At this point, you don’t need me to tell you that Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale season is under way. We wanted you to enter the 2025 holiday sales season with a game plan, which is why we’ve already rounded up the best early Black Friday deals, shared strategies to avoid buyer’s remorse and put together a holiday gift guide of 163 items vetted by Guardian US staff and shopping experts.
And you must have all taken notes, because you’ve been buying the deals we’ve found. We’re learning that Guardian readers’ most frequently shopped items range from a chef-approved spatula to a steeply discounted pair of noise-cancelling headphones.
Below are the 20 best things to buy leading up to holiday gifting season, according to Guardian readers like yourself. These are products you’ve been snagging like hotcakes during the week leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. And whether you bought them as gifts or an early treat for yourself, we aren’t judging.
ProtoArc Ergonomic Seat Cushion
Sometimes the best gifts are the most practical, even if they aren’t the most exciting to open. Perhaps this is why, of everything in tech writer Adam Doud’s 15 best tech gifts in the US, this seat cushion was the most bought. “Your recipient’s back will thank you, even if they don’t,” wrote Doud.
Apple AirTag four-pack
Do you struggle to keep track of your belongings a bit more than you’d like to admit? Or was this early holiday deal from the best US Black Friday travel deals simply too good to pass up? With four per pack, you can “attach one to your keys, throw one in your purse, or slip one in your wallet”, travel writer Lydia Mansel wrote.
Magnetic silent fidget toys
In our 2025 gift guide for tweens, we asked 20 kids between the ages of nine and 12 what items were on their holiday wishlists. And while they shared everything from Ugg boots to Jellycat stuffed animals, this fidget toy, recommended by 11-year-old Molly, was your favorite.
Anker Nano Travel Adapter
“This little adapter does more than most,” wrote Guardian US copy editor Tasneem Merchant. Not only is it lightweight, but it works in more than 200 countries, making it a perfect purchase for those of us with a serious case of wanderlust.
Blink wireless smart security camera
This tiny security camera was another coveted tech item from our list of the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday tech deals. It’s perfect for keeping an eye on your holiday purchases or providing peace of mind year-round. Tech writer Adam Doud loves it for its long battery life: “You can put this camera anywhere it has access to wi-fi and basically forget it exists.”
Vive squeeze balls
Are you stressing more during the holidays or always busy with work? Guardian contributor Julia Skinner asked 25 entrepreneurs to share their must-have items, and they delivered, with recommendations ranging from a stylish electric kettle to a practical water bottle. But these squeeze balls, recommended for de-stressing during the workday, stood out as your most-loved item on the list.
Amazon Fire TV Stick
As the weather gets colder, there’s nothing quite like binging the entire season of a TV show in a single weekend. According to tech writer Adam Doud, the Amazon Fire TV Stick “remains the single easiest way to turn a regular TV into a smart TV”. And you all must have a long list of holiday movies to watch, as this handy gadget was one of your favorite early Black Friday purchases.
Arliksi Travel Pillow Sleep Mask
“Look like a lunatic and sleep like a baby with this sleep mask,” wrote Filter US editor Nick Mokey. Many of you must be okay with swapping appearances for a great night of rest, as this was one of your most ordered items from our 163-item holiday gift guide.
Kasa Smart Lightbulbs
Looking to spruce up your space without breaking the bank? These smart lightbulbs were recommended by tech writer Adam Doud as a budget-friendly way to “set the mood”, and were yet another of your most-loved items from the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday tech deals.
Preston Lane luxury hand wash
“There’s nothing worse than turning around to wash your egg-yolk-covered hands, only to find you’re fresh out of soap,” wrote home and kitchen writer Megan Wahn in her guide to the best kitchen Black Friday deals in the US. And many of you agree, as this was one of its most-bought products.
Zodzi Vintage Label Maker
In our 163-item holiday gift guide, we received plenty of recommendations across the Guardian US newsroom. But this label maker stood out from the crowd, loved by US video journalist Tom Silverstone for “giving a vintage feel to my cupboards that feels a lot more charming than electric label makers”.
Kolsvart Torsken Raspberry and Blackcurrant Mix Fish
Guardian US copy editor Tammy Tarng is very particular when it comes to her gummies: “too much elasticity, and they’ll stick to your teeth, too little, and it lacks a playful chew”. But these fancier Swedish Fish-brand alternatives received her stamp of approval, earning a spot in our 163-item holiday gift guide and your shopping carts.
Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet
Yet another one of your favorites from our list of the best Black Friday sales: this affordable alternative to an iPad. Many of you took advantage of the early Black Friday deal on this tablet, loved by tech writer Adam Doud for its “beautiful screen and just the right amount of power to stream content”.
Badger Beard Balm
Have you all collectively decided to grow out your beards, perhaps dressing up as Santa at your family’s holiday party? Another winner recommended by US video journalist Tom Silverstone was this beard balm, which “makes a great gift for the bearded friend or partner in your life”.
Koala Lens Cleaning Cloths
There’s nothing worse than smudgy glasses when you don’t have anything but your shirt to clean them with. Guardian US copy editor Jacquelyne Germain stepped in with an affordable solution, recommending these cleaning cloths for wiping smudges “in a matter of seconds”. They work for laptop screens, too.
The Pink Stuff Miracle Cleaning Paste
You all must be stuck with holiday hosting duties this year, as this affordable cleaning product was one of your favorite early Black Friday deals. Home and kitchen writer Megan Wahn recommended this in her roundup of the best kitchen deals, declaring that it can “tackle just about any kitchen mess – mold, rust, the remnants of an over-zealous dinner party”.
Zulay Kitchen Stainless Steel Fish Turner Spatula
When Megan Wahn wrote that “real pros use a fish spatula”, you took that advice to heart. This spatula stole your hearts, ranking as one of the most sought-after items featured in that roundup of Black Friday kitchen deals. Even though the deal only applies to Prime members, it’s an affordable spatula that helps you “earn cooking street cred among the real chefs”.
PSO-Spine back massager
Fitness writer Juno DeMelo’s ringing endorsement of the Pso-Spine Back massager, which “hurts so good when I lie on it”, won you over. Of the 12 items recommended in our guide of the best gifts for fitness enthusiasts, this one was the bestseller. You’re either all recovering from weight-lifting sessions at the gym or looking for an affordable alternative to booking a massage.
JBL Live Pro 2 Earbuds
Many of you snagged a pretty great discount on this pair of noise-cancelling headphones, recommended among Adam Doud’s best tech deals for their long battery life. I hope that all of these purchases weren’t to drown out a snoring partner or noisy next-door neighbor, but simply to enjoy your music in full force.
The Highlights Book of Things to Do
“Every time my kid army-crawls across the carpet moaning, ‘I’m so bored,’ I send him to this book,” wrote Guardian US copy editor Jenny Pritchett. It appears you’re all planning for the impending holiday school break, as this ranked as another one of your favorite items from our mega holiday gift guide.
