Blog

Oct 12, 2023

30 Practical Summer Products With Lots Of Five

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

A fast-acting lawn repair formula, extra soft cooling bedsheets, sand-repelling beach towels, and other things you'll definitely wanna nab this summer.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "I used this in the spring to fill out our lawn more, and it worked great! I was worried because I feel like you always hear grass seed horror stories, but I just raked our lawn good, spread seeds all over, and watered it once (sometimes twice) per day and it filled the lawn in beautifully!" —Mariah

Get it from Amazon for $16.44+ (available in five sizes and multipacks).

Promising review: "I saw one of these in action at a friend's house like five years ago and thought it was just a made up memory, because making ice cream out of solely frozen fruit seems wild. But when I saw a TikTok about it, I immediately went to Amazon and bought it. Literally this was the BEST decision of my life. I cannot believe still how amazing this thing is! It makes the creamiest, best-tasting fruit ice cream ever. It's easy to take apart and clean, and super easy to use." —DMCKAY

Get it from Amazon for $39.98+ (available in six colors).

Promising review: "Our kiddos wanted this so badly, but we were skeptical. IT ACTUALLY WORKS! We’ve made all sorts of yummy slushies, and it hand washes easily. I would buy again!" —C. Warrick

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in 14 colors and sets of two).

Promising review: "I saw these recommended on a TikTok for disabled people who can't regulate their temperature in the heat, and omg, was it worth buying them. You just add cold water and it's like an ice pack without the burning of the ice. They worked great for cooling my arm after the Covid shot! Excited to use them all summer!" —Muirgen Neal

Get a set of four for $18.99+ (available in 13 color combos).

Promising review: "I was very skeptical of this product but decided to give it a try after reading the reviews and knowing if it didn't work I could return it. Let me preface this review by saying I live a few miles from a swamp in south Louisiana.

I know it says wait 15 minutes to give it time to work, but I wanted to make sure mosquitoes were swarming to test it effectively. So I camped out in my favorite chair and was immediately swarmed by mosquitoes. I started the unit, and in about 15 minutes there wasn't a mosquito near me! No exaggeration. I am sitting outside as night is falling in south Louisiana and not one mosquito is buzzing me. I have been out here just over an hour and I have only two bites – one bite was from when I first sat down and before the unit was on 15 minutes. I am seriously impressed with this product and I am ordering more for gifts and to expand my own coverage as soon as I am done with this review. And there is no stinky citronella smell. There is no odor at all. Amazing." —NolaMom

Get it from Amazon for $17.99.

This candle has a 60-hour burn time!

Anchored Northwest is a husband and wife–founded small biz based in Spokane, Washington making the most delicious-smelling candles and room sprays,

Promising reviews: "Haven't lit it yet but the candle smells great! The smell alone is so potent even without lighting it yet, we've seen a decrease in mosquitos just leaving it out!" —Michelle Gulino

"Great, light scent that sent the early spring Texas bugs packing when I lit it last night." —Jessica Booth

Get it from Anchored Northwest on Etsy for $12.47 (originally $24.95).

Promising review: "One of my puppers is a super athlete who lives for walks and runs. She is about 9 now and the vet gave her a stellar bill of health save one thing: Her pads were getting really rough and worn from paved trails and city walks, and this may be uncomfortable, especially as summer comes and pavement heats up. I was skeptical about any kind of balm as I figured that it would leave a mess on my floors or one/both dogs would just lick it off their feet. No problems whatsoever, and after a single application, both dogs' pads are really soft and supple. Hopefully the dogs can feel the difference. I can surely see it and feel it. Also, the balm smells like oatmeal cookies, so bonus for that." —LRL

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (clip the coupon for an extra 40% off).

Promising review: "Scummy water bugging you? I just got this gem of a product last night. Popped it into my hot tub and from the picture I attached, you can see that in just about 12 hours, this little Scumbug ate up all the oil and filth in the hot tub. The water not only looks better, but smells better too! Highly recommended!" —Mickey D.

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

Made with a bamboo handle and powder-coated steel, it uses a simple lever system to made weeding easy. BTW, Grampa's Gardenware Co. is a small, family-owned business based in Oregon making tools for gardening. They've been making this tool since 1913!

Promising review: "Oh my god, I friggin' love this tool. I bought this on a whim given we bought our first house and know nothing about caring for a yard. Boy has it come in handy. Our new house had a ton of weeds in the front yard and this tool helped me get most of them out in no time. In fact, the process of yanking out the weeds was strangely satisfying! I don't think anyone can say that weeding is fun but this tool made it as close to fun as you can get, especially when you see a long root along with the weed you pulled." —JG

Get it from Amazon for $39.99.

Sets come with a flat sheet, fitted sheet, and two pillowcases (with only one pillowcase included in the twin size).

Promising review: "These are the real deal!! I found them from a TikTok and my husband actually said after the first night, 'Let's just replace all of our sheets with these, they’re so comfortable!' It's a beautiful blue and white pattern. They wash well and breathe at night — I am always hot but these stayed cool. Definitely buying more!" —Julia Monroe

Get it from Amazon for $39.97+ (available in sizes twin–California king and 40 colors).

