You must log in or register to comment.
Knife. You maybe don’t need the ultra deluxe Japanese kitchen knives from the future. But a set of good, sharp knives will be a godsend if you plan to cook a lot.
Hiking gear. Especially the boots have to be of good quality. But breathable clothing (including socks) will also make a big difference when you go on a long trip.
Might be a no-brainer for some, but: meat. If you plan to make some steak, choosing a properly marbled piece of meat is as important as how you cook it. Will be exorbitantly more expensive than the discount meat, tho. But trust me, it will be worth it.
As a knife guy, choose the right knife. A lot of knives now are looking to sell on glitz and glamour whilst being fairly mediocre and criminally overpriced (see Dalstrong).
A lot of knives are overbuilt too. To give the impression of sturdyness, they are made far too thick, or have excessively large bolsters that just bog it down. You don’t use a machete for daily prep, you want something thin that won’t get wedged in the cut. Fun fact, in Japan a light knife is a sign of quality, it means it’s very thin, which is difficult to forge and requires a master.
The best knives for ordinary people I think are Victorianox fibrox and Tojiro DP series knives. The Victorianox has decent steel but is importantly very thin and sharp, with a comfortable handle. The Tojiro is more expensive but has better steel that will remain sharp much longer. Of course it is also thin and sharp.
On the topic of knives, it’s more important to have a way to keep them sharp. No knife will stay sharp for long with consistent use.
Absolutely true. Keep them sharp AND clean.
And cheap knives will cause lots of frustration when you try to get and keep them sharp.
Other people have said better things, but I’ve found flour to be important in baking. Generic store brands can work mostly, but for more precise and nicer baking I’ve got to go with King Arthur flour
Hey King Arthur flour, sponsor me please, I need it to keep buying all this flour!
King Arthur flour
How does this specific thing keep popping up in every corner of the internet I ever go to?? Is it that good?
Not really exeptional except it is commercial grade. It’s not the random stuff you get from the local brand. The local brand is whatever. Sometimes it’s really good, other times it’s pretty poor.
The most common difference is in a test called “falling number”. Falling number is a fast easy way to figure out if an enzyme that degrades starch has been activated (alpha-amylase). Intact starch in flour creates a matrix in solution and thickens it. When alpha-amylase is activated it degrades the starch and makes it thinner.
For baking you want a thicker dough that holds together. It’s how you get light and fluffy breads. The thicker dough traps CO2 produced by yeast or an acid/base reaction better.
The falling number method is uncomplicated, but requires an apparatus which follows the international standards.
Great flour, consistent every time, no filler or weird blends like others might have, great recipes, employee owned, etc.
They also have gluten-free flours (both measure for measure and straight up) and good recipes for them. I’m not gluten free but I have a friend that is and the chocolate cake I made them with their flour and recipe was one of the best gluten free cakes there ever had (it’s better than some gluten cakes I’ve had tbh)
Any high quality brand will probably do you well. King Arthur is what I can get easily and have used it for decades. Also it’s employee owned, last I knew, which makes me feel a smidge better.
Also their online recipes are pretty nice, and they answer questions!
It really is better than most. This a company I actually think sort of cares. Their recipes for bread products are also spot on, at least the ones I’ve tried.
Their recipe for Cornish pasties has done me well, although my filling is always “things I have on hand”!
Their bakers hotline is extremely awesome
I wanna say get good gear for your hobbies, but most of us probably don’t need convincing to spend on what we love. I resisted buying a good set of gear for my main hobby for nearly two years, and I wish I’d done it sooner.
There was a post earlier asking for slurs for beginners in a hobby that buy the top of the line stuff for the hobby. Don’t cheap out on starter gear, but don’t go for top of the line right out of the gate either
That’s a valid point too. I feel less bad now lol
Condoms
Bed mattress. Sleep is important.
deleted by creator
Dental care.
Running shoes because when you wear ill-fitting shoes, you will hurt yourself eventually.
Shoes in general. Youll have so much more stamina at festivals and other places if you have sturdy shoes that fit well.
I switcthed to barefoot shoes for hiking and everyday. They are the opposite of sturdy, but well worth the investment. As a guy in his late forties, I have fewer little nagging pains.
I second this. I have huge feet (US men’s 15 extra wide) and after a lifetime of cramming my feet into shoes that fit “good enough” I’m developing bunions along with other aches and issues. After a particularly painful weekend on my feet I decided to see if the Internet had any suggestions and I fell down the barefoot shoe rabbit hole. I initially balked at the price and styling of most brands I saw but the cheaper options simply didn’t come in my size. I decided to go for it and got a pair of Xero shoes since they make a men’s 15 that isn’t too hideous and I haven’t looked back. Best decision I have made in the last 2 years.
Never heard of Xero, thanks! I personally swear by my size 15 Red Wing steel toed boots. Foot pain is pretty bad, it screws up your entire posture. Having custom inserts made was really worth it for me.
Right on, my big-footed brother! Xero brand is a good option if you are ever interested in something a little more athletic or casual than your go-to boots. Barefoot shoes take getting used to in general, so keep that in mind. In particular, leading with the heel when walking quickly and especially running can be uncomfortable so you may need to adjust your stride a bit. Also you feel everything under your feet, which would be a huge contrast compared to your boots. In the end it’s worth it for better foot strength and less pain.
PSU
I think I need to change mine. Using a $27 Ant esports for the last 2 years.
Poop knife
Well, yeah, don’t get the plastic one and keep reusing it when a metal one is sturdier.
Gonna start with a few of the usual suspects:
-
Anything that keeps your feet off the ground (buy good shoes)
-
Anything that touches your privates (don’t buy cheap condoms yall)
Condoms are for pussies.
diaphragms are for pussies
Condoms are for dicks*
-
The rule is, if it goes between you and the ground buy quality shit.
Shoes. If your feet aint happy, aint nobody happy.
aint nobody happy
Well, Nike & Adidas CEOs prob are
Anything involving safety.
As an example: Phone or laptop batteries.
Honestly, batteries of any kind. Only buy from the manufacturers of the product the batteries work with. If it’s underpriced on Amazon, it’s probably a fucked up battery that has a higher risk of starting an electrical fire. Portable tool batteries, ebike batteries, handheld system batteries.
I’m not fucking around with unsafe batteries.
Never buy branded batteries on Amazon either.
I always stick with Annsmann, they make incredible rechargeable AAs and AAAs
Ordered a set off Amashit and they were fake, and I’ve had the same problem with Anker
Fuck Amazon until they sort their MASSIVE counterfeiting problems out
Toilet paper.
This is the first comment in the thread that I 100% agree with. (I can’t believe how many of the other ones I don’t.)
Oh god I see your name everywhere and I nearly hack up my breakfast every time I read it. Stop. Please
If you just skip breakfast it won’t be a problem anymore.
