While there’s no doubt we live in a heavily society, thanks to frugal and sustainability-minded shoppers, there has been a major uptick in “buy-it-for-life” products over recent years. A buy-it-for-life product—otherwise known as BIFL—is just what it sounds like: something that is designed to last a lifetime, thanks to extremely well-made construction and, in certain cases, lifetime warranties or free repair policies.
BIFL products can be a major game-changer for travelers—not only do you save money over time and reduce your environmental footprint, but you also won’t have to worry about babying your gear while on the go, whether that means squishing your carry-on under the too-small seat in front of you or wearing your sunglasses on a Jet Ski without worrying about salt water damage.
It’s worth noting that buy-it-for-life products do tend to cost more, but buying nice in this case means you won’t have to buy it twice. In other words, you’ll wind up saving money over your lifetime by not having to run out and replace these items once they start to break down.
The following buy-it-for-life travel necessities range from over-engineered accessories that are virtually impossible to damage to items with no-nonsense lifetime warranties or free repairs. From brands like L.L.Bean and Patagonia, here are the best buy-it-for-life essentials for travelers.
