Probably my Estwing framing hammer. The first quality tool I ever owned. Had it since I was 14 so almost 30 years old. Saw plenty of professional use in my 20s and 30s now it's semi- retired. Used it today break up some concrete while doing some plumbing in my basement.

Add a bit of water while the pan is still hot and put a lid on it for a few minutes. Everything lifts off and then just give it a once over with a some soap and water.

They are expensive because they're high quality. All of their trousers that I've tried outlast anything else I've ever worn by a considerable margin. This is BIFL so up-front cost shouldn't be a factor in the discussion, just overall value.

I've had 4 different models and all of them have been very good quality. I think the only issue I've ever had was with their Traverse model, which is now discontinued. They're a soft shell material and they pilled but that's only because I put them in the dryer. I got a second pair after the ones that pilled that I never machine dried and they're fine. Both pairs still going strong 6 and 8 years later.

They don't keep food warm for any significant amount of time. Keeping food lukewarm for hours at a time is probably not a good idea for most foods as the risk of food poisoning is significant. They are microwave, oven and dishwasher safe.

Glasslock is the only brand that I trust for this sort of work. There are other similar options but I haven't had as much success with other brands. Either the locking tabs break or the seals start failing. My Glasslocks though are probably 5ish years old now with zero issues. I have a set similar to these but I think you can individual containers or smaller sets.

https://www.amazon.ca/Glasslock-18-Piece-Assorted-Oven-Container/dp/B00LN810PM/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=T7CYUVUI69EP&keywords=glasslock&qid=1670478824&sprefix=glasslock%2Caps%2C255&sr=8-4

Thanks, dude.

5.11 Apex is my go-to. While they do have cargo pockets which turns some people off they are very discreet. Very soft material with a fair amount stretch. Relatively light but I wear them all year round. I may opt for shorts when temps hit around 25°C in the summer and maybe adding some long underwear when temps dip below -20°C and I'm outside for any length of time in the winter.

While I haven't had this particular model of 5.11 trousers for very long i can tell you that all of their other trousers last me for several years or regular use. I would say the avergae is about 5 years and I'm not terribly easy on clothes. They're just about the only brand of trousers that I buy. I only buy others if I happen to find something at a thrift store that I feel like taking a chance on.

I dunno. Try a few on? I would insist on their Omni-Tech fabric for the shell. That's their waterproof, breathable equivalent to Gore-Tex. For a winter coat I'd want the shell to be lined too.

Honestly, I'd just buy another from Columbia. In my opinion they're best value in outerwear and always have been. You might lose out on some of the most technical features of the higher end stuff but as long as you're not scaling a frozen waterfall or mushing a team of dogs across the tundra then Columbia will serve anyone just fine. Their Omni-tech hard shell seems to perform just as well as the Gore-Tex hard shell that I have or the Patagonia and Black Diamond hard shells that my wife has. Maybe it doesn't have the same kind of stretch or it's not as nice to the touch or doesn't have the more tailored fit of the premium brands but the performance and durability are there.

I just retired my 3-in-1 (not sure which model exactly, looks a lot like their 'Snow Glide' that's currently on offer) after 10+ years but only because I got a bunch of pine pitch on it that I can't remove and my employer gave me a pretty sweet new 3-in-1. I live in a part of Canada where winter conditions can last up to 6 months of the year and temps will hit -40°. The only thing that's failed after several hundred days of use in those conditions is the stitching on the shock cord used to cinch the hem let go a year or 2 ago. I just sewed back in and it held up fine.

I'd honestly still be using it over the new one I got if it weren't covered in pitch. Since the coat is black it's pretty obvious and unsightly. I'm honestly a little sad because I've had some good adventures while wearing it and I've often thought about just how well it's served me and how grateful I was to have found it, especially for the modest price I paid. If I remember right I picked it up on sale for $160-$170CAD.

I've got a pair of Keen Targhee 2 hikers that have been great. I quite like their designs and they seem to fit me really well too. I'd definitely buy from them again despite my first pair failing.

My wife has a pair of Chaco's sandals like the ones I've linked that are about 20 years old. Summers here are relatively short but she probably wears them 30-50 days per year. I'd say that's pretty hard to beat.

https://www.chacos.com/US/en/z-cloud/24095W.html?dwvar_24095W_color=JCH108014#cgid=women-footwear-sandals&start=1

My first pair of Keens didn't last but a dozen or so uses. Got them replaced under warranty and my new pair has lasted for hundreds of uses. Hit or miss in my case.

I read that as 'Santa clogs' and was wondering why they weren't Christmas coloured...

I've had Helly Hansen and Columbia rain shells. HH was a heavier 3 layer shell and the Columbia is a lighter, more packable 2 layer.

HH was probably better overall. I got rid of it after a few years though because the liners in the sleeves always poked out of the cuffs and would wick water inside the sleeve. It still looked like brand new and the DWR was still beading water pretty well.

Columbia has held up really well for 2ish years now. The one I have is nice and lightweight and it layers very well. A couple of drawbacks such as the original DWR wearing out fairly quickly and I've having to treat it already. Not that big of a deal since this is bound to happen with any breathable rain shell just seemed to happen pretty quickly. Wish mine had some pit zips too, otherwise it's just about perfect.

I've also had a Columbia 3-in-1 parka that I used for 10+ years. Still perfectly functional. The only issue I've ever had was the end one of the shock cords used to cinch up the hem pulled out from the stitching. I was able to to fish it back in and reanchor it. I've just retired it got covered in sap and I was given another brand new parka

I would recommend either one as they're great value for the money. I'm sure if you wanted to spend some more you could find something a bit more durable or fully featured but both of the brands you mentioned are solid choices, in my opinion.