The 25 most popular things our readers bought in July
Amazon Prime Day and Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale really stole the show this month.
Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser / Lindsay D. Mattison
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The month of July and online shopping go hand in hand. When the dog days of summer arrive and the temperature rises, prices across a ton of retailers tend to drop. There’s also Prime Day of course, one of the biggest shopping holidays of the year, when Amazon slashes their prices across the board in an attempt to compete with Black Friday sales. Nordstrom happens to use a similar technique to get ahead of the end-of-summer sales curve with their massive Nordstrom Anniversary sale, which features discounts on a ton of fashion, beauty, and home products. And lots of other retailers run sales to compete with these two massive events, often called Black Friday in July.
If you’re curious to see which stuff our readers went absolutely crazy for this month, we’ve compiled a roundup of the most popular products that were huge sellers on Prime Day and beyond. From robot vacuums to Bluetooth headphones and more, the items ahead truly captured our readers’ attention (and wallets), proving that July really is one of the best times to shop ’til you drop.
1. Nordstrom clothing, accessories, and more
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale was one of the biggest sales of July.
If you’re a Nordstrom shopper, you know how big of a deal the Anniversary Sale is. If you’re not, let’s just say this is the Prime Day of fashion sales. There are insane discounts across the entire store, from women’s clothing to men’s apparel to accessories and more. And so many of our readers took advantage, with loads of cardholders shopping the Early Access sale that opened to members the week before the sale opened to the public. The good news for you is that the sale runs through August 4, so you still have time to find some impressive deals on top brands, from Madewell to BP to Spanx and more.
What has everyone been buying during the sale? Well, lots of the most popular things at Nordstrom went out of stock insanely fast. But there are still loads of ways to save on men’s apparel, beauty products, women’s jeans, trendy bags, and more.
Shop the final days of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
2. Echo Dot Smart Speakers
When the Dot is on sale, especially for more than half off, buyers take notice.
This was easily the best deal on Prime Day. Why? Because not only was it half off in the days leading up to the massive sale, but when Prime Day started, Amazon dropped the sale price down to just $22. It was nuts and we were so glad so many of our readers took advantage of the 56% discount on the best affordable Alexa smart speaker.
The Dot is a great entry-level smart speaker if you’re not sure it’s for you, and if you’ve already got an Echo or two, it’s the perfect way to bring Alexa into more rooms of your home. We’re willing to bet this sale price will return around Black Friday, but if you don’t want to wait that long, you might be interested to know there’s a two-for-one sale right now where you can use the promo code “DOT2PACK” to get two for $49.99, which is almost like the pre-Prime Day deal if you want two (also, they make fantastic gifts).
Get two Echo Dot smart speakers for $49.99 with the code “DOT2PACK” (Save $49.99)
3. Two of the most popular Instant Pots
The most popular Instant Pot reached the lowest price we've ever seen on Prime Day.
We are never surprised when the Instant Pot ranks at the top of these lists, but especially because of Prime Day, loads of our readers have taken the plunge into the pressure cooker life, and we’re thrilled. Not only was the most popular model, the DUO60 7-in-1, down to just $50 for the massive sale, but the DUO Plus 9-in-1 saw a drop from $120 to $56, marking the best price ever for both models. The DUO60 is still on sale for $60, just $10 more than Prime Day. And while the 9-in-1 not currently on sale, they do tend to drop in price fairly often. We expect to see similar sale prices for Black Friday, if you can wait that long.
- Get the Instant Pot DUO60 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker on Amazon for $59.99 (Save $40)
- Get the Instant Pot DUO Plus 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker on Amazon for $119.95
4. Both versions of the Fire TV Stick
With massive Prime Day discounts, the Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick 4K both wound up being huge sellers among our readers
Massive discounts enticed people to buy up Fire TV streaming sticks during Prime Day, both the 4K and regular versions. While we typically recommend Roku as the best streaming device, the Fire TV Sticks are fantastic as well, especially if you use Prime Video. The other perk is that you can use Alexa to search for shows and open apps, rather than dealing with janky on-screen keyboards that tend to be tedious and infuriating to use.
