This is my first post in a long long time because I prefer to read reddit and just soak it all in, but I'm feeling enthusiastic about this. I've been looking at materials, companies and designs of all kinds and I'm confident I have a list of items that are extremely good for their price + performance. I put little value in aesthetics or the WOW factor so I apologize in advance if some of these items seem dull.
- Merino Wool
By far the most durable, practical and cheap item I know of is merino wool. Some are more durable than others, some elastic or breathable. There are all kinds of wonderful blends utilizing polyester, spandex, lycra etc. It takes a trained eye and some basic understanding of textiles to know which one is best for your purposes. As a general rule however, merino wool clothing takes the cake. Notable companies would be Darn Tough Vermont with their unconditional lifetime guarantee, but they only sell socks, and Wool & Prince which makes underwear to rival the underbridges of the gods themselves. They are comfortable, itch-free and incredibly odor resistant. You still need to wash wool (make sure you can machine wash it) but less often and with far less detergent.
- GORETEX
GORETEX has established itself as a superior moisture wicking material. It is lightweight and durable and can be found in everything from bicycling shoe covers to jackets and tarps. The price is semi-premium but with the near lifetime guarantee it's one of those things worth saving/splurging on.
- Neoprene
Neoprene is also exceptional though not as durable as GORETEX. It is primarily for warm but wet conditions.
- Down
Down (goose) is the best insulator for the price and weight. It is not durable, nor should it be as any added weight in any temperature will quicken your sweat response and bring down your health bar like you're fighting the final boss.
- Vacuum Storage Bags
These are kind of shuffled to the back of our attention because of their widespread commercials on late night "As Seen On TV!" programming. Because most products on at such an abysmal hour are garbage, most people ignore these little devils. But make no mistake, a couple of these bags will last easily a decade and keep your linens from gathering dust and odor (smokers take heed!) The space savings are nothing to complain about either.
- Soylent (and X-lent offshoots)
This "food substitute" was still just an idea when I first heard about it in 2014. The official forum was buzzing about what the first version would look like, taste like, be made of and on and on. The Soylent sold by Rosa Labs has an extremely long shelf life (rated at 1 year, easily triple that in ideal storage conditions).
Okay so it isn't delicious to most people (nor is that it's goal really) but the powder version (1.7) can provide you with a full days calories (avg person needing 2,000) in just shy of a pound of product. It is one of the most nutrient dense food products you can buy and every ingredient in Soylent is GRAS grade (Generally Recognized As Safe). Rosa Labs also has big money backing them in Silicon Valley as well as GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certification and a laundry list of "future food" initiatives. I could go on and on myself, but most of the people I've let try my own Soylent have expressed interest in getting some themselves as a supplement when they don't have time to cook or order out.
- Vitamin D
I could list several supplements that I take but I don't know you guys or what your situations are, what medications you're on etc. And in any case, this is BIFL, not /r/supplements. What I do know is that almost everyone in America (statistically derived) tests as deficient in vitamin D. I assume it isn't against the rules to interpret BIFL as "Buy it continuously for the rest of your life" if the product is still extremely reliable and cheap. Vitamin D is both of these. You can check with your own doctor and have your levels checked to be for certain, but if you spend most of the day indoors and out of direct sunlight, you should probably stock up on some D. Don't you want the D?
- Pelican
This company makes containers, phone cases and larger equipment cases and with a hell of a record. If you can break it over your lifetime (by accident of course), well done. Don't pay 4x as much for an otterbox or the in-store garbage that's always marked up.
- Safety Razor
Nothing wrong with looking like grandfather time when you shave. I bought 200 razor blades for $20 over a year ago and still have most of them - and I throw each one away almost after every shave. Be wary about materials used in the razor handle and head (some can be found with some very choice materials). You don't want it rusting on you and then infecting your pretty skin! You might also do well to get a stand for it, mostly because it looks swag. You can use shave soap if that's your fancy but personally I love the shave butter Dollar Shave Club sells. I just wish their 10 blade ultra super shave razor blades had a sensible price tag.
- Water Filter
Perhaps I'm just a worrying wally but I dread the idea of being at another barn party (what's up my Kansas brothers and sisters) and have to drink from the "has that ever been washed" sink faucet. Luckily modern technology has found the cure - portable filters! State of the art carbonizers and multi-layer membranes ensure that even the murkiest lake won't send you to the ER. Boiling afterwards is a good idea too if your water source is outdoors. Sawyer gets first mention but Katadyn is a close second. Consider a bladder bag if you don't want to have to filter each and every cup.
- Hammock
Any will do. You'll be hard pressed to find a company that doesn't offer an extended warranty. Even the cheapest hammock will have a weight rating of over 300lbs. In the summer it ventilates from below and in the winter you can throw a quilt under and over you like a little plush burrito. Hammocks are typically made of nylon of varying durabilities. Some have coatings to keep bugs away or wick moisture - although in the latter case I just would advise getting a rain tarp too. Again even the cheapest tarp is going to be survival quality. I sleep in a hammock almost every single night but you better believe it comes with me for any overnighter or extended trip. Camping, visiting family, sleeping at a worksite - my hammock has been invaluable and from all the wear and tear I've thrown at it, I can tell it's got several years of use left in it.
- Bicycle
Consider this: A human on a bicycle is the most efficient form of travel in terms of energy used. Any junker can be fixed up and you'll find only a few parts even need to be replaced. It doesn't matter if the frame is made of steel, carbon, aluminum. It doesn't matter if the tires are tubeless or slime-filled. It doesn't matter if it's $500 or $5,000. A bike is not only something you can maintain for decades, you'll be glad you bought one when your engine floods in the thick of winter and you've got less than an hour to get to work. Of course the distance of your commute depends on the practicality of a bike and I won't pretend we can all just uproot ourselves and find a job closer to home. My point is anyone anywhere can get enjoyment and productive use out of a bicycle and fixing it is much cheaper and faster than leaving your car at the shop all day.
HONORABLE MENTION
- Titanium
I put this neither first nor last on my list, but as a side note. A friendly reminder that science is the prime mover of the BIFL brand. Let this item lie in the background of every consideration you make when buying a new doohickey. The genius of titanium lies in its mixture of other metals, providing a whole world of opportunities. Modern manufacturing has figured out how to work the metal into evermore complex shapes and designs and we are now living in, dare I say, the titanium age of man.
Personally I have bought a stove, dishes and cutlery, a whistle, a multi-tool, a drinking straw and a host of other things made of titanium. Aerospace Grade 5 titanium is probably my favorite, though different materials call for different grades. Be vigilant about price hikes though, because some people like to exaggerate the value and you may wind up spending $4,000 on a toothbrush! Know what sounds reasonable and what sounds like overpriced quackery and you'll be just fine.
I'll keep looking around, however this list is just some of the stuff that I think most everyone could get a lot of use from. If nothing else, it's a peak into how I'm living the BIFL life. I welcome advice and feedback!
Svet
Submitted January 20, 2017 at 08:44PM by svetambara http://ift.tt/2jXuKRF