This is a good recommendation. I don’t love them in all respects, but they’re durable.

Maybe I missed it but I don’t think any of them do real blood pressure reading. I’d get a dedicated machine like omron.

Never had an issue with regular washing on cold. Mine wear out under the balls of my feet, every time.

Unfortunately you really only have full blown waterproof (gore Tex etc), or else just tight knit nylon with dwr (like a atom lt). The latter is really not very water resistant imo. Like 5-10 minutes of drizzle and that’s it. I’d get something like a Patagonia torrentshell.

I’d try going up a size.

Yeah I just hang dry. Normal wash on cold water .

The issue is that light weight merino is not very durable. Darn tough light weight socks are substantially nylon anyway, for precisely that reason.

I use the micro crew hiker (regular cushion). I wouldn’t use them in summer; I have thin nylon socks for summer.

In terms of making them last…don’t wear them on rough surfaces, don’t dry them in the dryer. They last me 3-4 years and then I use the warranty.

Note that they’re very tight socks though; they’re meant for hiking not really casual use, but some don’t mind the tightness. I prefer my smart wool for just casual around the house wear.

I like the standard hiker micro crew cushion (not light or heavy). I got a pair of heavy / full cushion ones and I don’t like them nearly as much.

https://www.rei.com/product/825037/darn-tough-hiker-micro-crew-cushion-socks-mens?cm_mmc=aff_AL--38931--52463-_-NA&avad=52463_e2bd0503d

Well, sure. It’s a hard shell. Most all hard shells are very durable. Not that the beta isn’t nice; it is. But not exceptionally durable. They actually have delamination issues after a while, especially around the logo of the newer models.

Arc stuff isn’t really known for being all that durable…it’s designed to be light weight/compressible, not exceptionally durable. Cheaper heavier stuff will last longer if you don’t need the warmth/weight ratio.

lol, I understand how it works. There’s nothing inferior about production in China. When forced with either reducing costs on the product itself in order to remain in a high cost place like the US, or outsourcing to a lower labor cost environment - the latter is better for a consumer.

You have assumed away the question. Manufacturing over seas can save labor costs, which can allow more money to go into the product; they can also produce higher profits but you have no idea which is the case (often it’s both). One thing is certain: Products made in higher labor cost countries absolutely cannot put as much money into the product.

Neither mass production nor made in China mean something isn’t bifl.

REI stone henge is a great jacket; north face mcmurdo is also if you need a longer parka.

If I wasn’t being rough with it, why wouldn’t I just get a nylon cheapo one? At least its insulated. And if I am, I’d get steel. Glass just doesn’t seem like a good material. Maybe for food containers, but not a lunch box… but You do you man

A lunch box is cookware? That’s new to me.

Glass lol what. Didn’t even know they made this. Sounds foolish. Rather have steel…

My saddleback and veg tan wallets are not substantially thicker but all look much better as they’ve aged. And I baby my chromexcel one.

I wouldn’t buy chromexcel for a wallet again.

And yeah, pretty much any full grain leather can last a lifetime: the question is how it looks and whether it stretches/warps. Chromexcel doesn’t fare well versus the alternatives.

The depth and appearance is much much more dramatic than my other wallets. Chromexcel is very soft - that’s one of the objectives of the tanning process for it. Definitely one of the least durable leathers. It is stretchy and soft by design.

All depends how much you baby it, of course.

Mine gets scratched up by my keys - it’s that soft.

I have no experience with it, so can’t comment

No, this is wrong on both counts. Veg tan leather is much more rigid - that’s precisely why it is used in shoes.

Furthermore, veg tan is much much more susceptible to staining both from water and oils.

Veg tan is good when you need thicker leather, harder/more rigid leather, or leather that cannot stretch (belts).

https://www.leathercraftmasterclass.com/amp/vegetable-tanned-leather-vs-chrome-tanned-leather

Veg tan is rigid, but highly susceptible to oil and water. And if you scratch it, it is harder to get out/reduce the appearance, since it’s less oily.

Regular chrome tan. Chromexcel is a combination.