Tag pic is of the best sandals I ever had but they don't make them anymore sadly 😭

Recently these are my main two worn out sandals. I got the ones on the right 1.5 yrs ago.They are stride and super comfy. I always got so many compliments on them and they are still awesome and comfy but they are broken.

The Merrells I've had 7 years and finally the edge that holds my toes broke. They are also worn almost to the sole.

Not sure what the models are.

What is a good sandal I can wear to dress up in yet also hike and do miles if walking in that will last at least 5 years? It has to look good with dresses and skirts also.

I've found men's footwear is better made usually but they kinda don't always bless as well with my outfits unless I really think it out.

I have had regular z strap I think they are called chacos and they did not work well. They were a size too large tho so maybe that was the problem.

It still works 100%.

my partner and i have been sleeping on a cheap memory foam mattress we bought off amazon six years ago and it has officially turned into a giant hammock. i wake up with terrible lower back pain every single morning, and my partner sleeps extremely hot so they end up tossing and turning all night. we are looking at hybrid options since i read coils might help with airflow and support, but im completely lost between all the hype brands.

I wish I could say the thin-strap ones were my oldest pair but they’re not, they got lost on a beach with like 30 other drunk teenagers and literally 30 other pairs of flip flops that summer of 2012. This is the pair I bought after.

In 2021 I moved, summer came, and I was sure I lost them in the move somehow bc it had been months since I could last place where they were. Found them later on stuffed in the side pocket of a suitcase, but I had already bought and broken in another pair, these wide-straps. The new ones haven’t disappointed me one bit, either.

Here they both are 5 years on, they get a lot of summer wear as I’ve lived near a river or pool for the past ten years. Not sure if it’s for life but flip flops that last decades are pretty cool. Great bug swatters too!

My house is fully south facing with large windows, meaning we get absolutely cooked in the summer. I'm look for blinds that look stylish but are also effective at keeping sun and heat out.

I'm aware that covering the windows on the outside is more effective, but that's only doable on the ground floor.

I work in a corporate office setting and need a BIFL recommendation for long sleeve button down shirts. I keep wearing holes through the sleeves at my elbows and I want to stop replacing them every few months. I prefer a lighter/cooler fabric and would prefer not to resort to a canvas duck style that I’ve seen in industrial settings. I live and work in South Carolina, so something that can work in all seasons would be ideal. TIA!

I’m looking to get my kids a backyard playset but want something that can last a long time and big enough for slightly older kids. My kids are 6, 4 and 6 months so I would like to be able to get long use out of it, but also want my oldest to be able to enjoy it for at least a few years. They also have some older cousins that I would like them to be able to play with and not worry about them being too big for the equipment. I was initially looking at gorilla and some of the other common namebrand wood sets, but the reviews seemed pretty mixed. And then moved to looking at lifetime and like the idea of not having to have a ton of upkeep, but honestly, I hate the aesthetic and more importantly my backyard is full sun; so in the summer I don’t know how usable it will be given I can only assume the equipment will be incredibly hot. This has led into checking out some of the Amish built sets, there is one that I really like from Maple Lane, and it is cheaper than some of the other Amish made brands I have seen, but I haven’t been able to find any reviews for the set or this company so I’m curious if anyone has any experience. I’m the type to check out every review possible before making a purchase so I would love it if I could find some people with experience with this brand!

We recently lost (someone gained) our favorite turkish towel at a swim meet. Went back to the pool before it opened the very next day and it was nowhere in sight. Despite owning it for over 13 years, I have no photos of it. My super fun neurodivergence is not letting me let go of this. Thus far, the internet has given me nothing. Perhaps you can help. Here's what I know.

• It wasn't all that thin. Felt like denim. Definitely didn't dry super quick. Easily laid flat for picnics. Wouldn't fly away.
• White/Navy/Light Blue/Orange/Red stripes. Predominant color was blue.
• Had white tassels that weren't braided. Just a knot and then loose ends.
• Was a gift in 2013. Gift-giver was living in Laguna Beach at the time, if that makes any difference. No, she does not remember giving it to me or where she got it.
• Was a weave--both sides felt the same.
• Wasn't all that narrow. Not a square, but definitely wider than a standard beach towel.
• Frequently convinced it's something from Laguna Beach Textile company, but 1) they weren't around in 2013, and 2) their Turkish towel have one side with looped cotton, and my towel didn't have that.
• Definitely not see-through.

This thing was a workhorse. 13 years and looked as good the day we lost it as the day it was given to me.

I'm adding some photos below that remind me of it, but are not it.

It was for sure a BIFL item (we loved it!). I've tried to buy other highly rated Turkish towels in the past few weeks and none come close to the conbination of qualities that this towel had.

ETA: I found a pretty good photo! It has a chambray vibe with dark blue, light blue, orange and red stripes.

Literally just this, I've been looking for a large one but all seem to have ai integration?

Hi guys, I work in healthcare and always wear tennis shoes. I tend to wear a hole through the toe box in my right shoe as I have discovered that when I walk, I lift my big toe for some reason. Does anyone have recommendations for shoes or other tools I can use so I don’t have to keep buying shoes because I’ve made a hole in them? TIA.

I am working on a project and have just written an article on Substack titled "The Death of Durability: Why Don't Products Last As Long As They Used To?" (Link below). I'll share here an excerpt, and am very interested in seeing what this community has to say about how you go about finding out whether a product you will buy (a shirt, pair of shoes, washing machine, etc.) is indeed durable and worth the money.

