r/BuyItForLife Feb 03 '25

!Canada! Buyitforlife from Canada, what’s your favourite things made in Canada?

1.1k Upvotes

With the now starting trade war between the US and Canada I feel it’s best for us up north to support local more than ever.

One of my favourite clothing brands is Anian from Victoria, BC. I have a few of their shirts and will probably end up getting more.

Edit: Adding some other brands up here that I personally own and love.

Canada West Boots - Made in Winnipeg. Been wearing a pair of Romeos for a couple years now.

Popov Leather - Made in Nelson, BC. have a few of their leather goods, holding up really well.

Meyer - PEI. High quality made in Canada pots and pans, I have their non-stick 12”.

Edit 2: House of Blanks - I have a bunch of their t-shirts, nice heavy weight cotton. Very comfy


r/BuyItForLife Feb 03 '25

BIFL Non-USA edition! A list of BIFL not made in the USA

2.9k Upvotes

A timely reminder that this subreddit is obviously very USA-centric with its recommendations as that’s where the majority of users are from. It often leads to people not realising that comparable and/or better items can be found closer to home, easier, cheaper and free of tolls.

I thought it would be a good idea to crowdsource some manufacturers here for non-American users.

This isn't neccesarily items made in those countries as some manufacturers use factories across the world but with a commitment to quality

I can start (I'm kind of UK/Euro centric so it would be great to expand this):

Clothing
Portuguese Flannel - Portugal
Naked and Famous - Canada
Uskees - UK
Yarmouth Oilskins - UK
Carrier Company - UK
Old Town - UK (Closing down)
Farmer's Market - Iceland (may be hard to buy outside of Iceland)
Oni Denim - Japan
Iron Heart - Japan
Barbour - UK
Companion - Spain
NÄZ - Portugal (only women)
Meindl - Germany (they run a high quality fashion brand but are known for great hiking boots)

Outdoor Gear
Fjällräven - Sweden
Rab - UK (offer a very good repair service)
66° North - Iceland
Devold - Norway
Bergans- Norway
Haglöfs - Sweden
Klättermusen - Sweden
Alpkit - UK

Footwear
Solovair - UK
Mayura Boots - Spain
Church's - UK
Loake - UK
Wm. Lennon - UK
Astorflex - Italy

Kitchen/Cookware
Le Cresuet - France
De Buyer - France
Fissler - Germany
WMF - Germany (very wide and variable range but Made in Germany stuff good)
Fiskars - Finland
Duralex - France
Samuel Groves - UK

Appliances/Small appliances
Miele - Germany
Dualit - UK
Moccamaster - Netherlands (Coffee makers)
Zojirushi - Japan
Numatic - UK (vacuum cleaners)
Sebo - Germany (vacuum cleaners)
Ankarsarum - Sweden

Edit - Some excellent feedback. I'll try and work my way through and add what I can! Please note that I will only add stuff that I have experience with but all the comments help with crowd sourcing knowledge.


r/BuyItForLife 20h ago

Review Irish Sweater Bought 2/1996

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2.0k Upvotes

I've been seeing people posting about Fisherman's Sweaters. I bought this at a small shop in Ireland in 1996. It was kind of souvenir store but with a section with local cottage industry. Each sweater had a cardboard tag with the name of the person who knitted it.

This sweater wears like iron. I'm not easy on clothes and this sweater has been through the wringer. My watch chewed up the hem of the left sleeve so my MIL did a whip stitch to keep it from unraveling. A couple of years ago I blew out the elbows so I had a tailor sew suede patches on there.

I've been a little nicer to it since the elbows went, but I'm 60 and it will probably last the rest of my life.


r/BuyItForLife 3h ago

Vintage Sound Guard intercom still in use today.

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39 Upvotes

Thing looks like a monster or a face on the wall. Still completely functional.


r/BuyItForLife 10h ago

Discussion why do most outdoor gadgets get abandoned the second the next model ships

34 Upvotes

I've got a drawer of outdoor stuff that all died the same way and im starting to see a pattern.

bought a yard sensor thing two years ago, the app got one update after launch and then nothing. a outdoor camera that the company straight up stopped pushing firmware for, so now it just sits there half working. a sprinkler controller that needs a login to a server they clearly dont want to keep running anymore.

none of these broke. the hardware is fine. its the company that walked away. the second the next version shipped, the thing I paid for became abandonware. like they only ever cared about selling me the box and once the box was sold I was on my own.

and the worst part is we kind of accepted it? we treat outdoor smart gear like its disposable now. you buy it knowing the app will rot in 18 months. why is that normal. I dont remember agreeing to that.

