The Top 21 Products Best Of Readers Bought in 2021
As we look back at the year that was, we’re rounding up the products our readers couldn’t stop adding to cart.
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
There’s no denying that 2021 is a year few of us want to reflect upon. With lockdowns, restrictions and a holiday period that saw many in isolation, last year has quickly been added to the pile of things we would rather forget.
However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom, with many of our readers determined to prioritise self-care, spend more time baking or investing in their fitness and making their home a pleasant place to spend additional time.
From massage guns to weighted blankets, these are the top 21 items our readers purchased to help get them through a tough year.
2021 TOP SELLERS
As always, please note that listed sales prices are correct at time of publication.
Hooded blankets
With lockdowns happening across most of the country for a big part of the year, hooded blankets were undoubtedly the most popular product for 2021. Whether for adults, teens or kids, Oodies were a huge hit with our readers. Haven’t snagged yourself one yet? Here’s our top pick:
Avocado Oodie, Oodie, $84 (RRP $109)
Weighted blankets
Following a similar theme, weighted blankets were the second best-selling item of last year. In addition to being warm and cosy, the blankets use deep pressure stimulation which is thought to reduce stress and anxiety and help you sleep. If you’re yet to get your hands on one, now is a great time to do just that. Our readers loved this Adults Weighted Blanket which comes in three weight options of 4.5kg, 6.8kg and 9kg and can be purchased in a variety of colours.
Adults Weighted Blanket 4.5kg, Calming Blankets, $189 (RRP $299)
Advent calendars
Christmas 2021 was all about the advent calendars — and not the chocolate kind. From beauty calendars to LEGO variations, shoppers were eager to snap up advent calendars chock-full of mini presents. You can still snap up one of the most popular options from last year’s range below.
LEGO Marvel Avengers Advent Calendar, Big W, RRP $45
Wireless earbuds
With all the Zoom calls and outdoor walks we took last year, it’s no surprise that wireless earbuds made the top five most purchased products. The top seller was Apple Airpods (2nd Gen), while Anker’s Soundcore Liberty Wireless Earbuds and Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live were also popular choices. Still haven’t grabbed a pair? Shop them below:
Apple AirPods (2nd Gen) with Charging Case, Amazon Australia, $179 (RRP $219)
Anker Soundcore Liberty Wireless Earbuds, Amazon Australia, $59.99 (RRP $89.99)
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, Samsung, $149 (RRP $249)
Stick vacuums
With travel bans and stay at home orders in place, many shoppers chose to spend their spare cash on home products last year, with stick vacuum cleaners proving an especially popular choice. The year’s top-selling vacuum was Dyson’s Cyclone V10 Absolute Plus. This model moved quickly but if you’re in the market for a new vacuum, the Dyson V7 Motorhead Origin Vacuum and the INSE Cordless 2-in-1 Vacuum Cleaner were other top picks last year.
Cyclone V7 Motorhead Origin Vacuum, Catch, $379 (RRP $599)
INSE Cordless 2-in-1 Vacuum Cleaner, Amazon Australia, RRP $189.99
Bath towels
Another top-selling home item for 2021 was the humble bath towel. The year saw plenty of shoppers swap out their old towels for something a little more comforting. In particular, our readers chose to wrap themselves up in these plush Canningvale terry cotton towels which come in a set of six and in a variety of colour options. Shop them now:
Royal Splendour 6 Piece Towel Set, Canningvale, $69.99 (RRP $149.99)
White sneakers
White sneakers were a hot buy from customers looking to upgrade their wardrobe in 2021, and the Posy sneaker from The Iconic was the year’s best seller. If you are on the hunt for some white kicks, Veja’s Esplar sneakers were another style our readers just couldn’t get enough of.
Veja Esplar Unisex Sneakers, The Iconic, RRP $165
Cookware
Those who found themselves in lockdown last year were quick to hit the kitchen and learn some new skills. Whether they were trying new dinner recipes or baking banana bread, our readers loaded up on new cookware like this Smith & Nobel Traditions Cast Iron 5L Casserole Dish and this Esteele Per Salute 30cm Open French Skillet.
