Shure SM58 & SM57 mics have a reputation for being reliable to the point of being indestructible. 

They’re popular with musicians, because they’re cheap and you can store them in the back of a van without worrying about breaking them. The SM58 is popular with podcasters, too, because it’s fairly cheap and delivers great sound for the price. 

Mats StÃ¥lbröst, editor of the Stockholm-based Studio, took the SM58’s reputation as a challenge and decided to subject a SM58 microphone to a year of sadistic torture. He used the SM58 mic to hammer nails, dropped it from heights, submerged it in water, drove a car over it and nuked it.

And the thing still worked. Here’s the proof:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz1_l_HJlPAPretty amazing, huh?

SM58’s can be had for $80-90 and they make a great first voice mic. 

via Synthtopia, CDM, SM58 info