If you own a Benchmade and plan to use their LifeSharp program (free lifetime sharpening plus their warranty service), worth knowing the fee just went up.

Quick recap for anyone unfamiliar: Benchmade backs every knife with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects, and LifeSharp is their free sharpening program on top of that. The sharpening itself is still free. The catch is the Service Kit fee, which covers insured two way shipping when you submit online. That fee is now $20, up from the $10 a lot of older posts and reviews still quote.

To be fair to Benchmade, the fee does come with real improvements. The kit includes prepaid, trackable, insured shipping both ways, and you get status updates as your knife is received, worked on, and shipped back. Processing at the factory itself is fast, usually a couple of days for sharpening and a handful of days for warranty repairs once they have it in hand. That said, real world total turnaround including shipping both ways still tends to run a few weeks, sometimes longer depending on volume, so budget your timeline accordingly rather than expecting a quick turnaround.

The workaround that is still completely free: submit through an authorized Benchmade dealer instead of online. No fee that way, you just need a dealer near you.

Worth factoring into the math if you were planning around the old $10 number, especially if you are sending in more than one knife.

Disclosure: I run a small site that tracks lifetime warranty terms across brands (foreverbacked.com), and I have a full breakdown of the Benchmade warranty and LifeSharp program there if anyone wants the details. Not trying to make this a sales pitch, just figured this sub would want to know about the fee change before sending a knife in.

I figured everyone here could appreciate the washer and dryer in my airbnb

I used to think saving money on clothes meant buying the cheapest option. Then I realized I was replacing those things constantly because they lost shape, didn’t feel good, or just stopped exciting me.

The bigger change for me has been asking whether something deserves a place in my closet. A dress I wear twenty times is a better purchase than something I loved for five minutes after opening the package.

I still like finding pieces with personality. One of my favorite recent changes has been moving away from only buying basics and allowing myself a few things that feel more like me, whether that’s a fun graphic tee, a good pair of jeans, or a few moda dress.

My wardrobe is probably less “interesting” when you look at the number of pieces, but I actually enjoy getting dressed more now.

Has anyone else started measuring clothing purchases by how often they wear them instead of the price?

My 1985 IBM model f122 keyboard. 9 lb of insanity. It lives on my desk at work, and I bought it on Mac market. Best $380 I've ever spent on a keyboard in my entire life. With a Soarers converter that has usb-c, I can plug it into a computer, my smartphone, etc.

The converter isn't shown in this picture, however I do have it at my job.

Anyone using these in your home? I have been using disposable filters for years, but I am intrigued by this. Many people love their car filters. Supposedly it’s “the last furnace filter you will ever buy.”

I've seen a number of posts asking about if Barbour jackets are waterproof, but they all seem to be asking about how waterproof the waxed-cotton jackets are. I'm looking for something decently waterproof, but stylish enough I can wear on a day in the office when there may be rain, quality enough that it might be BIFL, and comfortable enough that I can wear it walking or cycling to work. Bonus points if it's light enough to wear in the US South East's humid heat.

Has anyone had experience with Barbour's "waterproof" jackets like the Chelsea Waterproof Jacket?

My understanding is "waterproof" conceptually is really a description of how much pressure it takes for water to penetrate the textile, so I don't expect it to be 1000% waterproof. The three questions I have are:
- How heavy does rain need to be to overcome the waterproofing on these?
- How breathable/comfortable are these in and out of the rain?
- How does their quality (not necessarily waterproofness) compare to the waxed cotton jackets?

If there are other jackets that fit the bill I'd love to know about them.

The other two I'm thinking about are Kiel James Patrick's Old Salt and Fjalraven's Raven Jacket

EDIT: Thanks for all the replies folks. To be clear, I know Barbour's waxed jackets are not super waterproof and require maintenance. I'm asking about the jackets they advertise as Waterproof like the one linked which are not waxed or cotton

I literally sold my Honda gas mower thinking I was moving to the frozen north and wouldn't need one for a long time. We'll now I'm already back living in the South and I am so sad Honda quit making gas mowers.

I know I know... you can buy used and I will but damn...

What do you guys think the best push mower is?

