I'm a Shopping Writer, and These Are My 10 Favorite Deals for October Prime Day
It's easy to get lost in the craziness of October Prime Day, with thousands of deals on sale. There are a lot of bad Amazon deals out there, so it helps to have a real-life human being weed out the junk.
As a tech shopping writer, my job is to find good deals and to test products that will make your life easier. Below, you'll find a list of 10 Prime Day deals, comprised of some of the products I've tested over the years that have improved my life, and that might improve yours, as well.
A great exercise bike for $170 after coupons
I got the Merach Exercise Bike after having surgery for a torn ACL. My physical therapy required me to build muscle back on my leg by exercising multiple times a week, so I figured an exercise bike would help. I can't attribute all of my improvements to this bike, but it definitely helped a lot. The bike is incredibly affordable for the quality it offers (you can read why in my review), coming in at just $169.99 (originally $299.99) after using the $20 on-page coupon. It is silent, smooth, and can be hooked up to an app.
A subscription-free floodlight camera for $126
I got the Reolink 4K Floodlight Camera after a break-in at my house. I wanted a camera without a monthly subscription fee, and this camera did the job. The light is powerful and can illuminate my whole backyard (about 35 feet by 50 feet). It has a view of 180 degrees, two-way talk, and live view with playback as well (though that requires an SD card). My favorite part is that it is PoE (power over ethernet), meaning it just needs an ethernet cable to give it both power and an internet connection. Once you set it up, you're good to go. Get it for $125.99 (was $189.99).
A subscription-free video doorbell with a chime for $77
I also got Reolink's video doorbell, available for $76.99 (originally $109.99), and it has been my favorite video doorbell so far for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it is affordable and has no subscription fee. It also includes a chime that I can plug in anywhere in the home. It was easy to install and gave me the option to be wired or wire-free during setup. The 180-degree field of view is also impressive for a doorbell camera. The app is well-made and responsive. It doesn't include a microSD card though (you'll need it for storage, like the camera).
A wifi solar camera without a subscription fee for $51
Another camera I was impressed with was the Aosu Solar Camera, currently $50.99 (originally $79.99). At $50.99, it is an incredible value for your money. This camera is one of the best I've tested, and it's very simple to install. The app is the smoothest and most responsive I've used. If you have a sunny spot where you could use a 360-degree camera that follows people around, I highly recommend this one. There is no subscription fee, but you'll need an SD card for it.
The SwitchBot Wifi Smart Lock Pro bundle for $140
A smart lock has made my life much better. Out of all the ones I have tested, the SwitchBot Smart Lock Pro is my favorite. It has the best app experience, the easiest setup (it literally took about three minutes), and gave me the least problems once it was up and running. It is down to its lowest price ever at $139.99 (originally $199.99). You'll get everything you need to come in and out with a swipe of a finger and open/close it remotely.
My favorite portable speaker for $43 after coupons
I took the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 with me on my last trip abroad, and it became my favorite one before I even got back home. The battery is very resilient for its size, with about 12 hours of playtime. The sound that comes out of the small speaker is also impressive. It has a very powerful and balanced sound with a thumping bass. You can get it for $42.99 (originally $79.99) after using the $5 on-page coupon, the lowest price it has ever been according to price-checking tools.
A kick-ass party speaker that's $200 off
I can't recommend the PartyBox Stage 320 speaker enough to people who love a good house party, karaoke, or just a good speaker to listen to at home or to take outside with them. The app features take this speaker to the next level with the fun pseudo-DJ set that lets you mess around with your music. Being able to hook up two microphones or a microphone and an instrument to it also expands the possibilities. At $399.95 (originally $599.95) the speaker drops to its lowest price and is a steal. You can read more about it in my review.
Make your own beer at home
I always wanted to make my own beer, but the process requires tools, equipment, knowledge, and patience that I didn't think I'd be able to get until later in life. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait that long. The iGulu F1 Brewing Machine is a smart brewing machine that makes the process very simple (just three steps). The beer actually tastes good and you can mess around and get creative making your drinks (you can also make kombucha, hard cider, wine, etc.). The machine is definitely a luxury at $559.99 (originally $699.99), but if you have that kind of money to make your brewing dreams come true, now is the best time to do it.
A reverse osmosis water filter for $400 off
The Waterdrop X12 is a reverse osmosis (RO) water filter, which is a fancy term for a filtering system that pushes water through a filter with a lot of pressure, according to the EPA. RO filters are better than carbon filters at catching more contaminants, and I was able to continue drinking water at home after a boil-water advisory, thanks to the RO technology. The Waterdrop X12 was the easiest RO filter I've installed (took about 15 minutes) and it's very simple to use. You can get it for $899 (originally $1,299).
Shower with filtered water
Maybe it's age or stress, but shortly after turning 30, I began developing dry skin patches on my head, beard, and back of my knees. I've been following my dermatologist's instructions and medications, but I've also been trying other ways to reduce my exposure to potential sources triggering my skin. The Afina Filtered Shower Head is one of the things I've been trying and have not looked back. While I can't attribute all of my skin's improvements to the showerhead, I believe it has played a role. You can get it for the lowest price yet of $90.30 (originally $249).