Glossary of Terms

Plain-English definitions for the terms we use to evaluate what lasts — with links to scoring methodology, guides, brands, and reviews.

A–B

Anti-Hype
A lens that discounts marketing buzz and focuses on long-term performance, repair paths, and cost of ownership. See: The Movement - Anti-Hype content
Aspect
A specific, measurable quality we evaluate within a dimension (e.g., Parts Availability within Fixability). See also: Our Method · Related: Dimension
Bias (Affiliate / Selection)
Hidden influences that can skew reviews or rankings. We mitigate with source diversity, confidence weighting, and manual audits. See: Evidence & Weighting
Bill of Materials (BOM)
Itemized list of components and materials. Helpful for judging serviceability and wear-part availability.
Baseline Model
The simplest, least-complex variant. Often the most durable (fewer failure points) and best for long-term ownership. Model Selection
Brand
One of our five core dimensions, capturing mission, track record, and support practices. Dimensions · Brand Index

C–D

Category
A product group we evaluate and rank (e.g., Insulated Water Bottles). Each category shares weights and scoring rules. Scoring · Browse
Claim Friction
The practical hassle of making a warranty claim: proof requirements, shipping costs, response time. Warranty Guide · Related: Warranty
Coverage (Warranty)
What failures a warranty includes/excludes (materials, workmanship, wear parts, accidental damage). Warranty Guide
Design for Disassembly
Hardware and layout choices that allow non-destructive teardown and part replacement (e.g., screws over glue). Fixability Aspects
Depreciation Curve
How resale value changes over time. Durable, repairable goods tend to retain value longer. Ownership Guide
Dimension
A category of product quality we score across all products: Durability, Fixability, Warranty, Brand, and Function. See: Scoring
Durability
Materials, construction, and design choices that stand up over time (thickness, fasteners, fatigue points, coatings). Durability Aspects

E–F

End-of-Life
What happens when a product can’t be repaired: take-back, recycling, or landfill. Sustainability Guide
Evidence Confidence
Our signal for how strong the underlying sources are (HIGH / MED / LOW). Lower confidence reduces score impact. See: Evidence & Scoring
Failure Mode
The common ways a product breaks (e.g., hinge cracks, seal leaks). Inputs to our durability and fixability assessments. Signals
Field Repairability
How feasible it is to fix an item with basic tools and parts, away from a service center. Repairability Guide
Fixability
Availability of parts, documentation, and feasible repair options (including third-party paths). Sometimes called “repairability.” See: Repairability Guide
Function
Consistent performance on day one and year ten — how well the product does its job over time.

G–H

Gasket / Seal
A wear part that often fails first (dry-rot, compression set). We check if it’s replaceable. Related: Wear Part · Parts Availability
Greenwashing
Marketing that overstates sustainability. Our method favors measurable durability and repair signals over claims. Anti-Hype
Heirloom Quality
Built to outlast trends and be repairable for decades — the core of buy-it-for-life thinking. Philosophy

I–J

Impact Report
A brand’s public accounting of sustainability goals and progress. We look for durability-linked actions, not just offsets. Brands
Independent Reviews
Non-sponsored, third-party tests and long-term owner reports. Weighted higher in our evidence model. Evidence Model
ISO / ASTM Standard
Formal test or rating relevant to durability (e.g., IP water ingress, drop tests). Useful but not a substitute for field data. Testing Guide
“Just Works”
A qualitative signal of reliability: products that fade into the background and require little fiddling over years. Function Signals

K–L

Known Issues
Recurring defects or failure modes reported by owners. We track if brands resolve these in later revisions. Owner Reports
Lifecycle Cost (TCO)
Purchase price plus maintenance, parts, repairs, and expected lifespan — the fairest way to compare value. Economics
Limited Warranty
Warranty with time or component limits. Read the exclusions and claim process carefully. Warranty Guide
Lifetime Warranty
Coverage for the usable life of the product (not the customer’s lifetime). Usually excludes normal wear and misuse. Related: Coverage · Warranty Guide
Live Rankings
Continuously updated category rankings as new sources arrive or products change. Our Method — Live rankings

