For the vast majority of us, there comes a point when we have to buy something. There are certain everyday devices and goods that we rely on to live, so we need to replace them when they’re finally kaput. For items we rely on regularly, it makes sense to buy from brands known for quality. Even if we spend a bit more up front, high quality items will last significantly longer than their cheaper counterparts. So what are the most trusted brands? In this article, we’ll explore brands known for quality, value and service. Scroll to begin!
We’ve broken down our list into categories from which we most likely will have to buy at least one product:
- Transportation
- Car
- Bicycle
- Tech
- Computer
- Clothes
- Shoes
- Outerwear
- Home
- Cookware
- Furniture
- Appliances
- Day-To-Day Living
- Bags
- Tools
Here are some trust brands known for quality, reliability and doing right by the customer. We are subscribed to Consumer Reports and give them a big thanks for the information we’ve considered on some of these choices.
Our list of most trusted brands known for quality:
- Cars: Toyota, Followed By Honda
- Bicycles: Giant & Trek
- Computers: LG (Over 14″), Tied Between LG & Apple (<14″)
- Shoes: L.L. Bean, Rainbow Sandals
- Outerwear: Patagonia, Eddie Bauer
- Cookware: Calphalon, Americraft Cookware, Tupperware
- Furniture: Joybird, Arhaus, Ashley, Lovesac
- Appliances: LG, Kenmore
- Backpacks: Jansport, Dakine
- Duffels & Work Bags: Duluth Trading, Saddleback Leather Co.
- Luggage: Eagle Creek, Briggs & Riley
- Tools: Craftsman, Ridgid, Troy-Bilt
Car Brands Known For Quality
When it comes to cars, most of us don’t want to deal with any headaches. We want a car that starts every time and needs an oil change or service occasionally, which is affordable and reasonable. When we go to sell it, the car still has some resale value. This is what the average consumer wants out of their car, whether they know it or will learn with time.
While flashy brands and comforts are nice, they lose their luster the second we run into a problem – not to mention those extra digits on the bill! Expensive cars can depreciate way more than the average depreciation rates (via CarMax).
As for the most trusted car brand, we give this one to Toyota.
In this list of top 10 most likely cars to reach 200,000 miles, Consumer Reports has listed SEVEN Toyota models.
The honorable mention goes to Honda, who occupies the other top three spots!
Check out this website dedicated to the Toyotas with super-high mileage!
Most Trusted Bicycle Brands
Some of us bike to work, which is a money-saver and a great way to stay in shape. For those that cycle, the cost of transportation is less, but we still rely on the bike to function properly every day.
First off, Consumer Reports recommends we stay away from bikes sold in ‘big box’ stores, and instead shop at a specialty bicycle store. The models sold in mass quantities are typically made cheaply and won’t last nearly as long.
According to Consumer Reports, a decent bike will cost at least $300, but will offer a lot more in return, including quality.
We’ve chosen our most trusted brand of bicycles based on:
- Models meant for all around daily use (hybrid).
- Average price of this type of bicycle.
- Gross sales every year.
We’ve found a tie. The bicycle brands we’ve chosen are Giant and Trek.
Trek has 32 bicycle models made for commuting that are priced between $440-$999. Established in 1976, the brand now brings in $1 Billion in annual revenue!
Giant has 16 models made for day to day use that are priced between $390-$1,260. Founding in 1972, this publicly-traded Taiwanese brand grosses nearly $2 Billion in annual revenue!
Related: Is A Bike The Ideal Form Of Minimalist Transportation? The Pros & Cons
High Quality Computer Brands
Computers are one of the larger purchases most people make. While not as expensive as a home or car, we still spend several hundred to a few thousand dollars on a computer.
Consumer Reports offers ranking scores for computers, based on reliability and owner satisfaction ratings. We’ve used this information in making our choices.
For laptops over 14-inches in screen size, we vote for LG as the most well-rated overall brand. Out of the top 10 highest-rated laptops in this category on Consumer Reports, LG has THREE models in the top 10, with an average price of around $1,400. Apple’s MacBook Pro 15-in. is ranked no. 1.
As for laptops under 14-inch, we find a tie between LG’s Gram 13 (8th Gen.) & Apple’s MacBook Air 13-Inch. When considering price (~$1,150) and ranking, these two models take the cake.
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Shoe Brands Known For Quality
Shoes are something we all buy. Some of us take pride in wearing a pair of shoes into the ground. In kind, some brands offer extensive warranties on their shoes an boots.
