Part product magazine, part wacky inflight entertainment- Who didn’t love the absurdity of the SkyMall catalogues? Here are some of the most outlandish Skymall products travellers have been able to buy on airplanes for over 20 years, until they went bankrupt in 2015.
The Skymall magazine may not be available on flights anymore-it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2015; however, its legacy lives on.
Founded in 1990, the iconic Skymall magazine was an inflight catalogue that passengers could reach for in their seatback pocket.
It sold a wide range of products, many of which came across as bizarre or absurd. It was the absurdity of the magazine’s products that made it so popular.
Since going bankrupt in 2015, the company was purchased and relaunched with new items that are supposedly innovative, fun and cool while still keeping in line with the original theme travellers grew to love.
Here are just a few of the most outrageous things sold In the Skymall catalogue, before they went bankrupt.
Absurd SkyMall Products: And Where You Can Buy Some Of Them Now
1) SkyRest Pillow
The classic SkyRest
Although the original is no longer available for sale, I did find the second generation for sale on
The second generation of the original Skyrest Travel pillow, once available in Skymall magazines found in the seatback pocket of airline chairs. This new and improved travel pillow allows you to rest your head and your neck on Planes, trains, buses and in cars.
2) Upright Sleeper
I love the idea of this neck support; however, it looks like she’s been in an accident and is wearing a neck brace to hold her head up. A far better solution is a more discreet travel neck and head support.
3) e-Reader Buddies
As electronic devices have become more and more commonplace, finding ways to prop them up so that your hands remain free has become a common frustration. One solution found in the Skymall catalogue years ago was this
Unfortunately, I think the design is flawed because you still need to prop this
I found a better solution that works in multiple scenarios, and you can bring it with you during your travels.
This adjustable metal stand can hold your devices upright on planes, trains so you can watch your favourite shows hands-free. Or plop it on your kitchen counter while you cook and watch your favourite shows or cooking recipes. Folds flat so you easily store it away or throw it in your carry on luggage.
4) County Jail T-Shirt
There was an orange jumpsuit fad that hit pop culture for a while- probably thanks to the hit TV show “Orange is the new black, a comedy-drama about women in prison.Skymall must have tried to cash in on the craze with the T-shirt version of the orange prison T-shirt so that anyone can look like a prison penitentiary escapee.
5) Big Ass Bigfoot Garden Yeti Sculpture
As I mentioned before, part of the appeal of the Skymall magazine was the absurdity of its products like this giant lifesized Bigfoot Garden statue. Skymall was selling this monstrosity for a little over $2K USD.
Although I don’t think you can get the lifesize one today, you can purchase a miniature-sized one for your backyard garden.
Now you can have it all. Gnomes and Bigfoot. This 16 inch tall Bigfoot is the perfect lawn decoration you've been looking for.
6) Bigfoot Tree Yeti Sculpture
Yet another Yeti creation sold in the Skymall catalogues was the Bigfoot Tree Yeti sculpture which actually looks terrifying lurking behind a tree.
7) Creepy MLB Forest Face
It’s was called a forest face, I call it weird, ugly and creepy. The idea behind it was to show your neighbours and friends which baseball team you were rooting for by hanging this on a tree.
Although no longer available, that I can see, I did find a much cuter forest face that doubles as a bird feeder.
This outdoor tree face doubles as tree decor and a bird feeder.
8) Faux Work pant Lounge Wear
Loungewear that looks like work pants with a faux tool belt, the irony behind this is not lost on me.
Something equally funny but much cuter would be some pyjama bottoms with donkeys.
The novelty of these humorous pyjama loungewear bottoms will bring a smile to their face with then see the tiny donkeys and the words Lazy Ass pattern. Hee Haw!
9) Dr. Seuss GraduationCap Glasses
This psychedelic-looking Dr. Seuss graduation cap and matching glasses were once for sale in the Skymall catalogue as a costume, I think. Although I couldn’t find them for sale anywhere, I did find some adorable Thing 1 and Thing 2 Dr. Seuss socks.
- Make sume fun and mayhem all year round with these officially license Dr. Seuss socks.
