Best modern Buy-it-once brands?

I'm very frugal but I often spend more on something to get a well made product that should last a lifetime.  My Vitamix is an example of that -- it cost more but I've had it for 12 years of rigorous use and it's still going strong, and the company has promptly fixed it the two times over the years that something did go wrong.  

Lately I've noticed that a lot of the brands that used to be Buy-It-Once brands are now making their products in China and are just as poor quality as the cheap stuff, just getting by on the reputation they used to have.  When we went to buy a new washing machine, the Maytag salesperson told me to expect a new Maytag washing machine to last 8 years, when they used to last decades (we found a good old one instead for less money and better quality).  Fiscars used to have such good scissors and gardening tools, and the last two products I got from them were junk.  I've heard the same about Craftsman tools, though I haven't bought any lately.  I've noticed if you look at reviews, the ones from way back are great but the recent ones for so many products are the same thing -- the products from this company are nothing like they used to be.

So I'd love to hear your recommendations for companies that are still making quality products!  Have you gotten any recently where you've been impressed by the materials and workmanship?  Any modern purchases where they stood by their warranty and made it right when things went wrong, where the quality impressed you?

So far Vitamix is the only brand that's still impressing me, but my model is now 12 years old so I hope they are still as great as they were then.  Any you'd add?  TIA!

Ooh, I'm very interested to see what everybody has to add to this list! I, like many, try to check online reviews before buying things but most of the reviews are around design or functionality and infrequently consider how DURABLE the item is. I've found myself resorting more to word-of-mouth reviews from people around me as well as checking out what old items are still in service after many years of use - the problem with that is, by the time the item has proved it's durability, the manufacturer is normally not making that model any more or has changed materials and/or construction. This gets even more confusing with globalization and access to so many more brands and models!

I try to look for "commercial" models instead of "residential" models in some cases, but this thread will also help out. I have been happy with my RuggedSplit log splitter. I had also looked at Iron & Oak and Wolfe Ridge log splitters as contenders. Most times, I find myself searching for "functional antiques" even if they made need some initial cleaning or refurbishment because they were built better.

My Victoria cast iron skillets look like future heirlooms. I've only had them for a few years, but they recovered from lots of abuse. Made in Columbia for the South American market mostly.

Bosch and Dyson are overrated IMHO. Superb design, but both of their products that we own have broken prematurely (given the price premium we paid for their reputation)

IKEA furniture can be surprising. Anything solid wood lasts a long time (I still use my childhood chairs as stepladders, forty years later. And more recently, my eldest daughter's IKEA  dresser has taken quite a beating over eleven years, and is still looking good. On the other hand, her sister's cheaper particle board one doesn't feel like it's going to outlast her)

My buy it for life brands...

- Vitamix Blender
- Ankarsrum Dough Mixer
- Salzburger Grain Mill / Grainmaker Grain Mill
- Lodge Cast Iron
- All American Pressure Canner
- Excalibur Dehydrator (it's simple enough to be repaired, I believe)
- Cafelat Robot Manual Espresso Maker (produces espresso as good as $5,000 machines, mechanically simple. Built by hand by an individual in China)
- Rofco Bread oven (this has not come to fruition because we don't have an extra 220V in the kitchen, it's still on preorder though. Simple enough to repair)
- Shoes with replaceable soles (recently purchased Native made Bastien earthing shoes with a replaceable leather sole)
- Plenty of US/Canadaian/Japanese made woodworking heirloom hand tools still around, no electric tools
- Access to clay and making pottery is for life (if you don't move)
- 1020 plastic seed trays/bottom water trays (Winstrip)

Here is my contribution:

