Buy It for Life, Buy It Once Cry Once 2025 Edition

Kiwiboy86 on 10/03/2025 - 14:07
Last edited 10/03/2025 - 14:28 by 1 other user

Hello fellow OzBargainers,

What products do we think are well worth the money and/or fit the 'buy once cry once' category in 2025.

The reason I specify 2025, is some products just aren't made with the quality and care they once had a reputation for. I'm aware there's a prospective guestimate element for products bought today that are still to be battle-tested.

For my buy it once cry once, the list would include:

  • Leatherman multitools
  • Cast iron pan
  • Wusthof knives
  • RM Williams Boots (tbf I bought mine 10 years ago before any of the recent QC failures)
  • Solid hardwood bedframe

For my well-worth-the-money to quality of life/enjoyment improvement ratio, would be:

  • Roborock vacuum with LIDAR
  • DF64 Coffee Grinder
  • ULA Dragonfly Ultra Backpack (I do a lot of backpacking/travel)
  • Universal travel adaptor with USB ports
  • Uniqlo Ultralight Down Jacket

Future purchases I'm considering:

  • Weber Q BBQ
  • Sit/Stand Desk
  • Tools for DIY around the house (need suggestions)

What are your thoughts/suggestions/experiences.

Home & Garden

Comments

    • TightAl on 13/03/2025 - 09:43

      My SD Indestruct bed frame makes alot of noise at night, pretty unhappy with it

    • keeperofthegood on 31/03/2025 - 21:08

      Does anyone know the difference between the Bosch Series 8 vs Series 6?

      Been looking for a new DW and saw a pretty robust-looking unit from Asko but unsure whether to stick with the Bosch plan.

  • peteru on 11/03/2025 - 14:45
    +2

    Definitely a good coffee grinder. For me it was a Eureka Mignon Specialita. It certainly feels like it was built to last. The Sunbeam EM0480 and Breville Smart Grinder Pro that came before it were a waste of time and money.

    I hear good things about DF64, but I don't know about the build quality as I haven't used it. At AUD$680 delivered, it seems "inexpensive" for a 64mm flat burr. Mind you, I'd want to spend the extra $90 to add a hopper.

  • peteru on 11/03/2025 - 16:33
    +2

    Noctua fans for the workstations and servers. Be Quiet! high air flow fans were also great for longevity, but not very quiet.

  • OzBrogains on 11/03/2025 - 21:29
    +1

    Top 5 for me are stuff I use daily.

    Filco mechanical keyboard x2
    Made to measure dress shoes x3
    Tempur mattress
    HM Aeron + Steelcase Karman
    Filson backpack

    • Fobsessive on 12/03/2025 - 00:55

      Link to MtM dress shoes?

      • afah0447 on 14/03/2025 - 10:38

        Get them in Vietnam pretty cheap in Hoi An.

    • keeperofthegood on 31/03/2025 - 21:10

      Cannot second the Tempur mattress strongly enough. Life changing. In 20 years when I need my next one I'll get the firmer option, but I absolutely love it!

  • Alonzo on 11/03/2025 - 23:35

    Speed Queen washing machine. I wish we had bought one 20 years ago.

    • Sobieski on 13/03/2025 - 07:04
      +2

      What makes them so good and worth the cost? I looked up Speed Queen and was shocked that the models are in the $5000 range.

      I figure they're very reliable but seems you could get a $1000 washing machine and replace it once every decade or so and come out ahead. Seems I'm probably missing something.

  • saltypete on 12/03/2025 - 08:59
    +1

    Tilley hat - but buy the ones with a lifetime warranty. They replaced my frayed, worn hat after 25 years - no questions.

  • imnotgoingtopayrrp on 12/03/2025 - 11:09
    +1

    DeWalt brushless XR impact driver. If it's your first power tool, it will amaze you how easy it is to drive screws through almost anything, with control that a normal drill just can't match.

    Oh, and a "Pac Vac" vacuum cleaner. Simple, powerful, quiet and best of all, each component can be replaced/purchased individually.

  • mitt on 12/03/2025 - 11:32
    +2

    On the other end of the spectrum, buying a few crappy toolkits & spreading them around so you always have one at hand is great.

    A high quality toolkit is useless if its sitting in the shed when you are on the road. Having even a crap tool on hand turns a 30 minute trip to bunnings into a 30 second quick fix.

    I also did this with cordless drills. Two cheap drills has been far more useful to me than one expensive one. Having two separate bits ready to go instead of swapping back & fourth makes most things far less tedious.

