Retail products that exceeded your expectations?

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

My fleshlight has lasted 200,000 thrusts and counting. She's as tight as the day I bought her.

pfft, this is like a weeks use (so i have heard) if your are single, fit and in your late 20's.....

i am now off to look up the word sartorial.......

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

Not that it lasted long, but REALLY worked well was the Furminator.

I was hesitant to pay $50 for an animal brush, but the amount of hair that I get off my dogs and cats is stupid. I did them all the first night I bought it and got 2 grocery bags full of hair.

I had the same results, amazing brush

[BloodFetish]

My LeatherMan Charge has been a workhorse. I've used it pretty much every day for the last 5 years.

The one time Mrs. B used it she cut into a live power cord and blasted a chip out of the serrated knife, otherwise it's still good as new.

[troutman]

Realtor 1 Real Estate

[DuffMan]

In the shoes category... I bought a pair of Columbia hiking shoes and boots when Sport Chek I think had a clearing out sale in Deerfoot mall about 4 years ago. I can't believe the shoes are in as good of shape as they still are after all the abuse I've put them through.

[missdpuck]

Sewing machines and Doc Martens.

oh yeah, Strida2 bike.

[burnin_vernon]

Roomba!

[Bertuzzied]

My titanium citizen ecodrive watch still works perfectly, and still looks pretty good after 15 years. I even bought a new one about 2 years ago and still haven't worn it out.

[Tyler]

My 20" Apple Cinema Display.

Used it every day for the last 7 years and it still works flawlessly.

[karl262]

My mail order bride purchase has worked out really well. I have her trained so well that I don't even give verbal commands, but just raise different coloured flags representing different sandwich combinations.

[Northendzone]

This thread was not what I was expecting.....

[SebC]

Originally Posted by peter12

Any of my major sartorial purchases have turned out extremely well. Spending over $300 for a pair of shoes is a must if you want them to last more than 1 year. Indeed, anything over this price range will certainly look excellent in 10 years from now. My favourite pair of boots, these Alden Indys, still look amazing 2 years, and probably 150 wears after I bought them.

I take it you have to get the soles replaced for expensive footwear to have greater longevity than cheap stuff?

I'd like to be convinced that expensive shoes would be a good investment for me, because I'm really harsh on my soles, so if you can explain it in scientific/economic terms that would be really helpful.

[Stranger]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

In the shoes category... I bought a pair of Columbia hiking shoes and boots when Sport Chek I think had a clearing out sale in Deerfoot mall about 4 years ago. I can't believe the shoes are in as good of shape as they still are after all the abuse I've put them through.

I bought a pair of Columbia sandals in 1999 that I still use as my main pair of sandals. I keep expecting them to fall apart and they never do.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

This thread was not what I was expecting.....

I know! I was expecting it to turn into a 'trade Stajan' thread too!

[Buzzard]

[4X4]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

I know! I was expecting it to turn into a 'trade Stajan' thread too!

This isn't the FOI, this is OTF. Round here, it's just a matter of time before someone calls religion stupid and then that's it for the thread.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

I know! I was expecting it to turn into a 'trade Stajan' thread too!

I was hoping that for once someone would put forward a credible idea.....I guess it was my fault for coming in here.......

I'll go back to occupying my hands with my flashlight......

[photon]

Newt Gingrich's current wife's hair.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by SebC

I take it you have to get the soles replaced for expensive footwear to have greater longevity than cheap stuff?

I'd like to be convinced that expensive shoes would be a good investment for me, because I'm really harsh on my soles, so if you can explain it in scientific/economic terms that would be really helpful.

Well, you get a few things. One, you will most likely get full-grain leather. That is, leather from a hide that had no tumours, sores, or imperfections in it. Cheaper shoes are made from hides of this sort. It is called corrected grain, and has often buffed down, and then covered in a sort of lacquer to gloss over to hide the imperfections. Shoes made from corrected grain leather will flake, crinkle, and just generally, look like plastic pieces of garbage. Virtually every shoe from Aldo will be made from garbage leather of this type. It just looks awful.

Meanwhile, shoes made from full grain leather look better with age, and absorb a patina with use that will give them even more class as the years go by.

You also will get Goodyear-welting, a process where the sole is sewn on to the shoe, thus allowing the sole to be replaced. Normally with mid and high-tier shoes, this is all done by hand. Further increasing the quality and detail of the shoe.

The best thing about good men's shoes is that - depending on the brand - the more you pay, the more you see in an exponential increase in quality. Edward Greens (retail around $1000) will be far better than $325 Allen Edmonds. I have 5 pairs of AEs, and they are amazing shoes, but I know that a pair of Edward Greens or John Lobbs could be worn 100 times a year for 40 years. 4000 wears for 1000 bucks is a pretty good deal.

Another even better thing about good men's shoes is that there are literally 1000s of good used pairs on eBay for a fraction of what they cost brand new. Search for pairs like Allen Edmonds, Aldens, Grenson, Crockett & Jones to begin with. You can easily snag a pair of Allen Edmonds for under $100. 4/5 of mine were bought using this method. Stay away from fashion brands like Hugo Boss or John Varvatos. Always go for classic over stylish. Start with a pair of brown cap-toes.

Never ever buy a garbage pair of Aldos again. No one should buy a square-toed shoe ever. The least of your worries will be the sneer that flashes across my face when I pass you on the street.

[MrMastodonFarm]

peter12, in his element.