10 most-bought items Express readers loved in 2024
The most-bought products by Express readers in 2024 included tech, luggage and more (Image: Amazon / Argos / Ninja)
The new year has begun and while you may be looking forward to making plans for 2025, our shopping team at Express.co.uk has been looking back at all of the products that Express readers loved in 2024. It was a big year for testing products and sourcing the best deals across the internet. From an in-depth review of the latest Apple Macbook and putting Antler’s newest cabin bag to the test to finding five-star experiences at UK hotels and rounding up the best deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024, and Boxing Day 2024.
And of course, our readers did lots of shopping along the way. We’ve crunched the numbers to find some of the most sought-after products from Express readers. Along with concert tickets (remember the Taylor Swift Eras Tour frenzy back in the summer?) to discounts on Sky subscriptions, our readers also loved home appliances and gadgets, travel accessories, skincare and fashion.
Scroll down or use the menu at the side to see some of the most-loved items in 2024 – as purchased by you!
1. Aerolite Ryanair Cabin Luggage Bag
The cabin bag is said to be designed specifically for Ryanair hand luggage (Image: Amazon / Aerolite)
Ryanair might be known for its purse-friendly ticket offerings, with one-way routes often available for as little as £14.99, but when it comes to luggage – there’s a strict allowance that could see you forking out extra if you don’t follow the bag size requirements. Perhaps that’s why our readers absolutely loved this Ryanair Cabin Luggage Bag by the brand Aerolite from Amazon.
According to the brand: “We specifically designed our Aerolite holdall to measure 40x20x25cm which is EXACTLY the maximum allowed size you can take for free in the cabin when flying with Ryanair. It is also accepted on virtually all major airlines worldwide; Including easyJet, British Airways, Etihad, Emirates, Delta, Flybe, Lufthansa, Norwegian, Jet2, KLM, Qatar, Wizz Air and Virgin Atlantic to name just a few!”
All Ryanair passenger fares include a small personal bag, measuring 40 x 20 x 25cm, which must fit under the seat in front of you – something the Aerolite bag promises. To top it off, the bag is currently on offer for a purse-friendly £10.99.
@mypassporttohappy Want to avoid those extra unnecessary bag charges?? ⬇️ I saw everyone on Tik Tok raving about this amazon carry-on bag that fits perfectly underneath the seats on Ryanair flights, here are my thoughts on it. When it arrived in the post, my Mam burst out laughing and was like no way you’re fitting 4 days worth of clothes in that. It did look tiny, I thought I bought the wrong one.?????? We were packing for Morocco, which is a Muslim country so I had heard that I had to pack some long dresses and cover-up clothes for certain areas. (turns out that wasn’t true at all, I’ll explain in another post). Here’s what I fit into the bag ✅ 1 pair of denim shorts ✅ 1 long skirt ✅ 3 long dresses ✅ 4 tops ✅ PJs ✅ 1 short sarong ✅ 1 long sarong to use as a cover up and towel ✅ Gym workout gear ✅ 1 bikini ✅ Underwear, socks & bras for 4 days ✅ Medicine bag ✅ Hair curlers (that I never used ??????) ✅ Sandals ✅ USB port ✅ Hairbrush ✅ Toiletries and make-up bag ✅ Power bank ✅ Passport ✅ Snacks for the plane ✅ Airpods ✅ Sunglasses I also left some extra room for souvenirs and definitely could have fit more into it. ?????? Would I recommend it??????? Yes definitely, I did see another similar one that you can put on your back that might be easier to carry. I’ll put the links in my bio because I can’t put them into a caption. ⬆️ Let me know if you ever travel with just a carry-on bag. ⬇️ Ali X #traveladvice #traveltips #travelwithme #traveltipsandtricks #traveltips101 #travelmorocco #morocco #packingadvice #travelagadir #amazoncarryonbag #packingtips #how to pack #amazon ♬ original sound – Ali | Travel Tips & Group Trip
The bag has been something of a hit on social media too, with influencers and TikTok users recommending the bag themselves.