    • NanoDuke on 12/03/2025 - 12:58

      I did the same with trapezoidal utility knives and tape measures. I was always leaving these in random spots, so now I have a tape in the house, as well as the garage, and a few knives throughout.

  • kolorijo on 12/03/2025 - 13:28

    ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) surgery

    • spackbace on 12/03/2025 - 13:41

      Wow, first I've heard about it!

      How much was it, if you don't mind?

      • kolorijo on 12/03/2025 - 13:54
        +2

        It was about 7.2k ++ per eye back in 2022. My corneas were too thin and my myopia were too high so I couldn't do LASIK.

  • PurchaseAnxiety on 12/03/2025 - 13:48
    +1

    Bambu Lab A1 3D printer. I know they're not the most expensive things in the world, but there are far cheaper 3D printers with similar features (on paper) available. Being able to just set something to print and walk away has made it worth every dollar. I think I had more successful prints in my first week with the A1 than I did for the whole 3+ years with Ender 3.

    (I know there's been some concerns about Bambu Lab as a company, and justifiably so. Something to keep an eye on, but not enough to negate the quality and UX of their products imo).

    • whyisave on 13/03/2025 - 12:23
      +1

      What have you been 3D printing?

  • tomlikesbeetroot on 12/03/2025 - 14:42
    +2

    I own a weber BBQ and its hugely disapointing.
    Even on the lowest temp it is too hot for roasting/slow cooking, so you need to awkwardly prop the lid to allow some ventilation and ultimately struggle to meet the right temperature.
    Its equally terrible for cooking sausages etc as the heat is very poorly distributed so you end up with some sections cooking much faster than others, or need to be constantly rotating locations to get things to cook evenly.

    The plastic shelves that come with it are too weak to hold anything but cooking utensils, don't expect to place any foods on there or it flexes too much and things fall off.

    • Lucky Lady on 13/03/2025 - 07:49

      I agree with your comments. Our Weber is hopeless. Propping up roasts so they don’t burn and moving food around because so it doesn’t burn.

      • tomlikesbeetroot on 15/03/2025 - 13:14
        +2

        It's probably the only BBQ I've used that heats so unevenly that one end of a sausage can be burnt while the other end is still raw.

    • Donmega123 on 19/03/2025 - 22:08
      +1

      Here I was thinking my sister in law was just a terrible cook

    • keeperofthegood on 31/03/2025 - 21:15

      Anyone have a recommendation for a barbecue that's better than Weber?

  • Oipjo on 12/03/2025 - 15:00
    +2

    My two are:

    • LASIK Surgery (best money spent on quality of life)
    • Bissell Wet Vacuum

    Two kids overnight had explosive bodily fluid incidents, and in the past have had the dog either filth up the lounge with dirt, or relieved himself on carpet.

    Bissell = lifesaver. House/carpets/lounges still looks new despite having all seen a lot of (literal) $hips - if this thing hadn't on hand, isn't any way dabbing a paper towel is enough.

    • Ironic fear on 15/03/2025 - 21:25

      Had three bissells across about 15 years. First was one of the large power ones, lasted about 9 years.

      The seals started to go after about 5 years but towards the end of life it was falling apart, the hose went, the seals, the plastic part holding the brush broke, the killer was when the water compartments started to warp then break.

      Got a smaller one, lasted just under 3 years and it was the vacuum that went. Got a new one under warranty, hose broke after 2 years.

      Definitely great to have but my anecdotal experience is they break very easily

  • casho on 12/03/2025 - 16:13
    +3

    Good quality HIFI speakers

    • JimB on 13/03/2025 - 15:21

      I grew up appreciating great HiFi but lifestyle doesn't allow me the time to enjoy it.

      I've love a pair of Dynaudio floor standing speaker run off a Mcintosh amp. Would be overkill for me as all I listen to these days is Spotify.

      House layout isn't conducive to good HiFi either.

      • casho on 13/03/2025 - 18:01

        Keep the dream. Just go small for now and upgrade gradually

      • sjbartley on 22/03/2025 - 19:53

        When the kids move out, I've basically promised myself a pair of Dynaudios.

        In the mean time: what about a Wiim Pro Plus connected to Adam Audio D3V speakers? Mount an iPad to the wall (e.g. with a Studio Proper universal POS pivot mount) and you have a compact and modern set-up.

        • JimB on 22/03/2025 - 22:59

          To be honest, I just don't have the time to sit down and enjoy it.

          The house is open plan with hard flooring so wouldn't sound.

