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen. I bought mine for $15 nearly a decade ago, and it is to this day my goto pen. It works as smooth as the first day, which is better than some much more expensive fountain pens. And it basically requires no maintenance, other than refilling it with ink.
- A uni KURU TOGA mechanical pencil, also bought a decade ago. I don't use pencil very often, so I might not be the best judge of its durability, but it's basically as good as new.
- My violin has been with me since I first switched to full size, which was a long time ago, and still sounding sweet and sonorous. Violins in general are made to last, and quite fixable should any damage occur. Strings and hair need to be replaced regularly, though.
- I have a wooden tablet holder that I made myself in high school. It's just a block of wood with a groove, though.
- Glassware, ceramic-ware, and metal-ware in the kitchen just seem to categorically not break down, even the really cheap ones. My mom's main kitchen knife has been with our family for about 50 years, and still receives daily usage. Just a brand-less traditional knife from local market, cheap, nothing fancy.
- I have got an InstaPot. It was already several years old when I got it, and I've used it for about 7 years since. Not sure about BIFL, but haven't seen any sign of breakage yet.
Also, my cast iron skillet. It seems to get better as it ages, so it has a good chance to outlast most other kitchenware I purchased.
A "Bar style" blender. (Very powerful motor and the jar has the blades permanently attached).
A full set of Henckels knives. Keep them sharp. (I use a stone, but it doesn't really matter... You can even use an old mousepad with a sheet of automotive sandpaper glued to it.)
Hardcover versions of the books I like.
* danner boots. Get stitchdown construction models that can be recrafted.
* James brand knives. Incredible build quality for an American brand
* Garmin handheld GPS units. Don’t know how they can make a device that powers on without issue 10 years after purchasing (woo, AA battery support), but they can’t do UI to save their lives!
* grovemade metal/leather wallets. They don’t make these any more. I have a brass wallet that cards slide into and out of. The leather will probably fall off one day and I’ll glue more on.
* hardwood furniture. You don’t need to get branded ones; Home Goods has nice options. Look for items made in india, especially with Acadia wood, which usually has a pretty gain and holds up well over time - protip, this is where west elm and crate and barrel source a lot of things from too! No MDF for me!
* best made metal toolboxes. RIP, best made co, but the toolboxes I got from them will last forever.
Cast iron frying pans. The old kind with the machined (not just raw sand cast) inside bottom. You can destroy them by heating them red hot and then quenching, or dropping onto concrete (I know of both being done). Barring that, will last lifetimes.
Any decent kitchen knives - don't have to be showy brands - my favourite one is a Cuisinart. But if the handles hold up they're worth sharpening indefinitely.
Any kitchen stuff made out of tempered glass - casserole dishes and the now collectible coloured glass Pyrex bowls. Again you can destroy those by shattering them, but if you don't, they'll outlast you.
Bought it in 1999. Don't even remember how much I paid for it but they are usually pretty pricey. Yet I Still have it and going just as strong. I've taken it in to local Kirby service store for "tune-up" twice in these 24 years (both when moving) where they just adjust stuff and blow out motor, etc. But other than that it has had just belts and bags over the years as that is all it has needed. I also replaced the cord with a longer one 10 years ago. At this rate it may outlast me. I've actually considered just trading it in for a newer model for no other reason than just wanting something newer looking.
Books.
A good tea set.
- Herman Miller Embody
- HHKB Hybrid Type-S
- a large drafting table
- Rotring 600 pencil
- Global brand knife set
- Swisschamp pocket knife
- Soviet veshmeshok (surplus backpack)
- Technics 1200 turntables
- 2021 MBP (not for life, but for about a decade)
- Sennheiser HD600
These are my bomb-proof things that come to mind immediately.
- My IKEA rolltop backpack. No idea if they still sell em, but it's amazing. It was probably like $40 or less.
- My 1972 Stratojac suede cattleman's coat with fleece collar, which looks like something Jimmy Page would have worn to a Rolling Stone photoshoot. It's the warmest coat I've ever owned - it's too warm to wear unless it's under 40 degrees out. Weighs as much as a Fiat, but I've worn it in blizzard conditions and barely noticed the cold. Got it for $25 at a thrift store.
