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Excuse me from copying my reply from a previous BIFL, but I still feel strongly:

MISTER BENTO MISTER BENTO MISTER BENTO

It's a bit complicated--follow me here. It's an insulated tube just like a thermos, with four round containers. I'll take you through them, from the bottom up.

Soup bowl: Actually a pretty nice soup bowl. It's got a lid that screws on, as well as a pressure-valve on the lid to prevent a vacuum forming as it cools (it's going to cool a little, no matter the insulation... thermodynamics still exists).

Rice bowl: It's a Japanese product, so there's a big compartment for rice. I never have a problem fitting a sandwich in here, if that's what you're in the mood for. You... you get used to sandwich-pucks eventually. Important thing here is that the lid on this bowl is thick and insulated, to help keep whatever's in here and the soup warm.

Veggie bowl: As I understand the typical Japanese meal (read: none), this is a bowl that's supposed to house some vegetables. You may have noticed that the bowl below this has a thick insulating layer. The way it's designed, this compartment and the one above it aren't insulated. It's actually pretty cool, when you think about it. I would usually use this for some roughage... dry cereal or something.

Tiny top bowl: This is it. Another non-insulated bowl. I'd usually put a cookie or two in here.

The whole thing is leak-proof, and it really does a fantastic job. Once you think about the two-hot-two-plain thing, you can put some fun meals together. The insulation works well--soup was always warm come lunchtime. And it's surprisingly big, too. You won't finish eating and want for any more. I didn't finish a lot of times, or I'd use one of the compartments just to hold a mid-day snack.

I know you might balk at the price, but if you think you might like something like I'm describing, I really can't endorse the product enough.

Nonstick is okay in certain circumstances. I have a good quality 12" Nordic Ware pan which I got off Woot and is great for some purposes. If you're warping your pans, you're probably getting it too hot and then throwing it in the sink. Even a high quality pan is not immune to thermal shock.

My biggest advice is to NOT buy a set but to buy individual pieces as you need them. If you must buy a bunch at a time, I advise going à la carte.

Here's what I recommend:

• A 6 qt enameled Dutch Oven - Mine is made by Tramontina but Lodge and Le Creuset make some great ones as well (just expect the French made Le Creuset to be far more expensive.) This pan is a great multitasker and you can make bread in it, cook stew, boil down bones for stock etc.
  
  
• 2 qt and 4 qt saucepans. Look for high quality welded handles instead of rivets. Tri-Ply (where a layer of aluminum is pressed between two layers of stainless) is your best option and All-Clad is a nice made in the USA option, but Tramontina (sold at some Walmarts but also Walmart.com) and Sur La Table's store brand are also excellent.
  
  
• A 12" stainless skillet - again, go with TriPly from Tramontina or Sur La Table (All Clad if you are rich)
  
  
• A 12" Cast iron skillet. These are a pain in the ass for the first year or so and you'll get a lot of circlejerking and such about the best way to season (expect lots of stupid old bacon jokes and rednecks talking about cooking "critters" they ran over and stuff like that.) Wading through that mess, you can find that cast iron is essential but not the only thing to cook in.
  
  
• 12" T-Fal Non-stick skillet Again, not BIFL but a good quality piece that will make cooking eggs a lot easier if you aren't willing to deal with cast iron.

I spent nearly 20 years as a cook-then-sous-then-exec in fine dining kitchens. I've bought cheap knives, and I've bought expensive knives. I finally found my sweet spot split between Misono Swedish Carbon and Misono UX10s. I have a few different styles of knives in each, and they each have their ups and downs. The downside to either of those is that they're not exactly cheap (but you can spend way more if you're so inclined).

On the cheap side of things, this series of knives form Victorinox is probably the best value out there. For a home cook, these are absolutely bifl, but they're not exactly sexy.

My recommendation when anyone asks me a question like this is to go for the Mac Professional Series. They're fancy enough to be a little special, but not so special that you're afraid to use them. Full disclosure, I still use a Chef Series Mac 5.5" utility knife. In a professional kitchen, your utility knife gets so much more use than you'd imagine, so having a cheap one without the bolster is nice in case someone drops it in the fryer and kills the temper, or kicks it under the dish station etc. For home, I'd get the nice (pro series) version.

Anyway, for a first investment in nice knives, I'd go for an 8" chef's knife, dimples or not, it makes no real difference, and a 5.5" utility knife. The second addition would be 10-12" carving knife. Of course, a serrated bread knife and a small paring knife are necessary, but that's where those Victorinox knives I linked above are perfect.

I'm sure the bifl crowd here will crucify me for recommending stainless, but unless you're using your knives every day for hours a day, it's way too easy to get lazy and you end up with pitting and rust on all those fancy carbon knives, and that makes you less likely to use them.

For sharpening, get a 1000/6000 grit whetstone. When I was cheffing for a living, I hit the 6000 every day, and the 1000 once a week. Now, I cook dinner maybe 4 times a week, and I hit the 6000 once a month, and the 1000 like once or twice a year. Keeping the knives in cases helps with this. Drawers will kill the edge. Youtube has plenty of tutorials on how to use a whetstone and keep everything straight.

As far as "sharpening" steels go, it's nice having one around if you're doing a ton of knife work and need a quick touch up, but slapping a knife on a steel is not the same as sharpening it, and if you let the edge get truly dull (by hitting the steel instead of sharpening it), you'll have a bear of a time getting the edge true again.

Anyway, if you buy something made by an ancient Japanese craftsman who's older than the volcano he forges in, sure, it'll be cool and have fancy wavy lines. If you buy garbage it'll be garbage. Whatever you do, just know that nothing screams recent culinary school graduate than a Shun santoku.

note: I've written "you" a bunch in here. It's less pretentious than saying "one may sharpen..." and less clumsy than referring to your partner at all times . I hope you'll forgive me.

edit: tl;dr get the Macs

I'm going to argue that what I'm about to suggest isn't against the spirit of BIFL:

You need a good non-stick pan, and you need to replace it every 1-3 years. Teflon is considered safe when not overheated. Use a turner designed for non-stick surfaces, simply rinse the pan with a warm sponge or cloth (no abbrassive), and generally be nice to it, it'll last perfectly fine. You don't need to add butter or spray to a non-stick pan. Heat it up and let the pan do the work. I further extend the life of mine by only using it for eggs and cheesy dishes, basically. The stainless does all the rest of the work.

Nonsticks are disposable over the course of a few years, so don't go buy a crazy expensive one. This is the one I have, and I'm perfectly happy with it. You can explore annodized non-stick, but from what I've seen, it's not quite as good.

I'd actually personally make the argument that I've never seen a truly nonstick cast iron pan. But Shinytile, I cook eggs in mine all the time! Yeah, post a video. Literally every single person I've seen make that claim uses like 1/3 stick of butter for two eggs. That's frying the egg in oil, different game. I use literally zero spray / butter / oil in my egg pan, and I get a perfect release every time.

So that's my vote. Buy a nice non stick, treat it well, and use it for the next few years. That's like $7 / year.

Sony MDR there's a $75 studio headphone everybody talk about it'll last for at least two year if you don't sit on the phone jack like I did (it lasted me 3+ years). I take it to the gym so it had some gunk around the plastic but overall awesome.

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR7506-Professional-Diaphragm-Headphone/dp/B000AJIF4E

I had to replace the ear cushion once, you can buy it on amazon for like $5 bucks. Felt like if I actually took care of it, it would have been built for life.

update:

You know what's funny? After I posted this, I google if I can fix this. There a few soldering tricks and other neat mods.

I decided to bust out my leatherman multitool and use the clamp. I bent it back test didn't work, tried this a few more time and now the headphone works again... I'm going to stick with Sony for headphone if I ever need another.

This is what I've used that either I've had for over a decade or else is obviously of good quality. Much of these have already been mentioned. You still have to know how to care for this stuff. Just because it can last your whole life, you can make it almost unusable if you don't know how to cook and abuse it.

1. Cast iron - keep it seasoned, never use dish soap, never put it in the dishwasher, never drop it on the floor.
   
   
2. All-Clad and Calphalon stainless pans - never burn the pan with too high heat (only low to slightly medium heat in stainless pans) and never use a metal scouring pad to clean them. Use a sponge and Barkeepers Friend if they get some tough grime on them.
   