- Get the Amazon Fire TV Stick Streaming Device for $39.99
- Get the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device for $49.99
5. Eufy RoboVac 11S Robot Vacuums
This is the best affordable robot vacuum, and when it goes on sale, people lose their minds.
This is the best affordable robot vacuum we've ever tested, a title almost always held by the latest iteration of the Eufy RoboVac series. On Prime Day, we saw a Lightning Deal knock the price down from $230 to $150, the lowest price we've ever seen for this powerful little machine. Sadly, it's not currently in stock in black, but you can still get it in white right now. However, we recommend waiting for a sale, as they typically drop to $160-$180 at least once a month.
Get the Eufy RoboVac 11S Robot Vacuum in White for $229.99
6. Anthropologie Anthro Day sales
Anthropologie had two major sales during July that our readers loved.
During the month of July, Amazon obviously sets out to dominate. But there were a number of retailers, like Anthropologie, that ran sales throughout the month to compete with the retail giant. Two big ones from Anthro in particular—Anthro Day and their big sale-on-sale last weekend—were a big hit with our readers, and they used the savings to stock up on everything from Capri candles to cute summery dresses.
7. LifeStraws
Make it easier to stay hydrated on long hikes and camping trips with a drinking straw that filters out most bacteria.
Summertime and hikes? Pretty much the perfect combination for the season. I’m not particularly outdoorsy because I’m always scared I’ll get lost, but if I was the kind of woman who enjoyed roughing it, I imagine I’d want to make sure I had something like the LifeStraw handy. Of course, it’s important to remember that this IS NOT SAFE against viruses, but it may be handy if you just want to make your drinking water clearer. Our readers stocked up during July (thanks to a Prime Day discount) but you can still grab one now.
Get the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter on Amazon for $17.47
8. Crest 3D Whitestrips and Professional Effects Whitestrips
Always check with your dentist before using at-home tooth whitening solutions to make sure it's safe for your teeth.
Last year, one of the biggest Prime Day sellers was a high-end electric toothbrush, so we were not that surprised to see that Crest Whitestrips were similarly popular this Prime Day. With massive savings on both the 3D Whitestrips and Professional Effects Whitestrips, loads of our readers took advantage of the chance to get a brighter smile for cheaper. As someone who’s spent an insane amount of time at the dentist, I always recommend asking about using them at your next visit to make sure things like this are safe for your teeth.
- Get the Crest 3D Whitestrips Vivid Plus for $29.99
- Get the Crest Professional Effects Whitestrips for $53.99 (Save $8 with the on-page coupon)
9. Sony and Bose headphones
The two most impressive pairs of noise-canceling headphones both went on sale for their best prices in July.
Thanks to some massive discounts on both Amazon and Drop, our readers scored some of the best noise-canceling headphones out there. In fact, the Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II over-ear headphones (pictured on the left) were the absolute best of the best for many years. They were recently unseated by the Sony WH1000XM3s (on the right), much to the chagrin of some of our Bose-obsessed employees. Both sets of headphones offer impressive features and sound quality, and both typically retail for around $350 but were on sale for $280-$300 in July.
- Get the Sony WH1000XM3 Over-Ear Noise Canceling Headphones for $348
- Get the Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II Over-Ear Noise-Cancelikng Headphones for $349
10. Dash Rapid Egg Cookers
This looks like a novelty, but it actually works super well!
Of all the deals happening during Prime Day, this one on the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker was one of the best. Even without Prime Day, this cult-favorite always scores big with our readers whenever it goes on sale, since it simplifies the whole egg-cooking process and can keep yolk from getting runny or overcooked. We even tested this egg cooker out and loved it enough that we keep one here in the office.
Get the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker on Amazon for $18.57
11. AncestryDNA and 23andMe DNA kits
Prime Day and Black Friday are the best times to get the two most popular DNA kits at amazing low prices.
