- The Strategist | The Strategist

Best in Class

Best in Class is the Strategist’s carefully curated series of rigorously vetted flagship shopping guides. Here’s a detailed look at how we curate each guide.

  1. baby gear
    The 6 Very Best Hands-Free Pumping BrasPumping bras that make the process more tolerable.
    By Liza Corsillo
  2. bathroom
    The 9 Very Best Beach TowelsFor drying off and lazing around.
    By Lauren Ro
  3. small appliances
    The 5 Very Best Stand MixersFor whisking, whipping, beating, or simply admiring on your counter.
    By Emma Wartzman
  4. women’s apparel
    The 11 Very Best Jeans for Tall WomenNever settle for too-short denim again.
    By Ambar Pardilla
  5. men’s activewear
    The Very Best Men’s Swim TrunksFlattering, comfortable, and quick-drying trunks you can wear both in and out of the water.
    By Jeremy Rellosa
  6. women’s apparel
    The 13 Very Best White T-shirts for Women“These are the retail equivalent of no-makeup makeup.”
    By Arielle Avila and Brenley Goertzen
  7. cookware and utensils
    The 11 Very Best Sheet PansIncluding a heavy-duty, restaurant-quality option to buy in bulk and an Instagram-ready one.
    By Emma Wartzman
  8. sleep gear
    The Very Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks“In the morning, you don’t want darkness — you want lots of light so your brain actually understands it’s time to get up.”
    By Jeremy Rellosa
  9. bedding
    The 9 Very Best Cooling ComfortersNo more night sweats.
    By Lauren Ro
  10. outdoor leisure
    The 11 Very Best Picnic BlanketsFor the park, the beach, and the trail.
    By Katherine Gillespie
  11. small appliances
    The 7 Very Best Panini PressesThey’re good for a lot more than just sandwiches.
    By Emma Wartzman
  12. grooming
    The 8 Very Best Shaving CreamsYour underarms too could be “tight and smooth but also soft and smelling like the dad you never had.”
    By Rachael Griffiths
  13. grooming
    The Very Best Men’s RazorsSafety razors, cartridge razors, electric razors, and straight razors at every price point.
    By Rachael Griffiths
  14. cookware and utensils
    The 8 Very Best Cutting BoardsIncluding wooden, plastic, and rubber options that are gentle on your knife’s edge.
    By Bernadette Machard de Gramont
  15. women’s apparel
    The 8 Very Best Jean Shorts for WomenIncluding not-too-short cutoffs and not-too-long jorts.
    By Ambar Pardilla
  16. decor
    The 18 Very Best Floor LampsFrom expensive-looking ones that cost less than $100 to splurge-worthy floor lamps that double as actual pieces of art.
    By Lauren Ro
  17. furniture
    The 17 Very Best Dining ChairsIncluding a petproof velvet seat and the historic café chair that gets thrown around at improv theaters.
    By Erin Schwartz
  18. cookware and utensils
    The 5 Very Best Carbon-Steel PansIt’s time to replace your nonstick skillet with one you won’t have to eventually throw out.
    By Michael Zhao
  19. coffee
    The 7 Very Best French PressesIncluding options that are design-forward, heirloom-quality, and rugged enough for camping.
    By Chris Sarachilli
  20. women’s apparel
    The 14 Very Best Bras for Small BreastsNo uncomfortable underwires here.
    By Ambar Pardilla
  21. cookware and utensils
    The 9 Very Best SpatulasScrapers, stirrers, flippers, turners, spreaders, and everything in between.
    By Margaret Eby
  22. mattresses
    The Best Mattresses for Back PainSupport is the name of the game.
    By Amelia Jerden
  23. furniture
    The 6 Very Best Standing DesksFrom simple manual options to highly customizable rigs.
    By Dominique Pariso
  24. small appliances
    10 of the Very Best Waffle-MakersFor all the not-pancake people.
    By Emma Wartzman
  25. cookware and utensils