   
3. I have some enameled cast iron that I like very much and use for braising. It's just awesome. But I'm sure that it will chip if I drop it or flake if I overheat it (400 degree max for Lodge, LeCreuset doesn't have a max temp). So I just don't drop it or overheat it.
   
   
4. You will want to invest in some good knives. They aren't cheap. You will need to learn how to maintain them and how to sharpen them, otherwise you can ruin them too. But any good knife, if properly maintained will last a lifetime. I decided that my price point, the sweet spot where I got the most performance for my money, was with the Global and Mac brands. They are excellent. You will need to buy a couple of good water sharpening stones from Chosera or King, and a good honing steel like a Henkel.

im gonna screw this up immediately and mention something that is not BIFL, but one of the very best (and durable) products I own are Sony MDR7506 headphones.

no electronics are obviously gonna be BIFL but Ive dropped these a million times and they still sound amazing. they have over 3,000 amazon reviews, many from audio technicians, and 78 percent are 5 star. 91 percent are 5 or 4.

amazon

maybe the very best part is that they're only $80. they could cost 5 times that and still be a great deal.

One of my favorites is an electric griddle. I also have a cast iron one I enjoy, but I do like the fact I can cook "away" from the stove. There are a number of them out there, but the more real estate the better.

We also added a toaster oven like this http://amzn.com/B001L5TVGW I cannot speak to the BIFL, but it is built well and I use it for 95% of my baking (I can get a Calphalon 9x13 in there with no problem).

Speaking of Calphalon, I have been infinitely pleased with their cookware and bakeware. Their baking pans are amazing and should really last.

Cast iron pans are AMAZING for cooking almost anything in. Try to avoid cooking highly acidic foods in them, because that can break down the seasoning that builds up as you use the pan. In other words, use an enameled pot for dishes that have a lot of tomatoes. The best cast iron frying pan to get is the Lodge 12-inch skillet -- it's big and heavy, but not too big for your stovetop, and it provides a lot of room to fry in. They typically sell at Wal-Mart for between $16 and $19, depending on the Wal-mart you go to. It's very easy to find a used cast iron pan at yard sales, flea markets, Goodwill, etc; but based on experience I've seen those pans are usually the 10-inch size or smaller, and if you only have one cast iron pan then I'd suggest going for the 12-inch size. (TJ Maxx/Marshalls had a shipment of those Lodge cast iron pans earlier this year, with the 12-inch size going for $14.99; if you look in one of those stores you may still be able to find one.)

I'll admit to being biased in favor of cast iron, so based on my advice above for an enameled cooking pot, I'd likewise suggest a big, heavy, enamel-coated cast iron pot. The really expensive enameled pots like Le Creuset can run into the hundreds of dollars, and their owners swear it's worth the price; but for most folks, a less expensive brand of enameled iron pot will perform just as well for a fraction of the price. If you're near an Aldi's, with its own brand names for just about anything in the store, you can usually find a 5-quart enameled iron cooking pot for $20 to $30 in there. Wal-Mart sells a 6-quart enameled iron pot by Lodge for $50, which I think is a great price because Lodge is a very reliable and durable brand.

I absolutely adore my Breville BOV800XL toaster oven.

http://www.amazon.com/Breville-BOV800XL-1800-Watt-Convection-Toaster/dp/B001L5TVGW/ref=pd_sim_k_1

Costs a bit, but this was definitely my pick after searching around. Couldn't be happier. There's just two of us, and we do most of our baking/heating/broiling in this thing. Saves money, and doesn't heat up the whole kitchen when you just need a couple of chicken breasts or to broil a sandwich.

One caveat; If toast is important to you, this is not the greatest toaster in the world. It makes adequate toast at best. But as a small oven and a broiler, it absolutely rocks. Most powerful broiler you can buy in a toaster oven.

I know you said you wanted "over the ear" type, but I've had a pair of Shure 215s and I love them. They're tiny and don't get in the way, like earbuds, but due to the design they don't fall out, even during activities. They do a fantastic job of blocking outside noise, which means you don't need to turn the volume way up just to hear your music. The sound quality is really good as well (disclaimer: I'm not an audiophile). I was hesitant to spend $90 but I'm glad I did.

I can only speak from what I've heard from others online, but I'd say yes. It'll take longer to shave with, and there's a transition of learning to use it, but once you have it figured out you'll be glad you made the switch. If you're gonna use a DE, you'll definitely want to do the whole package and get a shaving brush and a real soap or cream. It takes a little longer to use, but it gives a much better shave and is also much healthier for your skin than stuff in a can. Here's a razor I'd personally recommend. If you really do want to try it, you'll have to do a bit of research to figure out what you need. As I said before /r/wicked_edge is a good starting place.

With the acid/tomato thing, I have found that once the seasoning is well established I can make chili and other acidic things without any real issues. Same with soap which I'll use after broiling fish in the pan.

I'd say that my dutch oven doesn't get as much use as my skillets, but then if I had a something like this or the oven listed in the original post, at least the lid would be used often. My current one has a self basting lid that is a pain to clean and season.

Really, the lid is a make or break for the thing. If you want to use coals on top, get one with a lip. If you like to see your stuff cook, find one with a glass top. You get the point.

I have Griswold, Wagner, Lodge, and Benjamin & Medwin pans. The Griswold was a gift from someone that doesn't cook in cast iron pans, and the others were purchased new. The Griswold is used the most, Wagner and Lodge both seem to be fine, but I like the handles and the (semi) polished surface of my Wagner pans a bit better. The Benjamin & Medwin pans were purchased new about 20 years ago and are have the worst quality control. I don't believe they are still made.

True - But you can buy yourself one of these sharpeners and extend the life of your knife.

I have one going on 8 years (or more) and it's still a go to knife daily. In the past, it had to be sent in for sharpening, now I can do it myself. Great knife (Kyocera OK-100)

Bonus tip - These are great too!

I like the America's Test Kitchen shows and picked up the chef's knife because of their glowing review of it and inexpensive price:

Victorinox Fibrox Chef's Knife is great.

I liked it so much that I purchased the santoku and a few paring knives.

small paring knives
The paring knives seem to go dull more quickly than I would like though, but I might have really high expectations for my knives.

I also personally like the santoku knife a lot and it might be my favorite.

To keep all of them extremely sharp I use this whetstone in fine/course.

If I only got to pick one of them it would be the whetstone; hands down the best thing to have in your kitchen and will last a long time.

Cheers.

Sony MDR-7506

They've been a standard for professional audio engineers for decades for good reason - and they only cost $79.99 on Amazon.

I've had mine since the mid-90s and have traveled around the country with them crammed in a backpack and they have held up like a champion. I keep saying I'll replace them with the same model if they ever die, but they just keep working.... The only issue is that the ear pad covering wears away over time, but this is easily fixed by purchasing BeyerDynamic velour pads. These pads are super comfy, and well worth the $23. They're not just a replacement for the original, they are an upgrade.

The ones I have are the Sony mdr 7506 studio monitors. http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR7506-Professional-Diaphragm-Headphone/dp/B000AJIF4E

They are studio monitors so the output is very flat. That means to get the most out of them you have to use an equalizer. I recommend rocket player or poweramp, both of which have excellent equalizers.

There are a few other downsides. They are not bass heavy even with equalizer and bass boost programs. If you want bass, don't get these headphones. Also, they do not cancel noise at all. You will hear all external noise. These are not your airplane headphones.

If you can get past those downsides, these are amazing headphones. This is the type of hardware that benefits from flac audio files and external DACs. For vocals and jazz and other complex audio types will accurately play those cluster chords and suspensions. All of this for about $80.

Edit: I just read the op about public transportation. Don't get these for her for use on public transportation. The open design will not be good for that loud environment. I will leave my post incase anyone else is looking for Christmas gifts.

Supposedly Swing Away was bought out and is cheap crap from China now. The old USA factory makes the good ones under the name ez duz it. I just bought one a few weeks ago and it has opened 3 cans so far. I'll report back in 10 years and let you all know. Make sure to get the black handle one.

