21 products we were hesitant about at first but ended up really liking

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• We're not shy about advocating for products we love (see: 21 game-changing products we swear by in our everyday lives or The 36 best products we discovered in 2018, to name a couple). 
• But just because we love them now doesn't mean we initially expected to. 
• We had our initial doubts about these 21 products — and you may, too — but in the end, taking the leap of faith proved to be rewarding. 

For better or for worse, preconceptions are built into human nature. As product reviewers, we also fall victim to our own preconceived notions about the items we test. 

Our previous experiences with the brand or with similar products can affect how we approach the latest thing we're testing. Combine that with high standards for quality and general skepticism about a market filled with shoddy products, and we sometimes end up with experiences that surprise us in the best way possible. 

If you're feeling hesitant about trying any of these 21 products, we were once right there with you. Testing them revealed that they were actually quite useful, comfortable, or stylish. They overcame our initial expectations to become some of our favorite products.  

We weren't sure we were going to love these 21 products, but now we know we do: 

A waffle maker that lets you skip a trip to the diner

Krups Belgian Waffle Maker, $52.99, available at Amazon

Read our review of the Krups Belgian Waffle Maker here

I assumed that waffles were one of the few foods I would always have to order at a restaurant, but Krups proved me wrong. Its waffle maker is easy to use, simple to clean, and delivers diner-like results in about 15 minutes. I’m generally skeptical of single-use kitchen gadgets, but this one has earned its place in my small, New York City apartment. —Brandt Ranj, Insider Picks associate editor

A popular facial cleansing brush

Foreo Luna 2 Cleansing Brush, $199, available at Amazon and Sephora

Read our review of the Foreo Luna 2 here

Having tried a few different facial cleansing brushes that never made a difference on my skin, I was expecting the Foreo Luna 2 to be another to toss in the pile. But this best-selling brush really does clean and gently exfoliate your skin effectively. I use it a few times a week to keep my skin soft and glowing, and I also love that it has a long battery life. —Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

A flask with attached tumblers

High Camp Firelight Flask 750, $99.98, available at Huckberry 

Trying to make a better flask in the 21st century sort of seemed like trying to reinvent the wheel to me. The tried and true hip flask is discrete and holds just enough to get you, and maybe a friend, through a tough social function. But the HighCamp Firelight Flask looked like it would also make a great tea thermos. It comes with two double-walled mugs and holds about 750 ml of liquid; I could take it on a hike, on a kayak paddle, or to the park for a lazy afternoon.

The two tumblers fit elegantly over both ends of the “flask” and stay snug thanks to a little magnetic pull. I used it for tea couple of times, and while some heat passed through the double-walled tumblers, it worked just fine.

Then I filled it with bourbon, took it camping and realized the true beauty of the thing: It’s a decanter on the go. Apart from an O-ring in the lid, it is nothing but brushed, heavy-duty stainless steel. No more shattered bottles or spilled spirits on my adventures.

Yes, at $100 it is an investment, but if you’ve dropped and smashed half as many handles in your travels as I have, you’ll also quickly find it to be the shatterproof bottle of your dreams. —Owen Burke, Insider Picks guides reporter