Purchases that last a lifetime

Focker

I got 3 years out of my $200 plus Red Wing work boots in the shop.  They didn't last any longer than any other decent steel toe boot.  Comfortable, no doubt.

Lucky to get 2 years out my Ecco Bioms at work.  They are by far, my favorite brand of shoe.  Have burned through all, Asics Kayano, Nimbus, highest end NBs.  The American made NB were the worst actually.  These Bioms have stood up to my abuse.  I bought two more pairs to stow away.  

Grateful to be introduced to Ecco working in the Dillard's Men's Shoe Dept through school.  Downtime I was trying everything on. 
I recommend this investment to knee, hip, back health to everyone.  Their Track II boots are legendary.  I have abused them early hunting season.  Then I switch to Muck and Red Wing with Darn Tough Mountaineer socks for colder weather.  I'm kind of a shoe whore. 

vb4677

American Made Fender Stratocaster

Focker

My Specialized Roubaix carbon fiber frame has not cracked with my fat a$$ on it.  Not one broken spoke or flat through RAGBRAI several years ago. 

And the carbon fiber Hoyt Spyder ZT34 bow survived a dry fire from my idiot self, walking away with minimal injury to my forearm.

Same goes for the Summit Titan climbing treestand.  My son will use that some day.
Those may fall into the lifetime category.  

OshawaDave

At the risk of seeming blasphemous....my Weber Gas grill has been a solid purchase. As well my Remington 870, Coleman naptha lantern and propane stove and  Swiss Army knife.

pgprescott

Focker said:

My Specialized Roubaix carbon fiber frame has not cracked with my fat a$$ on it.  Not one broken spoke or flat through RAGBRAI several years ago.  That may fall into the lifetime category.  

you do this one?

https://www.facebook.com/bacoonrideiowa/

Focker

pgprescott said:

Focker said:

My Specialized Roubaix carbon fiber frame has not cracked with my fat a$$ on it.  Not one broken spoke or flat through RAGBRAI several years ago.  That may fall into the lifetime category.  

you do this one?

https://www.facebook.com/bacoonrideiowa/

Yeah, we did it the first two years.  A fun filled 70 mile loop around the Des Moines area.  Bacon, bikes, beer, what's not to love? Lol
The folks at RAGBRAI and Baconfest team up to organize this.  It grows every year.  

Gulfcoastguy

nolaegghead said:

Gulfcoastguy said:

Penn reels, Keen sandals, Toyota trucks

Toyota makes some of the most durable trucks.  Unfortunately, they are only sold in Africa and Australia.

217,000 miles on a 1991 Toyota pickup when I traded it to someone for some house repairs in 2007. He changed the fuel pump and it was still running last I knew. Now I admit the rear bumper was rusty from launching the boat that I had(Penn reels).

DoubleEgger

SkySaw said:

nolaegghead said:

There are no shoes made, anywhere, that last more than 5 years if I'm wearing them daily.

You can't wear them every day. You need to have a few pairs, and trade them out on a daily basis to let the leather shed any extra moisture they absorb from your feet. Rotating three pairs should last longer than just buying three pairs in a row.

About 25 years ago my father bought all his sons and sons-in-law a pair of really high quality shoes. I am still wearing mine, whereas one of my brothers-in-law wore his every day, and destroyed them in a year.

I have 14 pairs of Allen Edmonds. They do wear out though. I’ve sent many back for recrafting. Once the leather is shot, there’s nothing that can be done. 

HeavyG

SkySaw said:

nolaegghead said:

There are no shoes made, anywhere, that last more than 5 years if I'm wearing them daily.

You can't wear them every day. You need to have a few pairs, and trade them out on a daily basis to let the leather shed any extra moisture they absorb from your feet. Rotating three pairs should last longer than just buying three pairs in a row.

About 25 years ago my father bought all his sons and sons-in-law a pair of really high quality shoes. I am still wearing mine, whereas one of my brothers-in-law wore his every day, and destroyed them in a year.

A pair of mediocre quality shoes can also last a lifetime if I just rotate them into a schedule with all the other shoes I own.

DoubleEgger

It feels like this thread has veered from true lifetime purchases to brands that we think of as quality. Big difference between the two. 

northGAcock

Getting it back on track....my lifetime purchase was the Ronco Reffer-matic. I still have it though it doesn't get used for its original purpose any more. I believe it still works though....as I see the wife using it to clean stems and seeds out of her baking flour (I guess). Talk about finding an new use for something.

Fred19Flintstone

northGAcock said:

Getting it back on track....my lifetime purchase was the Ronco Reffer-matic. I still have it though it doesn't get used for its original purpose any more. I believe it still works though....as I see the wife using it to clean stems and seeds out of her baking flour (I guess). Talk about finding an new use for something.

Let me guess.  She likes to bake brownies, right?

Spaightlabs

Good high quality hand planes.  I've got some old Stanley's that have made it through a couple of other folks lifetimes and will for certain make it thru mine.

deuce

I remember when Coke was still cola, and a joint was a bad place to be.