Amazon link for anyone interested:
https://www.amazon.com/EZ-DUZ-3028-Deluxe-Opener-Grips/dp/B0071OUJDQ

EDIT:
After looking at the Amazon page, there are counterfeit ones being sold. So make sure you buy directly with Amazon.com as the seller. I remember reading the comments and being careful when buying mine so hopefully I got a good one.

If you're considering getting one, I'd go for either this one or this one.

The second is better if you like a handle on your skillet. I got the first one, and it's perfect. It lets me do virtually every cooking task I'd need to, and with proper care ought to last pretty much forever.

Check out /r/castiron for cleaning/reseasoning tips.

Two points:

1. Over $50 tends to be a scam: actually, Shure buds like these are well worth the money.
   
   
2. I always buy these Sony earbuds. No earbuds will ever be buy-it-for-life, because you're bound to get loss of sound in one ear sooner or later. These Sony buds are super cheap, provide decent audio (not audiophile quality but you will not get that for less than $50 anyway), and last for at least a year in my experience. I've been using them for 10+ years and they are still good.
   
   P.S. If you ARE looking for audiophile-grade earbuds, go over to headroom and see what your options are.
   
   P.P.S. If you're okay with full-size headphones too, the Sennheiser HD595's are hands down the best headphones I have heard.

I literally bought something similar a few days ago. I obviously can't vouch for how much of a BIFL purchase it is, but they make it clear what should go in what container, such as soups, cold foods etc. and it also states that you shouldn't tilt the tiffin box either - so the instructions are pretty clear. So far I'm enjoying it. No spillage. My food stayed warm. No complaints.

I was unusually excited to pack my lunch this week.

I have one of these: handmade kuro-uchi, 17th-generation bladesmith, yadayada

And one of these: Victorinox Fibrox

They're both lovely knives that I expect to last a lifetime (or close to it). They both sharpen up nice and pointy. One costs 10 times as much, but it's pretty and handmade ;) They're both totally valid directions to go, it just depends on what you value in a knife!

Yeah, the quality of the bread knife doesn't matter. Just make sure it's long and serrated and it'll do the job. For that matter, the quality of the pairing knife isn't too important either.

However, having a high quality chef's knife will make worlds of difference in the kitchen. If you want a good knife for even cheaper, I'd recommend the Victorinox Fibrox 8" Chef's knife.. It's pretty well established that it's the cheapest high-quality chef's knife on the market.

Koss PortaPros.

They are $6 over budget, but they sound awesome, lifetime warrenty, and are nicely adjustable.

One possibly deal breaker con, is they are open backed, if you play them loud, people can hear them, and you can hear everything around you. Nice for at home use, kinda shitty if you're using them in a library or study hall.

I hated. HATED. my sleep number mattress. I had an "expanded queen" which is the same as a queen size, but six inches wider, with two air bladders. the two air bladders were tiny, and provided no support for a man my size (6'5"). The mattress felt wonderful for a few months, until the outer shell broke down and the only support was the air bladder.

Two separate air bladders means no cuddling - any variation in firmness (which is inevitable) will result in an uncomfortable ridge in the middle of the bed. If you have sex in or near that ridge, you will stretch the shell, and create a gaping chasm of sorrow in the middle of the bed.

I suspect that a single bladder mattress would be acceptable, but for the price and durability (roughly 18-24 months) it is not worth it.

I currently rock one of these these, which costs 1/10th the price, and has already outlasted my sleep number in terms of comfort.

I am on month 12 with this mattress, I don't expect it to last much more than five years. At $100 a year for pillow like comfort, I am very, very happy.

Kitchen stuff along with the effort put in to learn can pay dividends. You'll probably end up saving money, impressing dates, and just enjoying life more.

Example of things in this category:

• Cast Iron Pan (~20$)
  
• 1-qt Pot (~10$), I've actually found my Ikea one to be extremely well made. General rule is that you should feel comfortable fighting zombies with it.
  
• Chef's Knife (~40$)
  
• Sheers (~20$)
  
• Cookie Sheet (~10$), I find a secret to eating healthy and cheaply is to just roast a bunch of vegetables.
  
• Rice Cooker (I'm Chinese and biased on this one)
  
  The above makes up the core of my BIFL kitchen stuff. I have other stuff, like cutting boards, sous vide, grater, blow torch, etc. But those things are not necessary and don't last for life.
  

Best bang for buck is usually considered to be the Victorinox chef's knife.

Best bang for buck when it comes to Japanese knives is usually considered to be the Tojiro DP line. Much cheaper than Shun and just as good.

https://www.amazon.com/Shure-SE215-K-Isolating-Earphones-MicroDriver/dp/B004PNZFZ8/ref=sr_1_3

I dont have them myself but my friend does and he thinks they are great.

My parents' house burned down around Thanksgiving and they asked me for pot & pan recommendations as they rebuild. Here's a list I sent them of things that ought to last forever but won't break the bank (no Mauviel, Staub, All-Clad, Le Creuset, etc). #1 on the list is a 12" Lodge skillet, just like the one we have. :)

• 12" cast iron skillet, along these lines: http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L10SK3-Pre-Seasoned-Skillet-12-Inch/dp/B00006JSUB/
  
• 8-12qt stock pot. Here's a reasonably priced 10qt model: http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-76610-26G-Classic-10-Quart-Stockpot/dp/B007HN67KU
  
• 2.5qt sauce pan (optional)
  
• 3.5qt chef's pan (not optional), similar to this (the rounded bottom/edges is critical): http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinox-Elite-Quart-Covered-Chefs/dp/B001BKKB3Y
  
• Stainless roasting pan (root vegetables, turkey, etc): http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP117-16BR-MultiClad-Stainless-Rectangular/dp/B0041Q409G
  
• 5-7qt enameled cast iron dutch oven (we use this as our primary soup pot. We only use our stock pot for pasta or when we're making soup for a really large crowd): http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-EC6D43-Enameled-Island-6-Quart/dp/B000N501BK
  
• Cuisinart electric kettle (this is SOOOOOOOOO much more efficient than either the microwave or the stovetop -- we never knew what we were missing until we bought it): http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ
  
• Measuring cups and spoons: http://www.amazon.com/Kitchenmade-Stainless-Steel-Measuring-Stackable/dp/B00IRQNHTK and http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Stainless-Steel-Piece-Measuring/dp/B000P0W4MC
  
• Pyrex measuring cups (a 2qt and a 4qt)
  
• Nesting glass mixing bowls: http://www.amazon.com/Luminarc-Stackable-9-Piece-Bowl-Set/dp/B000V6W5ZG
  
• Large stainless steel (lightweight) mixing bowl. I'm not sure exactly how big ours is, but it's probably similar to this. We use it when we make salads for crowds, or any time we don't want to crowd whatever we're preparing. http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Group-Mixing-Bowl-13-Quart/dp/B001E0HQSO
  
• Colander (pasta, veggies): http://www.amazon.com/Bellemain-Micro-perforated-Stainless-5-quart-Colander/dp/B00O97D0DO
  
• Strainer (berries, rinsing beans):http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-8-Inch-Double-Strainer/dp/B00004OCLX

I'll copy my price list from above, you can get started for cheap. Cheaper if you shop around and buy your handle from ebay or check local goodwills.


Merkur Long Handle Safety Razor $18.99

[Proraso Shaving soap] (https://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shaving-Soap-Refreshing-Toning/dp/B00837YY18/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1473962086&sr=1-5&keywords=shaving+soap) $10

[Shaving Brush] (https://www.amazon.com/Bassion-Crafted-Shaving-Professional-Engineered/dp/B016I77CJA/ref=sr_1_10_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1473962140&sr=1-10&keywords=shaving+brush) $8.99

[Proraso Aftershave Cream for Sensitive Skin] (https://www.amazon.com/Proraso-After-Shave-Balm-Sensitive/dp/B008654MNM/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1473962214&sr=1-1&keywords=proraso+aftershave+cream) $16.00

[100 Feather Razor Blades] (https://www.amazon.com/FEATHER-HI-STAINLESS-DOUBLE-BLADES-REMOVE/dp/B00BDM0XZG/ref=sr_1_3_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1473962281&sr=1-3&keywords=feather+razor+blades) $24.00

Those blades are actually pretty expensive, but they work best for me. You can get much cheaper ones.

