About True Keepers

Who I am

My name is Steffan Hartzema. I'm based in the Netherlands and I built True Keepers because I got tired of reading the same recycled product lists everywhere.

I've spent an embarrassing amount of time researching purchases before making them. Cast iron pans. Knives. Wallets. Boots. At some point I started writing things down, and eventually that turned into this site.

Why True Keepers exists

The idea solidified during a period when I started thinking harder about what I was bringing into my home. In the early months of the war in Ukraine, I noticed how much it matters to own things you can genuinely rely on. That same year, we had our first child. Both things pointed at the same conclusion:

You want products that simply work. And keep working.

That search led me to the BIFL community on Reddit, where people post photos of 40-year-old boots and cast iron pans that outlived their original owners. That community showed me what was possible if you bought differently.

True Keepers is my attempt to make that research accessible without the forum-diving.

How I choose what to review

A product earns a spot on True Keepers if it passes three 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 more than one with a better warranty.
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 I can't find convincing evidence that a product passes all three, I don't recommend it. Sometimes that means a category only has one pick. That's fine.

How the research works

I combine several sources: my own use when I own the product, long-term owner threads on Reddit and specialist forums, warranty documentation, materials research, and where relevant, input from craftspeople and repair professionals.

I don't do quick 30-day tests and call it a durability review. The question I'm trying to answer is: what does this product look like after ten years of real use? That requires different sources than a standard product review.

How I make money

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

I've turned down affiliate arrangements that would have required me to recommend products I wouldn't otherwise pick. The recommendations come first. The affiliate links follow. Not the other way around.

Contact

Questions, corrections, or a product you think should be on here? Use the contact form or email me directly at steffan@truekeepers.com.