As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time to look back at the 200+ products I reviewed this year and reveal my picks for the top 10 – or should I say bottom 10 – in my Worst of 2024 list. I’ll also throw in a couple of dishonorable mentions for those that barely missed the cut. Let’s dive in!
Quick Links
- Al Dente: Buy | Video Review | Written Review
- Bacon Toothpaste: Buy
- Boce Coaster: Buy | Video Review | Written Review
- Boon Glo Knockoff: Video Review | Written Review
- Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker: Buy | Video Review | Written Review
- Drumsticks: Video Review
- Helio AirBroom: Buy | Video Review | Written Review
- Music Hat: Buy | Video Review | Written Review
- Fruit Peeler: Video Review
- Pizza Peel: Buy | Video Review
- Shredder: Video Review | Written Review
- S’mores Ramen: Buy | Video Review
Top 10 Worst Products of 2024
10. Music Hat
A couple of years ago, I tested a Bluetooth beanie that played music. It wasn’t amazing, but it got the job done. So, when I came across this Bluetooth cap with speakers built right into the bill, I was intrigued and eager to give it a shot. Unfortunately, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment. The moment I put it on, queued up some music, and hit play, I was met with an unforgivable offense: absolutely no bass. As a lifelong bass player, that’s a dealbreaker!
To make matters worse, the controls were nearly impossible to locate by touch, forcing me to take the hat off just to adjust the settings. While the concept showed promise, the execution left a lot to be desired.
You can purchase the Music Hat here.
Check out the full video below.
9. Boon Glo Knockoff
In early 2024, a viral video showcased the Boon Glo Nightlight, which is a unique lamp featuring removable, glowing balls designed to provide a portable nightlight children. Videos show children walking down a dark hall, illuminated by these glowing balls. Intrigued, I sought to test it myself, but the model I found on Amazon turned out to be a blatant counterfeit. The balls emitted a feeble glow that faded within seconds, despite claims of a 30-minute illumination. The overall build felt flimsy, yet it was priced comparably to the original, which had its own share of poor reviews and is no longer available. This knockoff failed spectacularly, offering none of the charm or functionality that made the Boon Glo Nightlight appealing in the first place.
It may not be a surprise that the Amazon listing where I bought mine is no longer there. I wonder why!
Below is my full video review.
8. Sliding Pizza Peel
The “Sliding Pizza Peel” gained brief online attention as an innovative twist on a classic tool. However, in my experience, it fell short of traditional peels. The material produced a loud scraping noise and began to fray after just one use. It lacked the sturdiness needed to support even a small pizza and didn’t perform as seamlessly as demonstrated in promotional videos. This product serves as a reminder that sometimes sticking with time-tested designs is the better choice.
If you’d like to buy one for yourself, here’s where I bought mine.
Watch the full video below.
7. Temu Shredder
By now, I’ve learned that Temu isn’t exactly the go-to source for reliable kitchen utensils. Case in point: number 7 on the countdown, a so-called cabbage shredder that failed in just about every way. Marketed as a versatile gadget for shredding cabbage and other vegetables, it didn’t even come close to living up to the hype.
The blade was dull, the cuts were uneven, and using it required significantly more effort than a standard knife. I’m sure there are similar-looking models out there that actually work, but this one was a complete letdown. Sometimes, the simplest tools really are the best.
Check out the full video below.
6. Electronic Drumsticks
While wandering through Marshalls, I stumbled across a pair of electronic drumsticks that promised the ability to play drums anywhere. Intrigued, I gave them a shot – but reality fell far short of the promise.
The drumsticks often produced a sound when moving down or up, and sometimes even when I wasn’t moving them at all! Essential features like a bass drum or hi-hat were completely missing, making the experience feel incomplete at best. Oddly enough, I ended up having a lot of fun with them – not because they were good, but because they were so hilariously bad. Sometimes, it’s the flaws that make a product memorable… but not in a good way.
Watch these in action in the video below.
5. Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker
Coming in at number 5 is the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker, another Instagram darling that looked amazing in those polished promo videos, thanks to influencers chasing affiliate commissions. Unfortunately, for those of us who actually bought and tested it, the experience was far from sweet.
While the final result was acceptable (albeit average) ice cream, the rest of the experience was anything but. At $180, it’s overpriced, bulky, messy, and a complete hassle to clean. If you’re looking for an ice cream maker in this price range, you’re much better off with the Ninja Creami.
You can buy this product here or watch the full video review below.
