The Strategist’s Greatest Hits That Are on Sale for Cyber Monday — So Far

When former Strategist editor Margaret Rhodes first lay down on the Allswell Luxe Hybrid to test its buoyancy, she fell asleep almost immediately, explaining, “There was something comfortably paralyzing about letting this very firm mattress straighten out my skeleton.” We called it a remarkable value for the price, and it’s an even better deal for Cyber Monday, since you can get 20 percent off any size of Allswell mattress with code STRAT20.

The “Tesla of electric toothbrushes” is currently half-off. It’ll look nice on the bathroom counter, but it also leaves your mouth feeling like you’ve “just come back from a cleaning, probably because the toothbrush vibrates at 31,000 brush strokes a minute.”

The Oral-B 1000 comes well recommended by dentists, because of the way it both rotates and oscillates (vibrates) to clean teeth and remove plaque — and it’s become a favorite among Strategist readers, too, appearing on our list of best sellers 12 times.

The best Instant Pot for most people is currently the cheapest we’ve seen it.

This Instant Pot Smart Wi-Fi is a great gift for a smart-home obsessive, someone who would like to be able to control appliances while sitting on the couch. And $90 is as good of a price as you’re going to get on this multifunctional cooker, even on Cyber Monday.

If you missed our 30 percent exclusive discount on the Amazon coat yesterday, don’t worry: It’s open to everyone today. Just be sure to check off the coupon on the product page.

The Trtl travel pillow looks a little like a neck brace, but its unique, scarflike design also means it’s very supportive, endlessly adjustable, and doesn’t take up too much room in a carry-on. And right now, it’s on sale, so you can buy one for yourself and one for a friend.

The Garmin Forerunner makes a great gift for runners, and this model is a particularly nice entry-level model, letting them track their runs and check their pace, heart rate, and distance mid-run.

“Hands down, Vitamix is the Ferrari of blenders,” says Jessica Young, founder and CEO of Bubble. And though this Explorian model doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, it’s still got a lot of power, which makes it great for making smoothies and every, home-kitchen uses.

Our resident beauty writer Rio Viera-Newton says that she likes this hyaluronic acid serum from Amazon’s skin-care brand Belei better than the one from Drunk Elephant. It’s hydrating, affordable, and doesn’t leave her skin feeling sticky after she puts it on — and for Cyber Monday, it’s an extra 15 percent off.

This Nixplay digital photo frame is our pick for the best app-compatible digital photo frame. And reviewers report that it’s very easy to use, like one who says, “The ability to simply click a button to allow photos to be sent to the frame (to anyone I provide the email address) is a WOW!”

This double-decker egg cooker has over 2,000 five-star reviewers, including one particularly enamored fan who calls it “an EGGcellent investment.”

The Kindle Paperwhite, which Maxine described as the best thing she bought last year, is the cheapest we’ve ever seen it.

We first featured this stainless-steel travel mug from Zojirushi in 2016. Writer Laura Perciasepe said it kept her vodka-soda ice-cold at the beach and her hot coffee scalding in the winter — and this 16-ounce Zojirushi is the cheapest we’ve ever seen.

Former deputy editor and dog owner Jason Chen was very eager to get this Furbo as a gift last year. Instead of sitting at work, worrying about his pup, “this little camera can keep track of what’s going on at home, send real-time bark alerts, and even toss him treats.”

These Bose noise-cancelling headphones are favorites of David Sedaris, our columnist Chris Black, and Amazon reviewers.

In her testing of truly wireless earbuds, our managing editor called these Bose headphones the best for working out, thanks to the sporty finish and their easy-to-adjust controls.

Our pick for the best-rated inflatable boat on Amazon, which inspired one reviewer to write, “It’s portable. It deflates and fits easily into my sedan. No roof racks, no heavy kayak! It is easy to steer and fits my giant goldendoodle.” Plus, it’s never been this cheap.

The Drillbrush, which Maxine attaches to a power-drill to deep-clean her tub and shower, makes an excellent gift for a White Elephant exchange — especially now that it’s under $15.

Junior writer Chloe Anello first started wearing this pullover while at college in Syracuse, calling this Patagonia fleece “definitely the warmest” that she tried.

Travel writer and photographer Michaela Trimble packed everything she needed for a two-month trip in this Patagonia duffel bag, with room to spare. “And it barely came back with a scratch.”

This leather Baggu tote is one of our picks for the best women’s work bag. According to Sam Anderson, a product designer who recommended it, it’s incredibly versatile, good for bringing to the grocery store or out for drinks. “The thing that I love most is that the leather and finish age really well, so even oil stains and scratches give it beautiful character,” she told us.

This Roomba is our pick for the best entry-level robot vacuum. One satisfied reviewer reports that it can “vacuum under the bed, under the dresser, over the air vents, over the door tracks, and on short nap carpet, shag carpet, tile, vinyl, parquet, and throw rugs — any place you want cleaned.”

This portable Bluetooth speaker came recommended by a former RA at Brown University. It’s light and portable, with enough sound to “transform your dorm room into a comfy pre-game or party room.” It’s also waterproof, in case you want to bring it in the bathroom (or are worried about spills). And at just $40 at Best Buy, this Ultimate Ears speaker makes an excellent gift for a college student or hard-to-shop-for teen.

This Bluetooth speaker from JBL is another one that was recommended by college students. (It’s also one of New York Knicks center Julius Randle’s favorite things.)