10) Grip-n-Assist Mobility Belt
Don’t you hate it when you can’t get a good grip on your grandpa to help him out of bed?
Now HE CAN GRAB YOU and pull himself up. Problem solved.
Not to make light of the problem this product is trying to solve, I found it extremely strange that Skymall was selling these in their catalogues on airlines.
I did a little research and found other belts with grips which allows caretakers to get a better grip when helping patients in and out of bed, wheelchairs and other mobile situations.
11) Sand Name Prints
Skymall used to sell personalized prints of your name written in the sand at a beach. These days, you can do something similar online for free like these from PhotoFunia.
12) Roswell, the Alien Butler
There must be a market for sophisticated middle-aged sci-fi lovers because Skymall used to sell these Roswell Alien Butlers.
Luckily, the original producer of these extraterrestrial statues still makes them so you can pretend an alien is serving you brandy in a snifter. Or put it in your bathroom as a toilet paper holder.
13) Babette Table
Skymall outdid themselves when they sold the Babette table in their catalogues.
Nothing screams “CLASSY” more than a torso-less pair of legs with stockings, panties and strappy red high heels, trying to pass as a cocktail table.
14) Hot Dog Leash
Another absurdly bizarre product sold in the Skymall magazine was the “hot dog leash”.
There are still variations of this sausage leash being sold online however I like these leashes with a useful message.
Warn others about your dog's temperament or disability. "Blind Dog", deaf dog, "caution", "service dog", "adopt me" and "friendly". Prevents Accidents by Warning Others of Your Dog in Advance.
15) FaceTrainer
Saggy face? Fine lines? Crows feet?
Forget creams, lotions and plastic surgery. All you need is the Face Trainer!
Put it on for 10 minutes every day and watch your sags melt away. Plus it doubles as a scuba divers hat thingy.
I’m sure the inventor of this item put a lot of thought into it but it looks ridiculous, which is probably why it was in the SkyMall catalogue.
There’s a new face trainer on the market which seems to be a pretty popular item.
The makers of this facial slimming strap claim it effectively improves Sagging skin and wrinkkls while firming the skin of the face and neck. No medicine, no injection, no surgery. Goodbye double chins.
16) Silicone face slimmer
If a picture is worth a thousand words then this face slimmer says it all.
It was marketed as a face slimmer.
You’re supposed to put it in your mouth and squeeze giving your jaw a workout and strengthens your facial muscles which in turn removes double chins. If you’re really looking for a face slimmer, there’s an even newer model that doesn’t look as weird.
16) Mobile Massage System
No, It’s not a ninja turtle costume, it’s a portable back massage thingy that you control with a remote control. I prefer the portable back and neck massagers that you place on a chair.
This portable neck and back massager is ergonomically designed to merge with the contours of different body parts. 4 Powerful 3D Massage Nodes with automatically changes direction every min so you can relax your neck, back, shoulder, leg and tight muscles anywhere on the go.
17) Drunk Cat Lithograph
Skymall used to sell artwork like this lithograph titled “Drunk Cat” by Valery Yershov.
Valery was a Russian Postwar & Contemporary painter who was born in 1960.
His work has been auction multiple times, with prices reaching as high as $20k USD, depending on the size and medium of the artwork.
If you’re into drunk cats, here’s a drunk cat with a purpose.
It’s part home decoration, part wine caddy and part cork container.
It's not only a wine rack for your home, but also can be used as home furnishing ornament. Handmade!
18) Wine Glass Aerator
It’s a wine glass that does the work of a decanter. The Chevalier aerating wine glass instantly aerates your single-serving glass of wine.
No decanter? No problem. Made with BPA Free Plastic that's shatterproof. This wine glass will instantly aerate your wine on the go. Perfect for outdoor use, sophisticated parties with rowdy people or while on the go.
Hiccup Stick
Hiccups? Forget chugging water while holding your nose and plugging your ears. This “Hicural Hiccup Stick”, which you could purchase for less than $20 dollars claims it can cure hiccups. All you have to do is bite down on the stick while drinking a glass of water.
My daughter and I laughed so hard. We wanted to make our own hiccup stick, pictured below. Unfortunately, the hiccup stick did not get rid of the hiccups.
