Best of 2025

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Today I’m happy to present my 9th annual Best of the Year countdown in which I take a look back at all the products I reviewed throughout 2025, and offer my picks for the best of the bunch. As always, the items on this countdown may not be new products in 2025, but they were new to me. Products on this list came from Amazon, Shark Tank, Temu, and direct from manufacturers.

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Below is a list of all of the products in my countdown (12 total if you count my two Honorable Mentions). The list is sorted alphabetically so you can find the products you’d like. I update these links fairly regularly.

Top 10 Best Products of 2025

10. Robot Artist

AI and robots are current buzzwords in the adult world, and now we’re seeing it trickle down to products for kids. This robot “artist” which looks suspiciously like a Minion character, can draw 150 designs with the swipe of a card. Kids can watch or draw long to help them learn some of the basics of art. I have to admit that I found it pretty fascinating to watch, too, and I’ve already given mine away to a family with small children because I believe they will enjoy it even more than I did.

You can purchase the robot artist here.

Check out the full review below.

9. Dog Pool

One of my personal highlights of the summer of 2025 – on and off camera – was spending time with Bailey in our dog pool. I had been wanting to review one for a while, and finally pulled the trigger this year. This particular model was extremely easy to set up, taking maybe a minute. And even though it collapses down when not in use, the rigid walls are sturdy enough to retain their shape when the pool is full. A lot of users on Amazon said they used this for their kids, too.

You can purchase the dog pool here.

Check out the full review below.

8. Shark FlexBreeze

Living in the desert gives me an advantage when testing out fans during the hotter months, and I have probably tested dozens over the years. This year I caught wind of this $250 FlexBreeze misting fan by Shark, which piqued my interest. Although I initially balked at the price, I discovered that Shark knocked this one out of the park with the most versatile fan I’ve ever used. You can use it as a floor fan or desk fan, with or without mist, plugged in or with the battery, and with or without the remote. I used it all summer long and ended the warm months glad that I owned it.

You can purchase the Shark FlexBreeze.

Check out the full review below.

7. Klydoclock

Although I try to maintain neutrality going into a review, sometimes it’s impossible not to be skeptical, and that was the case for the Klydoclock. After seeing ads for it online, I questioned whether a $300 clock displaying strange and interesting animations would live up to the advertising hype. To my surprise, it did. The clock feature is the least interesting part of this item. It’s the animations that hold attention, and it has been the focus of conversation for every guest I’ve had over. Although it feels a bit like a novelty piece, to me the novelty hasn’t worn off yet and I still find myself admiring the strange and beautiful animations it displays.

You can purchase the Klydoclock here.

Check out the full review below.

6. Watermelon Knife

It almost seems impossible that a giant knife with a watermelon theme could make a “Best of the Year” countdown, but here we are. When I first saw this watermelon knife by Kuhn Rikon, I wasn’t even sure if it was a serious item or not. Once I saw how easily it glided through melons and other items, however, I was an instant fan. I have found that it works extremely well for virtually anything that requires a serrated knife. It may look silly to pull out this big red knife when preparing a fancy meal, but it’s become one of my go-to knives for a variety of uses.

You can purchase the watermelon knife here.

Check out the full review below.

5. Ninja Swirl (Ninja Scoop & Swirl)

Almost every year, my countdown has included a product my Ninja, and this year is no different! In early 2025 I tested out the then-new Ninja Swirl, which has apparently been renamed the Ninja Creami Scoop & Swirl. This product is essentially a Ninja Creami with an added soft serve option. While that may not sound revolutionary, it does open up a lot more possibilities for ice cream than the original Creami could provide. I feel like they did a great job with this one.

You can purchase the Ninja Scoop & Swirl here.

Check out the full review below.

