Earlier in the year, it was hard to find things like toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Now, as we head into the colder months with no end to the pandemic insight, these are the items you'll want to stock up on ASAP.
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Why will there be shortages?
The coronavirus pandemic has changed nearly everything: how we live, how we work, and how we interact with others (wear your mask, please!). But one of the more unexpected effects of the crisis was how it impacted the way we shop—and more importantly, how it limited our access to important items and caused people to stockpile supplies. For example, remember when you couldn’t find toilet paper in April? Or how you still can’t find a bike?
Unfortunately, these shortages probably aren’t in the past. With a new round of infections expected this winter, plus the typical flu season, there will likely be even more disruptions ahead. To help you get ahead, we asked the experts to identify the items that might be hard to come by in the coming months. From space heaters and humidifiers to gym gear and video games, these are the supplies you should stock up on now—before everyone else gets the same idea. And for some good things to look forward to, these are the 18 positive ways the world could change after the coronavirus.
Humidifiers and air purifiers
Scientists don’t know everything about the coronavirus yet, but they do know a lot about viruses in general. And one thing they’re fairly certain of is that viruses tend to thrive in low humidity—something that the cold, dry winter air brings in abundance. Add that to the fact that the best humidifiers are naturally high in demand each winter—they prevent everything from dry skin to nasal congestion—and there’s no wonder experts expect humidifiers to fly off the shelves. The Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier emits a cool mist and works in rooms up to 500 square feet.
Air purifiers will see a similarly increased demand. “The pandemic has sparked an uptick in popularity of air purifiers for the home and office, as well as MERV-13 or higher filters that you can add to your home’s existing HVAC system,” says Gabrielle Pastorek, retail analyst at the personal finance comparison website Finder.com. Before you make a purchase, you’ll want to learn if an air purifier can kill coronavirus germs in the air.
Video games and consoles
If your kid’s Christmas list typically includes video games, video games, and more video games, then listen up: You should probably purchase them early this year. “Both Xbox and PlayStation are set to release new gaming consoles during the second week of November,” says Pastorek. “Rumors are already starting to swirl that both companies have faced production hiccups, which may mean that these much-awaited consoles will be in even shorter supply than expected.” Fortunately, production of the Nintendo Switch, which was in short supply for much of 2020, should be back to normal soon—although it wouldn’t hurt to purchase one well before the holidays just in case. And for more things the coronavirus could impact, don’t miss the 13 everyday habits that could (and should) change after the pandemic.
Patio heaters
Over the summer, many of us spruced up our outdoor spaces by adding furniture, grills, gardens, and other features. The new challenge? Getting your space ready for winter so you can continue to socialize (at a safe distance) outdoors, which is thought to limit the transmission of germs and bacteria. “Outdoor heaters and fire pits will be some of the first items to go as people are looking to cozy up their outdoor spaces while sheltering in place,” says Kristen Gall, retail trends expert at Rakuten. (Our pick for a patio heater is this 48,000 BTU stainless steel option from Garden Treasures.) Other comfy outdoor goods might also be in short supply. For example, you might want to get your hands on outdoor blankets, hand warmers, and even hot tubs sooner rather than later. Have you been splurging more on decor recently? That’s just one of the ways the pandemic changed Americans’ spending habits.
Large fitness equipment
As infections continue to rise, Americans will likely stay wary of visiting crowded places like gyms and group fitness classes. But that doesn’t mean their motivation to break a sweat has disappeared—quite the opposite, actually. “Large fitness equipment like Peloton, Mirror, and Tonal will sell out quickly, especially since it will be harder for people to exercise outdoors during the winter,” says Gall.
Winter also brings the New Year, a time Americans typically flock to the gym. This year, instead of buying gym memberships, people might decide to invest in equipment of their own. That said, if you plan to purchase a stationary bike (like this one from Yosuda), treadmill, elliptical, or another piece of large fitness equipment, you might want to do it soon. On a similar note, these are 10 ways gyms will change forever after lockdown.
Dumbbells and barbells
Large gym equipment isn’t the only workout gear that will be in high demand this winter. Fitness equipment like dumbbells, barbells, and kettlebells sold out quickly at the beginning of the pandemic—and unfortunately, there’s still somewhat of a shortage. Currently, SPRI, Big Five, and Dick’s Sporting Goods are sold out of several dumbbell weight options or are only selling the items in their stores (meaning you can’t ship them to your home). “The pandemic has forced many people out of gyms and into home gyms, spiking the demand for dumbbells and other home gym equipment,” says Pastorek. If you’re in the market for these items, including a new set of CAP barbells, snag them while you can. And if you do decide to go elsewhere to break a sweat, here’s how to avoid the coronavirus at the gym.