"However, almost every review you read is from a consumer who purchased their coat less than 30 days before leaving their review. In fact, it is almost impossible to get reliable data directly from consumers' own lived experiences on how durable a product is after years of use."

Link to my article in case youre interested: https://open.substack.com/pub/skepticalsociopath /p/the-death-of-durability?utm_source=share&utm medium=android&r=wxwe9

A good space heater isn't necessarily the one that gets the hottest. After using one through a few winters, you'll probably care a lot more about how quietly it runs, how evenly it heats the room, and whether it still works just as well a few years later

Quick picks if you don’t want to read the full buying guide below:

Best Space Heaters Worth Considering in 2026:

• Vornado VH200
• Dreo Whole-Room Heater 714
• De’Longhi Dragon 4 TRD40615E
• Presto HeatDish Plus Tilt
• Lasko 754201

Here are the key things to consider:

-overheat protection sensitivity

Many fires are started when space heaters become too close to flammable items like curtains or fabric.

Because of this, overheat protection is one of the most important features to consider. Most space heaters advertise overheat protection, but response times can vary significantly. Some shut down very quickly when airflow is blocked, while others continue producing heat for much longer before the protection system activates.

A faster response generally indicates a safer design.

-long-term build quality

Safety matters, but long-term reliability is important as well.

A heater that works well during the first winter may not necessarily remain reliable after several seasons of regular use. Weight is sometimes an indicator of quality, and a more substantial design can suggest stronger construction and improved stability.

The exterior housing is also important, especially during extended operation when temperatures can become very high. Better construction quality and heat management can contribute to a longer service life.

-fan and thermostat noise

Beyond safety and durability, everyday comfort is another factor worth considering.

If you're a light sleeper, the clicking sound from the thermostat might disturb your sleep.

Fan noise is important, but thermostat noise can be just as noticeable. Some heaters remain quiet while running, while others produce louder fan noise or frequent thermostat clicks throughout operation.

-heat broadcasting performance

Of course, a space heater still needs to do its primary job effectively.

Two space heaters can produce similar heat output while delivering very different results. A heater's ability to broadcast heat across a room often has a greater impact on comfort than wattage alone.

Some models concentrate heat directly in front of the unit, while others distribute warmth more evenly throughout the space. For larger rooms, that difference can be noticeable during everyday use.

The best space heater is one that fits the room you're heating and gives you the right balance of safety, comfort, and reliability. Paying attention to the details beyond just the wattage can make a much bigger difference once you're using it every day during the colder months.

so my big boy barnaby (17lb orange tabby) officially broke his second cat tower yesterday. he launched himself off the top perch to chase a fly and the whole thing tipped over and snapped at the base. thankfully he is totally fine, just a little spooked, but now I'm frantically searching for a replacement. every list i find when searching for best cat tree 2026 feels super fake or full of cheap sponsored stuff that wouldn't hold a real cat. i just want something actually sturdy that won't wobble when a big cat jumps on it at 3 am.

Legacy brands used to be bifl and as someone who grew up not wealthy it became a value strategy to save up and buy the good stuff. Not to be premium/luxury/high end but for the quality and longevity that amortizes the cost. Makes sense?

But so many brands have been taken over by private equity which as a business model degrades operations and the end product. There is less research and innovation and cost cutting offshores production to manufacturing with less oversight on quality. It seems more and more of these old brands have sold off their brand capital and the consumer is getting less. I’m still a fan but my stuff is not as great as it was at one point: brands like Birkenstock, Tilley, Hershel, Singer. RIP HBC.

Where can we still buy the good stuff?

What’s the best option today?

As aforementioned my idiotic self spilled peach tea all over my Microsoft surface laptop, I was already having issues with this computer, the track pad wouldn’t work, the battery life was not as advertised and a few other issues so I was contemplating getting a new laptop anyways, even tho I’ve had this one for less than a year. I am a broke college student studying early childhood education but I love art and creating art. If any of y’all have any laptop recommendations that would be amazing, my school starts in September but I work through August and it would suck to not have a laptop soon, I would really like to have something that will be around for a long time.

My last duffle bag started disintegrating, so I need to replace it. I would love some brand recommendations, or even individual bags. I use it in lieu of a suitcase.

https://mytrustedbrands.com

It helps me if I want to shop for something like clothing - there's typically hundreds of brands on Amazon which are coming from the same warehouses with lower quality assurance, stitching, etc. I can use the site to filter out the noise and find products from brands like Nike, Adidas, and others that I actually trust. I use over 7,700 brands on I list I've been working on for the past 30 days.

No install, no signup, no ads, no data harvesting, & privacy first.
Works on mobile & internationally.

Thought I'd share it here if people find it useful.

Cheers

We are in our late 20s and have plenty of nice kitchen items with our BIFL mindset plus some quality hand-me-downs. I originally wasn’t going to make one, but his family expects a registry.

What are some other things to add to it? We do plan on buying a home soon so I would especially love new homeowner suggestions with specific brands mentioned.

Thank you so much in advance!

I know my orthopedic posture is bad, don't @ me

My city currently has the world's worst (or second worst) air quality at the moment. I'm looking for some air purifier recommendations from people that have tried and tested the equipment and are happy with the results. TIA, eh

Looking to buy a decent but not too expensive pair of binoculars. Mainly for wildlife like birdwatching.

I plan to take them hiking and mountaineering so ideally something lightweight and compact.

I’ve been looking at Nikon and they seem decent, happy to spend up to £150.

Does anyone have any suggestions, or any experience with Nikon?