4. Wonder Oven

A couple years ago I tested out the Always Pan and I can’t say I was a huge fan long term because it didn’t hold up and it was expensive. The makers of that pan came back with a new countertop oven called the Wonder Oven, which offered many of the features of standard countertop ovens, along with a steam feature. With all of the kitchen items I test, my countertop real estate is very limited, and the Wonder Oven is still there because I use it almost every day. My primary use is for warming up food, which I use this for more than my oven or my microwave. I’m still not sure if the steam feature adds much benefit, but overall I’ve found this oven to be a worthy addition to my kitchen.

You can purchase the Wonder Oven here.

Check out the full review below.

3. Projection Clock

For the past 40+ years, I’ve always relied on digital clocks with a red display that I had to visually search for to check the time in the middle of the night. That decades-long streak ended in 2025 when I reviewed this projection alarm clock. No more squinting with blurry eyes to see what time it is! I now open my eyes and see a pleasant blue display on my ceiling of the current time. That may not sound game-changing on paper, but I can’t tell you how much of an upgrade it feels like to me. It’s one of those things I never knew existed, but could not longer live without. This was a strong contender for #1 on my list this year.

You can purchase the Projection Alarm Clock here.

Check out the full review below.

2. Halo Hand Warmer

If any product this year felt tailor made for me, it would be this hand warmer on QVC that a viewer showed me. With someone who deals with cold hands because of Raynaud’s, I’ve tried pocket hand warmers and gloves, yet I’ve never felt like a product fully keeps my hands warm – until now. This item has a soft fleece lining and a heating element with enough coverage to actually keep my hands warm. The battery lasts almost all day, and can even double as a phone charger. It’s already made a difference to me on some of the colder mornings since my review was originally posted.

You can purchase the Halo Hand Warmer here, although it has been sold out recently. You may want to consider this item which looks identical, but I haven’t tried that exact model.

Check out the full review below.

1. Cuisinart FastFreeze

I consider several factors when choosing my top product of the year. In the case of the Cuisinart FastFreeze Ice Cream Maker, they managed to make something that offers a similar experience to the popular Ninja Creami, but they made it smaller, quieter, and less expensive. This could actually fit into a drawer, whereas the Creami is a large appliance. I found the results to be quite comparable to the Creami with a tiny footprint. Although I lambasted a Cuisinart ice cream maker in 2024, I think they did a fantastic job with this item and it is deserving of the title of the best item I reviewed in 2025.

You can purchase the Cuisinart FastFreeze here.

Check out the full review below.

Honorable Mentions

Below are two Honorable Mentions that didn’t quite make the cut, but were worthy of a place in this countdown.

Robot Pencil Sharpener

This is one of those items that maybe doesn’t belong in the Top 10, but I liked it enough to give it a mention here. This pencil sharpener may look like a child’s item due to its robot design, but it’s an effective pencil sharpener! It handles most pencil sizes, operates completely hands-free, and offers multiple sharpness settings. I know pencil sharpeners are more of a 20th century item, but this model is probably the best I’ve used in either century I’ve lived in.

You can purchase the robot pencil sharpener here.

Check out the full review below.

Dio Candles

In early 2025 I tried out several candles by Dio Candles, thinking they were purely novelty items – and perhaps they are to some people. To me, however, they capture the smell of nostalgia. I’ve often said that you can record video and you can record audio, but you can’t really record smells… but Dio Candles have come as close as anyone else to capturing familiar smells of yesterday and today. As I type this, I’m currently burning a Thunderstorm candle nearby. They offer such a wide variety of unusual and nostalgic scents that this countdown would not be complete without mentioning this company and their incredibly unique candles.

Here’s the official website for Dio Candles.

Check out the full review below.

That’s A Wrap

It seems like only yesterday I was marveling at the arrival of 2025, and now it’s coming to an end! I always enjoy revisiting the past 12 months and picking out some of the best items I found along the way. Of course, there were a few duds along the way too, and I’ll be covering those in my Worst of 2025 video, coming this week!

Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me for another year. Your support means more to me than you probably realize, and I appreciate each and every one of you. Here’s to a joyful holiday season and a wonderful 2026!

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