Well designed practical things

[Zooeyzebra]

What are you favourite high quality but practical things?

My husband doesn’t need or want anything, but he loves and gets great joy out of using well thought out high quality items.

We have 10 year old kitchen scissors and he still mentions how much he like them every time he uses them.

A few years ago I got him a really good set of screwdrivers. He loves them too.

Also a really good long ruler. A comfy pen that writes well. A hose trigger that fits comfortably. Just random stuff really.

Anything well designed for its purpose if you see what I mean.

so what are your favourite well designed practical items, that you love using?

I totally agree with your approach and have always had the tiniest umbrellas I could find. But 28g is incredible! Are you sure you're not missing a digit somewhere? If not, could you please point me to where I can find one?
I've just bought a Fulton aerolite weighing just 86g and I didn't think I could do better.

Typically I'm struggling to find the same version again. Mine was from John Lewis in 2019 product code 44103901 but that doesn't seem to be working anymore.
Photographed next to an iPhone 6.

https://www.walkingsticks.co.uk/fulton-aerolite-super-lightweight-compact-umbrella-navy.html?gadsource=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAr8eqBhD3ARIsAIe-buN3-8qlMTuiKmJdBEuiinNxMkyyBqvIKqj6sZAE2g7gvOb5OWDekrwaAukKEALwwcB

Could be this. Although that says 86g and I'm convinced mine is only 28! I might have to weigh it when I get home now

Do you have any recommendations for the cotton versions of duvet and mattress topper?

(and thanks, @Winnading for the seconds tip...)

Sabatier ... the ones made in Sheffield.

My Fulton aero light was rubbish. The metal snapped with one gust of wind on first use. :(

I'm another one who loves a Filofax.

My husband bought me one over thirty years ago.
I use it every day

All addresses in there, websites, Passwords and I keep notes of things in there.

Screenshots are all well and good but you need to remember when you screenshotted it.

All things important live in my Filofax.

Gardening, cooking, companies for eg roofing, decorating, plastering, gutter cleaning etc...

Basically our life.

These mugs. The tapered shape keeps my tea warm so much longer than standard shaped mugs, and especially the one I have shaped like a cooling tower!

Darn Tough walking socks.
I hade with mine about once a week for 2 years, and no sign of a hole or a bobble.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads Are they merino ones? And if so, are they not itchy? I've been looking at some of these. I need them to have seamless toes!

Set of Victorinox small VERY sharp knives from Amazon. They are in constant use.

Mini Victorinox keyring penknife. Lifesaver.

Simplehuman telescopic shower tower. Had it 10 years and it’s perfect. Strong, sturdy, tons of storage.

Set of lidded ceramic bowls from Costco. I love them so much. Pretty and practical. They bring me joy.

best for last. My Reisenthel shopping trolley which is so perfect in every way. Funky and practical. Worth every penny

Last year DP got us this stainless steel, heavy-bottomed sauce pot / jug thing. It goes on the hob and is a million times better than a saucepan for cooking anything liquid. The pouring spout actually pours properly and the handle doesn't get hot. We must have used it every day. (and no, I don't work for them!)

I love this!!! I would probably use it every day too.

@KinS24 I can definitely vouch for victorinox knives. When I studied 20 odd years ago, one of our essential equipment items we had to purchase was a knife roll from victorinox, and I still use the same knives at home today. I have added the odd ‘fancy’ knife but the original knives are still going strong, although I had to replace the small serrated one which got lost and I was bereft without

The big Victorinox chef's knife is the workhorse of any professional kitchen. Robust enough to thrash for 12 hours a day, and cheap enough (though not Cheap) to replace when it's lost or "borrowed".

I'm fond of my saucepot/jug too... it's made a lot of gravies and sauces.

I'd love pretty almost anything from the Niwaki website:

www.niwaki.com/winter-gloves/#P00657-2

The Okatsune snips are brilliant in the garden -

www.niwaki.com/okatsune-snips-no-304/

I lost mine and thought I'd try the Niwaki ones, which are £1 less at £14. But they aren't as good.

We're buying an architect nephew the hand hoe:

www.niwaki.com/weeding-hoe/#P00327-2

And I love my shears:

www.niwaki.com/okatsune-shears/#P00031-1

Place marking for ideas.

Anyone have a recommendation for good quality cutlery that feels nice and heavy in your hand?

@Cozytoesandtoast00 have a look at Robert Welch cutlery. We got given some when we married and it is lovely.

In the spirit of the thread, I've just ordered a rectangular stainless steel washing up bowl. Got an ancient battered Belfast sink with no plug, so this will be good!

Not sure how I missed this thread but what great ideas!

I was going to suggest Objects of Use but I see many people have beaten me to it. Their shop is in Oxford and is tiny but mesmerising - I wanted to buy pretty much everything.

For anyone looking for razor-sharp bread knives, I highly recommend taking a look here. We have the serrated knife for crusty bread and it's incredible. If you’re interested in baking, that whole site is extremely good - not always the cheapest, but the cookware is very high quality.

My contributions to this thread :)

chopping boards, the Epicurean brand, I have the black ones in three sizes and feel happy every time I use them and they look great after 10 years of daily use.

butter bell crock (any brand), no more impossible to spread butter and no need to buy 'spreadable' types again. It fits one stick of butter.

Not sure if you get them in the UK but Sand & Fog candles (they sell them at TX Maxx type places). The first candles I have brought that burn perfectly so you can use up the whole candle. The three wick ones are the best size.

Ugg slippers, into their fourth winter and still look good.

Baggu, reusable shopping bags, keep one in my bag use it multiple times a week. Leak proof, comfortable to carry and hold a decent amount.

Agree with anything OXO good grips for lasting kitchen tools.

Can anyone recommend a small powerful torch, preferably one that is usb chargeable ?

I second this, I bought one on Black Friday last year and it is brilliant. We use it for porridge, gravy, all sorts of things.

I have this and bought one for my dad. It's not USB chargeable but is solar and wind up, has a built in radio and you can charge from it.

It's the ideal thing for a power cut.

https://www.onbuy.com/gb/p/hand-crank-dynamo-wind-up-solar-portable-am-fm-radio-usb-charger-light-torch-red~p56572134/?exta=gshp&extac=gshpfa