- Gerber Chameleon Remix knife. Carried one for decades before I moved to the UK and used it daily for anything from opening packages to using as a quick duty screwdriver to pulling it on some random thieves to discourage them in Kenya. I have no idea if they even still sell these either, but it was about $30.
Full tang stainless kitchen knives (again 20 years old, Henckels if I recall).
Also my Edwin Jagger safety razor.
Finally, a Moka Pot.
Fender electric guitars. They actually improve with age.
Yamaha trombones, trumpets, flutes, viola, electric violins.
Bookcases and reading tables from a Borders bookstore that went out of business.
Steel desk scissors from the Boeing surplus store.
Couches, cabinets, and tables from restoration hardware. We got them for 2/3 off at the outlet store. Our 20 year-old couch looks like it was made yesterday.
Hideously expensive leather couch from design within reach. Bought 15 years ago, looks and feels in mint condition.
Staub cast iron pots.
Bosendorfer grand piano.
Oreck vacuum cleaners.
Zojirushi rice cooker.
Vitamix blenders.
Kitchenaid stand mixer.
For stuff that most everyone can use, I would mention cast iron cookware. I have cast iron skillets and pots that I have used for over two decades that I expect to last me many years still. And I use them all the time. The brand name is not very important although you probably want to avoid the very cheapest.
Next, I would say good quality knives. Both for use in the kitchen as well as in the forest, on hikes, etc. For Chef's knives, I think F. Dick makes decent ones that last very long for home use. And for forest use, I would recommend LionSteel.
Such things might become antiques in future, when we have Star-Wars style electronic bins (or even now, with optically-stabilized bins now a thing), but in that case my kids will inherit an antique.
I got the audio speakers too about 10 years back. About double the keyboard price. Warranty was for 6 months.
My average daily computer use is around 10 hours, so it's not like they lasted long due to low usage.
I'm sure many people have said this before in these threads. But they're well made and have a lifetime guarantee. Sure, $20 seems like a lot for one pair of socks, but not if you have them for life.
My Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS camera lens. $2000. Underpriced for how good a lens it is.
I built a 2'x8'x3' (depth/width/height) flight cage for my budgerigars. They love it! Way bigger than any commercial cage.
Billingham 550 camera bag I bought in 1992 for £150. Brilliant.
Pilot Capless pen from 2013. Hundreds of miles of handwriting. About £130
https://www.glerups.com/collections/boots/products/the-boot-...
2. A citizen eco-drive titanium watch I got for around $120. Working great for 8 years now
3. Nike Air jordan, for around $110. Had to replace the sole once. Going strong for 8 years now, i wear them almost everyday
The first arm I bought maybe 10 years ago is still going strong and have survived 3 different monitor upgrades. Oil it a bit and it's as good as new.
Pyrex meal prep containers (1/2/4 cup). The silicone lids will eventually fail but you can replace them (or do without). Also, cast iron, knives and silverware seem to be fairly eternal.
Not sure I can recommend anything with motors, electronics or computers in 2023.
About a decade ago my brothers and I slummed it across Europe. I took thousands of pictures during the time. I organized the best pictures into a photo book, made several prints, and gave them away later that Christmas. I have a copy on my coffee table right now, and it is a great conversation starter for guests.
Pans which never go in the dishwasher.
A decent glass water jug which fits on the refrigerator door.
A small toolkit of decently made screwdrivers.
A reasonably simple Victorinox Swiss army knife.
At least one raspberry pi.
A strong "U" kryptonite style bicycle lock.
Glasses cleaning cloth. 15 years going strong.
A digital alarm clock you can adjust the brightness on. I went Sony, it uses DVB-T signals to get time.
Solid as a rock.
Going into year 4 of keeping me warm when temps dip towards 0F and wind is picking up.
Anything by Pearl Izumi will simply also last a lifetime. Year 3-8 of some of my cycling and other gear.
They run forever and can easily be rebuilt. My favorite one is a year younger than me with a born on date of 1987. They are indestructible.
ok enough music stuff.
I have still a SuperSparc 20 and it runs like a champ. Maybe it will last another 20 years ?
