What to Buy on Amazon Prime Day, According to a Shopping Writer

Amazon Prime Day is great—until you get overwhelmed by the sheer number of deals to be found. Even as professional deal-spotters, it can be hard for us to suss out what is worth spending our money on and what, well, isn’t. To better equip ourselves for the task, we like to organize our lists into items we need—running shoes and cleaning products—and items we want, like powerful blenders and indoor grills. 

Having a mental checklist helps us prioritize what we should buy now that October Prime Day is here, but also leaves room for some of the fun items we’ve wanted for a while. Fortunately, Amazon has all of the above—plus a lot more—on sale right now. Read on to shop some of our favorites, starting at $9.     

Best October Amazon Prime Day Deals Overall

Amazon dropped millions of Prime Day deals, and the best include Brooks walking shoes, a Vitamix blender and a Crock-Pot slow cooker. These kitchen and exercise essentials are up to $120 off.

Vitamix 5200 Blender 

Amazon

If you’re in the market for a good blender, look no further than the Vitamix 5200 series. It’s been a staple in my parents’ home for nearly two decades, and it still works just as well as it did when my mom first bought it. The brand is known for its impressive power and unmatched quality, both of which are present in spades in this model. 

Crock-Pot 7-Quart Manual Slow Cooker 

Amazon

Investing in a slow cooker is one of the best decisions you can make come fall and winter. It takes the guesswork out of dinner, allowing you to prep your ingredients before you leave for work and come home hours later to a hot, homemade meal. Whether you’re making soup or lasagna, you’ll be happy you bought this 7-quart Crock-Pot while it was on sale for $36.   

Brooks Ghost 16 Running Shoe 

Amazon

The Brooks Ghost 16 Running Shoe is a podiatrist-loved pick for its blend of “comfort, cushion and support.” In addition to the wide range of sizes and widths, it’s also available in over 20 color combinations. Score it now for $40 off.  

Gorilla Grip Meat Tenderizer 

Amazon

You might not need a meat tenderizer often, but it certainly comes in handy when you’re making schnitzel—be it the eggplant, pork or chicken variety. Gorilla Grip’s heavy-duty model is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning, has more than 1,700 five-star ratings at Amazon and is 48% off for a limited time.   

Yarramate Glass Olive Oil Sprayer 

Amazon

Yarramate’s clever olive oil sprayer ensures you’ll add the exact amount of oil you want to a recipe. With a setting for spraying and another for pouring, it’s easy to coat ingredients evenly in a fine mist before grilling or measure out specific amounts for marinades, dressings and more.    

Branch Basics Cleaning Essentials Kit 

Amazon

Keeping a house clean is a full-time job. Branch Basics makes it easier with its concentrate that works for every surface in your home. Simply divide the concentrate among the bottles included in the kit and add the proper amount of water for the task. The best part? The bottles are refillable, so all you’ll have to do is get a refill of the concentrate when it runs out.    

KitchenAid Stainless Steel Cookware Set 

Amazon

If you’re in need of a full pot and pan refresh, try KitchenAid’s stainless steel cookware set, which is entirely free of Teflon. Included inside the 10-piece collection is a 1.5-quart saucepan, a 3-quart saucepan, a 6-quart stockpot, a 9.5-inch frying pan, a 12-inch frying pan and a pasta insert, most with matching lids. From scrambled eggs to pasta dinners, KitchenAid has you covered.  

Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 Indoor Grill 

Amazon

Marked down to its lowest price of the year, the Ninja 6-in-1 Foodi brings the heat of the grill inside without any of the smoke. To make the appliance even more practical, the brand also added air-frying, roasting, baking, dehydrating and broiling settings, meaning there isn’t much you won’t be able to make with this one device.    

Hoka Clifton 9 Running Shoes

We do love Hoka running shoes, and so do some of our mothers. Not only are these Clifton 9 sneakers plush and cushiony, but they also spring back and have a breathable upper and a lightweight design. These Hoka shoes are so popular that even podiatrists are recommending them.

Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2 

Amazon

Sore muscles are no match for a Hypervolt. Possessing one of these portable massage guns is like having access to a masseuse on demand. Even though the brand’s “go” version is small enough to take with you on trips, it’s still more than capable of loosening tight muscles. 

Dash Mini Waffle Maker 

Amazon

One Amazon shopper called this Dash waffle maker “a good gift idea,” adding that it is “simple to use.” If all of these qualities sound good to you, grab it now while it’s on sale for Prime Day. They’re definitely a fan-favorite with over 21,000 five-star ratings. Shoppers say they’re fun, cute, and make breakfast (or dinner) fun!

Circle Joy Rechargeable Milk Frother 

Amazon

Frothed milk is one of life’s great joys. This handheld frother completes the task in barely any time, opening up a world of possibilities for your coffee, tea or hot chocolate. It’s even rechargeable, so you never have to worry about a dead battery harshing your vibes. Pair it with a new espresso machine for the ultimately morning latte.   

Eager to find more jaw-dropping discounts? Check out Amazon’s main October Prime Day deals hub for more kitchen and exercise essentials before prices bounce back to normal.