Best gimmick you ever spent money on?

By “gimmick” I mean anything sold non-traditionally IE a booth at an expo, as-seen-on-TV, mysterious Facebook ad randomly popping up, etc.

It’s been talked about before on here but mine is the Frying Saucer! Bought it 10 years ago at the Sports Show and the whole family loves this thing. Stays at the cabin and always gets a good work-out. Fed 18 with it on Saturday. Really fun standing around it – drinking beer and BS’ing while munching.

What’s your best Gimmick purchase?

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i bought it at the ice show years ago, its a plastic litte scoop type thing in a minnow bucket….works for winter style minnow buckets. has ha bigger funnel like thing on one end a smaller one at the other end. works great for fatheads or crappie minnows. 99.9% of the time it works. just put it in the bucket…..take it out when you need a minnow and there in there.

i’ve actually looked for them in tackle stores and never have come across one!!!!

I was gifted a Power Pro XL pressure cooker by my mom quite a few years before InstaPot was a thing. It’s the 10qt model and makes chili in about an hour that tastes like it simmered all day…yesterday. We all know chili is usually better the next day.

Line Cutterz fishing line cutters. Although I guess I didn’t spend my money on them. Got one as a gift and I probably never would’ve even looked at them if I hadn’t.

Nothing cuts braid cleaner and they don’t dull.

The Flying Lure for those of you old enough to remember it. And yes it worked.

Not sure if we are limiting this to outdoor gear…..but we got this thing called the “Pizza Box.” I never would’ve believed it worked but it makes the best damn pizzas.

They were like $50 brand new….now you can only find them used for like $300.

glenn57 wrote:

i bought it at the ice show years ago, its a plastic litte scoop type thing in a minnow bucket….works for winter style minnow buckets. has ha bigger funnel like thing on one end a smaller one at the other end. works great for fatheads or crappie minnows. 99.9% of the time it works. just put it in the bucket…..take it out when you need a minnow and there in there.

i’ve actually looked for them in tackle stores and never have come across one!!!!

Ha, I know what you are referring to! Saw it at a show 10 years ago and thought it was a neat idea. Never seen em in stores either so I made my own out of some plastic tubing and a baby red solo cup. Works great in winter and never get my hands wet.

Great invention right here, guys! I saw these “zero waste caps” on Amazon and figured I’d give them a try a few years ago and I still use them! Anyone who uses lotion or a thick conditioner knows that the pumps in the bottles don’t go all the way down and you’re often left with a bunch of product hanging out at the bottom of the bottle. These caps turn the bottle into a squeeze bottle so you can use ALL of the product with ease! They have a wide cap so you can even store the bottle upside down and it’s not tippy. The caps are advertised as a two pack, but really it’s two different size caps that fit into the white base, depending on the bottle neck size, so you can only use one at a time. But definitely better than a tippy, capless bottle messing up your bathroom counter.

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Dutchboy wrote:

The Flying Lure for those of you old enough to remember it. And yes it worked.

Yes., my brother inlaw bought them …. ok How old ? The Popeil Pocket Fisherman !! And it worked too !

Definitely our air fryer

Yes big_g the pocket fisherman worked but not well.I was the proud owner of one.

eyeguy507 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>glenn57 wrote:</div>
i bought it at the ice show years ago, its a plastic litte scoop type thing in a minnow bucket….works for winter style minnow buckets. has ha bigger funnel like thing on one end a smaller one at the other end. works great for fatheads or crappie minnows. 99.9% of the time it works. just put it in the bucket…..take it out when you need a minnow and there in there.

i’ve actually looked for them in tackle stores and never have come across one!!!!

Ha, I know what you are referring to! Saw it at a show 10 years ago and thought it was a neat idea. Never seen em in stores either so I made my own out of some plastic tubing and a baby red solo cup. Works great in winter and never get my hands wet.

I shoulda bought a dozen back then

The Automatic Chef we use it quite often. Picked it up ata RV show in Green Bay. It’s made near there.

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Tru Temper Uni Spin rod and reel. It was a hybrid close faced reel and spinning reel. I loved the button on the back of the handle.

The dad coolness factor jumps by 500 points everytime I whip out this bad boy on holidays.

Beads if we’re rolling with dad coolness things…

I was given a pocket hose at Christmas one year with extended family where the theme was “As Seen on TV” and I never thought I’d like it as much as I do.

Back in the late 80’s I got a bag phone for my truck. Battery weighed about 10#, but it was mobile and I could take it in the boat. Cost about $1.00/minute to use.
Everyone thought I was freaking nuts to have a phone in my truck. Too bad they don’t have them anymore

Banjo minnow

A set of knives. Can’t remember the brand, but I recall I got two sets for the price of one! Still have part of the sets and use them daily.

Randy Wieland wrote:

Back in the late 80’s I got a bag phone for my truck. Battery weighed about 10#, but it was mobile and I could take it in the boat. Cost about $1.00/minute to use.
Everyone thought I was freaking nuts to have a phone in my truck. Too bad they don’t have them anymore

Yep, had one. Pretty amazing where phones have gone to since back then.

Dan wrote:

pocket hose

Mine developed a hole during the winter . Leak isn’t bad right away but then stretches out and becomes unruly lol.
Got my grandma one and it’s helped her tremendously. She can barely lift a grocery bag so this fit the bill perfectly for her garden tasks she still likes to do

Zero G garden hose. Best and easiest hose I’ve ever owned.

glenn57 wrote:

i’ve actually looked for them in tackle stores and never have come across one!!!!

glenn57 wrote:

I shoulda bought a dozen back then

Here ya go glenn57.

https://www.outkastinc.com/take-one-minnow/

I plan on getting one for this coming winter.

John Rasmussen wrote:

A set of knives. Can’t remember the brand, but I recall I got two sets for the price of one! Still have part of the sets and use them daily.

Ginsu? These were a great deal!

-J.

Jon Jordan wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>John Rasmussen wrote:</div>
A set of knives. Can’t remember the brand, but I recall I got two sets for the price of one! Still have part of the sets and use them daily.

Ginsu? These were a great deal!

-J.

No not Ginsu, sorry just can’t recall the brand. They have plastic grey handles and the edges of the blades are kinda weird looking. Some of the knives worked great others not so much. We use the steak knives out of the set the most.

George Foreman grill! Got me through college.

the pizazz pizza oven got to be right up there with the Foreman grill.

ThunderLund78 wrote:

It’s been talked about before on here but mine is the Frying Saucer!

I’ve been looking for a good portable fryer…just ordered this based on your recommendation. Thanks!

https://www.outkastinc.com/take-one-minnow

I spotted a gadget that I really like on this link. The Snap Cap turns a can into a bottle. Bought it at a golf course and it works great to keep your beer from sloshing around and going flat while driving the golf cart. Or to keep bees out of your pop can. (In Minnesoda we say “pop”).
I also bought the Knotter at the Sports show and it works great too. But I got a lot of snickers from my buddies so I don’t use it!

GRIPSTIC bag sealers. Pretty sure they are the only state fair purchase ever that has been useful.

https://www.gripstic.com/