In a video posted to her TikTok page @mypassporttohappy, Ali explained: “This is the bag that is currently trending on TikTok. So it’s an Amazon bag and it fits perfectly on all flights, so you can use it as a carry-on so that you don’t have to buy extra luggage.”
At the time of writing, the bag has a 4.5 out of five stars on Amazon based on customer reviews. One shopper left a five-star review, stating: “An excellent roomy bag that fits nicely under the seat in front on Ryan Air.
“There is room for clothes, a side zip pocket for a passport. You can fit another small handbag in it and perfect as a shoulder bag whilst pulling along a small cabin case. I bought two of these as presents. They come in a range of colours, suitable for all.”
However, some shoppers did have a few quibbles with the bag. One review said: “A little disappointed it’s not a bit more rigid to protect any more fragile contents.”
2. Billie Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set
The Dunelm Billie Duvet Set comes in a range of colours and sizes to suit every bed (Image: Dunelm)
People spend a third of their lives asleep, according to Bed Advice UK, so it’s no wonder people want to make sure it’s a cosy sanctuary. As well as choosing the best mattresses, duvets and pillows, the aesthetic of your bed also makes a world of difference.
That certainly seems to be the case for our readers, with not one but two bedding sets appearing in our top 10 most-purchased products of the year. Dunelm is a favourite when it comes to homewares and with some fantastic deals on offer for highly-rated products, they’re a trusted retailer for many of our readers.
Their Billie Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set has been a top seller this year, coming in a range of colours and sizes to suit every bed out there. The set currently has a 4.7 out of possible five-star rating on the Dunelm website from previous shoppers.
One shopper’s review stated: ” Love this duvet set. Washed it loads and [the] colour hasn’t faded. So easy to dry and doesn’t need much ironing.” [SIC]
However, a second noted: “This is a lovely duvet set. Unfortunately, I think the inside must be slippy as I wake up and about 6 inches of my duvet has disappeared. A pest but still a lovely set.”
At the time of writing, the duvet set retails for between £32 and £52 depending on the size.
3. Ring Doorbell
The Ring Doorbell is a connected device for added home security and convenience (Image: Argos / Ring Doorbell)
Video doorbells have exploded in popularity in recent years thanks to the convenience, security and safety they can add to your home.
These cleverly connected devices let you watch over your property 24 hours a day and will alert you when someone appears on your drive. You can even use the connecting app to chat with couriers or your next-door neighbour all at the touch of your smartphone screen.
And in 2024, Argos offered some particularly alluring deals on Ring Doorbells which our readers loved.
Argos shoppers have rated the Ring Doorbell 4.8 out of a possible five stars and 98% of those who purchased the product say they would recommend it. One shopper said: “Bought this and love it. Hands down the best doorbell I’ve had.”
However, one shopper noted that the strength of your WiFi can impact the quality of the camera. They said: “Reasonably priced Works well and just needs a couple of nails into [the] side of [the] door, easy to install, needs to be connected to WiFi and if you have a weak connection (as ours can be often) doesn’t work as well and can miss people at door or parcel being dropped off.” [SIC]
At the time of writing, you can get the Ring Battery Video Doorbell in the Satin Nickel colour way for £99.99. And, if you are a Nectar card holder, you can also collect 99 Nectar points.
4. Ninja Thirsti
The Ninja Thirsti is designed to keep drinks fizzy, hot or cold for up to eight hours (Image: Ninja)
The Ninja Thirsti is a best-seller and, at times, a sell-out product for kitchen and homeware brand Ninja Kitchen. And its popularity doesn’t stop with our readers. Though the water bottle usually retails for £29.99 for the 530ml size and £34.99 for the 700ml size, Ninja frequently offers flash sales and discounts throughout the year cutting the price of the bottle.
Now is no different, with the Ninja Thirsti currently slashed to £19.99 for the 530ml size and £24.99 for the 700ml – but be quick as the sale is likely to end soon.
