About True Keepers

Who we are

We are based in the Netherlands and founded True Keepers because we grew tired of seeing the same recycled affiliate and marketing lists everywhere.

We spend a significant amount of time thoroughly researching purchases before making them: from cast iron skillets and kitchen appliances to tools, leather goods, and boots. What began as careful documentation of our own findings and user data grew into this platform.

Why True Keepers exists

The idea solidified during a period when we started thinking harder about what we were bringing into our homes. Amid growing global uncertainties, we noticed how vital it is to own products you can genuinely depend on: items built to last that you don't need to replace every couple of years. When we had children ourselves, we also noticed the massive variation in durability and build quality on that front.

All of those experiences pointed toward the same conclusion:

You want products that simply work. And keep working.

That search led us to the Buy It For Life (BIFL) community on Reddit, where people share experiences and photos of 40-year-old boots and cast iron skillets that outlived their original owners. That community showed us what is possible when buying with intention.

True Keepers is for everyone. From young to old, for the products we all use daily. Our mission is to make that deep research accessible and clear, without forcing you to spend hours digging through forums and consumer reviews.

How we choose what to review

A product earns a spot on True Keepers if it passes three strict questions:

1. Does it actually last? Not "the brand says it does." Does the evidence from long-term owners back it up?
2. Can you fix it if something goes wrong? A product that can be repaired is worth far more than one with an empty warranty promise.
3. Is it still useful in ten years? No trend products. No products that depend on software subscriptions or proprietary parts that might disappear.

When we cannot find convincing evidence that a product passes all three, we do not recommend it. Sometimes that means a category only has one pick. That is fine: quality always comes before quantity.

How our research works

We combine multiple independent sources: hands-on experience when we own the product, discussions from long-term owners on Reddit and specialized forums, warranty documentation, materials research, and where relevant, input from craftspeople and repair professionals.

We do not conduct superficial 30-day tests and call that a durability review. The question we answer is: how does this product hold up after ten years of real-world use? That requires very different sources than a standard review site.

How we make money

True Keepers uses affiliate links. If you buy something through a link on our site, we may earn a small commission from the retailer at no extra cost to you. That income covers hosting, independent research, and testing.

We turn down affiliate arrangements or sponsorships that would require us to recommend products we wouldn't otherwise select. The recommendations always come first. The affiliate links follow. Never the other way around.

Contact

Questions, corrections, or a product you think belongs here? Use the contact form or email us directly at steffan@truekeepers.com.