How long should outdoor string lights last outside year-round?

r/BuyItForLife threads show this is the single biggest pain point: many sub-$50 strands fail within a year, with bulb burnout and wire degradation cited most often. Commercial-grade strands with shatterproof LED bulbs (rather than glass) and IP65 or better waterproofing tend to be the ones that owners report keeping up successfully across multiple seasons. If year-round outdoor use matters, prioritize ETL listing, shatterproof bulbs, and verified-purchase reviews that mention 2+ years of service.