of spending money on stuff that breaks. Whether it’s a tool that wears out instantly or a pair of pants that gets a hole too soon, it seems like more things in this world should be something you buy for life. They’re not as common, but numerous companies make excellent products that last a long time and can be repaired when or if they fail.
Anyone who has spent time on the Buy It for Life subreddit on Reddit likely knows about many of these products already, but we have a few rules for our guide. For one thing, everything you see here can be bought right now. You can purchase them used—buy them that way if you want!—but we wanted to make sure each item can be bought new with its original factory warranty and is still supported by the company that made it. The second major rule? A WIRED Gear reviewer has to have personally used each product for years and vouch for it. That way, you know who to scream at in the comments if yours breaks.
Here’s a good rule of thumb: Just because something is well made doesn’t mean it doesn’t require proper maintenance. Take care of your stuff, and it’ll last for years.
Updated February 2025: We’ve added Cloudline’s Merino Wool Socks, HMPLL Whetstone Kit, Hakko Digital Soldering Station, Sonder Los Angeles Walnut End Grain Cutting Board, GoRuck GR1, and Classic Thermapen.
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Photograph: Amazon