I get that support costs money. but if you sell something for outdoors it should last more than one product cycle. half of these are basically finished products the maker decided to stop finishing.

anyway sorry for the rant. just frustrated. anyone else have a graveyard of this stuff or is it just me


r/BuyItForLife 16h ago

[Request] less common but appropriate gifts for a wedding registry?

95 Upvotes

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!


r/BuyItForLife 1h ago

[Request] Brands for BIFL non-portable tablesaw

Upvotes

Hiya. I did do some searching, but I mainly found people discussing very old equipment.

I have a basic portable tablesaw, and I'm starting to find that I'm asking more of it than it can handle. I have a workshop space now, so I want to start looking at getting a proper non-portable saw; the kind that you stick somewhere forever and maybe even bolt to the floor. The kind that doesn't get knocked over by a big piece of wood being pushed into it...in fact, the kind that seems completely unaware that there is even wood anywhere near it at all.

I'm willing to be a bit patient, and I more want to keep my eyes on deals and such. I do want something modern-ish, because I have enough projects and I don't want to have to retrofit a proper safety switch and such. Obviously with this kind of thing, if you buy used then you have to wait until something comes up in your local area. I'm willing to splash some cash when the time comes, but of course this isn't a commercial shop so dropping 5k would be pretty extravagant (maybe worth it).

So my question is, rather than nessecarily a specific model, what brands are considered BIFL for something like this? The first one that comes to my mind is Delta, which is pricey but I think I can stretch there if it's truly going to be a one-time purchase.


r/BuyItForLife 19h ago

[Request] Best affordable mattress in 2026, what's worth the money right now?

109 Upvotes

Damn mattress prices have gotten so expensive... I really don’t want to spend over $2000 if I can avoid it. been reading older threads and checking reviews and I kind of narrowed down to Brooklyn Bedding, Bear, and Helix. What’s the best option from these three? I simply want something comfortable, supportive, and hopefully built to last more than 5 years so I can really get my money’s worth.


r/BuyItForLife 18h ago

[Request] Stainless steel from Soos Atelier?

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56 Upvotes

I keep getting Instagram Ads for Soos Atelier. They have a bunch of cutlery/utensils, kitchen ware, plates, bowls, coffee sets that are all made of stainless steel. *"Our stainless steel collection is crafted from premium food-grade 18/10 stainless steel, known for its durability and resistance to rust and corrosion."*

I particularly like their cutlery with the swirl end. I know it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm an artist and I like "different" things. Our current collection of spoons and forks are all mismatched and prongs are bent as they were all either thrifted or items we 'stole' from our parents when we moved out. Would love to add in some cute, high quality silverware.

My partner said to not buy these if they aren't Dishwasher Safe (cannot figure out if they are...) as he said it would be a waste of money as we primarily use the dishwasher over hand-washing.

Has anyone purchased from them before and can anyone tell me if the quality is worth the price tag, or if there is any way to tell whether or not it is good quality? Or dishwasher-safe?

Thanks for the help!


r/BuyItForLife 14h ago

Vintage My belt I’ve had from the mid 90s finally broke:(

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21 Upvotes

I’m trying to find a belt with two prongs and holes as close as possible(this dickies belt has holes every 1/4 of an inch. All help is appreciated.


r/BuyItForLife 20h ago

[Request] Looking for the most durable washer dryer stack

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55 Upvotes

I need to replace this laundry tower. The space can only fit a 27" unit. (Edit: I've learned that is standard, haha)

We wash a lot of laundry. What's going to last and be repairable? Google suggests Speed Queen, LG, and Electrolux but I trust human experience more.


r/BuyItForLife 2h ago

Discussion Dog owners with cloud couches, what fabric actually survives the chaos?

2 Upvotes

Just got a second dog and yeah, my current couch is basically cooked. fur is stuck in every little corner, and one random spill turns into a forever stain. I’m looking at cloud couches now, but every brand claims their fabric is pet friendly, which honestly doesn’t tell me much. anyone here actually living with dogs and a cloud couch? what fabric did you go with, and is it holding up or already getting destroyed?


r/BuyItForLife 8h ago

Discussion Restoration Hardware Maxwell sectional vs Room and Board Metro

2 Upvotes

Hi! we're debating between these two options and looking for anyone who has experience with either, I believe they are both made in the US with the Maxwell being a bit more expensive. I know RH is typically not recommended but this is made in the US and wondering if it's actually good quality


r/BuyItForLife 8h ago

Discussion Slim Fit heavyweight white t shirt that doesn't cost a fortune?

4 Upvotes

I know there are a million white t shirt posts on reddit, but this is not redundant.

It seems nobody else besides me is searching for a slim fit white t shirt that is also heavyweight.

I plan on exclusively tucking it in, so when it's too wide and boxy it just bunches up weirdly around the belt and looks dreadful.

