Products that exceed your expectations-Tell us!

[berettafan]

I've found that once in a great while a product will impress me beyond what I might expect based on either price or reputation. Something that you don't know how you did without or just plain works better than competitors.

One item for me is the Thermoworks budget pen thermometer. Have had mine (slightly different model) for years now and it has greatly improved my cooking. at $19 currently on sale it's a must. super fast and high quality it is head and shoulders above other brands.

[vash]

^^^that one pisses me off. why? because i bought the $90 version before that tiny one came out. and mine is the older version that take 6 seconds..i think the new one is done in 3 secs.

i wish the tiny one was available. i would have opted for it instead. i used mine, but not $90 often...more like $20 often.

[vash]

here is mine..

my Stanley food cup. it cant remember how much it cost. i think i have used it for 10 years!! i do remember balking at the cost..but amortized over the 10 years..it has been a friggen bargain.

i primarily eat oatmeal with it. i do the Bob's Red mill, 5-min steel cut oats. i put in 1/4 cup of grains, raisins..and pour in boiling water and lid it up. i put it in an outside pocket of my lunch box. when at work, i eat it..it's soaked perfectly. nice al dente oatmeal lightly sweetened. 10 years of oatmeal on every single workday is a LOT of oatmeal!!

i use it as a coffee cup car camping..i have wrapped burritos keeping the short/squat shape in mind. slip it in the thermos in foil..voila..out slide a hot burrito for lunch!! (i preheat the container with hot water)

i have kept cold beer in the thing (as a small growler), and used it to hold wine on a backpack trip..short trip to a lake.

oh the spoon..is awesome. it is a korean dinner spoon. perfect length for the thermos.

i gotta go and eat my breakfast now.

[Bob Kontak]

These cut-off wheels with a quick change arbor. Sub-$20 on sale for this set. Worth their weigh in gold vs the traditional Dremel cut off wheels. Much stronger/durable.

[dafischer]

Thanks, Bob. Just ordered a set. I hate that tiny little screw on the normal bit.

[vash]

Originally Posted by dafischer

thanks, bob. Just ordered a set. I hate that tiny little screw on the normal bit.

x2!

[CurtEgerer]

Opinel Carbon blade folding knife. Many different versions but I have the original No. 8 with the beech handle. This is a bit of a hipster-type item so i was reluctant to buy. But for $15, not much to lose if it was junk. I use this knife pretty much every day for the past 3 years. Carbon blade was disappointing at first because it gets easily discolored, but it eventually gets 'seasoned'. Very unique folding mechanism. Highly recommended.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

These cut-off wheels with a quick change arbor. Sub-$20 on sale for this set. Worth their weigh in gold vs the traditional Dremel cut off wheels. Much stronger/durable.

Bought those about a month ago when I had to cut off some rusted screws on my 914 headlights....

Agree.....they were very handy.

Got mine from the local Walmart.

[RSBob]

Just ordered mine. Too cool. Thanks for posting

[ZAMIRZ]

Great thread idea!

My sister bought me this Nike jacket for my birthday 2 months ago:

https://www.nike.com/t/therma-mens-training-jacket-7DRA7m/864103-382

I don't think I've gone a day without it (don't even need to wash it, if you let it air out it smells like new). Probably wouldn't do well in freezing cold, but its perfect in chilly weather.

Incase City backpack purchased in 2014:

https://www.incase.com/products/bags/backpacks/city-backpack

Been through hell and back, only thing that's worn is the gray has gotten a sunblasted and turned a little blue. Layout and compartments are smartly integrated, looks sleek, extremely comfortable and great airflow. I'm a customer for life.

Timerbland Britton Hill duckboots:

https://www.zappos.com/p/timberland-britton-hill-rubber-toe-boot-medium-brown-full-grain/product/8906897/color/597504?ef_id=Wh4lFgAAAHT5YBpF:20180125055005:s

Bought them brand new, hit them with a leather sealer and then spent 2 weeks walking all over wet, cold, dirty Paris and then another week in muddy Normandie. They were pretty tired looking when I got back to the states, but I hit them with some hide food and they look good as new with some slight patina.

And to be cliche: All the Apple products I've owned have far exceeded expectation. I'm still using the same Macbook Pro I bought in early 2011 that's working great with the new OS.

[look 171]

https://www.stanleytools.com/en-us/products/hand-tools/knives-blades/multi-tool/7-in-swivellock-utility-knife/10-989
This Stanly utility knife. Simple, not bulky, unlike most modern knives and very light weight. What I loooove about this thing is the time it takes to change blades. I can access the new blade inside the knife in less then 2 second. Change blade as fast as any utility knives and flip it back to normal operation within 2 seconds. no more looking for a screw driver or a nail. Press a button and flip and there it is.

LENOX Utility Blades

I make sure my guys all use only these blades (don't care what knife they use) because they are just that good, last much longer then the typical el cheapo at the home centers, usually the old stand by Stanley blades. Good stuff

[klaus]

120XP from gearwrench. I picked these up a couple years back and they have been fantastic. The fine engagement has made working in some tight spots a bit easier. I was worried that they might not be robust enough, but that concern has gone unfounded to date.

https://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-81230P-Teardrop-Ratchet-4-Piece/dp/B00BTEXPDK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516880965&sr=8-1&keywords=120xp+ratchet

[vash]

i already gushed about my 30year old Hewlett packard 48GX. i had a leather hobby guy make it a sheath!! hahah.

[vash]

math anyone?

[shinrai]

This thing. Frozen chicken breasts in 15 minutes. Best ribs you've ever made in 45. Chicken adobo in 40 etc. Get one and it'll change your life.

[JavaBrewer]

We bought ours 3 years ago and use it daily. Still looks and runs like new. The most useful (time savings) tool I own.

[Gus Berges]

I have a habit of using a paper agenda on a daily basis to jot down miscellaneous pieces of info, so a comfortable pen is a must. Nothing beats a Pilot G2 07 gel roller ball pen. Excellent price, comfortable grip, consistent ink flow.

I believe no longer made, but I have a keychain knife that I have used daily for the last 25 years and it has worked flawlessly: Kershaw Lil' Zane

[vash]

Originally Posted by Gus Berges

I have a habit of using a paper agenda on a daily basis to jot down miscellaneous pieces of info, so a comfortable pen is a must. Nothing beats a Pilot G2 07 gel roller ball pen. Excellent price, comfortable grip, consistent ink flow.

you are not kidding!! best plain-jane pen ever!! it is all i can use anymore. very vivid blue. (i have all the colors)

[ZAMIRZ]

^I'll 3rd that. I have a black, blue and red in the aformentioned Incase backpack at all times.

[Gus Berges]

I used to be a traveling (international) sales guy and flew over 100K miles yearly for over a decade and though by no mean top tier audiophile quality, if you travel often and long on planes, nothing beats Bose Quiet Comfort noise cancelling headphones. Super comfortable and do help keep the noise down when on the plane, plus, makes listening to music or watching movies much more enjoyable than the cheap freebie earbuds. I've had multiple versions of them and the upgrade program is not too bad all things considered.

What they have yet to figure out is their permanent flaws: 1- ear cushions are so soft that they easily tear leaving a mess on your shirt that looks like a severe case of dandruff (only black...) and 2- flimsy battery door hinges (have to be extra careful with them)

https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/headphones/noise_cancelling_headphones.html