Dualit Classic / NewGen
4-Slice, hand-built in the UK
Illustration of the product
▶ From a video review of this product
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- Repairability
- Excellent — element and timer are user-replaceable
- Toast evenness
- Consistent by owner accounts, with a lever you can lift to peek
Why it ranks here. No other toaster gets this kind of unprompted devotion. Dualit is the top answer in every toaster thread on r/BuyItForLife, and the reason people give is always the same: every part that wears out can be replaced by the owner. The price is the only argument against it.
Owners describe it as a toaster for life: 'They're bombproof, work a treat, and you'll leave it to your children'↗. One has had his for over 20 years, another inherited his grandparents' wedding present and it still works. When the element on one owner's failed he bought a new one and fitted it himself, cheaply; a family of five that used to kill a toaster a year replaced the timer at 3.5 years and carried on. The timer has a clutch, so cancelling early does not damage it, though that same family suspects it does. The complaint is price: one shopper 'just can't stomach $500 for a toaster'↗. Fans get in second-hand, from $10 at Goodwill to $130 used on Amazon. One puts it bluntly: 'Dualit is the only answer'↗, Breville is 'not build to last'↗.
What owners like
- Every wearing part is user-replaceable: one owner fitted a new element himself, another swapped the timer at 3.5 years and carried on
- A lifetime purchase: 'They're bombproof, work a treat, and you'll leave it to your children'↗, and one owner is past 20 years
- Thick die-cast body and a clutch in the mechanical timer, so cancelling a cycle early does not break it
What owners complain about
- The price new: one shopper 'just can't stomach $500 for a toaster'↗
- Heavy use wears the timer; one family replaced it at 3.5 years, cheaply
- Most fans got in second-hand, which takes patience and a price tracker
“They're bombproof, work a treat, and you'll leave it to your children.” — Reddit comment · u/fromwayuphigh · r/BuyItForLife · 2024-07-14
11 positive · 1 mixed · 1 negative · 13 voices · ✓ all 13 linked to source
Read all 13 quotes (13 voices)
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Dualit.
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They're bombproof, work a treat, and you'll leave it to your children.
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And they’ll still be making the payments! It’s a joke, but wow! Never knew a toaster could be in this price range. Quality is not cheap.
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I've gone through 4 100+ toasters and dualit is definitely my next. Everything I read is positive
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I was searching this sub this morning for a toaster and found the top suggestion to be Dualit. Immediately put my phone down when I saw the price. I know it goes against the ethos of this sub but I just can’t stomach $500 for a toaster 😭
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I did a heavy dive into toasters in 2018 and ended up buying a Dualit Classic. Freakin love it, it’s a tank of a toaster. Still makes perfect toast. Bonus, you can slap the lever to send toast flying into the sky when it’s done and catch it, my kids love it Also, no I didn’t spend $350 on my 4-slot toaster, please check out camelcamelcamel.com and set up Amazon price trackers on them. I bought mine when I got notified one was for sale - Used - Very Good, for $130. It had a small dent on it.
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Agreed. Have had my dualit for over 20 years.
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Dualit is the only answer. Breville products are okay, but not build to last.
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The timer in the dualit has a clutch in it so there is no worry about damaging it, everything is replaceable as well, I was given my grandparents dualit they got as a wedding gift and it’s still working all these years later
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I had a Dualit for many years, and it had thick and thin sections, so accommodated bagels better. Also, and this is a big thing for me, when the heating element eventually failed I was able to buy and install a new element cheaply and easily myself. I now have a beautiful looking DeLonghi that has a partially broken element. The spare part costs more than a new toaster, which is ridiculous. I think all new appliances should come with a 'how fixable?' rating.
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I found a working 4-slice dualit at Goodwill for $10. Big score.
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I have the 4 slice Dualit toaster having owned numerous toasters in the past this is by far the best simple easy to use, fast and consistent I can also do toasties Well worth the extra money and will last a life time as you can repair it yourself very cheaply
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We have 3 kids and used to go through toasters every year. Unfortunately, most are not fixable so was trowing out and buying new frequently. Then, looked online for a fixable toaster and found the Dualit. Decided to pay the price and I don't regret it. 3.5 years in , had to change the timer (and yes, I think you are breaking it when cancelling, don't care what the manual says) but at least, a relatively cheap fix and the toaster still runs perfect!
