1. Pyrex Glassware
Back in the day, Pyrex was marketed as the go-to “unbreakable” kitchen staple. Ads from the mid-20th century showed women casually dropping bowls to prove their strength. But when the company changed its formula from borosilicate to soda-lime glass in the U.S., durability took a hit. Now, countless home cooks report shattering dishes after a quick change in temperature.
That promise of “oven to table” doesn’t always hold up anymore. If you’ve ever had one explode while rinsing it under cold water after baking, you’re not alone. The switch was meant to cut costs, not improve performance. Pyrex still sells well, but its “unbreakable” label is mostly history.
2. Samsonite Luggage
Samsonite famously ran commercials showing elephants stepping on their suitcases. The pitch was that these bags were practically indestructible. In reality, airlines proved tougher than elephants, with cracked shells and broken zippers becoming a common complaint. Frequent flyers learned the hard way that “unbreakable” didn’t mean “airline-proof.”
The brand still has its loyalists, but durability today varies by line and material. Many travelers share stories of handles snapping after just a few trips. The contrast between ad fantasy and baggage claim reality is sharp. Samsonite leaned into spectacle more than truth with its campaign.
3. Timex Watches
The slogan “Takes a licking and keeps on ticking” made Timex famous. Commercials even showed watches strapped to speedboats and jackhammers. The idea was that Timex was virtually indestructible, unlike other watches. But owners found that a good bump against a doorframe could kill the mechanism.
Timex never claimed they were waterproof to great depths, either. Plenty of wearers discovered cracked crystals and stopped movements from everyday accidents. The ads set sky-high expectations that no watch could really meet. To be fair, they were cheap and dependable, just not invincible.
4. Tupperware
Tupperware was marketed in the 1950s and beyond as unbreakable plastic for modern kitchens. Demonstrations at parties often involved tossing bowls across the room. The durability seemed magical compared to fragile glass or ceramic. But reality showed that even these plastics cracked over time.
Exposure to heat, dishwashers, and UV light from the sun made them brittle. Many people today open a cabinet to find warped lids and split containers. The “unbreakable” pitch was a great sales hook, but plastics aren’t forever. Nostalgia keeps the brand alive more than performance.
5. Gorilla Glass Phones
Gorilla Glass, introduced by Corning, was advertised as scratch-proof and practically unbreakable. Apple, Samsung, and other companies leaned into that image with flashy drops and scratch tests. For a while, it felt like the future of phone screens. But real-world use quickly revealed spiderweb cracks from everyday falls.
Consumers learned that “resistant” didn’t mean “immune.” One bad drop onto concrete is usually all it takes. And despite every new “generation” of Gorilla Glass, shattered screens remain the number one smartphone repair. The hype made disappointment sting even more.
6. Rubbermaid Products
Rubbermaid built its brand on being virtually indestructible. Ads showed people standing on trash cans and throwing coolers from trucks. The idea was that this plastic gear would outlast anything. Yet in reality, cracked lids and broken handles became common over time.
Especially in extreme weather, Rubbermaid products often fail faster than expected. Sunlight degrades the material, and cold temperatures make it brittle. The “unbreakable” branding was a great sales pitch, but long-term users know the truth. They’re durable, but not invincible.
7. Zippo Lighters
Zippo lighters became iconic with their “It works or we fix it free” warranty. Ads often implied they were virtually indestructible. Soldiers carried them into war zones, and the click of a Zippo became part of American culture. But in reality, plenty of Zippos dent, crack, or fail to spark.
The warranty is real, but that doesn’t mean the lighter is unbreakable. Anyone who’s dropped one from a height knows they can bend out of shape. And water can ruin them instantly. The myth of invincibility comes more from branding than the brass case.
8. Corning Ware
Corning Ware was heavily marketed as unbreakable cooking ware in the 1960s. Ads showed dishes going from freezer to oven without issue. The material, Pyroceram, was developed from rocket technology, which sounded futuristic. But in kitchens, people found the casseroles did sometimes crack or shatter.
Temperature shock was the biggest culprit. Home cooks learned the hard way that frozen-to-oven transitions weren’t always safe. And while tougher than most ceramics, Corning Ware wasn’t indestructible. The marketing pushed the myth a little too far.
9. Nike Air Jordans
Nike leaned on the “built to last” idea with its Air Jordan line, often framing them as performance shoes that could take a beating. Kids begged parents for pairs, partly because they were supposed to outlast cheaper sneakers. But cracked soles, worn-out air pockets, and peeling leather told another story. The sneakers were stylish, not indestructible.
Collectors today know that even unworn pairs can crumble with age. The materials simply don’t hold up forever. Nike sold the dream of permanence but delivered temporary flash. “Unbreakable” never applied to sneakers, no matter the price tag.
10. Samsonite’s Tristar Briefcase
This specific model became a cultural icon in the 1980s. Ads showed men standing on it, tossing it from heights, and insisting it was unbreakable. Business travelers bought in, hoping it would be the last briefcase they’d need. But the hinges and locks turned out to be weak points.
Plenty of travelers found their “indestructible” case broken at the corners after just a few flights. The aluminum frame could bend and dent easily. Like the luggage, it wasn’t immune to real-world abuse. The marketing outpaced the materials.
11. Ginsu Knives
The Ginsu infomercials of the 1970s and ’80s made outrageous claims. They cut through cans, nails, and bricks, then sliced a tomato perfectly. The message was that they were unbreakable, lifetime knives. But in kitchens, they dulled and rusted just like any others.
Plenty of buyers discovered that dishwasher use warped handles. The “forever sharp” claim just didn’t hold up. Ginsu was a classic case of infomercial exaggeration. Unbreakable? More like unforgettable marketing.
12. Kodak Cameras
Kodak sold some of its plastic-bodied cameras in the 1960s as “virtually unbreakable.” Ads showed kids dropping them without issue. The pitch was that these were perfect family cameras built to last. But the cheap plastic shells scratched and cracked with time.
The winding mechanisms also jammed or broke down frequently. Parents quickly learned these weren’t as indestructible as promised. While Kodak made photography accessible, it didn’t make cameras bomb-proof. The ads just leaned into parents’ desire for durability.
This post 12 American Products That Were Advertised as “Unbreakable” But Barely Last was first published on American Charm.