    The 8 Very Best Serrated KnivesFor cutting tomatoes, bread, citrus, sandwiches, and much more.
    By Michael Zhao
  26. cookware and utensils
    The 12 Best Pieces of BakewareMore than a dozen chefs recommend baking dishes, cake tins, and more.
    By Emma Wartzman
  27. decor
    The 14 Very Best Sisal, Jute, Seagrass, and Abaca RugsThese natural-fiber rugs, many of which are customizable, will give any room a more organic look.
    By Lauren Ro
  28. cookware and utensils
    The 7 Very Best Garlic PressesNo clove left behind.
    By Maria Yagoda
  29. health and fitness
    The Very Best Adjustable DumbbellsA solid space-saving addition to any home-gym setup.
    By Jeremy Rellosa
  30. best in class
    The 8 Very Best Pizza Stones, Steels, and IronsThis is the tool you need for pizzeria-level pies at home.
    By Jonathan Deutsch
  31. skin-care treatments
    The 14 Very Best Products to Get Rid of and Prevent ScarsHint: The earlier you treat them, the better.
    By Rachael Griffiths
  32. men’s apparel
    The Very Best Boxer BriefsIncluding supersoft styles, classic Calvin Kleins, and an under-$10 pair that no fewer than six of our panelists swear by.
    By Jeremy Rellosa
  33. cookware and utensils
    The 9 Very Best Microplanes, Graters, and ZestersTurn cheese into snow, lemons into zest, and nutmeg into powder.
    By Margaret Eby
  34. lip balms and treatments
    The 11 Very Best Lip BalmsFrom Aquaphor to Burt’s Bees to Carmex.
    By Tembe Denton-Hurst
  35. air quality
    The Very Best Window Air ConditionersA sweltering home makes for a miserable summer.
    By Steven John
  36. baby feeding
    The 7 Very Best Breast Pumps“I felt very comfortable moving around and washing bottles, brushing my teeth, or making dinner with it on.”
    By Sara Gaynes Levy
  37. grilling
    The 7 Very Best Charcoal GrillsThey work as well on a Brooklyn rooftop as at Reduit beach at sunset.
    By Joshua David Stein
  38. vacuums
    The 5 Very Best Handheld Vacuum CleanersAll personally tested on sand, pet hair, and food spills.
    By Amelia Mularz
  39. face
    The 9 Very Best Tinted MoisturizersThey’re lightweight, hydrating, and usually come with a bit of sun protection.
    By Tembe Denton-Hurst
  40. pillows
    The 7 Very Best Adjustable PillowsFor the Goldilocks sleepers who want their pillow just right.
    By Amelia Jerden
  41. moisturizers
    The 8 Very Best Moisturizers With SPFGet your daily dose of sun protection with no extra steps.
    By Baze Mpinja
  42. men’s shoes
    The Very Best Men’s Rain BootsBecause no one likes soggy socks.
    By Jeremy Rellosa
  43. bathroom
    The 11 Very Best Shower Curtains“Looking out through this transparent curtain feels like wearing OJ-colored glasses.”
    By Erin Schwartz
  44. women’s fashion
    The 14 Very Best White Socks for WomenBasic but essential.
    By Kitty Guo
  45. shampoo and conditioner
    The 8 Very Best Leave-in ConditionersIncluding an option that gives “featherlight hydration.”
    By Rachael Griffiths
  46. air quality
    The Very Best Portable Air ConditionersThey’re powerful, quiet, and efficient.
    By Steven John
  47. men’s apparel
    The Very Best Men’s ChinosIncluding a vintage-inspired Buck Mason option, a classic pair for around $50, and a very on-trend relaxed fit with pleats.
    By Liza Corsillo
  48. men’s shoes
    The 13 Best Men’s Hiking Boots and ShoesFootwear for every kind of trail.
    By Jeremy Rellosa
  49. kitchen
    The 6 Very Best Induction Burners“It takes the guesswork out of cooking on gas at home.”
    By Maddy Sweitzer-Lammé
  50. massagers and recovery
    The 11 Very Best Foam RollersYour muscles will thank you.
    By Jeremy Rellosa
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