Let's be honest, the "novelty item" aisle (both online and IRL) can be a wild ride. It's often a treasure trove of things designed to make you chuckle, raise an eyebrow, or wonder "who on earth buys this?" But sometimes, nestled amongst the purely silly, you find a gem – a novelty find that's not just funny, but surprisingly, incredibly useful.
We've waded through the weird, the wacky, and the wonderfully whimsical to bring you 24 novelty finds that genuinely pull their weight. These are the items that might look like a gag gift at first glance but will have you reaching for them time and time again, proving that sometimes the most unexpected packages deliver the most practical punch.
#1 Those Funky Shoe Smells Are About To Get A Cute, Fluffy Eviction Notice Thanks To These Odor Removing Bunnies Hopping Into Action
Review: "Got these as a stocking stuffer for our daughter. She thought they were adorable and immediately put them in a pair of her Jordans. So far they have done their job and kept the odors away! The best thing is they do not fill the shoe with a perfume smell, they just remove any unwanted odors." - Emily
Buy Now: amazon.com
#2 Stop Being Mad At Apple’s Lacklustre Zoom And Just Get A Monocular-Telescope For You Smartphone
Review: "This is a very well-made product - good design, excellent materials, ease of use. I was surprised at how powerful it is - given that I have always used binoculars. Using a monocular device was easier and made holding the device still comfortable and smooth. Glass and optics are exceptionally good. I would recommend this to anyone wanting a smaller device for sightseeing, hunting, or bird watching." - william c dodge
Buy Now: amazon.com
#3 Your Roomba Was Probably Feeling A Bit Smug About Cleaning All The Floors, So A Window Cleaning Robot Is Here To Give Your Vertical Surfaces Their Own Automated Glow-Up
Review: "Best window washer, especially if you can't reach parts of the window." - Robert Lamphiear
Buy Now: amazon.com
#4 Never Lose Your Remote Again With This Handy Universal Glow In The Dark Remote Skin Sleeve
Review: "Perfect fit and makes it a lot easier to hold remote in hand with the great grip the cover provides. Glows in the dark and the colors stand out so it makes it easier to find because we all know we lose these little remotes" - Grandma
Buy Now: amazon.com
#5 Take Note! The Rocketbook Core Reusable Smart Notebook Is How Things Are Done In The Future!
Review: "A great product that really makes your day much easier. I love how you can make notes all day to different accounts and the upload is so easy. I placed mine in my google drive and now my work partner can see what is needed and jumps right into the project. More efficient and less sticky notes everywhere" - Michelle Scott
Buy Now: amazon.com
#6 This Folding Book Lamp Is The Perfect Accessory For Your Li[ght]brary
Review: "This is so cute. I also did not read that it is real wood on the outside. I thought it would be plastic, but oh it is much nicer than the photo. Really cute." - Jenna D'oria
Buy Now: amazon.com
#7 If You Have A Cat With A “If I Fits, I Sits” Mentality, This Toy Cat Laptop Is For Them
Review: "Kept my cat occupied for awhile, but then came back to sit on my laptop haha Atleast I can use the mirror to put my makeup on." - Karen
Buy Now: amazon.com
#8 When Your Minor Owies Are Demanding Attention But Also A Side Of Adorable, These Soft Icepacks Shaped Like The Chillest Cats Totally Understand The Assignment
Review: "The kids love these and they’re good for booboos or lunch boxes." - ShopperInTheCity
Buy Now: amazon.com
Still skeptical that something shaped like a tiny animal or a weird food item can actually solve a real-life problem? Stick with us. The next batch of these surprisingly practical novelties is about to further prove that fun and function can, indeed, be best friends.
#9 Your Charging Cables' Attempts To Achieve Sentient Spaghetti Monster Status Can Be Adorably Thwarted By A Weiner Dog Chord Holder
Review: "Very cute item with right weight. A good cable organizer for my desktop." - Jovita Chow
Buy Now: amazon.com
#10 Turns Out This Quirky Kitty Keychain Has Been Moonlighting As A Bartender And A Carpenter, Who Knew
Review: "The perfect pocket size bottle opener and leveler. It’s cute and multifunctional." - L Lucas
Buy Now: amazon.com
#11 Let Your Wine Bottle Wear A Little Hat And Keep Its Cool, Much Like You After A Few Sips, With A Silicone Sombrero Wine Stopper
Review: "Cute silicone wine stopper! Be sure you have the right height in your fridge, though! - Starz
Buy Now: amazon.com
#12 Give Your Guac The Desert-Chic Treatment It So Clearly Deserves, Without Any Actual Prickles, Thanks To This Cactus Guacamole Spoon
Review: "These spoons are adorable! They came packaged well . The spoon part is wooded and the cactus is like a soft rubber. The size is perfect for dips and the look so cute." - Holliegene
Buy Now: amazon.com
#13 We Have Crunched The Numbers And The Marcooltrip Mz Abs Stimulator Ab Machine Is Worth It
Review: "I like this purchase! I bought this to help strengthen my abs as I have a terrible back. I wear it when I work at home, cook, and watch tv. It definitely has helped build strength. I would recommend this product to anyone that needs an extra boost to their core." - Amazon Customer
Buy Now: amazon.com
#14 Birdie Personal Safety Alarm For Women : The Safety Mechanism That Will Let You Spread Your Wings
Review: "Very loud alarm. Make sure to firmly press top back into place to disarm. This makes me feel more confident going out in public." - Caroline Clark
Buy Now: amazon.com
#15 Pizza Oven Kit : Enjoy Pizza That Will Make You Say ‘Mamma Mia!’
