72 'Buy It for Life' Products: Cast-Iron, Tools, Speakers, Chairs, and More

From cast-iron pans to mechanical watches, we’ve rounded up products that are made to last for decades. Parker HallGearMar 6, 2026 4:27 PMWIRED’s Favorite ‘Buy It for Life’ GearFrom cast-iron pans to mechanical watches, we’ve rounded up products that are made to last for decades.Courtesy of Breville; Lamy; Monsgeek; The North FaceCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyWe're all tired 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 (or for a very long time). 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 likely knows about many of these products already, but we have a few special 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 March 2026: We've added a Flexzilla hose, Le Crueset's Enameled Cast Iron, Blundstone Boots, a moka pot, and a Chemex.Table of ContentsKitchenHomeClothing and ApparelTools and Outdoor GearMedia, Music, and InstrumentsKitchenPhotograph: Parker HallA Quality Chef's KnifeShun Cutlery Sora 8-Inch Chef's KnifeI'm a fan of all things Japanese, so my most prized knife is an 8-inch Shun chef's knife, a Christmas gift from my then-girlfriend (now wife!). I have used this knife nearly daily for about a decade, sharpening it every six months to keep it employed. It shows a few scuffs (my fault), but no signs of stopping. It's also among the sharpest knives I have ever used. This is my recommendation, but there are plenty of other high-end knives worth considering, including those from German and American brands. Read our Best Chef's Knives guide for more.$110 at Amazon$100 at WayfairA Knife Sharpening SetHMPLL Whetstone KitA basic set of whetstones and some YouTube videos have been the difference between dull, unsafe knives and razor-sharp tools in my kitchen. I like kits like this that come with four different grits. (You likely will use only the top grits for certain knives, but they're nice to have when you need them.) I like that it comes with an angle guide and a leather strop, which help you make sure you're using the correct angle and polish the edge of your blade.$24 at AmazonA Cutting BoardSonder Los Angeles Walnut End-Grain Cutting BoardA solid walnut end-grain cutting board like this one won’t warp as easily as non-end-grain versions, and its thick wood cut will last you a lifetime of slicing. I like versions like this one from Sonder that have routed handles that make them easier to carry to the sink for a wipe-down.$210 at Amazon$170 Sonder LADurable DrinkwareDuralex Picardie Tempered Glass GlasswareOriginating in France in 1927, these perennially popular glasses can be found in cafés and kitchens across the world. The scalloped look, heat-resistant glass, and chunky proportions make them almost impossible to smash, and while they lack the Michelin-starred sophistication of an Iittala or Reidel, we can’t imagine decimating steak frites and a bottle of chateau-du-plonk with anything else. They’re also equally suited to drinking espresso, having been tempered to withstand heat up to 130 degrees Celsius. Sadly, the carafe has long been discontinued, but WIRED’s 15-year-old sample here stands as a testament to design and durability. Glass with class. —Chris Haslam$30 at Amazon (6 Pieces)$100 at Amazon (18 Pieces)Photograph: Parker HallFine Wine GlassesRiedel Extreme Pinot Noir GlassesWinemaker Lynn Penner-Ash once showed up at a dinner party my dad threw with a set of Riedel glasses because she was so tired of drinking her fine wine out of his tired old stemware. This pair of big-belled pinot glasses from Riedel are excellent for providing your nose with full, fruity aromas, and their thin glass feels extremely classy while you sip. Just be careful when washing; these are fine enough to qualify for life, but they're still breakable!$59 at Amazon (Set of 2)$59 at Wayfair (Set of 2)A CrockpotCrockpot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow CookerMy mom has made apple sauce in the same cheap Crockpot since the early 1990s, and it still gets warm every time. Crockpots are still made well, as are, in my experience anyway, the more modernized version: Instant Pots. Most of them will last a long time and