- Books
- House
I'm probably going to use that fork/knife/spoon until the day I fucking die, so I might as well make sure it's damn good.
A nice sleeping bag (~€300)
We shall see about the rest. I recently bought a Stanley hot water bottle, I'll see how much I use it.
I use my pocket knife every single day for something.
SmartWool Socks
And proper chopsticks.
Rotring metal pens and pencils: https://www.amazon.ae/gp/product/B00AZX0GOM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_...
High quality leather stuff like notebook sleeves, passport sleeves, knife sheats: https://ryokobags.com/products/hudson-leather-notebook-cover...
Almost any modern bike will last you a very long time. Carbon ones possibly not for a lifetime, steel ones will last for a lifetime. Get a non-electric full Ultegra set, they are awesome. (The electric is also awesome, but not sure about for-life-ness.) If you want an all-arounder, get a cyclocross bike, you can use it like a road bike and also go off-road a bit. These days I prefer Bianchi, Pinarello and Cervelo in terms of shape and color, but other brands like Trek or BMC or Cube are also great: https://bianchistore.online/road/gravel-cyclocross/
Watches. I'm not a big expert, but I don't really see a reason for a watch (expensive or affordable) to break, if you wear it reasonably. I have cheap watches from 20-30 years ago that are just fine. Obvious brands are Casio, Seiko, Tissot, Tag Heuer, Breitling, etc. (and then Rolex). There's also lots of smaller brands that make interesting watches (imo) like About Vintage, which watch experts look down on, but I think they're beautiful.
There are car types that are famous for long-term reliability. If you're thinking for life, the support you get from/for the brand matters a lot. Certain models from Land Rover, Toyota, BMW, Porsche will last very long. (I'd go Porsche, the people around it are fanatical, and Porsche proudly supports old models, look for Porsche Classic Parts Explorer.) If you want for-life, I'd probably go with an older model that's more mechanic; in Porsche world, I'd get a 997-generation 911 Turbo with manual shift for this type of consideration. The previous 996 is ugly, and the even older model has too old-school interior, but that's completely subjective (also it's rare so it's very expensive). The 997 you can pick up at reasonable used car (Porsche) prices: http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&nfpr=...
Most/many print books will last "forever", or long enough for us to die.
Solid wood furniture; here in Dubai Crate & Barrel sells awesome stuff: https://www.crateandbarrel.me/en-ae
Klipsch speakers, like RF-3s: https://www.tnt-audio.com/casse/klipsch-rf3_e.html
Nowadays that function is handled by my smart phone. The one potential problem with a smart phone as an alarm is that the alarm time might be in the middle of an update but I would disable automatic updates if I were relying on the alarm.
The Baby Ben may be my oldest possession except for books.
Another "for life" purchase, and another candidate for my oldest non-book possession, is my classical guitar. It's a Hohner HG-13 purchased around 1980. I think it was $68 for the guitar and case. It was a great beginner's classical guitar.
I played pretty seriously for a couple years, then sporadically for another 20, then pretty much not at all for until maybe a year ago when I got back into it. I've improved quite a bit since then and am ready to get something better but I'm in no hurry. I've played better sounding classical guitars in music stores and while they sound better, they don't play better so the HG-13 is in no way holding me back so I'm taking my time.
I never had the HG-13 set up. It is just as it came from the store. The store wasn't even really a musical instrument store. It was a record shop that happened to have a few guitars on the wall for sale. I doubt they did any kind of set up before putting it out for sale so it is likely as it came from the factory. And that is perfect. Neck relief, nut height, saddle height, action, fret heights are all perfect.
Finally, my Swiss army knife which I've had maybe 30 years sure looks like it going to be a "for life" item. The Phillips screwdriver it has is the best screwdriver I own. Screws that other screwdrivers can't get a grip on it handles with ease. And it does this for large and small screws. Somehow they have made a "one size fits all" screwdriver that works well.
The scissors are also great. I use them all the time for maintaining my nails (which as a classical guitar player is something I do a lot). I've bought scissors that are sold specifically for nails, and they have all sucked compared to the little scissors in the knife.
[1] https://clockhistory.com/0/westclox/series/series-14-1/style...