SonVolt

That one purchase on Backpages.com that I can't seem to get rid of no matter how many lawyers I throw at it.

SonVolt

deuce said:

I remember when Coke was still cola, and a joint was a bad place to be.

Back when a women could still cook, and still would... 

northGAcock

Fred19Flintstone said:

northGAcock said:

Getting it back on track....my lifetime purchase was the Ronco Reffer-matic. I still have it though it doesn't get used for its original purpose any more. I believe it still works though....as I see the wife using it to clean stems and seeds out of her baking flour (I guess). Talk about finding an new use for something.

Let me guess.  She likes to bake brownies, right?

no....she was a school teacher for many years and lives a very conservative life. Has had me on a similar path for the most part for quite a few years now.

DoubleEgger

SonVolt said:

deuce said:

I remember when Coke was still cola, and a joint was a bad place to be.

Back when a women could still cook, and still would... 

That’s a slap in the face to all of the women eggers on the forum. 

Fred19Flintstone

northGAcock said:

Fred19Flintstone said:

northGAcock said:

Getting it back on track....my lifetime purchase was the Ronco Reffer-matic. I still have it though it doesn't get used for its original purpose any more. I believe it still works though....as I see the wife using it to clean stems and seeds out of her baking flour (I guess). Talk about finding an new use for something.

Let me guess.  She likes to bake brownies, right?

no....she was a school teacher for many years and lives a very conservative life. Has had me on a similar path for the most part for quite a few years now.

That's terrific.  I was just funnin' ya.  We're pretty darn conservative ourselves. 

EggNorth

I purchase a Troy Bilt mower about 20 years ago, a mulcher only, no bag, no exit chute.  I probably changed the oil 3 or 4 times, 2 tune ups, on 2nd blade.   Winter I just roll it in the garage, first cut in spring takes two pulls, one after that.

I believe they changed the motor now that they use, but I will always buy this brand, will last my lifetime anyway.

HeavyG

DoubleEgger said:

It feels like this thread has veered from true lifetime purchases to brands that we think of as quality. Big difference between the two. 

I've never quite bought into the "buy it for life" notion.

How much and how hard someone uses an item has a huge impact on whether something is a lifetime purchase and that can vary widely from one person to another.

nolaegghead

DoubleEgger said:

SkySaw said:

nolaegghead said:

There are no shoes made, anywhere, that last more than 5 years if I'm wearing them daily.

You can't wear them every day. You need to have a few pairs, and trade them out on a daily basis to let the leather shed any extra moisture they absorb from your feet. Rotating three pairs should last longer than just buying three pairs in a row.

About 25 years ago my father bought all his sons and sons-in-law a pair of really high quality shoes. I am still wearing mine, whereas one of my brothers-in-law wore his every day, and destroyed them in a year.

I have 14 pairs of Allen Edmonds. They do wear out though. I’ve sent many back for recrafting. Once the leather is shot, there’s nothing that can be done. 

Alright, Imelda Marcos, approximately how many shoes do you own?  

thetrim

I don't think I own 14 pairs of socks.

pgprescott

The dust rag in my kids room. 

DoubleEgger

Maybe 30 total @nolaegghead. The wife on the other hand is closer to 200. 

northGAcock

Fred19Flintstone said:

northGAcock said:

Fred19Flintstone said:

northGAcock said:

Getting it back on track....my lifetime purchase was the Ronco Reffer-matic. I still have it though it doesn't get used for its original purpose any more. I believe it still works though....as I see the wife using it to clean stems and seeds out of her baking flour (I guess). Talk about finding an new use for something.

Let me guess.  She likes to bake brownies, right?

no....she was a school teacher for many years and lives a very conservative life. Has had me on a similar path for the most part for quite a few years now.

That's terrific.  I was just funnin' ya.  We're pretty darn conservative ourselves. 

I know you were....as was i with the entire post. Oh the good ol days.

blasting

DoubleEgger said:

Maybe 30 total @nolaegghead. The wife on the other hand is closer to 200. 

I think I've got four pair, and that's if you count my flip flops and chest waders.

Teefus

My Lie-Nielsen hand tools, my Winchester model 94, my Glocks, my Telecaster.

Sammi

How about Gravely tractors, haven't noticed them mentioned here yet. The only reason they change hands is if you get tired of using them. Some quality American iron in there!

SkySaw

DoubleEgger said:

I have 14 pairs of Allen Edmonds. They do wear out though. I’ve sent many back for recrafting. Once the leather is shot, there’s nothing that can be done. 

Nice! I have 3 pairs of Allen Edmonds shoes and 1 pair of AE boots. As soon as I get a pair of shoes I put 2 layers of polish on them. I like my dress shoes to look good, so I keep them polished, I wipe any dirt or water off them at the end of the day, and keep them in shoe trees. There's no way to wear through the leather in those shoes with that kind of care.