Our Product Endorsements

Leatherman Tools

Leatherman hand tools are by far the best hand tools you can buy. I have owned a Leatherman Super Tool for a couple of years now, and bring it with me on all my bike rides and camping trips. The stainless steel construction and quality of design and manufacturing allows Leatherman to guarantee all of their tools for an impressive 25 years. With a little preventive maintainence such as regular oiling and occasional sharpening, your Leatherman tool is likely to stay in tip-top shape forever.

Tumi Bags and Luggage

On a recent trip to an outlet in Harriman, NY, I was blown away by the quality of the bags and luggage at the Tumi store. I bought the Vesey computer bag, and my wife got two very nice pocketbooks as a two-for-one deal, so I recommend checking them all out for yourself. Certainly forget Jansport and Eastpack! Although Tumi costs a pretty penny, the durability and functionality of their bags more than makes up for their price, in my opinion. Tumi's attention to detail, as evidenced by the hefty buckles, many well-placed pockets, the retractable keychain, heavy-duty ballistic nylon material, and incredible light weight will keep me coming back for more.

Rubbermaid Roughneck Storage Container

Need to get organized? Want to stay organized? These durable containers are just the thing. Constructed from heavy plastic, they are perfect for long-term storage or short-term moving. We use ours as laundry baskets, luggage for short trips, moving, and storage. They come in a couple of colors and sizes, and have a lifetime warranty.

Pyrex Measuring Cup

Here is a kitchen classic which you can leave to your great-grandchildren as an heirloom. Pyrex is an amazing material of remarkable strength and durability. This measuring cup is likely to remain unbroken, unstained, and in perfectly new condition even after hundreds of years of regular use.

Maglite Rechargeable Flashlight

This is a flashlight which could double as a hammer. I have used mine in many situations, even underwater. Police use theirs as a nightstick, sometimes. Maglites are durable, bright, cool, and come in great colors. This one is especially nice because it is rechargeable, and therefore more environmentally friendly than most flashlights. They also come with replacement bulbs to further their reuse. In addition, the overall maglite design has been very stable for years, which means that you can mix-and-match parts of two or more flashlights even if they were purchased a decade apart. Buy one of these, and it is likely to remain a permanent favorite.

Le Creuset Cookware

Le Creuset is simply the best cookware in the world. It is extremely durable and heavy, has amazing heat-retention properties, is non-staining, and cooks like a dream. We sincerely hope your flooring is is of superb quality if you ever happen to drop one of these beasts. In addition to being perfect for all types of cooking, this cookware comes in several lovely colors that any cook is sure to fall in love with.

Hewlett Packard Calculators

Shown here are my father's and my own HP calculators (same model, ours are not pictured, but they look identical), bought in 1975 and 1987 respectively, and still in daily or weekly use by both of us. In the world of electronics, these calculators are ancient beasts. But when they work, work well, and keep on working well for year after year, you kind of grow attached. Chances are you will grow attached to your HP calculator, too. Although I have no doubt a hammer will do these treasures in, they still count as Permanent Products in my book, for being timeless and priceless in the rapidly advancing world of consumer electronics.

Easton Press Books

Easton Press leather-bound books are the real deal. They look beautiful, and are practically guaranteed to outlast any other book you own. Printed on acid-free paper, bound in leather, and gold-trimmed, these are books you will pass on to your children.

Thermos Nissan Stainless Mugs

No, they're not permanent. But they are guaranteed for 5 years. And they certainly are environmentally friendly when the alternative is styrofoam. This and other Thermos Nissan mugs will keep your beverages icy cold or steaming hot for hours, due to its vacuum-insulated double-shell design. I personally own two desktop mugs, which I alternate bringing to work every day, and a large (1.5 L?) carafe which is excellent for camping. The insulation is so good on the carafe that I once burned myself from the contents a full 48 hours after filling it with boiling water!

Do you know of other good products?

To have your favorite or your company's product considered for our endorsements page, please email Peter Andrews with a product description, or to arrange for shipping of the product to us for testing (and use).

Learn more about Permanent Products

• Here are our current Product Endorsements
• This is the Permanent Products Philosophy
• This is how you can help Support Permanent Products
• This is the Permanent Products home page