Depending on how chronically online you are, you may be aware of "squishies," soft and squeezable objects that many claim help with anxiety, boost focus, and just give hands something to do. Despite the current internet sensationalism surrounding squishies, so-called "fidget" toys — discreet moveable or moldable items that have been proven to promote relaxation and support focus — are far from new. However, there is one particular creation that has oozed its way into the limelight of late: the NeeDoh Nice Cube from nostalgic toymaker Schylling. This glossy ice cube-shaped squishy is categorized as a "sugar" squisher (it is filled with maltose, a material that is "like melted sugar," according to Schylling) and is sought after for its memory-foam-like texture and slow-rising feel in the hand.
Though the sugar variety is getting the most attention right now, squishies are available in other materials and textures, such as super soft memory foam, clay- or cream foam-filled, and something called a taba squishy. As we have seen before, online virality often leads to extreme scarcity, and now the Nice Cubes, along with NeeDoh's other sugar squish products, are incredibly difficult to get ahold of. Some examples you will find online appear legitimate but come with an inflated price tag, while others that are closer to the asking retail price are likely not authentic, like this similarly-named "Nice Ice" squisher.
Personal Experience with Squishies
I have been a long-time fidgeter and thus have always known the benefit of mindlessly handling a squishable, tactile object, be it Silly Putty, slime, or those wiggly water tubes from my youth. So, by the time squishies fully emerged as the next big thing on the viral scene, I already had a modest collection of squidgy and sensory focus aides sitting on my desk, easily in reach while I work.
In addition to squishing my way through many NeeDoh alternatives myself, my TikTok algorithm is inundated with all the textures and brands that the squish community has to offer, making me feel pretty confident about the upcoming suggestions in the list ahead. Most of these adhere to the sugar squish material that makes the Nice Cube so desirable; however, I also made sure to include a couple of other textures that you might enjoy just as much.
Top Squishy Alternatives
- 1. Walmart: A duo of sugar-squish ice pops from a brand that I personally prefer over NeeDoh. The squishy offerings from Top Trenz, primarily its sugar squishers, are some of the best that I have tried because of how instantly soft they are, compared to NeeDohs, which are a bit firmer to start with. Because the encapsulating silicone material feels significantly thinner than the Nice Cubes, they feel squishier somehow, without feeling like they are going to tear or burst. Closely resembling a sold-out ice pop design from NeeDoh, you get two popsicle-shaped squishers in one pack. $28 at Walmart.
- 2. Speks: A Speks squidgy "Gump" loop. The Gumps from fidget toy brand Speks come in a close second in my sugar-squisher ranking — especially the Loop design, which is fun to stretch and pull as well as squish. The slow-rising texture is just as firm, if not a touch firmer, than NeeDoh's, and you can find these thick gel loops in several colors and a few sizes. $8+ at Speks; Jumbo size: $25 at Amazon.
- 3. Amazon: A jumbo cube filled with snowflake pieces. If you still want the cube design of the NeeDoh but do not want to wait for a restock, this similar-looking, jumbo-sized alternative has a promising Amazon rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars and several positive reviews. $18 at Amazon.
- 4. Amazon: A glitter-filled axolotl sugar squish. This charming and highly rated sugar squishy is sure to be your new favorite desk companion, with its glitter-filled interior and axolotl-shaped body that can be stretched and squished to your heart's content. It also comes in a rabbit. $13 at Amazon.
- 5. Amazon: A colossal memory foam bread squishy. Venturing away from the sugar squish material, this jumbo loaf of realistic-looking bread is made from a very slow-rising foam material that can be squashed compact before inflating back to its original size. Not only does it have 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon across 2,100+ ratings, but it also smells like freshly baked goods. $13 at Amazon.
- 6. Amazon: A set of gushy, slime-like taba squishies. Taba squishies are in a category all on their own, as these jiggly, wiggly, and ultra-squidgy squishers almost feel like super soft Jello. One thing about Tabas is that they have a very, very sticky exterior so they often come flocked, such as this adorable pack of multi-sized chicks, or they can be played with while still in their storage bag. $10 at Amazon.
- 7. Walmart: A NeeDoh Nice Cube that appears legit — and expensive. As mentioned earlier, we managed to find one retailer that seems to have genuine NeeDoh Nice Cubes in stock, albeit in limited supply and at a highly inflated price. (The vendor, Today's Deals, does not appear to be affiliated with Schylling, but Walmart has badged them as a "Pro Seller" and they have a 4.2-star rating for their transactions across a variety of products.) These glossy, palm-sized squishers have that iconic, soft-rising center and a gel-like texture that gets softer and more malleable with the heat of your hand. $28 at Walmart.