Vintage Japanese Sewing Machines. They are quite sought after by many antique collectors and sewing enthusiasts for their superb all metal construction (no plastic moving parts), durability, many features as seen in modern machines but are mechanical, not electronic, which makes them easy to maintain and repair yourself at home. There are straight stitch only machine models, most commonly known as Singer 15 clones, and there are also straight and zigzag machine models, as well as machines that have stretch and chain stitches as well. The Singer 15 clones are the "Buy-it-once" KING of these machines. They were made by several Japanese manufacturers (Maruzen, Janomi, Brother, Toyota etc....) from the 1955 to roughly 1976. The class 15 clones are straight stitch only (but a superb straight stitch) and are an improvement over the original (and legendary) Singer class 15 machines (the most manufactured and sold sewing machine in the history of man, by far), otherwise known as the "farmer's sewing machines" as they could stitch over everything. The Japanese clones have better build quality, better paint, improved pressure foot and feed dog release, and can be found everywhere from free to $20-30.00 in auctions. They can be used (retrofitted) with any motor as the motor is externally mounted and is swap-able. More importantly, these machines can be used (retrofitted if need be) in a treadle and/or with hand cranks (bought on ebay for $15-20.00) with no electricity at all, which incidentally also provides a greater degree of precision and control over the stitching process.  They made and sold millions of these machines all over the world and though "old", most of them are still around in like new shape and only need oiling. No modern electronic machines match their utility, longevity, repair-ability. All metal class 15 clones are still to this day made in many other parts of the world, such as India, China, Middle East, Africa, South America etc....so you can still find on ebay brand new OEM parts, if needed. None of the current production ones though can match the original vintage quality of the Japanese clones (though there are some great clones made in Italy , France, Spain and Germany that can be excellent quality, but they did not make as many as the Japanese, so are rare...). These all metal, superb solid machines are still available in US, Canada and EU by the millions in many local auctions, craiglist or ebay postings for dirt cheap.  No homestead should be without one, especially the hand crank ones!

I can’t think of any brand I would recommend across the board. There are a few bigger names that still make some good stuff, but most of the buy once things I have bought lately are from cottage makers.

Latest one I bought was a stovetop coffee roaster. Hive roaster. Brilliantly simple yet deceptively complex. One man shop. Can use it off grid. Works for coffee but I also use it to parch corn and toast pecans.

There are a couple stores I like because they curate quality tools like I am looking for. Earthtools is great, Joel really tries to find affordable quality garden tools. Harry J Epstein’s is a tool store in Kansas City that also tries to find the best tools—American, European, Japanese—mostly.

Buy once is a losing business model these days. The goal is to be just good enough you’ll buy the same brand again.

Most of this is hopeful, since I have to be on my deathbed to confirm some of my choices:

Hults Bruk axes
Robot Coupe food processor
Hobart stand mixer

Darn Tough socks.  Lifetime warranty and your shoes and boots last a lot longer because they won't ever get stinky.  Darn Tough socks are amazing.

My recommendation is Leatherman tools. When I put on my pants, I put on a Leatherman.

25 year warranty, which I can personally verify is a zero bullshit warranty. Send them the tool, and they will make it right. No nonsense.

I still have a couple of original Supertools c.1994 that have lots of wear but are still kicking. If I was in a survival situation and found one of my old Supers in the bottom of my pack, things would be looking up.

End of commercial. But it's genuine, based on my direct experience.  

When it comes to power tools, I believe Dewalt is the best modern buy-it-once brand or was 10 years ago.

I don't know if the new ones are as good, but vintage Kirby vacuum cleaners are nearly indestructible.

Also, I'm not much of a fashion brand follower, but Columbia stuff always strikes me as warm and well-made.  I'm 45 and still wearing the Columbia snow boots I got in highschool!  I also still have a ski jacket from that era as well (90's hot pink and teal color combo - oh, boy!) now relegated to a shop jacket though.  Their shirts also seem to keep hanging in there while others cycle through.

My Duluth Trading Company pants seem to be lasting forever.  Shop the sales.

Trace Oswald wrote:Darn Tough socks.  Lifetime warranty and your shoes and boots last a lot longer because they won't ever get stinky.  Darn Tough socks are amazing.

I've been looking at that, and also some "firehose pants" seem like they would also last a lifetime.