As a shopping editor whose covered what I consider a nationwide holiday (Black Friday) for years, there’s nothing I find more tedious than finding reviews and knowing whether the truth is out there regarding a product. However, looking through reviews is a major part of my job and it’s one I take very seriously. So it’s no wonder why I often tap my teammates to get their honest no-nonsense opinions (and trust me, we’re opinionated). We spend our days trying everything under the sun. From new beauty must-haves to kids’ toys or travel gear and any type of baking utensil you can think of, if you can name it, we’ve likely tried it (and maybe even given it an award).
However, just because we’re in a constant cycle of putting new products to the test, we still have things on our “to buy” lists. Here, I’m spilling it all and naming names. From the latest tech to gifts and seasonal refreshes, we’re sharing what we’re spending our money on this Black Friday and the items we’ve spent time reviewing that we stand by that are also on deal. If you’re nosy like us, read on below.
Editors’ Black Friday 2024 picks
Walnew Clear Case for Kindle Paperwhite
Deputy editorial director Alexandra Deabler is looking to save big with this find that is 64% off right now. It’s an easy way to keep her smart tech secure and protected.
Sheertex Classic Sheer Rip-Resist Tights
Senior editor Jess Bender calls this shopping holiday “tight restocking season” and will be snagging this snag-proof pair. And she’s not the only one to pick up a pair — we’ll be honest and note that half the team wears (and swear by) Sheertex, so I’m confident that several other teammates have a pair in their carts right now.
Patiphan Rechargeable Flameless Taper Candles with Charging Station
As a nester, I’ve been trying to make my place a bit more cozy in time for winter, which only means one thing: candles, candles, candles. Though as somebody who always worries about tapered candles and the mess they provide, I recently purchased this exact set of six rechargeable candles that I will be repurchasing to place all over my apartment for the ultimate winter vibe. They come with a charging station and a remote so I can “light” them without getting up.
Lillusory Women’s Mock Turtleneck Sweater Dress
Deabler also shared that she’s looking to snag this dress for the upcoming holiday festivities. While she didn’t say which color she’s picking, considering the discount, she can pick up multiple out of the 12 colors available.
Lalo The Play Box
A winner of last year’s Shop TODAY Gifts We Love awards, this play box is on editor Rebecca Brown‘s list. The boxes provide the little ones with screen-free play time and help them develop their curiosity, what’s not to love?
Amerisleep AS3 Memory Foam Queen Mattress
Brown is also in the process of moving and with that come many upgrades. One of those much-needed upgrades she says is a new mattress and as a new mom, I think she deserves the deserves the best night’s sleep. This mattress in particular offers balanced comfort, cooling technology and a 20-year warranty.
What we’re tried and loved on sale for Black Friday 2024
Puracy Stain Remover Cleaning Spray
We’re quite lucky at the office because nine times out of 10, somebody will have a product for us to borrow if we have an emergency. That’s exactly what happened when writer Emma Stessman had a nasty coffee spill that was quickly remedied with this stain remover. Don’t believe us? The photos speak for themselves.
Kalkehay Fake Detachable Dickey Collar
Another notable product Stessman likes is a hack that we know many can get behind. She found a quick fix to make many looks a little more elevated for work with this detachable collar. She styles it with sweaters, dresses and more and as her colleague, I know I’ve seen her wear this without suspecting a thing.
Surge Protector Power Strip
One editor called this power strip a helpful tool in her small apartment and says that she’s “obsessed” with it for its powerful charging abilities and how sturdy it is. We love it because it’s just under $10 for Black Friday.
Laite Hebe Medical Compression Socks
One of the things we know about the holiday season is that it comes with a lot of baggage – courtesy of all the traveling, of course. One tool that a writer always turns to to help with the pain are these compression socks that help with swelling, fatigue and circulation. She boasts that after a day of plane rides, her legs feel rested and she’s able to do more when she arrives at her destination.
JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds
If you’re on the lookout for earbuds for less, this is a quality find that prompted one writer to pick over the more expensive option. They come with a charging case and offer up to 35 hours of listening time.
Loop Quiet 2
Associate editor Shannon Garlin has been wearing Loop earplugs for years and often raves about how much they’ve improved her quality of sleep. From her commute to airplanes, Garlin is likely to be found with a set on her to make her travels easier.
Automet Half Zip Pullover Sweatshirt
Garlin, whose style I would describe as a mix of timeless and tasteful, found this sweatshirt recently and loves how high-quality the fabric feels and how she’s able to style it in a variety of ways. Thanks to the fleece lining, she says she’s not taking it off and will likely be buying another since it’s 55% off right now.
Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock
If you’re like us and have a hard time getting up in the morning with less sunlight in the winter, Stessman recommends picking up this sunrise alarm clock that she’s been using for years. And if you’re tired of the harsh alarm sounds other clocks (or your phone) make, this one thankfully has more gentle options and can do more than just be used as an alarm clock.
Doset LED Light Facial Massager
If you’ve been hearing a lot of buzz around LED red light therapy devices over the last year, you’re not alone. One writer decided to give this one a try and notes how she felt improvement in blood circulation and how relaxing it was to use.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 Rowing Machine
We all have various goals for the new year and if one of yours is to improve your upper body strength and to make working out a little more fun, this could be the way to go. It has 12 adjustable resistance levels and is easy to store says one writer uses this machine for a full-body workout.
How we chose
Editor Vivien Moon looked through various deals on the products the Shop TODAY team has reviewed and tested that are on sale for Black Friday 2024 to determine the most notable deals during the shopping event. She spoke with other Shop TODAY editors to find out which products they use and would recommend and to share the products they will be purchasing and why. When looking at potential purchases we also consider factors like a high average rating (of over four stars), the amount of verified shopper ratings and specific user feedback.