Home office equipment
As many of us continue to clock in our nine to fives from our kitchen tables, we can expect to see increased demand for home office equipment. Because after all, no one actually wants to work from their kitchen table. “The number of people working from home rose sharply last spring,” says Michael Bonebright, consumer analyst with DealNews.com. “While many offices have reopened, the threat of a second wave has led plenty of businesses to keep telecommuting an option for workers. As a result, home office chairs, desks, and other must-haves are still very likely to sell out whenever prices drop. That’s unlikely to change in the coming months, when a large portion of workers could be sent home for quarantine again.” And if you’re heading back to the office soon, this is what office culture could look like when lockdown is over.
Face masks and PPE
Our country’s shocking personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage made headlines throughout the spring and summer. And unfortunately, we’re likely in for another one. “With the second wave of coronavirus expected, combined with flu season, face masks and other personal protective equipment like gloves and face shields will likely become hard to find again,” says Pastorek. Before the cold weather hits, make sure to stock up on items like reusable face masks (these from Crayola are super comfy and come in adult and child sizes), surgical masks, hand sanitizer, and face shields (remember: you still need to wear a mask under a face shield). And to learn even more about the pandemic, read up on the 19 coronavirus myths you need to stop believing.
Artificial Christmas trees
If your holiday season revolves around decorating your Christmas tree to be the prettiest one on the block, then you might want to get started early—especially if you need to buy an artificial one. “With many people not venturing out this year, artificial Christmas trees may clean out quickly,” says Gall. You heard it here first: Get your Christmas tree situation figured out, stat. A pre-lit rainbow version like this one from Home Depot adds an unexpected element of fun to this year’s celebrations. And on a similarly festive note, these are the 10 ways holidays will look different due to the coronavirus.
Bicycles
Does someone you know have a bicycle on their holiday wish list? They might (still) be out of luck. “Bikes have been hard to come by for several months now, and this trend will likely continue through the holiday shopping season,” says Pastorek. “If you can’t get your hands on a physical bike in time for Christmas, put your name on a waiting list to receive yours on a first-come, first-serve basis, if available.” You might also scour websites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay for secondhand options. Just make sure you do your due diligence to confirm the bike you choose is safe and not stolen. Fortunately, kids’ bikes, like this Huffy Disney Princess bicycle, are still pretty easy to come by.
Arts and crafts supplies
At this point in quarantine, many of us have tried at least one new hobby (and we won’t judge if your hobby only lasted one day). But as people spend more time inside during the winter months, you might notice some hobby-related items sell out. “The ubiquity of art tutorials on YouTube has led tons of bored, quarantined folks to take up a new hobby like painting or soap making,” says Bonebright. “Because of this, entry-level art and craft supplies have gotten more expensive—and cheap ones sell out quickly.” If you find yourself in the market for these items, Bonebright recommends trying a dedicated craft store like Michael’s and waiting until they have a good coupon. “More generalized retailers like Amazon tend to have comparable prices, but less stock,” he says. Anyone looking to memorialize their vacation of year’s past will want to scoop up this Martha Stewart Travel Memory Keeping Kit before it sells out.
Cleaning supplies
You might’ve noticed that the cleaning aisle at your local supermarket looks a little, well, empty. Unfortunately, companies are still dealing with inventory issues from the spring; Clorox even said consumers would continue to see shortages of its disinfectant wipes and other products into 2021. The severity of the winter season will contribute to that. “Given the fact that cold and flu sits in the middle of the year, and then we expect the pandemic to be with us for the entirety of the year, it will take the full year to get up to the supply levels that we need to be at,” Clorox President and CEO-elect Linda Rendle said on a conference call in August. That said, if you stumble upon a stocked cleaning aisle, you should grab a few items while you can. It’s unclear just how many of these products will be available come winter. Until Clorox Wipes are back in stock, bleach and a rag make a good, if less convenient, substitute. Before you shop, make sure you know the 4 household products that kill coronavirus.
Shelf-stable foods and drinks
OK, we’re not saying to hoard food like the apocalypse is coming. But if there are items you can’t live without, you might want to stock up. “Winter storms combined with COVID will have us more house-bound than ever, possibly leading to shortages of shelf-stable foods like we saw earlier this year,” says Shannon Vissers, shopping and retail analyst at MerchantMaverick.com. “Some shelf-stable beverages are especially affected; currently there’s an aluminum can shortage, which is starting to affect supplies of canned drinks like beer and soda.” The can shortage will likely impact the production of drinks that sell in lower volumes
RVs, campers, and winter camping supplies
Vacations look different in 2020—and winter getaways are no outliers. “Our travel options will remain limited this winter, and it may be too cold to comfortably camp outdoors,” says Vissers. “For this reason, RVs and campers for socially distanced travel are hot, hot, hot—and this trend shows no signs of stopping. If you plan to use your motor-home this winter, you’ll want to stock up on winter camping supplies now.” That includes a cold-weather sleeping bag like this Coleman Brazos Cold Weather Sleeping Bag that will keep you toasty in temps as low as 20 degrees.
Vissers predicts other items associated with winter fun might be in high demand too. For example, if you love to hit the slopes, you might want to purchase a sled or snow tube before the cold weather hits. And for more on that, this is what travel could look like after the coronavirus.
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