Promising review: "My philosophy...you need to love your job and love your bed because that's where you spend most of your hours. Anyway, I don't work anymore, but I dang sure love my bed! High-quality mattress, nice linens, and THESE pillows! They are PERFECT!!!! There isn't a single thing that can be improved, because they are like sleeping on a cloud that supports you perfectly... 100 out of 10 stars! We stayed at the Aria in Vegas for my bachelorette party and had several rooms... the first morning we were ALL talking about the pillows! I'm pretty sure these are the same ones!" —Shawna Hathaway

Get a set of two from Amazon for $61.37+ (available in queen and king sizes).

To clean it, simply twist the roller's ring to unlock, and pull out the stone. Then wash with a gentle cleanser, rinse, and air-dry before locking it back in.

Promising review: "Over the years, my skin has become extremely oily. This roller is easy to use, portable, REALLY does what it says!! Don't know how I've lived without this. I will never purchase blotting/oil-absorbing sheets again." —jazmine

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

Promising review: "Love this sunglasses holder. It stays securely on the visor and I can put and take my sunglasses on and off from it with one hand. It's much better than the last one I purchased off of Amazon. That one got so loose that it wouldn't stay on the visor anymore. I don't think I'll have that problem with this one. The visor is still usable with the sunglass holder on it and the sunglasses are within perfect reaching distance to take off even while driving with one hand. And the clips hold my sunglasses tightly. Best purchase ever!" —kirates

Get it from Amazon for $10.99 (also available as a set of two).

Just add up to 6 tablespoons of your go-to coffee beans into the filter, fill it with water, and leave it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Then, remove the filter from the pitcher and — BAM — you've got some delicious coffee.

Promising review: "This was my first cold brewing experience, but this product made it easy! Just put your coffee in the filter, fill it with water, and forget it in the fridge for a day! Plus, I love that everything comes apart easily and can be put in the dishwasher." —shackelforrd

Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in two sizes).

Check out one BuzzFeeder's full Takeya cold brew maker review to learn more about why we love it.

Promising review: "These grill lights are exactly what I needed! They light up the area so well. The magnets are strong, and the ability to direct the light where needed is great. The package they came in is perfect to store them in when not in use! I have recommended these to several people who also think they are great. I was worried they would be cheap and maybe not have a lot of magnetic hold to them, but they do!!" —LC

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

Promising review: "I’ve only had it two days, but clearly our double-coated dog approves. He has never slept up on the couch with us, he just gets too hot. Now he's curled up against me on his pad snoozing away. I’m so happy!!!! I don't care if it lasts six months or six years — it's worth it that he's comfortable." —Crystal S.

Get it from Amazon for $27.98+ (available in two sizes and in larger sizes).

Promising review: "I own an English bulldog who overheats very easily. I bought this for a (very short) trip to the beach, and it worked fabulously. Easy to use and super cute!" —Ciara

Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "I bought these boots for a trip to London and Dublin. Knowing there would be lots of rain, I needed something to keep my feet dry. I was concerned about the comfort of wearing a rain boot. These boots did not disappoint. They were actually so much more comfortable than I could have imagined. They didn't rub like some of the booties do. We walked 10 miles a day, right out to package. No blisters or discomfort. I would recommend them to anyone. You must wear socks with them, so plan for sizing accordingly. I logged 40k steps in these boots and now use them as daily barn boots. Great price and great product, cute too." —Kindra Nyberg

Get it from Amazon for $28.98+ (available in women's sizes 5–9.5 and eight colors).

Ponyback is a woman-owned small business that was started by Stacey Keller, who was frustrated with the different hat options in the market, so she decided to create her own. This style is made from cotton and works for all hair types.

Promising review: "I am in freaking love with this hat. All my friends tell me how amazing it looks on me. I have been wanting a nice ball cap, but since I normally have my hair up, I couldn't find one that worked till this came along on my TikTok, and I knew I had to get it. And I was so happy I waited till it was in stock again. I just love this hat. I wasn't sure about the size but just went for a small/medium size since I thought that would fit, and it's just perfect when my hair is up. I am so happy." —Naysa H

Get it from Ponyback for $39+ (available in youth size M/L and women's sizes XS-XXLG and in 11 colors).

CurlCap is a Black-owned small apparel company founded by Britney Sade that specializes in caps designed for natural hair with an open back and flexible scrunchie design.

Promising review: "Good cap. My head circumference is 24" and the hat fits really good and is comfortable. I like the elastic band and also gives me shade in this hot Texas heat!" —GwenH

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 24 styles).

Promising review: "I wanted something that can cover my face, when most of the time I'm wearing a COVID-19 mask and don't want to get half/tan. But also I don't like too much sun on my face, wearing contacts gets to be too much. My main issue was when I'm riding a bicycle how to cover my face, and not to be blown away by the wind. This visor has it all. It's cute. I feel like I'm in my own little shady world, and doesn't ruin my hair. Velcro adjust on the back and you get flexible rope to fasten it under your chin. Glasses or sunglasses fit easy. I love it!" —Marinchich

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five colors).

