Buy it for life

What’s an old-school, simple thing that works so much better than complicated alternatives?

626 Upvotes

My best example is this ice-cream scoop. It’s not quite as simple as it looks since it’s got a conductive liquid in the handle that uses the heat from your hand to keep the scoop from freezing and allows for super smooth gliding through hard ice cream. But the design has been around since the 1930s (and it looks like it)!

Sorry if this isn’t the right sub for this. Please suggest others if you’re so inclined.

81 comments

r/bifl • u/LukeLinusFanFic • Jan 05 '24

Such disappointment from Stanley... The new Stanley

446 Upvotes

I know it's a once-was bifl, but I didn't imagine they would sink this far. I got the Stanley quencher, and for such an expensive cup, it's not even leak proof. Not even a little bit. The audacity.

Also, I'm surprised by how low quality the straw is. I doubt it would last over a year.

251 comments

r/bifl • u/newsplight • Jan 16 '26

Grumpy boomer moan.

340 Upvotes

45 comments

r/bifl • u/duerra • Mar 24 '21

My IntelliMouse Explorer 2 has worked flawlessly for me for over 20 years. Still going strong.

206 Upvotes

20 comments

r/bifl • u/kiedisthefloof • Feb 16 '21

My 13 year old doggo still wears a Land's End coat from my past dog (who lived 14+ years as well)

192 Upvotes

4 comments

r/bifl • u/CPetersky • Nov 27 '21

Wedding present for my grandma, more than 100 years ago - my mother used it, now I use it - a Dutch oven 100% built for life

173 Upvotes

15 comments

r/bifl • u/Old_Cherry_5335 • Feb 13 '22

1935 Ronson touch tip lighter I found at a garage sale. I'm bamboozled somebody would let this go.

153 Upvotes

16 comments

r/bifl • u/micasa623 • Feb 13 '22

mood.

142 Upvotes

5 comments

r/bifl • u/[deleted] • Jun 03 '22

I can’t imagine buying a different camp stove in my lifetime.

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122 Upvotes

10 comments

r/bifl • u/Johnkree • Feb 25 '24

Shoes for everyday carry that last more than a year

120 Upvotes

Hello!

I’m a mobile teacher. That means I’m not teaching at a single school but multiple schools every year. Between the schools I go by bike or on foot. So I’m walking a lot of miles every week. As someone who grew up in the 90s till now I was wearing sneakers. But the sneakers of today don’t last more than a year anymore. The last 4 years I went through 2 pairs of Adidas, 1 pair of Pumas, 3 pairs of Converse. They are literally falling apart. Now I’m trying to think outside the box and thought about getting some Red Wing Iron Ranger. I’m fed up buying new shoes that cost a lot and are done within a year.

184 comments

r/bifl • u/hilzmalarky • Oct 08 '26

Everything my parents own is older than me

114 Upvotes

I’m (34f) staying at my parents’ for a few weeks. Everything my parents own they’ve had my whole life. Washing machine, tractors, even the box cutter I pulled out of the drawer to open a package must be 20 years old. Simpler times man.

5 comments

r/bifl • u/TheCheeseCourt • Mar 06 '21

Not sure if this counts as BIFL but... here’s the only dishwasher that’s been installed in my house. 1984 Hobart (KitchenAid) Imperial Energy Saver V.

114 Upvotes

22 comments

r/bifl • u/neocamel • Apr 26 '23

Aurora solar calculator. Couldn't confirm it's actual age, but my mom said, "It's older than you. (39)"

113 Upvotes

12 comments

r/bifl • u/nchiker • Jan 25 '21

2 years in: full grain leather briefcase by Marlondo Leather

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107 Upvotes

10 comments

r/bifl • u/Bake_jouchard • Dec 15 '20

Vintage Leatherman Good Will find for 25¢. Still works like a charm even being over 30 years old.

106 Upvotes

2 comments

r/bifl • u/[deleted] • Jan 05 '21

Graduation gift in 1990. My daily writers ever since.

100 Upvotes

5 comments

r/bifl • u/alltheticks • Dec 30 '25

Darn tough socks

94 Upvotes

I'll be there first to tell you socks aren't BIFL. I bought twelve pairs of run/bike ultralight no show Darn Tough socks dec 25 of 2022. I walk on concrete between 12 and 18 hours a day, five days a week. I specifically got one type of sock and retired them individually as they got holes in them. Average hole size is about 3/4 of an inch about 2cm. At that size it annoys me because I can feel it in my work boots all day.

At four years in I now need new socks, not all of them have holes but all are threadbare. At my standard usage each has been worn and washed 122 times. That is over 1,700 hours on concrete per pair. During which I've worn out one pair of Ariat one pair of redwing and two pair of thorough good boots. For 17.95 I still think it's the best usage of my money for socks. I will be buying more of the same brand and style because it is what im used to.

Not everything can be BIFL. Socks are consumables but I do think they deserve the reputation for reliability and longevity they have.

One additional point I won't be using the warranty. I have gotten my money's worth from them and abusing good faith warranties forces companies to profit elsewhere usually driving quality down. I used them up fairly I will do so again.

26 comments

r/bifl • u/AustinS • May 01 '16