Review: "If you own a weber kettle this is a must have! If you’re looking to make your own wood fired pizza, get a weber kettle and buy this! It makes pizza, bread, steak, and anything else you can think of!" - James L.
Buy Now: amazon.com
#16 These Adorable 3D Cartoon Fast Charger Protectors Ensure That Everyone Knows Which Charger Is Yours!
Review: "It’s so cute! I had gotten an IPhone 15 about a month after I had gotten the hello kitty charger cover, I am very happy I was able to put it on my new charging cord quite quickly after removing it from my old one!" - Bri
Buy Now: amazon.com
Alright, if your "that's actually pretty smart" meter isn't buzzing yet, it's about to. We're not done showcasing these champions of clever design disguised as quirky companions. Get ready for another round of novelty finds that are so useful, you'll wonder how you ever lived without their goofy charm.
#17 Release The Bathtub Kraken With This Tentacled Microfiber Bath Mat
Review: "I actually think this bath mat looks better than the picture! I have a very small bathroom and I hated having a bulky bath mat that I had to step on all the time. This one is thin enough that it doesn't bother me very much and it's so cute! The bottom of it is rubber so it doesn't slip around and it's fairly easy to just vacuum off." - Amber
Buy Now: amazon.com
#18 When Your Pencil's Point Has Been Telling Too Many 'Dull' Stories, The Pinocchio Pencil Sharpener Is Ready To Give It A Sharp Dose Of Reality Via His Famous Nose
Review: "Funny and odd little sharpener. Nothing fancy about it, it's just a small sharpener hidden inside. It has a weight at the bottom of the ball to keep it balanced and always sitting with the sharpener hole up. A basic pencil is incuded to make it look like Gepettos nose. It definitely works just fine and collects all your shavings inside the ball. A little on the big side, best to set on a desk and not carry around with you." - Lacey P.
Buy Now: amazon.com
#19 Let A Purr-Fectly Poised Feline Guard Your Blade From Accidental Nicks And Bathroom Counter Chaos With This Razor Holder Shaped Like A Cat
Review: "This is such a cute razor holder! I attached it to our tile wall (the tile is a smooth tile), and it is now holding a razor. It was very easy to attach (peel off the plastic on the back exposing the sticky side, put it on the wall, press on it for about a minute, give it several hours to set). It is adorable!" - G. Minor
Buy Now: amazon.com
#20 A Boring Game Of Fetch Is A Thing Of The Past With This Interactive Dog Ball That Will Be Your Pup’s New Favorite Plaything
Review: "My puppy a lot of energy and this helps him work it off. He loves chasing it around and even one of my cats loves to play with it. It's nice that it "sleeps" when not used for a time to save the battery, just bump it and it goes again. Easy to charge, just pull the button out and plug it in. The light help get and keep their attention. Would definitely recommend for anyone with a dog." - Benjamin T. Kelley
Buy Now: amazon.com
#21 Pucker Up! The Lip Smacker Coca Cola Collection Is Just The Pop Of Nostalgia You Need
Review: "Love it. This is so cute, tastes, good, and a lot of fun. Received quite a few positive comments only in the last few days. Definitely would buy again." - LJ
Buy Now: amazon.com
#22 A Desktop Boxing Kit Might Just Be The Kind Of Boredom Buster You Need
Review: "Got this for a co-worker who has taken up boxing. The guy is short and this was the "perfect size". We still laugh daily about this as it is proudly displayed on his desk." - Brittney T.
Buy Now: amazon.com
#23 Your Rearview Mirror Called, It Said It Was Feeling A Little Bare And Could Really Use Some Rearview Mirror Friends For Company
Review: "Too dang cute these are like little bug heads and little.tabs of adhesive wish they came more to a pack cute size good value very detailed faces." - mariadelaide
Buy Now: amazon.com
#24 Your Golf Game Is About To Get A Whole Lot Wetter, And Probably Way More Hilarious, With This Floating Golf Green
Review: "I am by no means a golfer but having this pool golf set out at a party definitely kept all my guests entertained. The set up take 2 minutes and the included ball retriever helps keep the game going. If you don't have a set a clubs you can just pick up a cheap set and a dozen extra balls and you're set." - Andrew
Buy Now: amazon.com