Promising review: "One awesome fan for our outdoor patio. We were shocked at how much air this pushes. Mounted easily. Love that it can be outside in the weather. Helps majorly in keeping cool outside in NC heat!" —kat

Get it from Amazon for $109.46+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "I run, and was sick of sweat dripping into and stinging my eyes. I got these, and at first glance, I was not impressed. They are pretty thin, and did not seem like they would absorb well. I am happy to admit I was wrong. They are super absorbent. I can literally wring sweat out of them after a long run. They have made a huge difference in my comfort, and now I won't do any kind of strenuous activity without wearing one. There were so many, I gave a couple to my mom for playing pickleball, and she is very happy with them as well!" —K.P.

Get a set of ten from Amazon for $13.99.

This comes with nonstick coating and five adjustable temperature settings.

Promising review: "This is the perfect grill for my apartment balcony. It was easy to clean and it's really nonstick. In comparison to other brands, this actually heats up the plate instead of heating lights. It cooked really well and was very easy to install. I would definitely recommend to purchase this if you have a small balcony." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $99.99+ (available in two colors).

It's made of a polyester microsuede material that absorbs quickly and dries fast. It also has an anti-microbial finish to keep the towel clean longer.

This small business started SMALL (we're talking in the back of a van!) and thanks to founder and CEO Wylie Robinson, the Kickstarter success has become a go-to shop for nature lovers looking to stay cozy in the great outdoors. The company is now based in Portland, Oregon.

Promising review: "This towel dries better than a conventional towel! Not only that but it was completely dry and ready to reuse in about 10 minutes. Normally we'd go through a stack of beach towels in one day. The towel itself is big but it packs up compact leaving more room in your bag for other things. It's soooo soft, made very well, and the pattern is gorgeous. I will be replacing all of my towels with these!!" —Danielle W.

Get it from Rumpl for $49+ (available in 27 styles).

Thigh Society is a woman-founded, size-inclusive small biz from Marnie Consky.

Here's why BuzzFeed shopping editor Chelsea Stuart loves these:

"I recently bought two pairs of these — in black and nude — and I am simply in love. Chub rub has always been a part of my life and until now, I didn't have a great way of preventing it. I've tried various sport shorts and slathering my thighs in deodorant but those methods just weren't cutting it. These shorts are unbelievably lightweight and breathable, superrrrrr stretchy (but not in a way that bags out after extended wear), and they do. not. roll. or. fall. down. I wear them under all of my skirts and dresses (because I also have an irrational fear that everything I wear is see-through when the sun hits it) and I will definitely be buying more!"

Promising review: "It's not an exaggeration to say these shorts are life changing. I’m a chubby living in hot, steamy Florida. Chub rub is inevitable when wearing skirts and dresses. I’ve tried a number of lady boxers and petit pants. They all either rolled up, down, or one leg rode up. They were also hot and non breathable. These shorts are perfection. No more chub rub, no more swamp a$$! I’m in love. I wish there were more color choices!" —Rachel

Get a pair from Thigh Society for $39 (available in women's sizes XS/S–5X/6X, in four lengths, and 10 colors).

Comes in multiple sizes (depending on your make and model) with a money-back guarantee.

Promising review: "This is super easy to use. Open and put it in the window, can't get any easier than that. My GMC Denali sits outside in the Southeastern NC sun all day and this really made a difference. When I get into my truck I can actually sit on the leather seats without being burned. It also keeps the sun off my dash which is important down here in the Southeast. I would definitely recommend it.' —Sharon

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in nine sizes).

Promising review: "This steering wheel cover is absolutely beautiful! It adds life to the interior of my car! It's a little hard to put on but that goes for any steering wheel cover. Trust me it does fit, you just have to keep moving it around. I’m completely satisfied with this product and I might even buy the other styles they offer." —Erika Ranzolin

Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in four colors)

Mama Love Boutique is a Sellersville, Pennsylvania-based shop that specializes in these balloons and knit hats.

How do these work, you ask? Simple. Just fill 'em up like you would a regular water balloon, then refill after it's been tossed.

Promising review: "Got them, opened them, used them in the same day. I have two boys with LOTS of energy and they had so much fun pummeling me with these water 'balloons' 🤣 and I had fun throwing them right back. Not just for kids. Very well made. So happy with this purchase!" —Carley Campbell

Get the 12-pack from Mama Love Boutique on Etsy for $35.50 (available in three color combos).

Note that this includes just the umbrella, not the table!

Promising review: "I normally don't like buying products like this sight unseen, but I’m very pleased with the look and especially with the solar lighting. We enjoyed a pleasant evening on the deck with just the right amount of ambient light tonight, and we are hopeful that it will prove to be durable." —Dee

Get it from Amazon for $71.98+ (available in 11 color combos).

Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.