Finally got the Iron Rangers I’ve had for over 12 years back from being recrafted by Wyatt and Dad. Absolutely in love with them. Had to go out and break in the new midsole. Made a carry bucket from trash to pick up the trash I found.
I am looking for a Teak wood or similar outdoor 5-6 person deep seating set. Sunbrella fabric or something similar that can withstand snow/humidity would be great. I am looking for a modern vibe (think wide arm rests). I know that everyone recommends Polywood but we didn’t fall in love with their designs, the designer collections look really good buy they are waay out of budget (\~18k). My budget is 5-6k, currently looking at the following options:
1) Joss and Main Melrose
2) Cambridge Casual Indonesian teak wood set
3) Castlery Rio Outdoor Set)
4) Live outer teak set (a bit out of budget, not sure if it’s worth the price difference)
5) Crate and Barrel Bali Natural Teak) ( I can do this sofa + 2 matching chairs for \~6k)
Happy to hear other suggestions also. Thank you!
I am only grinding beans for a single cup. I get any grinder can make a small amount, but why buy big when I only need small.
I’ve seen several hammered titanium pans advertised recently. They claim to be a better non-stick option than Stainless and anything with a coating. Does anyone have any experience with any of the following brands: Siraat, Okura, Taima? Do they cook well and are they truly durable?
i bought a set of cutlery from oneida, and even though they claim to be relatively hassle-free they've been coming out of the dishwasher like this. i have some stainless steel ikea cutlery as well and never have this issue with those. am i doing something wrong??
Been thinking a lot about the shift in the outdoor industry lately. For years, Mystery Ranch was the gold standard for me. It was a true family-run operation rooted in Bozeman, MT where I have family. It felt personal.
Then came the acquisition by Yeti. While Yeti makes great coolers, the vibe definitely shifted from a local family business to a corporate conglomerate. It left me feeling like I lost a connection to the roots of the gear I love.
I'm on the hunt for brands that still feel like that original Mystery Ranch. I want small, family-owned companies deeply rooted in their local communities that prioritize quality over mass-market scaling. I want to support companies where the founders are still involved and the culture hasn't been diluted by a massive parent company.
Does anyone have recommendations for similar small-batch, family-run, bomb-proof gear makers?
Got caught in a full on rainstorm last week, not a drizzle, like 20 straight minutes of heavy rain walking to the train
The noirvere bag was completely soaked on the outside with a laptop and notebook and wallet all sitting inside it
Wiped it down at home and nothing got through at all, everything inside was bone dry
The vegan leather waterproof claim on their site is legit based on this, cause that was a real world stress test and the bag came through it without any issues
I’m replacing my old suitcase before a longer Europe trip this summer and I genuinely can’t decide between hard shell or soft shell anymore.
Hard shell seems cleaner and more durable, but soft shell feels easier to pack. I’ve been looking at Carl Friedrik luggage lately because I like the overall design, but I’m still unsure which type actually makes more sense long term.
I’ll probably be dragging it through trains, airports, and uneven streets for a few weeks, so I may be overthinking this way too much.
What’s actually been better for you over time?
I'm trying to move away from plastic and want a larger non-toxic water bottle for work, home and on the go. I just want to fill it up at the start of the day and take it with me to make sure I am drinking enough water.
Looking for a non plastic easy to clean lid, screw top preferred - no straw or spout.
Kleen Kanteen is highly recommended but the largest one is too small for my needs and I've also seen recommendations for Sigg, Yeti and Nalgene.
I'm in the UK so don't have Walmart's etc so its online or a high street shop. I would order from Amazon but have read of some bootleg bottles being sent out which isn't great.
I bought an ergonomic keyboard from a company called ZSA back in 2018. It wasn't cheap ($300), but I reasoned that I'd rather invest in a high quality product than something that would break in 5 years as many keyboards do.
Image courtesy RTINGS.com (my poor board needs a serious cleaning right now)
Eight years later, this thing is still going strong. And when looking at the cost of ownership per year, it's now a very reasonable price compared to a keyboard that only lasts 5 years. It's lasted so long that they don't even sell this version anymore. I have no reason to think it won't last another 8 years.
An important point worth noting is not that the company somehow designed a keyboard that would magically never break. Instead they made a design that's extremely easy to repair.
The board uses mechanical switches (the clicky party under the key cap). All mechanical switches fail eventually, however, the board has solder-less switch attachments which means when a switch starts to get wonky or fails, you can swap it out with a new one in 30 seconds. Mechanical switches cost like $0.20 each, so it makes no sense to throw out the entire board when a switch fails.
If you ever invest in a nice keyboard, I can't recommend enough picking one with solder-less switches so you can easily replace switches and keep using your keyboard many years into the future. Good warranties and repairability is something worth looking for in all products if you're looking for BIFL!
The Halts Bruk/Hultifors or the Council Tools Velvicut Bad (Boys) axe are two solid options. But people are saying that the CT are good value for many when they cost around $60USD, unfortunately they are $330AUD without shipping. Guessing the Gränsfors Bruk would not have the ideal head geometry for splitting Australian eucalyptus
Will be used for; splitting redgum and bluegum firewood (not many rounds), limbing and felling of smallish trees when out camping & four wheel driving.
I did have a really good second hand axe that took months to find up until last Friday night when my mate broke it in half and i do not have the tools to hang a new handle. It was 4 1/2lb 32” too large for any type of single handed work but great at splitting Australian hardwood and would probably be decent at felling medium trees.
I use them with my moka pot to get a cleaner tasting cup of coffee, this small pack has lasted me the past 3 years, and it's only half way gone.
Can I just say I spent $2700 on a new Speed Queen washer and dryer and I absolutely believe that it’s worth every EVERY PENNY. Not a fancy model, top loader, with agitator and NO FANCY COMPUTER BRAIN. My clothes have never smelled cleaner and felt softer. I do not use ANY dryer sheets, fabric softener, scents, because my daughter has eczema and I cut that stuff out years ago. This washer actually fills with water. It’s amazing, just like the washer my parents had. It’s the last washer and dryer I will buy in my lifetime as it has a lifespan of AT LEAST 25 years. Bite the bullet and buy it, it’s worth every penny.