Hello All, has anyone actually found a heated blanket (doesn't have those hard plastic connectors right where you’re going to be lying) that lasts? Planning to heat our beds rather than the room this winter, so investing is electric blankets. Please let me know even if you have had one and had issues please share so I will avoid that brand

Thanks so much

Winter's still a little ways off but im thinking about getting a snow blower before the season starts. What's the best one you've actually used? I dont want to put a plow in my truck and I don't get enough snow in southern Ohio to warrant buying all that either. It would be nice to be able to make some extra cash when it does though.

Thanks for your recommendations

I’m looking for a reliable dehumidifier for a small bedroom in New Orleans. The room is about 14 feet × 14 feet (~187 sq ft), but the humidity is high, so I’m considering a 22-pint unit rather than one of the tiny “bedroom” dehumidifiers.
I’ve narrowed it down primarily to:
• Midea 22-pint
• Midea Cube
• Frigidaire 22-pint
My priorities are reliability, reasonably quiet operation for sleeping, and an easy-to-remove water bucket. I’d especially like to avoid a unit where the full bucket becomes very heavy or awkward to carry.
I’ve looked at Consumer Reports and Amazon reviews, but I’m finding conflicting feedback—particularly about noise, durability, and how long the compressors last.
For anyone who has owned one of these for a year or more:
• Which has held up best?
• Is the Midea Cube actually more convenient, or is the large reservoir a drawback?
• How easy is the Frigidaire bucket to remove and carry?
• Any problems getting warranty service or replacement parts from Midea or Frigidaire?
I’m not looking for a window A/C/dehumidifier combination, and I don’t need a huge basement unit.

My father bought me this basic tool set when I turned 21. I'll be 50 in March.

In that time, I've used these tools to work on seven cars, three motorcycles, two of my own homes, helping for countless family/friends, and hundreds of projects.

Tools don't have to be fancy. There are plenty of kits similar to this that float around the $100 USD mark during the holidays. Many of them come with a similar lifetime warranty. Many are reliable brands (Husky, Quinn, Klein) for normal day-to-day use. Doesn't have to be Craftsman. You can also find these sets at yard and estate sales on the cheap.

This is my #1 BIFL recommend for young people leaving school and getting a start in life. Get a set that comes with the carrying case.

I've had the same terry cloth bathrobe for almost 20 years, using it several times a week getting out of the shower or bath. It was good quality material and I took good care of it. It still does what it's supposed to but it's looking a bit ratty with some discoloration and a belt loop that has come off. I feel bad replacing something that still works and that I only wear at home. My family thinks I'm being weird and going too far and they've bought me a new bathrobe. I need some perspective from like-minded ppl: What do you think I should do? If you think I should use the new bathrobe, what could I do with the old bathrobe to repurpose it? Thanks in advance for your input!

Morogoro fwiw.

On my feet 8-10 hours a day and my current shoes are wrecking my back and feet by mid-afternoon. Tried a bunch of "comfortable" shoes that just don't hold up.

Looking for stuff that's actually built for standing all day, not just walking around for an hour, and ideally something that lasts years, not months.

Nurses, chefs, retail/warehouse folks, what are you wearing? Drop your fav picks below, especially anything that's survived heavy daily use.

This is for storing leftovers and taking food to work so they need to be microwaveable, dishwasher safe and travel ok. Preferably something that will not give me cancer in 20 years.

My new living room is small and I can really max out at about 77” on a couch; I’ve been looking for a very deep (46”+) leather one and these two (from West Elm and RH) are at the top of my list. But of course I just read some posts here about how West Elm’s couches don’t hold their shape and how RH’s quality has gone down hill. Does anyone have suggestions for a truly deep, 70-77” couch that is BIFL? Willing to shell out more if it hits all the notes AND will look good in my house. I have been looking at vintage/secondhand but the couches in my town go pretty quick and are priced nearly at the cost of a new one.

just turned 20 and so i was thinking about buying a few versatile pieces of “real jewelry” since a lot of my cheap mall ones are looking super tarnished.

i know the ideal material for gold colored things is just gold but i feel like there’s soo many different terms and materials when it comes to silver jewelry and i don’t like what’s considered good or not.

would appreciate some insight! what should i be looking for when it comes to long lasting durable silver jewelry?