M–N

Maintenance Burden
The routine care an item needs to deliver its full lifespan (cleaning, lubrication, tuning). Stewardship Guide
Material Spec
The grade/alloy or textile spec (e.g., 18/8 stainless, full-grain leather) that signals durability and serviceability. Durability Signals
MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)
A reliability metric more common in electronics/industrial gear. We treat it as one signal among many. Testing Guide
No-Fault Replacement
A brand policy to replace/repair even when damage isn’t a clear defect. Often limited and discretionary. Warranty Guide
Normal Wear and Tear
Expected degradation from regular use. Usually excluded from warranty coverage. Related: Coverage

O–P

OEM vs Aftermarket Parts
Original manufacturer parts usually fit best; aftermarket can improve availability/price. We track both. Parts Guide
Ownership Cost
See Lifecycle Cost (TCO) — total cost across the product’s life.
Parts Availability
Whether a buyer can reasonably obtain the wear parts and assemblies needed for common repairs. Fixability Aspects
Planned Obsolescence
Design or business choices that shorten useful life or push upgrades (sealed batteries, discontinuing parts). Anti-Hype
Proof of Purchase
Documentation required for warranty claims (receipt, order number, serial). Keep it accessible for the product’s life. Warranty Guide

Q–R

Quality Control (QC)
Evidence that a brand/manufacturer catches defects before shipping (process certifications, recall history, owner reports). Brand Profiles
Repair Kit
A bundle of common wear parts and tools (e.g., gaskets, screws) that extends life at low cost. Repairability Guide
Repairability Index
A summary measure of how fixable a product is in practice: parts availability, documentation, service paths, and typical repair difficulty. See: Repairability Guide
Return Policy
The window and conditions for returning or exchanging a product. A good policy reduces buyer risk. Ownership Guide
Right to Repair
The movement and legislation ensuring access to parts, tools, and manuals necessary to fix products. Repairability Guide

S–T

Service Manual
Official repair instructions and part diagrams. A strong indicator of fixability. Fixability Aspects
Spare Parts Availability
How easy it is to buy the parts most likely to fail (seals, batteries, straps, lids). Related: Wear Part · Parts Availability
Sustainability Claim
Statements about eco benefits. We prioritize durable design and repair programs over recycled-content marketing alone. Our Method
Score (Final Product Score)
The roll-up across dimensions after weighting: Final Score = Σ (Dimension Score × Dimension Weight). See: Scoring
Dimension Score
The roll-up within one dimension: Dimension Score = Σ (Aspect Score × Aspect Weight × Confidence).
TCO (Total Cost of Ownership)
Another name for Lifecycle Cost. Useful for comparing “cheap now” vs. “lasts longer.”
Time-to-Failure (TTF)
How long until the first failure occurs under typical use. We source from long-term owner reports when possible. Testing Guide

U–V

Use-Case Fit
Matching the product to real-world needs (size, capacity, features). Over-feature-loaded items often fail earlier. Buying Guide
User-Replaceable Parts
Components owners can replace with basic tools (batteries, seals, straps). Improves longevity. Fixability Aspects
Value Retention
The share of purchase price you can recover on resale. Durable, supportable products tend to hold value. Economics
Vendor Lock-in
When a product depends on brand-specific parts or services, limiting repair options and raising costs. Repairability Guide

W–X

Warranty
One of our core dimensions: length, clarity, exclusions, and real-world usability (claims process, shipping, proof-of-purchase). See: Warranty Guide
Warranty Claim Friction
The steps and costs that discourage valid claims (RMA hoops, slow responses). We penalize high friction. Warranty Guide
Water Resistance (IP Rating)
Ingress-protection rating for dust/water. Relevant where seals and corrosion drive longevity. Testing Guide
Wear Part
Components expected to degrade with use (belts, seals, straps, batteries). Replaceable wear parts extend lifespan. Fixability Aspects
Weight (Aspect or Dimension)
The relative importance assigned to an aspect or dimension when calculating scores. Fixed per category for fair comparisons. Weights

Y–Z

Yield Strength
Material stress point where permanent deformation begins. Useful for metals in high-load applications. Materials Guide
Zero-Waste Packaging
Packaging designed for reuse or easy recycling. Nice to have, but durability and repair paths matter more long-term. Sustainability Guide