4. Al Dente
Number 4 on my list is Al Dente, a singing pasta timer that’s funny, cute, and cleverly named – but unfortunately, not very effective. The idea is that you drop it into your pot along with the pasta, and it plays different songs to mark specific cooking times. Sounds fun, right? Well, the execution was far from it.
The timing was wildly inaccurate. Songs often played much earlier than they should have, and the final “11-minute” timer went off at just 7:30. On top of that, the concept of dropping a plastic electronic gadget into boiling pasta water doesn’t exactly scream “appetizing.” In the end, Al Dente is more novelty than utility.
You can pick up Al Dente here.
Check out my review in the video below.
3. Helio AirBroom
Securing the #3 spot on my Worst of 2024 list is the Helio AirBroom, a product currently making the rounds on television. I tested this back in August after seeing a TV ad, and it immediately reminded me of the “Magic Broom” from 2021, a product that earned the dubious honor of being my #1 worst product that year. The Helio AirBroom continues this unfortunate tradition.
Marketed as a hybrid squeegee-broom, it fails to perform either function effectively. The sweeping action is subpar, and the squeegee feature leaves much to be desired. Like its “magic” predecessor, the Helio AirBroom feels more like a novelty item than a useful cleaning tool. Sometimes, sticking with traditional tools is the better choice.
I tested out the Helio AirBroom in the video below.
2. Multi-Peeler
Number 2 on my Worst of 2024 list is a multi-use peeler I picked up from Temu. Like many others on this countdown, it lured me in after appearing in an online roundup of “useful” kitchen gadgets. Unfortunately, “useful” is the last word I’d use to describe it.
While marketed as a versatile fruit peeler, it failed to peel anything. The only feature that sort of worked was cutting through an orange peel, but even that was clunky and interfered with its primary purpose. At just 47 cents, you’d think it might be a bargain, but honestly, even that feels overpriced!
You can see my tests of this peeler in the video below.
1. Boce Coaster
For those who’ve been keeping up with my reviews in 2024, my #1 pick for the Worst of the Year likely won’t come as a surprise. The Boce Coaster (stylized with an accent over the “C”) claims to be more than just a coaster – it promises to enhance the flavor of your drink simply by resting your glass on it for a few minutes.
While they may have some physics research to back their claims, my taste buds didn’t get the memo. After multiple tests, I noticed absolutely no difference in the flavor of any drink. At the end of the day, it seems to me like an overpriced coaster that does what every coaster does: protects your table. And frankly, for the price, it doesn’t even do that better than a regular one!
Buy it here or watch my review below. You can also check out my written review here.
Honorable Mentions
Below are a couple of items that I thought deserved a place in this year’s countdown. My honorable mentions include my least favorite food item of the year as well as the worst product reviewed for members-only.
S’mores Ramen
My first Honorable Mention for Worst of 2024 goes to the Campfire S’mores Ramen, which is easily the strangest food product I tried all year.
I’m always up for an adventure when it comes to odd foods, so when a reader suggested this unusual mashup, I had to give it a shot. I went in hoping for a surprising twist on my taste buds but instead was met with a flavor combination that was, well… unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.
It was fun to try for the novelty factor, but let’s be honest – marshmallows and ramen are a pairing that probably shouldn’t exist. Some experiments are better left in the kitchen!
You can buy it here or watch my video review below.
Bacon Toothpaste
My second Honorable Mention goes to the worst members-only review of 2024: bacon-flavored toothpaste.
Back in March, I created a fun members-only video featuring bacon-themed personal care products, but this particular item turned out to be anything but fun. The toothpaste tasted like bacon that had been left to rot in the sun for weeks. If I had to describe it, I’d say it was like bacon-wrapped foot fungus in paste form.
To this day, the memory of that flavor still haunts me. This product earns its spot as a true nightmare in a tube!
You can buy it here, if you dare.
Conclusion
As 2024 comes to an end, it’s eye-opening to look back at the misses and mishaps from this year’s reviews. While my quest to uncover the best products brought plenty of highlights, there’s no denying that a few head-scratchers managed to sneak in along the way. Thankfully, sifting through the worst of the worst is just as entertaining, and sometimes even more fun to reflect back upon!
To everyone who’s watched, commented, and shared this year, thank you for being part of the journey. Your support keeps me motivated, even when the gadgets don’t! Wishing you a fantastic holiday season and an exciting 2025 filled with fewer fails and more amazing finds. Stay tuned for more reviews, laughs, and surprises in the year ahead!