          Currently, I'm only listening to music via a single Google Home Max speaker haha

          In a previous life, I spent over $10k on a car audio system

          • keeperofthegood on 31/03/2025 - 21:18

            @JimB: I've had Google Home speakers around the house as a surround-sound substitute for a couple of years now (4x more Home Minis on the way right now with the sale that got posted today) and I hardly use the record player and hifi setup anymore. The Google system is just so bloody convenient!

            • JimB on 01/04/2025 - 04:45

              @keeperofthegood: Which google home speakers in particular?

              • keeperofthegood on 01/04/2025 - 07:42

                @JimB: My system is made up of the Google Home mesh wifi speakers, and Home mini speakers. I’ll probably buy one of their display/speakers combo units for the kitchen soon as well.

                • JimB on 01/04/2025 - 09:24

                  @keeperofthegood: Unfortunately Google stopped producing the much larger Google Home Max speaker, not sure why don't release a larger speaker again.

  • ripesashimi on 12/03/2025 - 16:35
    +1

    Nick Scali leather couch.

    Back when they were good. Not a single scratch from aggressive keying and pen stabbing from kids.

    • tenpercent on 13/03/2025 - 20:31
      +2

      weaklings

    • dogboy on 14/03/2025 - 15:37

      I got one of these over 10 years ago. The damn thing still looks like new after 2 dogs and a kid have been on it almost every day.

    • Donmega123 on 19/03/2025 - 22:09
      +1

      What's the equivalent for a decent couch nowadays?

    • keeperofthegood on 31/03/2025 - 21:18

      Have they gone down hill now? Anyone recommend better options?

  • [Deactivated] on 12/03/2025 - 17:56

    House insulation
    Plants (specific genetics)

    • tenpercent on 14/03/2025 - 20:26

      Which plants?

      • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2025 - 08:35

        Blueberries, and most other types of berries :)

        • tenpercent on 15/03/2025 - 12:27

          Nice. And you grow them in Sydney fine?

          • [Deactivated] on 15/03/2025 - 21:04
            +1

            @tenpercent: Ah I’m in blue mountains now. Though I was having a lengthy conversation with ChatGPT recently about creating artificial chill hours :)
            Only had most of my plants a year or two, but looking good at this stage
            And more satisfying than buying from the shops

            • tenpercent on 16/03/2025 - 12:21

              @[Deactivated]: Artifical chill hours with air conditioning? Are you growing in containers?

              more satisfying than buying from the shops

              I bet.

              • [Deactivated] on 17/03/2025 - 22:10
                +1

                @tenpercent: Yeah, if I can get a free chest freezer from FB marketplace, and “free” electricity from solar / https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/815606 it might work out? Would be a fun experiment nonetheless

                I also wonder if I could make a plant go through a yearly cycle in say 6 months?

                • Donmega123 on 19/03/2025 - 22:10

                  @[Deactivated]: Hey I might have one of those old chest Freezers if you're in Melbourne

                  • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2025 - 22:29

                    @Donmega123: Nah I’m not sorry but thanks for the offer

  • Erasmuz on 12/03/2025 - 20:02

    I've always found some grey-area way to buy Windows, even though I use it for 8-16hrs a day, 7 days a week for the past 30+ years.

    I think this year I might bite the bullet and when I rebuild I'll buy a legit retail license. I know this might not sound perpetual but rolling to a new version of Windows has been free since Windows 7, so if I'd just bought it legally then I'd be gravy.

    The complement of this thread would be things I thought I bought once but clearly did not… Nitro PDF can go f*** a duck, "perpetual" until they turned off the activation servers just recently, get wrecked. I'm going to "buy it once" via the high sea's now, you filthy animals.

  • coffeerequired on 12/03/2025 - 20:06

    I never understood the hype with RM's boots especially where their quality has gone down - don't mind their belts. I got some hush puppies for 1/4th the price from Myer on special and even RM wearers think they are the same, I rate them as they are comfortable.

    Some of my picks though:

    Jura Z10 coffee machine <— can't imagine the morning without it
    Have the house water filtered from the mains ='s life changing
    Drawer fridge in the car on a lithium setup, once you have it you wonder how you lived without it.

    • rumblytangara on 13/03/2025 - 08:52
      +1

      got some hush puppies for 1/4th the price from Myer on special and even RM wearers think they are the same, I rate them as they are comfortable.

      I don't wear mine much anymore partly because in Oz they are such a office cliche, but mine are coming up to 20 years old and I did wear them daily for around 15 years- had two pairs that I rotated through wet London winters and Asian typhoons. I severely doubt that many other brands (especially Hush Puppies) would compare for longevity. I'm not even sure if Hush Puppies can take a full resole.