We've said it before and we'll say it over and over. You should only buy DNA kits when they're on sale, and in July our readers took heed of this advice, snatching up the two most popular DNA test kits on the market for crazy cheap. Ancestry's kit, arguably the most popular, was half off for Prime Day, and 23andMe's high-end kit, typically retailing for $200, was 50% off as well. Presumably, people are starting to get their results back already, though a massive sale tends to lead to a longer wait for results directly afterward.
We've got wind of another Ancestry sale coming up this month, though it's not quite as impressive as the Prime Day price, so stay tuned for more details on that soon.
12. Affresh Washing Machine and Dishwasher Tablets
Get rid of that musty smell with these easy and effective tablets.
True life: I didn’t know I was supposed to clean my washing machine until I started this job. Dishwashers, sure, but washing machines? Suddenly so many clothing-related issues make sense to me. Anyway, I imagine many of our readers this month were either in the same boat as me or they needed to stock up themselves, since this packet of washer machine cleaning tablets was one of our most popular grabs in July. You can never have too many of these tablets around, whether it be for your dishwasher or washing machine.
- Get these Affresh Washer Machine Cleaner (Pack of 6) on Amazon for $11.98
- Get these Affresh W10549851 Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets (Pack of 6) for $3.81
13. Amazon Echo Show 5 Smart Speakers
The Echo Show 5 is smaller, newer, and more affordable than the original Show, and its Prime Day price enticed many of our readers to buy their own.
The Echo Show 5 is the newest smart speaker in Amazon's Alexa family. It's sort of the bridge between the small Spot and the large Show, offering a balance that Goldilocks would say is "just right." In fact, our own resident Goldilocks, Courtney Campbell picked one of these up for herself when it was on sale for $50 (down from $90) this Prime Day and is already obsessed with it. She says the size is perfect in her crowded kitchen and having visual displays for timers and reminders and upcoming events has already proven useful.
Get the Amazon Echo Show 5 for $89.99
14. Anker Soundcore Bluetooth Speakers
The best affordable Bluetooth speaker we've ever tested was crazy cheap for Prime Day.
A good set of portable speakers can go a long way, especially during the summer months. Our readers clearly agreed, since the Soundcore was hands down one of our most popular pick-ups of July. It was on sale for under $25 in every color, which was the lowest price we ever saw, and while the price is back up, this is still the best portable Bluetooth speaker we’ve ever tested and so worth it.
Get the Anker SoundCore Bluetooth Speaker on Amazon for $27.99-32.99
15. Apple Airpods (latest model)
Discounts on Apple products are rare and exciting, and this Prime Day deal is still going strong.
Getting any Apple product on sale can feel shocking, but getting our favorite true wireless earbuds at a discount felt like a total steal. During the month of July, it was no shock to us that our readers snatched these bad boys up like hot cakes. They were—and still are—on sale for $14 off, so grab a pair while you can.
Get Apple Airpods (latest model) with Charging Case on Amazon for $144.99
16. Amazon Smart Plugs
What's better than turning your lights on and off with your phone? How about with a simple voice command to Alexa?
No surprises here, but the Amazon Smart Plug was oh so popular on Prime Day, which is understandable given the ease it brings to your home by adding voice control to any outlet. If you’re a dork like me and have dreamed about having magic powers to command lights, fans, or other appliances to turn on and off, you’ll love having these affordable gadgets all around the house.
Get the Amazon Smart Plug on Amazon for $24.99
17. The Ring Video Doorbell 2
The best smart video doorbell we've tested was one of the biggest Prime Day hits this year, thanks to an impressive discount.
The Ring Video Doorbell 2 was another big seller on Prime Day this month, primarily due to a lightning sale which lowered the price to just $139. This nifty gadget is our favorite smart doorbell, as it has excellent connectivity to your smartphone, impressively clear night vision, and overall makes you feel instantly more secure at home.
Get the Ring Video Doorbell 2 on Amazon for $199
18. Kitchen Gizmo Snap N Strainers
This ingenious gadget is a must if your full-size strainer makes you crazy.