Yeah, I did some research on the different densities. I was mainly trying to decide between this mattress with 4" of 4 lb density and [this one] (http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Innovations-SureTemp-Mattress-Warranty/dp/B003CT37L0/ref=pd_sbs_hg_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=10252NKCFKSG0ZTPDHYJ) listed on here last week with 2.5" of 3 lb density memory foam. I was concerned that the other one would not have enough memory foam to feel comfortable and that the 3 lb density might wear out more quickly.

One of the top reviews for this mattress was by a 200 lb woman and she seems to love it, so I'm hoping it will work out for me. I weigh about 215, by the way.

Sony MDR-VR6 best headphones for 100$ Don't let the price fool you they are a production industry standard for a reason. Yes there are better cans but none for the price. They sound great and are tuff enough to throw in a tool bag every day for years. Add a set of byerdynamic dt250 pads and Bob's your uncle.
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-V6-Monitor-Series-Headphones/dp/B00001WRSJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342144715&sr=8-1&keywords=mdr+v6

http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-Velour-Earcushions-MDR7506-Headphones/dp/B0016MF7W2/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1342146963&sr=1-3&keywords=byerdynamic+dt+250

I recently got the Sony MDR7506 for my GF ( Link ) . They are very nice. But since "I" have only had them for about a month i can't really tell you personally about their "BIFL:ness". But they are spoken off very nicely in these terms.


35 dollars isn't very reasonable. But the koss porta pro is probably the best in terms of BIFL for anything near your price range. But remember: this is Buy-it-for-life, not i'm-on-a-slim-budget.

Victorinox 40520 Fibrox 8-Inch Chef's Knife by Victorinox http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000638D32/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_zebzsb08DFF41


They go on sale for 25 frequently. Pair this with a honing steel, steel before each use. Watch a few videos on knife care, and it should be good to last quite a white.

Use a knife block or case, dont bang or scrape the edge, hand wash and dry. Sharpen it your self or professionally one a year.

You dont need to go crazy expensive, or OCD with knife care. Just be respectful of the tool, and get a moderatly priced knife with good steel - as linked above.

This may be BFL, but I shoulf point out that at 25 each, you could go through a few snd still come out ahead compared to some of the others mentioned.


I live my victronix chef knife, ive given a few as gifts and people always are suprised by how good they are.

>I have 2 credit cards and 2 debit cards, some cash (usually), 1 old card for picking door locks, few gift cards, library card, 2 insurance cards, and ID. Money clip is not enough...

Incorrect

I've currently got 13 various ID cards, credit cards, rewards cards, etc. and about 15 dollar bills of various denominations.

I use this one, it is not fancy at all. You can put cards on both sides.

http://www.amazon.com/Slim-Clip-SCCH-MC12-Double-Sided-Money/dp/B00123VTAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376332329&sr=8-1&keywords=slim+clip

I've been using this one daily for five years. I honestly barely use my regular oven. I know that's not necessarily "BIFL," yet I hope it helps you.

Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven 1800-Watt Convection Toaster Oven with Element IQ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001L5TVGW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Y.NJyb0RBVZ2M

These, and this and a decent brush make a great shaving kit. My safety was actually cheaper than this and it's been going for years. As soon as it wears out (which it has shown no sign of), I'll grab another. The blades are really the commodity in this scenario. I absolutely love them.

I bought a T-fal E93808 12" pan for $25 back at the beginning of 2016 and it gets consistent home use. I never expected it to last this long. I have a sizable dent on the side from dropping it and the handle rivets and screws came loose recently so I fixed that with JBWeld. The main pan surface still works amazingly well for the age and price. I basically assumed it would be disposable and last a year. Its not BIFL but its excellent value and really good performance. I try to use plastic spatulas and avoid steel wool but otherwise I'm not very careful.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GWG0T2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I used to use some old Gamecom 777's, but they'd keep breaking in one weak spot on the Left side, where the microphone snaps into the frame. Right side was thick enough to withstand a drop.

Well, after I broke them, they'd phased those out in place of the 780s. I've had this pair for awhile. It's hardly perfect. There's a rattling on one side, which I need to open and investigate, but they work fine and are resilient to short drops onto carpet. Cable also snags in my chair from time-to-time, and the wires haven't broke or anything like that. So far, lasted a couple years.

There's also professional Sony headphones which are industry standard. I'm not sure those are the exact ones, because I just did a quick search, but Sony's headphones are commonly used in media industries. They're really popular in Hollywood. Obviously, most recommendations are concerned with quality, not durability, but from what I've seen from friends who own similar pairs, they look fairly sturdy, don't have a microphone (so fewer moving parts) and in general are probably going to last quite awhile.

If you want headphones built like a tank... I don't know where to look, but you can try asking /r/audiophile if they have any ideas where to look.

Eagle cans they are made in the USA since the 1800s and are pretty affordable. If you don't wanna order one, I have found them at ACE Hardware stores - hard to find them at big box places.

They also don't have the pesky safety mechanism that seem to create more spills than they prevent.

Eagle UI-50-FS Red Galvanized Steel Type I Gasoline Safety Can with Funnel, 5 gallon Capacity, 13.5" Height, 12.5" Diameter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004Y75M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nEqwxbCXVF69F

These are great! They are supposed to be the frugal choice. If you want true BIFL though you should probably listen to professional chefs above and get something from Shun or another big name. The Victoronix is supposed to be as close as you get under $50 though.

This is the one I've used and like: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000638D32?pc_redir=1395213946&robot_redir=1

Your savior has arrived.

check this out

It keeps coffee hot for a few hours, is easy to drink from and clean. Also it fits in most cup holders in cars. Best "mug" I have ever had.

For acceptable sound quality and solid construction, I recommend the Sony MDR-V6 headphones with aftermarket velour pads. Best deal under $100 (velour pads run about $25).

Ceramic is brittle and hard to sharpen. If you take care of it and manage to not break it the edge will last quite a while, but will still eventually dull. Any halfway decent steel knife will be BIFL as long as you take care of it and keep it sharp. The best knife for the money that I've found is the Victorinox. I have entirely too many expensive chefs knives and this is still the one I tend to reach for the most.

How has nobody suggested the Victorinox Fibrox Pro? It is widely considered the best beginner's chef's knife money can buy, but I think that it would suffice for BIFL, as I know many many people who have had theirs for years.
If you aren't going for anything fancy, then you can't beat it. $45 for a lightweight, ergonomic, well balanced knife that, with the proper care, could last you forever.
Link

If you buy from Amazon, I highly recommend paying the extra few cents (4 cents right now) and make sure you buy one where the seller is Amazon.com (not just fulfilled by Amazon.com) to reduce the chance of getting a counterfeit.

For instance, two "just launched" Amazon sellers are offering the can opener at the cheapest price of $8.87. Your "made in usa" can opener will be shipped from Brazil and Canada. You can see in the product reviews going back three years that counterfeits are a big problem with this product.

You can get really good knives without paying that price. I would recommend Victorinox chef's knives, and this knife sharpener, even though you won't need it often with good knives.

Light My Fire Titanium Spork. Excellent reviews, and it's made of frikin' titanium.

EDIT: Weighs only 17 grams, and costs only $11. Pretty impressive.

The T-fal E93808 is the America's Test Kitchen choice for The Best Teflon Skillet. They do some pretty holistic testing on their YouTube channel, kind of like BIFL cooking cooking edition.

If you want true buy it for life I would suggest going with a DE razor, especially if you're worried about cost. If you get a cartridge razor, like the gillette sensor, you're going to be paying about $1 per cartridge, at least. Razor blades on the other hand can be less than 10 cents a piece. I bought 100 blades for $9, that's about a two years supply. With the money you save on blades you can afford a top quality razor, which really will last a lifetime. As others suggested, a stainless steel razor is expensive but will last forever. If you don't want to spring for that though look for something like a merkur: http://www.amazon.com/Merkur-Long-Handled-Safety-Razor/dp/B000NL0T1G/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1463110129&sr=1-1&keywords=merkur

I used these for ~5-6 years each. I ended up breaking them/dropping them one too many times so I threw them out to try the new "style" the bottle itself wasn't as durable and the style was too clunky. I prefer minimalist looks.

