Products that just won't DIE

steve white

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Once in a while I run into something that really gives me my money's worth. Here are a few....

Champion Vapor Cotton tee shirts--holy cow, I can wear these for years on end and the neck look like new, unlike a Guy Harvey tee whose neck stretches out to double the size in three washings. They don't shrink. Not sure how long it will take to wear one out, but my first one is 6-7 years old! They are under $20

Orvis twill shirts. They come in wrinkle--free and the older not wrinkle free. Put the wrinkle free ones in the dryer--the others the arms could shrink a bit, so just shake them out and hang 'em up. Either one are practically eternal. I have them over ten years old that still look practically new, and I wear them as fast as I can wash them in Fall/Winter.

Orvis leather belts. I am hard on belts because I have often suffered from Dunlapped disease. If your belly has done lapped over your belt buckle, it puts a twist and a strain on things. I have an Orvis shotgun shell ornamented that has put up with 5 years of that nonsense. It even has little stitched re-inforcements on the backside of the holes for the buckle. Even better is a new Orvis harness leather belt from Sedgewick in England. But it is so well stitched and rigid it might take a while to break in. I have also had good luck with hard true Cordovan belts (cordovan doesn't wrinkle sharply--it develops more of a roll), and any belt by Filson, like the Ranger, or the Filson double harness leather with roller buckle ( great for holster attachment.) I hate, hate, hate anything from Dillard's, Macy's and their ilk in belts.

I have some socks that are 40 years old. Don't ask--they don't make them anymore. They are wool. Had some DENSE alpaca they don't make anymore. That's the trouble with stuff that lasts forever--they might go out of business waiting for you to buy more.

Please feel free to share your favorite indestructible gear, gentlemen.
 
I like
Paul Frederick striped button down collar cotton poplin dress shirts
Indochino pleated linen dress trousers
Albert Thurston Elastic button on suspenders
Buck Model 110 knives (I always have one on me anywhere I’m legally allowed to carry a lockback knife)

I used to be a very big fan of Brook’s Brothers shirts & trousers back in the old days, but I don’t really like the quality of their current products anymore. Nowhere as durable as they once were. I still have a grey linen suit from Brook’s Brothers which I had bought in 1979. It still looks as good as new.
IMG_1757.jpeg
 
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Even the best gear eventually wears out. The current trend by clothing manufacturers is to stop making good products that are: durable, comfortable, looks good, and can stand up to rough/rugged use.

I often find myself working in a nice shirt, having an ink pen leak in a pocket or find some other way to stain a shirt. When I find something I really like I tend to purchase in multiples and in a size larger....preferably for roomy comfort....for layering underlayers in chilly and cold weather....and just in case the Dunlap gets a bit bigger.

BTW....I have Levi's jeans that lasted for over 20 years and still have them,...in storage...., for when the Dunlap shrinks another 2 inches.:rolleyes:
 
Nike backpack that I have used pretty regularly for over the last 22 yrs or so, starting with high school and currently back and forth to work 7 days in a row. Not a broken zipper, loose thread, frayed corner or anything else ever EXCEPT for the two main zipper pulls. It's been all across the country, to Africa and loaded to max capacity constantly. I'll frame it if it ever actually wears out.

20250704_121030.jpg


Redhead backpack use a bunch over probably 22 years including to Africa, hunting, ice fishing and multiple cross country trips.

Polartec fleece jacket. I have replaced the zipper and need to replace to elastic around cuffs and waist but it has been worn regularly for at least 6 months out of the year for nearly 21 years.

Cabela's wool blend socks that are 21 years old and get worn regularly for 6 months of the year.

A $2 leather belt picked up at a garage sale 10 or 12 years ago. Worn everyday.

Walmart leather wallet purchased 27 or so yrs ago. Just can't bring myself to replace it.

20250704_121523.jpg


Gander Mountain fleece button up shirts purchased 20+ years ago. Again, worn regularly 6 months out of the year for the last 10-15 years. Only dog teeth have bruised them.
 
never buy Levi's they are a anti gun/hunting company

I purchased these jeans, real denim, decades ago, back in the late 70's / early 80's. Before Levi & Strauss became anti gun/hunting and before their jeans and other clothing started being made of less quality, of less quality material and they over priced thenselves.
 
One big problem with the majority of manufacturers unless they cater to the hunting and firearm crowd is that you can find them being against one or the other in a lot of their stances.

You can even throw states into the equation. Colorado is technically anti gun if you look at the laws that have been passed in the last number of years but I don't see any hunters boycotting the state.
 
A vote for Duluth Trading Post for their Firehose cargo pants. Bought 4 pants before my first RSA trip in April 2021, nearly my daily wear since then, and besides some fraying on the cuffs, still in great shape.
 
Filson gear that's made in the USA. I have hats, pants, vests and even a briefcase from them...never gonna die. Here's me wearing a packer hat and game vest from the mid-1980's.
1751664840277.png
 
I quit Levi’s decades ago because of their politics, which forced me to try Wrangler products. Lo and behold, Wrangler’s Riggs work jeans are vastly better quality, better fit, and last forever.

I did the same. I started buying Wrangler jeans when Levi's went to +/- $20.00 a pair and Wranglers were around +/- $10.00 a pair.
 
I bought some Duluth Ballroom jeans for $5 at Goodwill. The fit was awesome but they wore through quicker than any Wrangler, Levi or $10 jean I've ever worn. Shocking for $60 jeans.
 
Once in a while I run into something that really gives me my money's worth. Here are a few....

Champion Vapor Cotton tee shirts--holy cow, I can wear these for years on end and the neck look like new, unlike a Guy Harvey tee whose neck stretches out to double the size in three washings. They don't shrink. Not sure how long it will take to wear one out, but my first one is 6-7 years old! They are under $20

Orvis twill shirts. They come in wrinkle--free and the older not wrinkle free. Put the wrinkle free ones in the dryer--the others the arms could shrink a bit, so just shake them out and hang 'em up. Either one are practically eternal. I have them over ten years old that still look practically new, and I wear them as fast as I can wash them in Fall/Winter.

Orvis leather belts. I am hard on belts because I have often suffered from Dunlapped disease. If your belly has done lapped over your belt buckle, it puts a twist and a strain on things. I have an Orvis shotgun shell ornamented that has put up with 5 years of that nonsense. It even has little stitched re-inforcements on the backside of the holes for the buckle. Even better is a new Orvis harness leather belt from Sedgewick in England. But it is so well stitched and rigid it might take a while to break in. I have also had good luck with hard true Cordovan belts (cordovan doesn't wrinkle sharply--it develops more of a roll), and any belt by Filson, like the Ranger, or the Filson double harness leather with roller buckle ( great for holster attachment.) I hate, hate, hate anything from Dillard's, Macy's and their ilk in belts.

I have some socks that are 40 years old. Don't ask--they don't make them anymore. They are wool. Had some DENSE alpaca they don't make anymore. That's the trouble with stuff that lasts forever--they might go out of business waiting for you to buy more.

Please feel free to share your favorite indestructible gear, gentlemen.
Australian Army wool socks seem to last for ever i still have some from the late 60s.
 

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