Smith & Nobel Traditions Cast Iron 5L Casserole Dish, Harris Scarfe, $83.99 (RRP $119.99)
Esteele Per Salute 30cm Open French Skillet, Myer, $119.97 (RRP $199.95)
Air fryers
Air fryers were yet another popular investment for those spending more time in the kitchen last year. Offering a 5.2L capacity and eight heat settings, the Ninja Airfryer Deluxe was the most purchased model by our readers and currently holds a 4.5 out of 5 star customer rating on The Good Guys site.
Ninja Airfryer Deluxe, The Good Guys, RRP $249
IPL Hair Removal Devices
Last year’s lockdowns and restrictions meant plenty of missed beauty appointments, but many of our readers decided to take matters into their own hands. Rather than wait for hair removal to be back on the cards, shoppers snapped up at-home IPL devices, with Braun’s Silk Expert Pro 5 taking out the top spot for the most purchased model.
Braun Silk Expert Pro 5, Shaver Shop, $489 (RRP $999)
Hair care products
Hair care products were another hot commodity last year, with Olaplex’s No.3 Hair Perfector finding itself in the carts of many. The top-rated treatment works to rebuild and repair hair bonds, making it ideal for coloured, dry or brittle hair. Still yet to try the cult-favourite product for yourself? Grab it now:
Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector, Adore Beauty, RRP $50
Sheet sets
In addition to upgrading their bath towels, our readers were also eager to replace their old sheets with something more luxurious. Their top pick were these Alessia Bamboo Cotton Sheets sheets by Canningvale, which come in a variety of colours and are hypo-allergenic, antibacterial, moisture-wicking and odour resistant. You can shop them below:
Alessia Bamboo Cotton Sheet Sets, Canningvale, from $79.99 (RRP from $179.99)
Car vacuum cleaners
Those who spent a lot of time on social media last year would likely have noticed an uptick in cleaning content. ‘Sunday reset’ and ‘cleaning asmr’ were just a couple of trends that took off in 2021, making it no surprise that shoppers snapped up handy cleaning products like car vacuums. ThisWorx Car Vacuum was a particularly popular buy, thanks to its affordable nature and extra long power cord.
ThisWorx Car Vacuum Cleaner, Amazon Australia, RRP $54.94
Massage guns
Who didn’t need a little R&R last year? Our readers certainly took the opportunity to indulge in a little self-care; investing in premium massage guns to help ease some of their tension. The year’s top-seller was the RENPHO Massage Gun, which is a quiet, deep tissue massage device with twenty adjustable speeds. Shop it here:
RENPHO Massage Gun, Amazon Australia, RRP $159.99
Electric toothbrushes
2021 saw shoppers ditch their old toothbrushes in favour of something a little fancier. Electric toothbrushes became the must-have hygiene product, with the majority of our readers opting for the Pro 700 model by Oral-B. With 3D cleaning action and a built-in timer, the toothbrush is a worthwhile addition to any bathroom cabinet. You can get it here:
Oral-B Pro 700 Black Electric Toothbrush, Shaver Shop, $44.95 (RRP $99.99)
Treadmills
Last year was all about the home gym, making it no surprise that treadmills made our most-purchased list. The top model of choice was the Walk 2 Lose Folding Treadmill. If you’re looking to buy an at-home treadmil, you can still purchase the Treadmill by Endurance, which our readers also loved.
Treadmill by Endurance, Amazon Australia, RRP $1,299
Robot vacuums
After months of stay at home orders, shoppers quickly became sick of cleaning their homes and chose to invest in a nifty robot vacuum to help them out.Our readers couldn’t get enough of the Ecovacs Deebot N79T Robotic Vacuum Cleaner. If you’re looking for a great alternative, the Ecovacs DEEBOT T9+ Robotic Vacuum was another popular choice with customers thanks to its dual vacuum and mopping functions.
Ecovacs DEEBOT T9+ Robotic Vacuum, The Good Guys, RRP $1,299
Looking to discover more great products? Head to our Best Of section to see all the latest product guides and reviews. You can also sign up to our Best Of shopping newsletter to be kept in the loop about popular products and upcoming sales.
If you’re looking for a bargain buy, you can meanwhile visit our news.com.au Coupons page to see a list of current deals and offers from top retailers.
Lauren is news.com.au’s Best Of consumer technology writer. She previously worked at comparison site Finder as the senior shopping writer where she reported on everything from tech gadgets to the latest home products. Prior to cutting her teeth as a journalist, she completed a Bachelor of journalism at the University of South Australia and worked as a media advisor for JB Hi-Fi where she sold the very products she now writes about.
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