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Contigo-AUTOSEAL-Water-Bottle-Ounces/dp/B003KZKDZ4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1418018030&sr=8-3&keywords=cognito+water+bottle

If you're looking for something to keep hot water in I recommend either the elephant (zojirushi) or tiger brand. Both are top brands in asia cough Japan cough and I've once left water in the elephant brand for ~30 hours. Still warm. :)

http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SM-KHE48AG-Stainless-Steel-16-Ounce/dp/B005PO9T44/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1418018199&sr=1-1&keywords=zojirushi

http://www.amazon.com/Tiger-MMQ-S050-Stainless-16-9-Ounce-Metallic/dp/B00BN45GLA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418018276&sr=8-1&keywords=tiger+thermos

Zojirushi. This is definitely what you want. There Bento Boxes are also awesome. Nothing compares to vacuum insultation except maybe aerogels. And I haven't seen those in thermoses yet.

Shure 215

It is way over your budget after taxes $146 CAD. But that is the best I could find for what is durable and has replaceable cords for when they wear out. I have only read good things about it on BIFL.

I do not own a pair but I hope to soon when I have the funds.

You really don't need to go as far as a straight razor. A double edge will be just as "for life" as a straight razor will be, and will still save you tons of money on blades vs. cartridges.

I shave with a Merkur DE and bought a 50 pack of sample razors so I could find a brand that works really well on my skin.

These earbuds have a lot of positive reviews on amazon and head-fi forums. They're also easy to recable.

I don't have a strong opinion about Cutco. But the cheap BIFL kitchen knife I recommend is the Victorinox, winner of the America's Test Kitchen stamp of approval. It's the one that they use all the time. $25. p.s. Don't run your good knives through the dishwasher.

http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-8-Inch-Fibrox-Straight/dp/B008M5U1C2/

These are small, cheap(ish) products with a lifetime guarantee and a good track record:

Merkur Safety Razor, $20

Victorinox Swiss Army Knife, $13.39

Leatherman Multi Tools, $20-Infinity

Darn Tough Socks, ~$20

Saddleback Leather Wallets, $40-infinity

Buck 110 Hunter, $30

Check out Koss Porta Pros. I learned about them from people on the running forums, and they are often mentioned on the audiophile forums as having great sound for their price (here in the U.S. they are about $45). Best thing is they have a lifetime warranty, so if the cord goes bad, you send them back along with a check for return shipping (I think it's about $9), and they send you out a new pair. But if you're in the EU, make sure you have a warranty location there before buying.

If your a home cook I recommend the Victornix Fibrox. You can buy it for under $40 and it's an amazing knife for that price.


Recommended by america's test kitchen.
https://www.americastestkitchen.com/products/4766-victorinox-8-swiss-army-fibrox-chefs-knife


3,500+ 5 star reviews
http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-8-Inch-Fibrox-Straight/dp/B008M5U1C2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449067295&sr=8-1&keywords=victorinox+fibrox

Sony MDR-7506. They're the field audio recording industry standard, and their BIFL design (you can easily replace the ear cushions) and accurate tonal response make them the perfect choice. At £68, they're a little over your budget, but well worth it. I have worked in television production for nearly 15 years and I'm still on my first pair.

I hear Shure SE215-K are amazing for running, and they have really good quality sound.

Merkur Long Handled Safety Razor by Merkur http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NL0T1G/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_xw1jtb079350G

I have this one, and it's great

I love the Zojirushi - I am totally comfortable with putting one in my laptop bag as long as it's "locked" and if I forget about it the coffee is still hot 10 hours later...


http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SM-KHE48AG-Stainless-Steel-16-Ounce/dp/B005PO9T44

C'mon OP...

• Bialetti Moka pot
  
  
• Lido 2 hand grinder
  
  
• Lodge cast iron skillets one large one small
  
  
• Lodge enameled cast iron dutch oven
  
  
• All clad copper core sauce pan
  
  
• Miele washing machine
  
  
• Miele C2 vacuum cleaner
  
  
• Vitamix 5200
  
  
• Duralex glasses - tumblers??
  
  
• Zojirushi NS-LLH05 rice cooker - only 1 left!
  
  
• Cuisinart Perfectemp Kettle
  
  
• OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Food Scale
  
  
• OXO Good Grips Cutting board
  
  
• Corelle winter frost dinnerware set
  
  
• Light my fire titanium fork-spoon-knife - spork?
  
  
• Darn Tough socks
  
  
• Exofficio briefs
  
  
• Felco 2 Secateurs
  
  
• Wahl Peanut beard trimmer
  
  
• Dualit Toaster
  
  
• P38 can opener??
  
  
• Zwilling J.A. Henckels knife set
  

I haven't used this product personally, but would definitely recommend looking into it: Zojirushi Bento Lunch Box set


http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14SA-Bento-Stainless-Silver/dp/B000246GSE/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1417981041&sr=1-1&keywords=zojirushi+bento

Here are my favorites so far:

Victorinox 40520 8" Chefs Knife - very inexpensive, high quality chef's knife. Recommended by America's test kitchen.

CDN DTQ450X Thermometer - very inexpensive, high quality instant read thermometer. Recommended by America's test kitchen.

Lodge 12" skillet - cheap and will last you forever

Bahco 7750 3/8" ratchet - 95% identical to Snap-On's 3/8" F80 ratchet at 1/3 the price

Allen Edmonds Fifth Avenue dress shoe - One of the most affordable full-grain leather, goodyear welted shoes. This is a classic captoe style with a bit of decoration that works everywhere. Not quite for "life" but could easily last you 10 years.

• Merkur Long Handled Safety Razor
  
  
• Double Edge Safety Razor Blade
  
  You do not have to go all in and do badger brush and special soap. No matter what anyone tells you. I shaved before my wedding with dish soap. I normally use bar soap and shave in the shower.

I like my slim clip. You can't more minimalist than that. Just as good as a wallet, it holds all the cards I need on one side and cash on the other. It is cheap, lasts forever and I find it far more secure or cautious in a front pocket than a wallet in a back pocket. It also keeps me from becoming a hoarder since there is not a lot of room for cards I don't really need.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00123VTAY

My Shure SE215 have replacable cables, but even 2 years of much wear and tear in both hot and cold have only produced a minor splitting in one cable that doesn't really affect the sound...

I think most 100€/$+ earphones have a good chance of having replacable cables. Finding those replacements however, is a different game.

Random recommendations from a sophomore in college:

Adidas Shower Shoes - These things have been great. They dry nearly instantly and are adjustable.

Zojirushi Travel Mug - If you drink coffee and would like to have access to it throughout the day, this is by far the best travel mug (and has many recommendations here on BIFL).

Water pitcher - Assuming you will have a fridge (you might not), having access to cold water can be surprisingly convenient. Even if you don't have a fridge, if you don't have a sink, this will be a lot more convenient.

Towels - This is more of a personal preference. For me, department store-bought towels are too soft and absorbent. I found that mine never got totally dry, and replaced them with Turkish peshtemal towels (like these ones from Amazon)

Computer monitor - You will use this all four years, I guarantee it. If you get a big enough one, you can also use it as a TV when friends are over.

Laser printer - do NOT buy an inkjet. You will go crazy when it conveniently runs out of ink before your lab report is due. Brother makes good laser printers. Wireless is nice, but probably not a necessity.

Some kind of noise cancelling headphones - doesn't have to be active noise canceling. College dorms can be noisy. Having a good pair of over-the-ear headphones can be nice, even if you just listen to white noise to drown out your roommate.



Things I didn't need:

A TV - nice, but not necessary

iPad - I don't know why anyone thinks this is necessary or why I have one other than watching Netflix in bed when I'm too lazy to unplug my computer.

Here's a few that are in your price range and pretty well known for their durability:

Beyerdynamic DT 770

Sony MDR 7506 (Also check for the price on the V6 as they're both very similar and just as durable)

AKG K240

Shure SE215

America's Test Kitchen likes the Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven though it is expensive at around $250 USD.

The Hamilton Beach Set & Forget Toaster Oven with Convection Cooking was rated their best buy, and is significantly cheaper at $83 USD.

I've only used my roommate's cheapo toaster oven, and that one sucked, so I can't give any personal recommendations.

