Hobart

The r/BuyItForLife community holds Hobart in exceptionally high regard, treating it as the gold standard for commercial kitchen equipment — particularly mixers. Much of the discussion centers on Hobart's historical role as the original maker of KitchenAid mixers before selling the brand to Whirlpool in 1986, with strong consensus that the Hobart-era models were far superior to modern KitchenAid products. The primary caveat is cost: new Hobart equipment is prohibitively expensive for most home users, making used units the recommended path.

Hobart equipment, particularly its mixers, represents the community's clearest consensus on what true BIFL looks like — decades of commercial-grade reliability — with the cost barrier addressed by a strong recommendation to buy used.

Hobart is consistently described as near-indestructible commercial-grade equipment, with steel gears, bronze bushings, and a design philosophy built around professional reliability rather than consumer cost-cutting. Decade-spanning lifespans and readily available parts make them a recurring BIFL recommendation.

• All-steel gears and bronze bushings; machined like commercial machinery
• Units from the 1940s–1970s still reported in active daily use
• Parts availability confirmed for vintage models, sometimes provided free by Hobart
• Hobarts designed to fail safely and be easily repaired when issues arise
• Commercial dishwashers praised as overbuilt and essentially maintenance-free in home use
• Described as the industry standard benchmark for professional kitchen equipment

Cost is the dominant criticism — new Hobart mixers start around $3,500–$4,700 for a 5qt unit, putting them out of reach for most home cooks. A minority view also cautions that older used Hobarts may have worn gearboxes and increasingly unavailable parts, and at least one user reported a disappointing warranty replacement experience.

• New units cost $3,500–$8,000+, making them impractical for most home buyers
• Used units may have worn gearboxes; repair costs can exceed mixer value
• One report of a free warranty replacement being a 'piece of shit' compared to original
• Recent model changes (unitized motor, new housing) break decades of parts compatibility
• Older units may require rewiring or safety upgrades like a grounded three-prong cord

A longtime bakery owner noted that bakers pay the Hobart premium specifically for peace of mind — knowing their mixer will never cost them a day of lost sales.

One commenter described Hobart's build philosophy succinctly: most kitchen equipment is built like children's toys, while Hobart builds theirs like car engines.

A user whose family ran a restaurant for nearly a century recalled a Hobart mixer outliving their grandfather, with Hobart's tech later offering to replace a discontinued part for free — though the replacement quality disappointed.

A former chef and baker stated flatly that a Hobart is a true BIFL mixer that stands up to anything with readily available parts, contrasting it with KitchenAids that frequently burned out motors or stripped gears in professional settings.