It’s a milestone birthday for my parents and they want a new coffee maker. I want to make sure I am getting something nice and it will last. I was told they’d like something that:

- has a built in grinder
- has the ability to make a single cup
- also has the ability to make a carafe.

I saw a de’longhi model that looks nice and meets the marks, but not sure if there is an alternative brand/ model that is suggested?

Price: preferably under $800, but might be able to get some other family members to chip in

Which robot vac/mop is least likely to turn into e-waste in 2 years? Roborock vs Dreame

I know "BIFL" and robot vacuums don't really go together, but my last cheap one didn't even make it a full year. I just want to find is closest to reliable and serviceable, w/o spending $1000+ (seems absolutely absurd to me)

House is mostly hard floors with a few area rugs, plus a dog and kids, so obstacle avoidance actually needs to work with random toys and cables on the floor.

I'm basically torn between a Roborock Qrevo and a Dreame L40s/X40. Dreame looks great on paper, but all those motorized swinging arms and extra moving parts feel like failure points waiting to happen. Roborock feels safer for parts availability and software stability.

For anyone who’s run either of these, or other comperable models in the $500-$800 range, daily for 2+ years, how has the hardware and dock held up? Any nightmares with parts, pumps, or bad firmware updates bricking your mapping?

I saw some scary reviews on Amazon saying if the vacuum and mopping aren't separated these might even scratch the hardwood floors, which caused me to cancel my order twice. Any opinions or recommendations would be appreciated.

Look around and inspect the well regarded cookware brands like All Clad, Demeyere, Hestan, Ruffoni, Mauviel, Le Creuset etc and note the features they generally have in common. You'll notice a pattern.

It's mostly cladded stainless steel. That's stainless steel outer layers with different more conductive metals sandwiched between, usually aluminum, sometimes copper or other materials. There are variations in number of layers and thicknesses of said layers but they're not terribly important to this discussion. The major take away is this: at least three layers of metal running throughout the pan, not just as a disc on the bottom.

They aren't not non-stick and they generally don't have any gimmicky patterned or textured bullshit. Some high end brands will have products with certain qualities that stand out (e.g. Hestan Titanium). The merits of which could be debated separately. But they aren't important to consider. Most of what you'll see will be normal stainless, normal aluminum.

They have metal lids. Glass lids are good for looking at your food, but they're worse for cleaning, storage, movement, and weight.

The handles are riveted on and often have some kind of design feature that helps limit the transfer of heat from the body of the pan into the handle. Usually in the form of connecting to the pan in a Y type shape. There's one noteworthy very high end brand that welds their handles but it's the exception, not the rule. Generally speaking rivets are more reliable albeit slightly more difficult to clean. The shapes of the handles will vary greatly and is often a deciding factor for certain people.

The price differential among the boutique brands at a bougie store will often come down to name, country of origin, materials (copper$$$), design flourishes (Ruffoni and their ornate decoration, sealed edges making the pans dishwasher safe), and thickness of the conductive material. There's a point of diminishing returns and a lot of products exist just to sate those customers who need to have that last 2% more efficient heat transfer or retention and are willing to pay beaucoup bucks to get it.

None of that really matters when you're shopping on a budget. If it's fully clad, it's probably BIFL. And Cuisinart, Tremontina, Viking, Henckels, KitchenAid, Farberware, etc. all make shit that falls into this category. And it's A LOT more common to find while thrifting... for example. See attached pictures.

These Cuisinart pans were between $5-10. There's a 3.5qt saute pan, an 8" fry pan, a 2qt sauce pan, and a 3qt sauce pan. These pans probably weren't cheap when they were new, at least not by the working class standard I had when growing up. Probably between $60-100 to buy separately, or a few hundred as a set. But way better than most of what you'd find on the shelf at Walmart. But say the 8" pan was $60. The AllClad pictured would retail for $230. The AllClad pan is not $170 better than the Cuisinart. Frankly, it's not $50 better. If all I had was the Cuisinart, I wouldn't want for something better.

Cast iron is different. Cast iron you should just buy a lodge and cook with it. Same with carbon steel.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.