EZ DUZ IT - well made and will last you forever. Here's an amazon link.

How good of a deal is this? I'm going to stick the link to this thermos in here to hopefully get that PriceZombie bot to respond. Does anyone know if there is a way to poll that information directly?

You’d be much better off with the inexpensive but good Victorinox/Forschner chef’s knife or the Tojiro-DP wa-gyutō:

• https://smile.amazon.com/Victorinox-Fibrox-Chefs-Knife-8-Inch/dp/B000638D32
  
• https://smile.amazon.com/Tojiro-DP-Gyutou-8-2-21cm/dp/B000UAPQGS
  
  Henckels and Wüsthof knives are excessively heavy and most chefs prefer other brands.

https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-UI-50-FS-Galvanized-Gasoline-Capacity/dp/B00004Y75M/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=Eagle+gas+can&qid=1558744993&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Are these any good? I don’t like the rubber handle, because gas has a tendency of eating it up

I just bought my second one of these for a guest bed, and have been sleeping on the same one for 3 years now. Amazing bed, especially for the price. Has a 20 year warranty, just like Tempurpedic.

Edit: I always confuse bed and mattress; OP, are you looking for a bed frame or a mattress?

ok i will offer you two BIFL versions. the first one being BIFL on a budget and the second being a much higher dollar BIFL cost.

quality on a budget- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000CF8YO/ref=cm_ciu_pl_B0000CF8YO_mo1ZWCPZP5I7S3B

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Color-EC6D43-Enameled-6-Quart/dp/B000N501BK/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1371857337&sr=1-1&keywords=lodge+dutch+oven

http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-4-Inch-Fibrox-Straight-Paring/dp/B008M5U1UE/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1371857377&sr=1-1&keywords=victorinox+paring

http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-Wooden-Spoon-3-Piece/dp/B008H2JLP8/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1371857407&sr=1-2&keywords=wooden+spoon

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L10SK3-12-Inch-Pre-Seasoned-Skillet/dp/B00006JSUB/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1371857459&sr=1-1&keywords=lodge+cast+iron

higher dollar items include-

http://www.amazon.com/Global-G-2-inch-Chefs-Knife/dp/B00005OL44/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1371857561&sr=1-1&keywords=global+knives

http://www.amazon.com/Shun-Premier-Chefs-Knife-8-Inch/dp/B003B66YKA/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1371857613&sr=1-2&keywords=shun+knives

http://www.amazon.com/Wusthof-Classic-2-Inch-Paring-Knife/dp/B00005MEGH/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1371857640&sr=1-3&keywords=paring+knife

http://www.amazon.com/Le-Creuset-Signature-Enameled-Cast-Iron/dp/B0076NOGPY/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1371857680&sr=1-2&keywords=le+creuset+dutch+oven

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L10SK3-12-Inch-Pre-Seasoned-Skillet/dp/B00006JSUB/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1371857717&sr=1-1&keywords=lodge+cast+iron


I own the cheaper BIFL items i listed and they have been AMAZING so far. you really cant beat the quality/ price ratio for the cheaper things i listed. if you want a better chef knife all the options i gave you would be excellent but just know that you could go crazy looking at all the different brands.

Seeing this page, I feel like japanese brand Zojirushi is a really good option. Namely the previous generation Stainless Steel Mug.

For your nose/ears, buy a Groommate XL

http://smile.amazon.com/Groom-Mate-Platinum-Nose-Trimmer/dp/B000EBFJXS

For the rest of your manscaping, while everyone loves Wahl for consumer products, I've had a set of Oster clippers that I've used for 7 or 8 years, with the same two heads, and they've done fine. I used them for my beard, chest, and other places. They're strong and make quick work.

If I were to replace the Osters, my stylist uses this new version of wireless, infinitely adjustable clippers, but they're pretty damn expensive. I'd get those as he raves about them and uses them professionally every day.

If you want to trim just nose hair get this: https://www.amazon.com/Groom-Mate-Platinum-Nose-Trimmer/dp/B000EBFJXS no batteries, stainless steel, easily cleaned, and I have been pleased with it.

I just got this thing last week:

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-LCC3-Pre-Seasoned-Cooker-10-25-inch/dp/B0009JKG9M/ref=pd_sim_k_3

ITS AMAZING. SO many uses

Sure thing. I personally have the Merkur Model 180/23C, but please check /r/wicked_edge's Double Edge Kit Suggestions threads in their sidebar. Can't go wrong with those.

http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Innovations-SureTemp-Mattress-Warranty/dp/B003CT37L0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374179110&sr=8-1&keywords=mattress

Amazon ratings usually = win

How about for $40? Koss PortaPros. They have a great warranty and last a long time. If something breaks on them, you send them back to be repaired. Usually they just send you a new pair.

https://smile.amazon.com/Koss-155491-Porta-Headphones-Silver/dp/B00001P4ZH/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1503532753&sr=1-1&keywords=koss+portapro

I bought this one last year. It's easy to use, and built like a tank.

This is a great start for cast iron. Dutch oven/ skillet combo. Three for one. We use ours constantly!

Lodge LCC3 Cast Iron Combo Cooker, Pre-Seasoned, 3.2-Quart https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009JKG9M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_RCQGyb6K9FFTA

Victorinox makes an incredibly sharp chef's knife for a really great price.

Cooks Illustrated tested some, and had to stop the tests because a couple came out so much better than the rest (Some stuck after 2 eggs, the winners didn't stick after 76+). This was one of the winners.

I've got one and it serves quite well. The restaurant supply pans I've bought in the past have been some of the least durable pans I've owned.

Safety razor, something like this guy.

Slim Clip $7

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00123VTAY

Had mine for about 8 years and it handles everything you need. Cash and about 8 credit/ID cards. Only thing it doesn’t hold is business cards but I don’t hand any out.

Don’t be a Costanza.

There are several dozen threads on this if you use the search bar.

Most people recommend the EZ-DUZ-IT which just looks like a standard can opener to me.

I bought this one, EZ-DUZ-IT 3028 Deluxe Can Opener with Grips, and it works great.

Vacuum flask: http://shopstanley-pmi.com/detail/TCL+10-01254-001

There are bento boxes/flasks that can keep food warm or cold: http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14-Bento-Stainless-Steel/dp/B000246GSE/

I doubt it would last for life but with care it should last a very long time.

Also, Lodge makes enameled cast iron as well. It's good stuff too.

http://www.thehungrymouse.com/2011/06/06/dutch-oven-battle-lodge-vs-le-creuset/

SlimClip. Not sure you'd call it stylish, but it's definitely slim and sturdy. I've been carrying this thing for 10 years now, and it's great. No regrets retiring fat, lumpy wallet for this puppy.

http://www.amazon.com/Slim-Clip-SCCH-MC12-Double-Sided-Money/dp/B00123VTAY

Zojirushi is a fantastic brand as far as insulated bottles and jars go. They are pricier than Thermos brand but worth the added cost. That being said Thermos makes a damn good product.

I have this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005PO9T44/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That thing is incredible.

Local box store such as lowes or order via amazon. The funnel is removable, but obviously useful for filling up mowers, other cans, etc...

Oster Fast Feed is what I use. The lever on the side gives you a fair amount of control, and the combs that come with it should do fine for most beard lengths. It's faster, more reliable, and will give you a better cut than anything you've linked.

Swing-A-Way can openers used to be good, but their production got outsourced. Buy EZ-DUZ-IT instead, made on the original production line.

Get cast iron! It will outlast you. Check local places for second-hand if you can, otherwise order Lodge cast iron from Amazon.

Here's a link to a combo cooker I got recently:

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-LCC3-Logic-Pre-Seasoned-Cooker/dp/B0009JKG9M/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1320194383&sr=8-4

Check Lodge's website if you want to see the full range of products. For a full set of cast iron, I recommend getting a skillet, a griddle/grill pan, and a dutch oven.

If you don't care what they look like, get the Koss Portapros
They have good sound for the price and have a lifetime warranty

Unsure on the quality of the knives you linked but pick up some Victorinox knives for less. Probably equal or higher quality as well as highly recommended.

Chefs knife

Paring knife

Bread knife

Could even do without the bread knife but if you were already planning on spending $150, get these three and that should cover 98% of use.