I've already tried Uniqlo's options, the Supima T might be the best I found but it's still to boxy and quite see through, which is a dealbreaker for me.

What I'm searching for is a heavyweight shirt constructed more like an undershirt: slightly Tapered waist, long, slim sleeves.

Any ideas that aren't super expensive?


r/BuyItForLife 1d ago

[Request] Looking for state of the art bush trimmer (for female anatomy)

256 Upvotes

Mods don't remove my post, I searched for trimmer recommendations, it's all for men and beards.

ISO an automatic bush trimmer that will try its best to outlive me. No budget, the sky is the limit here. Extra points if it comes in pink.

Thank you!


r/BuyItForLife 1d ago

Discussion TIL Zojirushi still sells replacement parts for bread machines they sold back in the 2000s!

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1.5k Upvotes

My BBCC-X20 that my parents just passed down to me was originally bought in 2004, and the pan & paddles really needed to be replaced due to teflon flaking.

I thought I would be stuck with whatever I could find on eBay, but Zojirushi actually still sells parts for this over 20 year old machine!

The pan and both blades was about $120, which is steep, but I think it's well worth it for an originally $400 machine that will easily outlast any new equivalent being sold for $100-$200.


r/BuyItForLife 4h ago

Discussion Philips 3200 Horizontal Airflow: Does it struggle with room circulation?

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to get the Philips 3200 (for my 185 sqf x 9 ft height bedroom for my pollen allergy.), but I have some hesitation regarding its airflow design.

Most traditional air purifiers blow clean air vertically (towards the ceiling), which easily creates a "room loop" (Coandă effect) to circulate and clean the entire room's air. However, the Philips 3200 exhausts air horizontally and in a 360-degree pattern.

My main concerns are:

  • Weak/Diffused Airflow: Instead of a focused, strong vertical stream that can easily reach the ceiling, does the 360° horizontal dispersion make the airflow too weak or diffused to travel far?
  • Obstacles & Furniture: Since the air is blown sideways rather than up, does it get blocked by surrounding furniture, preventing clean air from reaching the other side of the room?
  • Overall Circulation: Can this horizontal flow effectively circulate and clean the air near the ceiling, or does the air just sit dead up there?

For Philips 3200 owners or air purification experts: Does this horizontal airflow design negatively affect actual room circulation in real-world usage?

Would love to hear your experiences and thoughts. Thanks!


r/BuyItForLife 12h ago

[Request] Anyone have a good car floor mat brand?

3 Upvotes

For a 2013 Mazda3


r/BuyItForLife 23h ago

[Request] What's the best air fryer you've bought that still feels worth it in 2026?

15 Upvotes

it's funny because i used to think air fryers were just another trend

fast forward a couple of years and now almost everyone i know owns one. figured it's finally time to stop borrowing my sister's every weekend lol

if you've had yours for a while, what model still makes you think "yep, i'd buy this again"?

bonus points if it's survived heavy dayly use without any weird issues


r/BuyItForLife 14h ago

Vintage My belt I’ve had from the mid 90s finally broke:(

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3 Upvotes

I’m trying to find a belt with two prongs and holes as close as possible(this dickies belt has holes every 1/4 of an inch. All help is appreciated.


r/BuyItForLife 14h ago

[Request] I'm looking for a quality, comfortable for long term wear, backpack for college

3 Upvotes

I'm currently getting things ready to go back to school. I'll be there for 10 years, since I'm getting a PhD (astrophysics, for anyone curious), so I need it to be comfortable. My budget is about $70. What's the best thing I can get?


r/BuyItForLife 1d ago

Vintage I've officially had this Timex for 21 years

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255 Upvotes

I'm looking forward to another 20 years with this watch!


r/BuyItForLife 1d ago

Review I'm so tired of Gildan shirts

313 Upvotes

I can't recall the last time I bought a shirt that under $50 that wasn't Gildan. Local companies, online companies, it's all the same shitty shirts that degrade after a few wears. I don't think i've had a Gildan shirt last a month without the threads coming out of the collar.

Don't get me wrong, some brands are better and use good blanks (i like my cool.shirtz and Rucking Fotten clothing for this reason) but oh my god i'm tired of everything being so sub-par now.


r/BuyItForLife 15h ago

Review Has anyone tried this wrist brace? how firm is it?

2 Upvotes

So i have tried one other brace This one and it's really not firm enough the metal rods in it are to flimsy so i ordered This one i'm gonna try it, it looks like its more firm and looks like it would hold the wrist straight better but i'm just curious if anybody out there has tried that "Rakiie" brand Carpal Tunnel Wrist Brace

Thanks


r/BuyItForLife 1d ago

[Request] Recent wildfires - Air Purifier recommendation request.

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420 Upvotes

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