Until recently, L.L. Bean offered lifetime warranty on their products. Though this has been discontinued, they still offer a 1-year return policy plus acceptance of defective items beyond that.
Rainbow Sandals also offers a lifetime warranty on their soles. If the sole is defective at any point, they will repair or replace it.
Most Trusted Outerwear Brands
Jackets are one of those things that seem great to save money on…until it needs to perform. That $39 jacket is always tempting for those of us looking to save, but it won’t last as long, it probably won’t perform that great and if it rips or tears…time to buy a new one.
Patagonia’s ‘Ironclad’ Guarantee assures customers that if any products don’t perform as expected, they’ll repair or replace it.
Eddie Bauer’s product guarantee is simple – if it fails to perform as designed, they will replace it.
High Quality Cookware Brands
I’ve bought cheap cookware before. Cool-looking pans, pots, etc. from big-box stores are widely available in ever-evolving styles. Some work out, others don’t. This is largely because the big retailers often sell established brands. Here are a few to look out for.
Calphalon offers either a 10-year or lifetime warranty on their products. If their cookware fails under normal use, they’ll replace it.
Americraft Cookware, also known as 360 Cookware, also offers a lifetime warranty.
If you cook frequently and keep leftovers, you may be surprised to learn that Tupperware also provides a lifetime warranty for their products, too!
Furniture Brands Known For Quality
The difference between cheaply-made and high quality furniture is obvious. Not only are the materials better quality, but the actual construction is top-quality as well. Cheap furniture often doesn’t survive a move and breaks easily. High-quality furniture is susceptible to damage as any other furniture is, but it can withstand more and will perform great when used as intended.
Joybird’s furniture is a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. Their full line of furniture includes a lifetime warranty on ‘foundational components’ and a multi-year warranty on upholstery. They also offer a 365-day home trial, along with specific fabrics that are kid- and pet-friendly.
Arhaus is another brand that offer’s a limited lifetime warranty on many of their items, as well.
Ashley Furniture has a wide range of products, many of them more affordable than the brands above. They offer a lifetime warranty on frames and multi-year warranties on other components.
If you’re into bean bag furniture, Lovesac also offers limited lifetime warranties.
Most Trusted Appliance Brands
Some of us even choose a home when house-shopping based on the appliances that are installed! No one wants to replace appliances. In turn, it makes total sense to buy appliances that are built to last.
We’ve turned to Consumer Reports yet again for their in-depth comparisons.
For washers and dryers, LG appears to be the dominant champion of the niche, taking the top 6 spots in overall washer-dryer combo rankings.
There are so many types of refrigerators out there, but from our research, Consumer Reports rank Kenmore as having three of the top five refrigerators in overall score.
High Quality Bag & Luggage Brands
Whether it be going to work, traveling or just day-to-day use, a good bag will be ergonomic, well-made and long-lasting. Cheap bags have straps that rip, poor quality materials and bottoms that can literally drop out. We only buy luggage and bags every few years, so we might as well do it right.
When shopping for backpacks, check out Jansport and Dakine. Both of these brands have been around for many years and offer limited lifetime warranties. Note that this refers to the lifetime of the product, not the lifetime of the person!
As for duffels, briefcases and other similar bags, check out Duluth Trading Co. and Saddleback Leather Co. offer limited lifetime warranties – Saddleback even offers a 100 year warranty!
Looking for travel luggage? Take a look at the warranty policies of Eagle Creek and Briggs & Riley. B&R even repairs damage caused by airlines! Not for the contents inside, though.
Tool Brands Known For Quality
When first buying tools, everything you see has an allure to it. All of the fancy features, marketing and hard-to-pronounce verbiage make every tool seem worth it. Some of this is done on purpose.
It makes sense to at least buy tools from makers that stand behind them.
Craftsman, for example, offers a lifetime warranty on many of their products. They’re known for having one of the best warranties in the tool market.
Ridgid is another brand that offers a lifetime warranty on their products.
As for yard work and lawn maintenance, check out Troy-Bilt for their limited lifetime warranty, too!
In Summary
We’ve covered a lot of ground here, so we’ll leave you with this. “We don’t always buy things, but when we do…we prefer quality.“.
When trying to spend less as a whole, it makes sense to buy from brands known for quality. If you came here wondering “what are the most trusted brands?“, we’ve outlined some of the top-rated brands in several major categories we all rely on.
Any brands you know about that aren’t listed? Let us know below! We hope this article has been helpful and informative.