Sony MDR V6 They're great headphones. Can be driven by your run of the mill devices without a huge need for an AMP.

They're now called "EZ Duz It." I have one, and it's phenomenal.

Admittedly, the name inspires little confidence, but I'm pretty sure I could bludgeon a bison to death with it, and then smoothly open a can o' beans to go with my 900lbs of fresh meat. So, I'm willing to give the toothless illiterate who named it a pass.

Bought one of these a few years ago, great for yard equipment and the like but a total pain if you want to put gas in a car without another funnel. Anyways it's a little cheaper on Amazon:

Eagle UI-50-FS Red Galvanized Steel Type I Gasoline Safety Can with Funnel, 5 gallon Capacity, 13.5" Height, 12.5" Diameter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004Y75M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LSa6Cb6J7PRR3.

Check out these. I picked one up for ~$20 at a flea market in perfect condition.

T-Fal Pro from Amazon. Currently $32 for Cooks Illustrated's favorite non-stick 12-inch skillet. They even preferred it to the AllClad.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GWG0T2

After wearing out too many leather wallets I got a cheapie and I've been really enjoying it so far. Had it about a year.

I bought this set 2 years ago and it is fantastic:

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-LCC3-Pre-Seasoned-Cast-Iron-3-Quart/dp/B0009JKG9M/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1421956136&sr=8-11&keywords=lodge+dutch+oven

A good quality corded shaver will do the trick; the ones at barbershops will be sufficient. Besides Wahl, this Andis and Oster are also worth considering. The big maintenance item is oiling.

Koss ProtaPro

Not earbuds, but they still collapse to a pretty small size. Definitely one of the most durable headphones on the market. Get them for $50 here: https://www.amazon.ca/Koss-PortaPro-Headphones-with-Case/dp/B00001P4ZH

Swing Aways are made in China now, and aren't as good anymore. By the American version, http://www.amazon.com/EZ-DUZ-IT-Deluxe-Opener-Black-Grips/dp/B0071OUJDQ

Mine works great.

That is true. I'm old enough to remember making mix tapes and mix CDs for my wife when we were dating.

I've been very nostalgic for a Walkman lately. I used to walk all over the place with my Walkman and headphones on my head when I was a teenager. Heck, to this day, I still throw headphones on whenever I do housework or need to walk anywhere.

I even bought a pair of Koss PortaPro headphones, for that great sounding but still retro look.

Actually you don't want to buy the current Swing-A-Way as it is pretty cheaply made. Ez-Duz-It is the can opener you want, made in America, and supposedly its made by the same people who produced the origianal Swing-A-Way

I posted for a nose hair trimmer 2 weeks ago. The top suggestion was Groom Mate Platinum XL Nose & Ear Hair Trimmer. I got it in the mail today and I am happy to report I don't think I would ever use a different nose/ear hair trimmer. It is totally BI4L stainless steel and no batteries. It fucking rocks, fullest marks. For beard trimmer I just use my hair clippers over the garbage can. The hair in the shower clogs the drain. I am hairy though.

I've used a T-Fal professional near daily for five years now. I don't put it in the dishwater and I don't use metal utensils on it, but other than than I don't follow any other precautions. It stills works like new.

My Oster Fast Feed is 3 years old but looks just like the day I bought it. I use mine daily.

http://www.amazon.com/Oster-Professional-76023-510-Clipper-Adjustable/dp/B001JJBC9Y

Yea, they don't make those anymore. These are pretty much the most reviewed headphones ever. Sony MDR-7506.

Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone ~$80. Don't buy Beats.
 
The Wirecutter is your friend.

I have one of these.. pretty heavy duty.

Here is a video review.

I use one of these.

I quite like it. You would have to cut up your pizza into smaller pieces to fit tho.

You can still get these new

Eagle UI-50-FS Red Galvanized Steel Type I Gasoline Safety Can with Funnel, 5 gallon Capacity, 13.5" Height, 12.5" Diameter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004Y75M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_oEi6Cb118P705

Got a good knife?

http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Fibrox-8-Inch-40520-5-2063-20/dp/B000638D32

Sony MDR V6s and their nicer counterpart, the Sony MDR 7506, are very very durable.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR7506-Professional-Diaphragm-Headphone/dp/B000AJIF4E/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1395256018&sr=1-1&keywords=sony+mdr+7506

The Breville. It's attractive, durable, and large (inside). You can cook a medium pizza for christ sake.

http://www.amazon.com/Breville-BOV800XL-1800-Watt-Convection-Toaster/dp/B001L5TVGW

Shure SE215. $100, removable cable, better sound than most other $100 in-ear monitors (IEMs).

Zojirushi, hands down. I've had this one for two and a half years now, and it's just as good as the day I got it.

What's more, they sell replacement parts - the whole lid, the mouthpiece, all the seals & o-rings... You can get an entire rebuild kit for around ten or twelve bucks.

edit - fixed link. apparently, reddit doesn't know what a link is without http:// out front.

Non-mobile: This is a better option

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

This has lasted 6 years so far...with no sign of ever breaking. The metal has not stressed either, holds everything just as securely as the first day.

http://www.amazon.com/Slim-Clip-SCCH-MC12-Double-Sided-Money/dp/B00123VTAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396022030&sr=8-1&keywords=slim+clip

Shure SE215. Nice and durable with a replaceable cable and tips. Comes with multiple sizes of foam and rubber tips.

I'm very happy with my Zojirushi. Can't use a straw, but I've never had trouble with ice cubes. And it's insulated like a mofo, ice cubes stay solid overnight.

I spent 15 years as a professional chef using knives that cost less than 40$. Good knives are not expensive, and the difference between a 40$ knife and a 140$ knife is mainly cosmetic.

https://www.amazon.ca/Victorinox-Fibrox-8-Inch-47520-5-2063-20/dp/B000638D32

I got this one and I like it:
http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SL-JAE14SA-Bento-Stainless-Silver/dp/B000246GSE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1413822780&sr=8-3&keywords=Zojirushi+Bento+Jar

Le Creuset is a bit overrated. I've cooked with dutch ovens like this and this and there is very little difference other than the price tag.

I have used Slim Clip for about 6 years, holds 6 cards and 30 bills. It doesn´t look like I will have to buy other wallet ever.

I know this is 5 times your budget but this is one of those things in life that's just worth spending the extra money on.

Shure SE215

The Koss PortaPros have been treating me rather well and I believe they come with a lifetime warranty should something break. Really really enjoyable to listen to lossless music with those bad boys and the 35 dollar price tag can't be beat!

This is all anecdotal but I am a fairly regular flyer, 8-12 check-ins a month. If you're in the US, you can travel domestically without issue (in over 100 flights I haven't been stopped or questioned about it, though I am pre-check so that might make a difference). I've had many flights, probably 50 or so checkins in Canada as well without issue. Canada gave me more grief over nose-hair clippers (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EBFJXS) than the spork - but the nose hair clippers were ultimately fine.

Less data: I traveled to Europe, through europe, took about 6 flights with check-ins and didn't have the slightest problem.

I flew to Central America and on the return trip, they nabbed it. I've noticed higher security over trivial things in developing countries (South-east asia, Central/South America). I've had small, less than an inch scissors taken from me twice now as well even though I travel regularly in the US with those same scissors.

So, do with that info what you will and don't blame me if they take it from you in the US (though I really really really doubt they will).


If you travel internationally, your odds of success may diminish

I ordered these puppies and got an antlion modmic and could not be happier. I was afraid the wire issue would be a problem, but they both have such long wires with just a little bit of cable management you're golden. I was like you, looking for the bluetooth and not caring about the quality because I just wanted to game, but after trying out the crummy cans in the video I went all in and didn't look back.

Ultimately your decision, just paying it forward because I didn't know about the modmics either. They come with a magnet too so you can still use your headphones for just listening to music when you're not raging at people on Dota 2... er I mean gaming. Goodluck bud.

Any that are stainless steel should last you a long while. I have this one from Magic Chef: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01LX1OC2Q . The one most recommended on this sub is the EZ-DUZ-IT 3028. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0071OUJDQ

My main goal is actually protecting my hearing. I use machinery often and wear hearing protectors at work and at home. From looking at posts on /r/headphones I found a couple brands, Etymotic and Shure that make earbuds that offer good noise isolation. They appear to be marketed mostly to professional musicians.

