Six surprising bestsellers from Amazon's Black Friday super sale
Black Friday weekend is in full swing, although if you're anything like us it feels like it's lasted a month already. Despite huge brands pushing the button on their biggest deals of the year as soon as Halloween was over to tempt us all to part with our cash, this weekend has seen shopping deals hit their peak tying in with Thanksgiving in the US.
Shoppers have about 24 more hours to bag a bargain on Amazon and a host of other big names sites like Shark, Ninja, Currys, John Lewis, Boots and Oodie, with the majority of deals running through to 11.59pm on Cyber Monday across a huge range of products ranging from limited edition air fryers to the cheapest Amazon Echo Dot we've ever seen.
But while for many of us these kinds of products, alongside images of people fighting in car parks to get a cut price flat screen TVs, are Black Friday staples, in my experience Black Friday 2023 has thrown up some surprises in what shoppers are snapping up as fast as they can press the 'buy now' button.
As a shopping writer I have spent weeks tracking all the big and trending deals based on data from our stories - it turns out everyone loves the idea of a Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser for £33 - as well as keeping an eye on deals websites like Money Saving Expert and Hot UK Deals and analysing Amazon data on the deals that are most popular with their customers.
The internet giant gives hourly updates about their best-selling products across each category and there have been some recurring themes this weekend - and they might not be what you expect. Here's the six most surprising best-sellers I've spotted this Black Friday weekend.
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Crocs
Crocs have proved to be a Black Friday favourite for 2023 (Crocs)Now I'm not going to lie, I feel a bit smug about this. Mirror Choice has loads of writers renowned for their expertise when it comes to all things fashion and beauty and, I cannot emphasise this enough, I'm not one of them. One of my most controversial fashion favourites and the one that raises eyebrows highest among my more stylish colleagues are my Crocs (I actually have two pairs) and right now I'm feeling vindicated because it turns out I am not alone.
I have been tracking best-sellers in fashion throughout Black Friday week and across this weekend and the plastic clogs have been in the top three in their category every time I've checked. You can get the classic lined version in black for 50% off down to £27.49 while unlined versions are 36% off down to £28.62.
My only question is are people wearing them now or saving them until the weather is warmer, because I'm firmly in Ugg slipper territory until spring now. If you're the same, those been trending too, although I've got my eye on these comfy looking Skecher slippers which have also been selling well.
Chocolate and biscuits. And chocolate biscuits
Kitkat is one of a host of chocolate bars in a huge selection box that's gone viral for Black Friday (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)One of the first big trending products that went viral for Black Friday 2023, chocolate lovers headed to Amazon in their droves to snap up a giant 1.4kg box of branded chocolate bars.
The Nestlé Big Chocolate Biscuit Box contains 71 miniature versions of five different delicious chocolate bars including Kitkats, Yorkies and Blue Riband and was reduced to £13.98, working out than less than 20p a bar. Chocoholics across the country took to HotUKDeals and Facebook on Friday to share news of the deal, leaping into action until the allocation of bargain boxes were gone.
Undeterred, bargain hunting sweet fans have moved on, picking up 2Kg boxes of Cadburys Heroes for £18.99, a 64-piece Cadbury and Oreo hybrid box perfect for filling lunchboxes with sweet treats well into 2024 for just £14.44 and discount boxes of Lindor balls in every flavour you could want (and a few you shouldn't) for cheaper than you can get in a supermarket.
Although as an aside we have to talk - I have noticed coconut Lindor balls are consistently trending as more popular than mint ones and this makes me worry for the state of our nation.
Batteries
Sometimes you don't need to buy new big name gadgets, you just need to buy the batteries to put in the gadgets you already have. Seeing Amazon's Basic batteries trending throughout this week has reminded me of my annual Christmas morning faff trying to find enough AAs to get whatever this year's toy of choice working (last year I ended up having to use a couple from the TV remote which made for ructions every time it was time to change the channel).
Following the example of all those Black Friday shoppers clearly more organised than me, I too have now snapped up 40 batteries for £11.35 and it's worth every penny knowing I'm not going to end up in a corner shop on Christmas Day afternoon paying six quid for two overpriced brand name ones to ease the disappointment of one of the kids as they can't play with a new gift.
Exploding Kittens
(Amazon)This is admittedly not as alarming as it sounds, once you realise that it's not some kind of disturbing act of animal cruelty but instead one of the best and most easily learned family friendly games you can get right now.
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Made by the same people who make Cards Against Humanity but with none of the wickedly funny offensiveness that made CAH a cult classic, Exploding Kittens can be played by up to five players aged 7 and up - although we've played it with slightly younger although they might need help with reading the cards.
It's quick to learn and play making it perfect for the festive season and currently 43% off, reduced to £11.49.
A pocket hug
Amazon really does sell everything it turns out. This £3.67 wooden token has been the best-seller in the brand's personalised gifting section for days and more than 2,000 of the cute keepsakes have been sold this month so far.
There are different variants of the little wooden knicknack and it comes attached to a choice of cards for different occasions and sentiments ranging from thinking of you to good luck.
Meanwhile in the slightly more niche 'personalised pet gift' section, this collar tag made me chuckle. It's been number one in the section every time I've checked, suggesting something many of us have in common alongside being hugely sweet toothed is owning adorable-yet-infuriating pets prone to escaping.
A boxing headband
App-controlled boxing headband Boxbollen is one of a host of surprising products that have been best-sellers on Amazon this Black Friday season (Amazon)No, you really did read that right. The Boxbollen is an app-controlled (because of course it is) boxing game where, from what I can tell, you put on a headband with a boxing ball attached to it with wire that dangles in front of you. You then punch it and the app counts how many punches you do, allowing you to compete with friends and family in person or via other people playing on the app.
It has a fairly solid 4.1 out of 5 stars out of 232 reviews with shoppers praising its entertainment value and how effective it is at burning calories - I guess it's one way to burn off the Christmas turkey - although some people complain that it doesn't register all the hits properly.
At this point of all the best-sellers it feels like it could be a cheese dream but I have spent so long looking at this over the Black Friday season I'm seriously considering investing £19.99 and getting it as a joke Christmas gift for a fitness loving friend.
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