      One pair finally gave up the ghost at the 15 year mark.

      • tenpercent on 13/03/2025 - 20:32

        I don't wear mine much anymore partly because in Oz they are such a office cliche, but mine are coming up to 20 years old and I did wear them daily for around 15 years

        The original hipster?

        • rumblytangara on 13/03/2025 - 21:41

          Hipsters wore RMs in Oz? Didn't think they went with the flannel.

          RMW used to have a store in London, but they were a rare sight on the streets as there are so many good English bootmakers and RMs are just Chelsea boots.

      • dogboy on 14/03/2025 - 15:39

        I was excited to buy some RM boots and did some research before buying them. It really turned me off how much the quality has dropped on the cheaper boots since it was bought out. Ended up buying Aquila boots instead and am very happy with them.

        • tazmaniak on 15/03/2025 - 23:12

          To counter this… I too was excited about buying RM's recently, and bought some.
          They are bloody comfortable and look great. Will see how they hold up in terms of longevity, but they appear to be very well made.

    • Ace26 on 15/03/2025 - 13:52

      Thinking of getting mains filter. Which brand is yours and how much did it cost?

    • Donmega123 on 19/03/2025 - 23:17

      RM Williams never recovered from being bought by that conglomerate, suddenly they had funny heels and unnatural leather colours. It's a wonder none of the old workers didn't just start making their own.

  • Spookware on 12/03/2025 - 20:19
    +2

    Robot Vac. Agreed, great for doing the bulk of the work.
    Rattle gun.
    Pressure washer.
    Headphones. Have so many.
    Eye cover things for long trips.
    Drink bottle, Insulated.
    Latest Phone.
    Fast car.

    • keeperofthegood on 31/03/2025 - 21:25

      Re the eye covers…
      I took the plunge and bought a Manta eye mask (side sleeper) about 2 years ago. I LOVE them. Have tried so many different eye masks over the years and these are far and away the best.

  • Acopic on 12/03/2025 - 20:33

    A belt. Specifically, plaited kangaroo leather with double "O" ring style buckle. Bit of care and it will last you a life time. Or no care and it will last you most of a lifetime.

  • dtrinh on 13/03/2025 - 10:41

    Carbon wok well seasoned, cleaver and wooden chopping block. Done and dusted ootw

  • Captain Cheapskate on 13/03/2025 - 11:31
    +1

    This is quite a challenging topic when I think about it.
    Do you mean items that can last a lifetime for a one off purchase?
    Or quality items that are better built than others, but will inevitably need replacing?

    If it's the former, you can rule out almost all electronic devices, especially items that use non standardised batteries or not replaceable, such as roborock vacuums.

    I Have a roborock s7 Max V Plus Pro Super Nova Ultimate, and it has been great for 3 years, but It's going to need replacing soon, used to do house on 1 charge, now it needs 3 charges, and sometimes it just forgets what it's doing and roams around erratically and not return to dock.

    • blushingelephant on 13/03/2025 - 12:34

      Why don't you just change the battery on roborock and just reset the device. Roborock parts are easy enough to find on aliexpress.

      • rumblytangara on 13/03/2025 - 13:03
        +1

        I've done this.

        The replacement parts from Ali might not be the best- my replacement battery certainly doesn't meet the claimed capacity. Still works okay for my space, but wouldn't last for a bigger place that the machine should still be capable of.

        And rather than the cleaner realising that it's low on charge and automatically returning for an interim charge, the cleaner just conks out randomly in the middle of the floor.

        I've had a fair bit of experience with Ali/Taobao Lipo batteries, so was half expecting this to happen.

  • emblurr on 13/03/2025 - 13:42
    +1

    I'll add a Zeroll ice cream scoop

  • JimB on 13/03/2025 - 15:13
    +1

    Quality hand tools- sockets etc.
    Hydroseal tap reseating tool
    Carbon steel pans (replaced my cast iron pans- too heavy for daily use)
    King Living sofa
    OLED TV
    CTEK battery charger
    Bailey's 4 step ladder with Platform
    Real solid timber floorboards
    Mitsubishi Japanese made fridge
    Methven tapware
    Low profile car jack and stands.
    Mechanical Keyboards
    Hydronic heating system.

    • perfeksionitst on 16/03/2025 - 12:10

      Which hydronic system?

      • JimB on 16/03/2025 - 17:05

        Hydronic slab heating, wall radiator panels and towel rails.

        A real luxury in winter. Gas powered and at current tariffs only cost a fraction more to run than reverse cycle ducted heating.

