Amazon’s Most Viral Products: Reasonable or Ridiculous?

Graphic by Angela Cheng. Images via Amazon

Amazon continues to crush its competition by dominating the online retail space in more than just one area. A company whose roots lie in the book industry, Amazon has since expanded to fashion, beauty, food, electronics and home supplies – just to name a few. While it carries many mundane everyday items, it also offers products that once you own, you can’t live without. 

I must admit that I have been sucked into the hype of some of these viral Amazon finds. As I’m sure many others have, I often find myself lying in bed at 2 a.m., scrolling aimlessly through the never-ending amazon homepage, wondering if I actually do in fact need that Inflable Sloth Pool Float or 1500 Live Ladybugs. Amazon has thousands of pages worth of unique, quirky, appealing items. But, which of these products are actually worth taking the plunge for?

Image via Amazon

One of the most viral Amazon women’s wear items is a parka made by a company called Orolay. It rose to fame over a year ago, and has stayed relevant amongst cold climate-dwelling women. The coat is notable for its eye-catching design, with two large front pockets and a generally puffy, padded look that is reminiscent of the over-the-top, yet wearable Balenciaga streetwear. It is also popular for its warmth, of course. Many of the reviewers note that the coat keeps them warm in sub-zero temperatures. The coat falls around the $140 range, depending on size and color. Although this might seem lofty, this purchase is likely worth the splurge if you are searching for a reliable winter parka. 

Images via Amazon

This tiny SkyLite projector, retailing for $49.99, has the power to turn a room into a starry night sky. It is small, yet produces amazing results. Many of the pictures in the product reviews show people’s bedrooms completely transformed. Although it is a very appealing product, and yes, I admittedly almost bought it, I would say it’s not worth almost $50 unless you are truly seeking a way to bring some special ambiance and an outdoor-indoor feel into your home. It is a niche product that is probably not worth the splurge for the everyday person.

Image via Amazon

Let’s face it: most of us have struggled at some point with drinking the daily recommended amount of water. This motivational water bottle leaves no room for excuses. It is a one gallon bottle with markers that dictate how much you should have drank by certain times throughout the day. I recently bought a similar version of this water bottle, and I must say that it does help with my daily water intake. This water bottle is $22, which does seem pricey given that it is made out of basic plastic. However, if this is what it takes to become motivated to drink water, I’d say it’s pretty worth it. 

Images via Amazon

A final category of goods that are insanely popular, yet in my opinion, not worth purchasing, are kitchen utensils for very specific tasks. For example, Amazon has made a killing by selling avocado cutters, egg yolk separators, kale strippers and breakfast sandwich makers. All of these products are specialized to perform one task or work with one type of food, which can be avoided by simply learning how to properly cut an avocado with a knife or separate an egg yolk from an egg white. In my opinion, these types of viral specialty devices will in the long run only leave you with less kitchen space, less money and less cooking acumen.  

Amazon’s viral products are popular for a reason, and often worth taking a look at. However, while it is easy to get sucked into the hype, some of these products might end up being a waste. Unfortunately, Amazon has made it incredibly easy to click “buy” – even if that isn’t always the smartest choice.