If you’re a fan of fizzy drinks, the Ninja Thirsti is designed to keep drinks fizzy, but it can also keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to eight hours thanks to three layers of vacuum-insulated stainless steel. The bottles can be purchased directly from Ninja, as well as from the brand’s official Amazon store.
The product has been highly rated by previous shoppers who have given the Thirsti an overall rating of 4.7 out of a possible five stars on the Ninja website. One shopper said: “This is one of many Shark/Ninja products we own and they never fail… Will be using for hot drinks and fizzy drinks going forward and don’t think I will be disappointed.” [SIC]
Though shoppers raised few negative points, one did note: “Very well built, and robust. Unfortunately, whilst it is good for fizzy drinks, hot coffee became very lukewarm within four to five hours.” [SIC]
5. Mandalay Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set
The Mandalay bedding set comes in a range of colours and sizes from Dunelm (Image: Dunelm)
Dunelm bedding is a big hit with Express readers, perhaps thanks to their versatile designs, comfort and purse-friendly prices. The Mandalay Duvet Cover and Pillow Set was another big hitter in 2024, coming in a range of sizes and colours to suit any bedroom.
The bedding set retails for between £25.60 – £52 depending on the size but is made to fit anywhere from a single bed to a Super Kingsize.
The set has earned a rating of 4.8 stars on the Dunelm website from previous customers, with one happy shopper stating: “Really lovely quality and have had some nice compliments about the cover.”
However, one shopper commented: “Not worth that sort of money the front is stitched to the back so doesn’t hang right pillow cases you pay [separately] should come with them for that price.” [SIC]
6. LG 43-Inch Smart FHD HDR TV
The LG 43-inch Smart TV can be purchased from Argos for under £200 (Image: Argos / LG)
During the Black Friday sales extravaganza, Argos discounted the LG 43-inch Smart FHD HDR TV to its “lowest ever price” from the retailer. The 43-inch Smart HDR television comes packed with features including full access to all the most popular streaming services such as Freeview Play, NOW, Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+.
Our tech editor Dave Snelling explained: “Although this telly isn’t 4K compatible it does offer technology such as a Resolution Upscaler which helps to make everything you watch as sharp as possible. There’s also support for HDR10 which helps boost the contrast and colour and sound is also upgraded thanks to some clever Artificial Intelligence.
“If you’re a PS5 or Xbox fan there’s also a Game Optimiser mode which tweaks your game settings to ensure the best experience when playing titles such as Call of Duty or Fortnite. Other features include an AI Processor Gen5 for fast access to menus and apps plus there are two HDMI ports on the rear and built-in Wi-Fi.”
Although the Black Friday sales are over, you can still purchase the LG 43-inch Smart TV from Argos for £199.99.
At the time of writing, Argos shoppers have scored the TV 4.7 out of five stars in their reviews and 95% said they would recommend the TV.
“[This] was the best price I could find for this size smart TV and glad we went for this one as it was easy to install and set up all the apps etc,” said one review.
Another shopper noted some positives along with one quibble, stating: “Good size, great sound and picture quality. The only downside is the holes for the bracket on the back are in the wrong place which means we can not plug a TV aerial in to get TV channels or Freesat the holes just need to be more better placed. Other than that easy to set up, luckily my son will be using [it] mainly for gaming and has a fire stick if wants to watch anything.” [SIC]
7. Playstation store gift card
PlayStation Store credit is available at discounted prices from CDKeys (Image: Getty Images)
2024 saw the launch of the latest PlayStation console with the arrival of the PlayStation 5 Pro in November. Though the console is expensive, there are ways to save money when it comes to playing.
PlayStation Store credit is available at discounted prices from online retailer CDKeys in the form of store credit. For example, CD Keys is selling £70 of PlayStation Store credit for £63.99, at the time of writing, and £100 of PlayStation Store credit for just £89.99.
Gaming Editor Liam Martin explained: “While these prices are correct at the time of writing, PlayStation Store top-up cards are sometimes even cheaper.
