"You almost expect them to be fake products from 'Saturday Night Live, ' " Barish said.

CNN: Need a garden zombie? SkyMall has it

Since his first experience, Barish has bought two photo blankets and Fernando, a Chihuahua statue, for his friends.

CNN: Need a garden zombie? SkyMall has it

"Seeing these fun, silly things takes your mind off what is normally a very tedious or uncomfortable situation, " Barish said of flying.

CNN: Need a garden zombie? SkyMall has it

Barish's first experience with a SkyMall product was the SkyRest, a giant, wedge-shaped travel pillow that he reviewed for Gadling in 2008.

CNN: Need a garden zombie? SkyMall has it

"I don't even know where I'd drive it, " Barish said.

CNN: Need a garden zombie? SkyMall has it

"At the end of the day, while everyone laughs at the silly products, I have to imagine that the thing that keeps them going are the practical items, " Barish said.

CNN: Need a garden zombie? SkyMall has it

"SkyMall is perfect for things you don't necessarily need but would make great conversation pieces if you were willing to be silly and whimsical enough to actually buy them, " Barish said.

CNN: Need a garden zombie? SkyMall has it

For Barish, that item was the Cruzin Cooler, which combines "the ability to have cold food or a beverage handy along with the means to get somewhere, without walking, " according to its website.

CNN: Need a garden zombie? SkyMall has it

"I found that it was one of those things that anyone who had traveled in the United States kind of knew about, " said Mike Barish, a freelance travel writer who reviews SkyMall products for the travel site Gadling.

CNN: Need a garden zombie? SkyMall has it