Unfortunately since I use power tools I can't have a cord that hangs below my waist (IE into my pocket) where it may get caught by a blade and pull me in. Peltor's stuff attracted me because it is wireless and has some hearing protection. I was just curious if anyone could attest to how well it cancels incoming sound and what quality the speakers in the headset are. I mainly listen to news broadcast, but might occasionally listen to music.

Stretch it to $99 and get some Sony MDR-7506s. You'll find these in every recording studio in the world, so you know music will sound like the musicians intended it. I bought mine in '99, and I can totally see myself passing them down to the kids in 15 years.

*edit: I bought mine for $99, missed that amazon was $130.
Here they are for $99 at musicians friend.

I've burned through 3 wahl trimmers before buying an oster pro. Had it for 5 years now no issue. Much heavier in the hand. I've got a really thick beard and the wahl's couldn't handle it.

https://www.amazon.ca/Oster-Professional-76023-510-Clipper-Adjustable/dp/B001JJBC9Y/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1538918267&sr=8-6&keywords=oster+beard

I give kind of strange gifts but this year I'm giving my family can openers in their stockings. They're cheap and made in the USA, and last a long time. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0071OUJDQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages01

America's Test Kitchen recommends this steel one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000638D32?pc_redir=1395213946&robot_redir=1

I don't think there is a go to for this type. Get one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GWG0T2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you don't like it, post back and I'll paypal you $7. I back up my advice with cash and carry my huge balls in a wheelbarrow.

The one I am constantly recommended is the Breville toaster oven.

http://www.amazon.com/Breville-BOV800XL-1800-Watt-Convection-Toaster/dp/B001L5TVGW

Has been recommended here before - http://www.amazon.com/EZ-DUZ-IT-Deluxe-Opener-Black-Grips/dp/B0071OUJDQ

I believe non-stick cookware is one of the items where BIFL doesn't really exist. ANY non-stick surface is going to suffer wear.

Still, T-Fal Professional line I think was a America's Test Kitchen best pick. If you're willing to use something a bit bigger here's the 12" Skillet for $24.99. Mine's lasted me three years and is just now probably needing a replacement.

And, for non mobile users, here's the full size amazon page for that mug http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SM-KHE48AG-Stainless-Steel-16-Ounce/dp/B005PO9T44/

Any of these strike your fancy? https://www.sfbags.com/collections/shoulder-messenger-bags

I have the cargo, only the flap is leather but the liner is nice. I believe the rough rider is all leather.

As for the adult sippy cup needs I've had one of these Zojirushi travel mugs for several years with no issue. As a plus they're slim, and feature a lock on the lid. (The only issue I have is that my coffee stays too hot )
http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SM-KHE48AG-Stainless-Steel-16-Ounce/dp/B005PO9T44

EZ-DUZ-IT. Careful about counterfeits though.

So for everyone who is not pleased in this thread,.. some of those style headphones definitely! were durable, more so than many modern ones. And for those that say you can not buy similar/that design headphones, not true. KOSS is famous for them,. and these KOSS are famously durable,.. All I am saying there is another possible answer than assuming it is survivorship bias or that OP is shitposting an item you can not buy. https://www.amazon.com/Koss-Porta-Pro-Headphones-Silver/dp/B00001P4ZH/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1521332597&sr=8-6&keywords=koss+headphones It also stands to reason that these type of units would last very long. The metal bracket/headband was almost impossible to break unlike many all plastic of very little metal designs these days. Often the wires were much thicker than of current affordable/cheap headphones. In practice, I found that with this style only thing that might go would be the foam pads (usually replace-able cheap) or if you were very unlucky the Jack, after years of use.

I highly recommend the Light My Fire titanium spork.

so is that can opener truly bifl quality?

http://www.amazon.com/EZ-DUZ-IT-3028-Deluxe-Opener-Grips/dp/B0071OUJDQ (affiliate link stripped out)

I am so tired of cheap damned can openers.

Never go for blocks, get this http://www.amazon.ca/Victorinox-40520-Fibrox-8-Inch-Chefs/dp/B000638D32/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376183686&sr=8-1&keywords=fibrox

Never seen it for 7$ though


edit: Oh, also maybe see if you can get it for 30ish

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005PO9T44/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A23BMDV6UOKQGP I'm on my phone and can't remember how to post a link, sorry. This will keep your coffee HOT and your ice cubes from melting, won't leak, has a plastic mouth piece and is BIFL

I have a Zojirushi. It's pretty nice. Although this particular model might not be large enough depending on how much you eat. I have a small appetite and it's just big enough.

It's also very compartmentalized so if you prepare simple lunches it might be too much of a pain in the ass.

They do make several other models that are worth checking out.

Light my Fire of Sweden's titanium spork. Got it at Natural Grocers for $11.79.

Sony MDR-V6. I've had mine for about 3 years. The cable is really long, but aside from that, it trumps everything else in my opinion for price and sound quality. [SONY MDR-V6] (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-V6-Monitor-Series-Headphones/dp/B00001WRSJ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1377726814&sr=8-2&keywords=sony+mdr).

I second the Sony MDR-V6's.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRV6-Studio-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00001WRSJ

$35 for 5gal gasoline type 1

https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-UI-50-FS-Galvanized-Gasoline-Capacity/dp/B00004Y75M/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=eagle+safety+can+5+gallon&qid=1558783784&s=gateway&sprefix=eagle+safety&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-UI-50-FS-Galvanized-Gasoline-Capacity/dp/B00004Y75M/

My family has several Eagle gas cans that are many decades old and still get the job done.

Zojirushi SL-JAE14 Mr. Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000246GSE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7kyYDb4R24GXQ

Victorinox

http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Fibrox-8-Inch-40520-5-2063-20/dp/B000638D32/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1408735966&sr=8-2&keywords=victorinox+knife

The Victorinix ($30) has usually been their budget model: http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-40520-Fibrox-8-Inch-Chefs/dp/B000638D32

This is the one with the pan lid.

It should also be noted that if you do not already own a cast iron pan, Lodge also sells a dutch oven/cast iron pan set. That is to say, the lid to the dutch oven, can be used as a pan.

I have a pair of 7506s that are absolutely incredible. I expect them to be a BI4L item.

Groom Mate Nose & Ear Hair Trimmer

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EBFJXS works. It's the same without the mobile redirect at the end of the URL.

https://www.amazon.com/Groom-Mate-Platinum-Nose-Trimmer/dp/B000EBFJXS/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1511715895&sr=8-3&keywords=groom%2Bmate%2Bnose%2Bhair%2Btrimmer&th=1

its manual, not electric so should last as long as you do

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Color-6-Quart-Dutch-Island/dp/B000N501BK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331392165&sr=8-1

Get this, it's $50 and works wonders.

enameled cast iron dutch oven.
https://www.amazon.com/Lodge-EC6D43-Enameled-6-Quart-Island/dp/B000N501BK/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1493687830&sr=1-2&keywords=dutch+oven

this?

Titanium Spork

Oster Fast Feed http://www.amazon.com/OSTER-Adjustable-Pivot-Clipper-76023-510/dp/B001JJBC9Y

$500 and amazing

what mattress is softer?

http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Innovations-SureTemp-Mattress-Warranty/dp/B003CT37L0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417368578&sr=8-1&keywords=Bed+in+a+Box#customerReviews

vs

http://www.amazon.com/Signature-Sleep-Contour-Inch-Mattress/dp/B004LQ1RJ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417369882&sr=8-1&keywords=mattress

Zojirushi thermos http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SM-KHE48AG-Stainless-Steel-16-Ounce/dp/B005PO9T44/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1418959602&sr=1-2&keywords=tiger+thermos this thing is so great.

Zojurishi is a reliable brand

https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SM-KHE48AG-Stainless-Steel-16-Ounce/dp/B005PO9T44/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1537048435&sr=1-1&keywords=zojirushi+thermos

You need this. http://www.amazon.com/EZ-DUZ-IT-Deluxe-Opener-Black-Grips/dp/B0071OUJDQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1416739882&sr=1-1&keywords=can+opener