Everyday things that - unexpectedly - last well

[cherryowen]

Walking the pooch on the weekend, I noticed that the sole of the walking boot on my right foot had started to come away from the boot itself. I bought this pair of Hi-Tek walking boots back in 2001, and have seen me through miles and miles of Shropshire countryside in all weathers, in mud, water, snow and ice. Never been cleaned, and were easy on the wallet back in the day. 19 years of regular use seems conspicuous value, though I'll be sad to retire them.

It got me thinking, I also have a plain black Peter Werth shirt I bought for a Y2K New Year's Eve party that still looks smart, and that I still wear regularly. Mrs. O just mentioned a long black overcoat that still looks the part of an evening, that she bought in 1996. The Viners cutlery set we use every day is 15 years old and is used every day and still looks brand new.

I love day-to-day things that just - well - keep going doing what they do best.

[mikees]

I have a Barbour that I bought in 88 that I wear for dog walking. 32 year old coat isn’t bad. Few holes

[hairy vx220]

I bought my Line 7 boots whilst living in Cumbria around 1990 on a friend's recommendation. I clocked up several hundred miles until I moved south and they only got used for walking holidays for a while albeit some of them international. Then after several house moves I totally misplaced them and they dissappeared for nearly a decade. Whilst rearranging the garage a couple of years ago I found them again and they are back in regular use again! Great boots!

[generationx]

I bought a cheapo 0.5mm mechanical pencil in 1987 to prop up my (then on a drawing board) draughting kit.

It's still going strong, I keep it on my desk, and it is now known as my "lucky pencil".

[TorqueDirty]

I have a wooden cork screw that a girlfriend gave me when I was a university back in 1989 - it is still my go to cork screw today. It just works - and it has has a lot of use!


TD

Edited by TorqueDirty on Wednesday 5th February 23:40

[the cueball]

I've had a pair of CAT boots for 22 years... just finding them nicely broken in these days...

[Muncher]

I love getting good value from things like this, I've had 16 years from a pair of flip flops that I bought in Majorca that have been all over the world and are perfectly moulded to my feet, £6 well spent there.

[Hoofy]

I bought an Animal snowboarding jacket in 1993 that's still in good condition. I wore it everyday for a few years. Still occasionally wear it but not as much now.

[Electronicpants]

My wife bought me a t-shirt to go on holiday with my pals in 1997, I must wear it at least once a fortnight, it appears to be indestructible.

[designforlife]

I've got a Zeon Tech digital alarm clock that I bought when i was about 16 years old... 20 years later and it's still going strong, i expect it will last 20 more!

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Bought a Saisho (Curry's own brand) cheapo microwave oven in 1983. It packed up just a couple of years ago. It came with a free set of "unbreakable" microwavable plates, that we're still using.

Went on holiday in 1987 and used an agent called On The Beach (they're still going I think). The tickets arrived in a zip up fabric folder with their logo, to hold your tickets, passports, etc. Have used it on every single foreign trip over the last 33 years.

[Whitean3]

My coffee cup at work is a commemorative mug from the Queen's silver jubilee in 1977- complete with a (very young looking) portrait, all the crests and coat of arms etc., with a lovely gold plated rim. It was made by Midwinter in Staffordshire. It sees daily service for multiple teas and coffees, and is in pristine condition.

I only took it to work because I thought that noone in their right mind would be interested in stealing/borrowing it; and it is the perfect size for the coffees I tend to drink most often.


They don't make them like they used to.

[alorotom]

I have an Animal satchel bought in 1998 that got heavy daily use throughout college etc. then intermediate use for work and then heavy use as a laptop/works bag from 2008 until its retirement in 2019. 21 years and I paid about £30 for it. Bargain!

[Timberwolf]

I'm still using an inherited Kenwood Chefette food mixer that was made somewhere between 1968 and 1975. Doesn't have as much power as the newer ones but still works perfectly well.

(We have a whole bunch of old stuff in regular use from a c.1974 hi-fi turntable to glass jars from the 19th century we keep the dog treats in, but I think the mixer is the one you'd most expect to have exceeded its useful lifespan long before now.)

Edited by Timberwolf on Wednesday 5th February 12:37

[anonymous-user]

Still use a teapot that was a wedding present 35 years ago. The handle is a bit loose, the elderly auntie didn’t keep the receipt..
Also an Asics running top from 1990’s. Wear it every week, it’s indestructible. Shame they don’t do them any more!

[emperorburger]

After the 30 years, I still have a broom.....on second thoughts

[55palfers]

mikees said:

I have a Barbour that I bought in 88 that I wear for dog walking. 32 year old coat isn’t bad. Few holes

I have one that's about 40 years old. It's gone a bit snug now though! And it has a few holes too.

[toon10]

55palfers said:

mikees said:

I have a Barbour that I bought in 88 that I wear for dog walking. 32 year old coat isn’t bad. Few holes

I have one that's about 40 years old. It's gone a bit snug now though! And it has a few holes too.

I have a thick Barbour jumper that I've worn fairly regularly for over 15 years. After years of wearing washing and ironing, it looks exactly the same now as it did new. No holes, it's retained it's shape and not thinned anywhere. I resent buying from them as I used to work for their IT Manager (if he's still there) and he's a total weasel.

[red_slr]

My Acer Aspire S3 laptop. Its got to be getting on for 10 years old. Been smashed around, dropped many times and sat on etc.

Starting to struggle now as only 4GB ram sits at 90% all the time with just basic web browsing, overheats a bit and the wires to the screen are failing as when you open it the screen sometimes displays a load of garbage but a quick slap on the side of the screen and it comes straight back on. Hoping to get another couple of years out of it

[Patrick magooagain]

I still use,every day the cereal bowl I've used since childhood,it's just a plain white bowl and I also have and use every day the butter knife that I've known all my life.
I'm 62 years old.