  • happydragon on 13/03/2025 - 16:56

    Vitamix blender
    Braun shaver

    • seabombs on 16/03/2025 - 09:10

      My Vitamix 5000 must be 20 years old now. Still blends like a beast! Easy to find replacement blades and bearings online too.

  • Drakesy on 13/03/2025 - 17:14

    A Rolex GMT
    Although post covid is fcuked

    • JimB on 14/03/2025 - 12:36
      -1

      Want to hear a sad story?

      I sold my Rolex GMT II Ceramic for $6k as I preferred another watch (that I still wear daily).

      Not sad I got rid of it but the price…sold it to a friend who wanted it. I think I still would own it if not my friend had asked to buy it.

      I'm still waiting for the call from the AD about my Daytona Panda lol

      • Drakesy on 14/03/2025 - 12:38

        dammit.

        Thoughts and prayers :(

        Yeah refuse to brown nose AD's just so i can pay full retail for a watch that probably costs them $1k to make.

        • JimB on 14/03/2025 - 12:42

          All good. Mate still has it.

          It didn't really shoot up until Covid. My daily has gone up as much as the GMT and it was pointless to me having too many similar watches.

        • JimB on 14/03/2025 - 13:05

          I'd be happy to brown nose the AD if I could buy Daytona Panda at RRP!

          It will cost Rolex maybe $1k to make but the dealer margins aren't that high on Rolex professional watches if sold at RRP. They will make more money selling to the gray market dealers hence why getting a Daytona at retail is near impossible unless you're a very very good customer who also buys precious metal watches.

          • Drakesy on 14/03/2025 - 14:10

            @JimB: Also why the rep game is so strong atm, when celebrities can't be farked waiting for a watch given that people can barely tell the difference with a rep these days its little wonder.

            • JimB on 14/03/2025 - 16:02

              @Drakesy: I thought about a rep Daytona as I've been on the waiting list for 10 years lol.

              I may fool everyone else but I'd know that it's a fake and won't appreciate the watch. Plus, I'm not wearing a Rolex to impress others.

              • Drakesy on 14/03/2025 - 16:13

                @JimB: Yeah i get that.

                However if it meant i didn't get 10 years of use out of a watch i'd 100% get a rep to fill that gap.

  • PrettyBrokeTBH on 13/03/2025 - 17:29

    +1 on the weber. I have had mine for 10 years now, still use it weekly. I am weighing up getting it cleaned/serviced professionally (and igniter fixed as it only lights 3/4 of the grill, I believe this is an easy/standard fix) or replacing it as they are not overly expensive.

    • keeperofthegood on 31/03/2025 - 21:41

      Just flagging the igniter doesn't sound like the issue there - it would most likely be the gas pipe holes being filled in (from experience). A pin or needle etc pressed through each individual hole and twisted around for a while, often will fix this up!

  • Donmega123 on 13/03/2025 - 17:43
    +1

    If you smoke marijuana with any frequency get a Dynavap or better and an OG easy valve Volcano vaporizer. Both will last forever and parts for both are very easy to get.

    Middle of the range Chinese Cleavers (One for vegetables and one for breaking bones) are well worth buying and learning to use properly, in many ways they are a superior tool to German and most Japanese chef knives.

    Rambo lpg burners are insanely good if you want to cook with a wok outside, they also fit a lodge cast iron pan reasonably well if you want to cook steaks.

  • MrThing on 13/03/2025 - 17:53

    Quality condoms. saved me heaps

    • NanoDuke on 13/03/2025 - 18:18
      +4

      Vasectomy will be the true BIO/CO, right?

      • Donmega123 on 13/03/2025 - 20:10
        +1

        I've had two mates get them at 35 after they broke up with hideous girlfriends, if you've got less than 10 kids stay in the game gents!

        • tenpercent on 13/03/2025 - 20:35
          +3

          They only got the snip after 35 kids? Woah. Even that's too many for me.

    • Donmega123 on 13/03/2025 - 19:53

      Those skyn ones are sick! People don't realise how lucky they are, ansells etc used to be just shithouse it felt like you were murdering your wang with a plastic bag.

      • MrThing on 13/03/2025 - 19:56
        +1

        I would poke air holes in them so he can breathe

    • Muppet Detector on 16/03/2025 - 17:10
      +1

      You buy one condom for life?

      • MrThing on 16/03/2025 - 18:55
        +3

        You know they are double sided right?

  • Wasabi Ninja on 14/03/2025 - 11:16
    +1

    22oz Estwing hammer

    • dogboy on 14/03/2025 - 15:43
      +1

      Still chasing a decent deal on this item…

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join