“After purchasing a top-up card from CD Keys, the retailer will send you a link with the code that can redeemed on the PlayStation Store.
“Once the credit is added to your account, there’s no time limit on when you can use it.”
8. M&S Crepe Tab Detail Wide Leg Trousers
Marks and Spencer’s Crepe Tab Detail Trousers are available in a range of colours (Image: Marks and Spencer)
Marks and Spencer is a long-standing British retailer known for its quality and, often, affordable prices. In 2024, our readers loved the brand’s Crepe Tab Detail Wide Leg Trousers offering both comfort and smart style.
Available to buy online, the trousers have garnered glowing reviews and they come in a range of seven colours to cater for all style preferences. Shades include Ecru, Black, Dark Chocolate, Mocha, Bright Orange, Navy and Green. Our shopping writers loved that the trousers are available across a broad size spectrum from 6 to 24, and in petite, regular, and tall lengths to suit different body types.
However, the popularity of these trousers means that many sizes and colours are now sold out. To top it off, M&S has slashed the price of three of the colours from £39.50 to as little as £14.
Other colours are available to buy from the Marks and Spencer website for £39.50.
Overall, the trousers have earned a customer review score of 4.6 stars and 71% said they would recommend this product. One person who purchased the trousers said: “Lovely trousers, true to size. Heavy material that hangs nicely.”
Another shopper added: “These trousers are superb. Fab fit, great material and sits beautifully. Bargain of the year in my opinion.” [SIC]
However, on a negative note, one customer pointed out: “I have two pairs of crepe trousers (without the tab on the back) and I love them, however, I think they’ve been discontinued so I bought a pair of these. They don’t fit the same. I’m disappointed that they have a small waist making them slightly tight.”
9. No7 Skincare essentials collection
The No7 Skincare essentials collection offers five items from the everyday essentials range (Image: Boots)
During the Christmas shopping period, No7’s Skincare essentials collection was a hit thanks to its great value for money (especially due to the seasonal sales at the time). The set brims with five items from the everyday essentials range, aimed at common skin concerns. In the run-up to Christmas, the set was available for £10– marking a saving of 50%.
Sadly, the gift set has now sold out. But there are still plenty of No7 everyday essential skincare must-haves to purchase from Boots right now.
These include 50ml No7 Essential Moisture Day Cream currently available for £9.95. The moisturiser has been rated 4.6 stars out of a possible five by Boots shoppers, and has been described by one shopper as a “bargain”.
The 150ml No7 Cleansing Foaming Cleanser is designed for normal skin types and is ideal for everyday use. It’s currently available from Boots for £12.95 and has scored 4.4 out of five stars from previous shoppers
10. Next Borg Half Zip Jacket
The Next Borg Jacket comes in three colours, including grey and blue (Image: Next)
An everyday essential, Next’s Borg Half Zip Jacket was another fan favourite for fashion lovers. Though the zip-up jacket comes in two colours, the cornflower blue was particularly popular. And with winter very much upon us, right now we’re all in need of an extra layer before heading out into the cold.
Borg coats have been trending for a while now, particularly in the winter months, perhaps due to the extra warmth it provides. Borg fabric is soft and plush, making it comfortable to wear, and it’s a great cruelty-free alternative to sheepskin.
Due to its popularity, the blue shade has now sold out however the Next Half-Zip Jacket is still available in select sizes in the grey and neutral colours for £26. The pullover jacket comes in a range of sizes from x-small to x-large, as well as in petite and normal fits.
The jacket doesn’t have many customer reviews on the Next website, though from the current reviews it has scored an average of four stars. One happy shopper said: “The jacket is lightweight but warm and cosy. As I bought the petite size the body and sleeves length are just right for me …. very happy!”
However, one shopper said: “Sorry Next but this was awful..way too short and way too small even though I ordered my usual size..considering it said it comes up larger than normal it was very small and a struggle to try on and get off.” [SIC]