This weird but brilliant strainer is one of the most popular gadgets our readers flocked to during the month of July. The version in red was on sale towards the end of the month, which no doubt helped boost its appeal with readers, but we think it’s the ingenuity of this clip-on strainer that helps it maintain a cult-like status for Amazon shoppers. Not only that, but this takes up half the space of a normal strainer.
Get the Kitchen Gizmo Snap N Strainer on Amazon for $9.99
19. Nectar and Casper mattresses
Thanks to a flash sale and our exclusive coupon, our readers scored savings on new Casper mattresses in July.
The one thing that can make or break a good night’s sleep is a mattress (ok ok, and an AC unit in the summer). Nectar is our current top choice for the best mattress and also happens to be much more affordable than other mattresses on the market, comparatively speaking. With a good Fourth of July sale on Nectar mattresses, many of our readers took the opportunity to upgrade.
Reviewed’s Editor-in-Chief, Dave Kender, personally recommends a Casper mattress, as he’s had his for over three years now and is still catching amazing ZZZ’s. This month Casper had a 10% sale with an exclusive coupon for us a few days early, and now our readers are on the fast train to an incredible night’s sleep.
20. Two Kindle e-readers
Kindles are amazing if you're a book lover, and lots of our readers got great deals on two of Amazon's newest e-readers during Prime Day.
Any Amazon device on this list made it because of a major discount on Prime Day, Kindles included. The all-new Kindle was featured as a lightning deal at that time, when a bunch of our readers scored it for only $59.99. Though the Paperwhite happens to be our favorite Kindle of the bunch, either option is sure to improve your reading habits and become your new buddy while traveling or commuting.
21. Roav SmartCharge Halo Car Chargers
A good car charger is a must if you commute or take longs trips, and this one can charge three devices at once!
My phone battery can be on 100% and still drop to 24% in less than two hours (it's pretty old), so having a good car charger is an absolute must. This one by Roav didn’t even have a price drop on Prime Day, but was still one of the big sellers of the month. Apparently our readers struggle with bad battery life just as much as I do. I’m glad I’m not alone.
Get the Roav SmartCharge Halo Car Charger on Amazon for $19.99
22. Eufy Smart Scale C1 Body Weight Scales
Smart scales are surprisingly useful, and they're even better on sale.
Staying on track with your fitness goals is a lot easier with this smart scale, which can track data so all you have to do is step on it in the morning and then you can monitor the rest of your progress throughout the day via an app. Compatible with Fitbit, Apple Health, and Google Fit, this smart scale can be used to measure body fat, BMI, and more.
Get the Eufy Smart Scale C1 for $19.99 on Amazon
23. Cuisipro Stainless Steel Measuring Spoon Sets
A good set of measuring spoons can actually make a huge difference, especially when they're mega cheap to boot.
If you’re crummy at eyeballing ingredients like I am, these stainless-steel measuring spoons are here to help. Our readers know that they’re our favorite measuring spoons because of how well-made, heavy-duty, and polished they are, plus we love their ergonomic design which allows them to easily fit into most spice jars.
Get the Cuisipro Stainless Steel Measuring Spoon Set on Amazon for $15
24. KitchenIQ Knife Sharpeners
This affordable little gadget breathes new life into your once-sharp knives.
Nobody likes a dull knife. It can take an otherwise enjoyable cooking session from 100 to 0 real quick, which is why our readers are buying this knife sharpener from KitchenIQ in droves. Not to mention it’s only $6, and can keep you from having to buy a new, expensive set of kitchen knives, which explains why it’s so popular.
Get the KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener on Amazon for $5.81
25. Innogear Aromatherapy Diffusers
The best essential oil diffuser is already affordable, so when it goes on sale people go bonkers.
As our favorite aromatherapy diffuser, we hype the Innogear up quite a bit. Our readers took notice, and scooped these up by the truckload on Prime Day when this diffuser was at its lowest price ever. If you missed out then there’s no need to fret, because it’s very affordable as is anyways and goes on sale quite frequently.
Get the InnoGear Upgraded Version Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser on Amazon for $12.99