Former tech columnist (and occasional tech writer for the Strategist) David Pogue calls these Sony headphones the best noise-canceling headphones he’s ever owned. And right now, they’re $70 off.

Though it’s still fairly expensive, this is a very good sale price for one of the newer, most powerful Dyson models. Writer Lori Keong tested the Dyson V10 when it first came out in 2018 and concluded, “You’d have a hard time finding a better, easy-to-use vacuum — especially if you suffer from allergies, have pets, or own lots of dusty upholstery.”

When Strategist managing editor Maxine Builder tested different truly wireless earbuds, she found the Jabra Elite 65t to be “a great option for those looking for a straightforward alternative to the Apple headphones or a less expensive upgrade.” But now, they’re even cheaper than AirPods (and the cheapest we’ve ever seen).

On a hunt to find truly wireless earbuds (that weren’t just Apple AirPods), Maxine tested five different pairs and found these Sennheisers were the most comfortable, the most stylish, and had the best sound quality.

When Strategist writer Liza Corsillo talked with toy experts and trend forecasters to find the top kids’ toys for this holiday season, many of them recommended stocking up on the dolls from L.O.L. Surprise — and it turns out this pet version is available at Best Buy.

We first reviewed Brooklinen’s airy-soft linen sheets in 2017, and it’s since become the Strategist’s go-to source for affordable linen bedding. As our editors wrote, “You can’t go wrong with Brooklinen.” And for Cyber Monday, these linen sheets are even more affordable, thanks to a 20 percent discount — though this sale was so popular that everything in Brooklinen’s linen collection is now back-ordered until December.

If linen’s not your thing, or you want new sheets now, these sateen sheets are still in stock. Writer David Notis describes them as “really soft, but it doesn’t have the shiny look other sateen sheets sometimes get.”

When she tested this environmentally friendly duvet from Buffy back in 2018, Lori described it as “tremendously soft, light, and cool to the touch right out of the box, and sleeping beneath it, you feel nestled under an airy but cozy canopy.” And everything at Buffy — including this cotton candy-like comforter — is 20 percent off with the code SOCOMFY.

Chewy’s Cyber Monday sale has discounts on pet toys and gear up to 60 percent. This modern-looking cat-scratcher lounge is one of our most-stood-behind gifts.

This funny-looking dog toy is also on sale, which writer Alice Gregory says is — inexplicably — her poodle’s favorite toy: “We call it his ‘bear octopus,’ and we hate it.”

The face serum with a true cult following is rarely more than 20 percent off. Right now it’s 25 percent off as part of Dermstore’s Cyber Monday sale.

This lightweight Harry Josh hair dryer is a Dermstore best seller, very quiet while it’s running, and it’s rarely on sale.

“Weleda Skin Food is an all-purpose, completely natural moisturizer that I now keep in threes: bedside, car, and purse,” writes Stephanie Danler, who has used it to heal scrapes and burns as well as to make her face look luminous.

Strategist email editor Mia Leimkuhler calls these Everlane loafers “a good work shoe.” They’re sturdy, too: Her pair has lasted four years.

Asked to find a stylish, but still warm, puffer jacket under $200, writer Hilary Reid recommended this one — which is even cheaper today.

Strategist editor Alexis Swerdloff calls these “the most comfortable high-waisted jeans I’ve ever encountered.” And they’re rarely on-sale, let alone 25 percent off.

Glossier is having a site-wide sale, and our beauty writer Rio Viera-Newton went through and found some of her favorite deals, including this very giftable three-pack of Balm Dotcom lip balm.

“The most exhilarating of all the bath and body products I’ve ever tried isn’t a cream or gel. It’s the Goop G-Tox Ultimate Dry Brush, and it’s biodegradable, made from the leaves of the Mexican sisal palm,” writes Linda Dyett, a beauty writer with decades of experience. Now’s a good time to try it, since it’s rarely on-sale.

One of our picks for best work backpack (and our managing editor’s go-to backpack when flying) is 20 percent off as part of Haerfest’s Cyber Monday sale.

Everything at Hay is 20 percent off, with free shipping, so we’d recommend stocking up on gifts and stocking stuffers — like this porcelain coffee maker that’d make a great gift for a coffee lover.

We thought this stylish J.Crew fleece would sell out back in October, but it became a Strategist best seller and is somehow still in stock — and currently the cheapest we’ve ever seen it.

Look Optic’s readers are more expensive than what you might find at your local pharmacy, but they’re also sturdier and more stylish. (The design team is made up of Oliver Peoples alums, and its glasses are manufactured by the same company behind Garrett Leight.) And for Cyber Monday, all of its readers are less expensive than usual with an automatic 20 percent discount.

A shorter version of the Lululemon leggings recommended by three fitness instructors. “They’re the most comfortable and are great for wider-mobility workouts,” one told us, while another said they’re soft enough to feel like a “second skin.”

Yes, even on sale, this Dyson air purifier is still fairly expensive. But it’s asthma- and allergy-friendly, and it functions as a heater, as well as a cooling fan.

When junior writer Jenna Milliner-Waddell discovered these Levi’s, she described the feeling as love at first site. “Not only do they show no gaps at the waist, they stretch just enough to get over my hips without being a full-blown jegging, while still giving me that rigid denim feel.”

Lots of Strategist editors own these Levi’s Wedgie jeans, and now, they’re on-sale in a plus-size.

This is a little deeper and smaller than a 5.5-quart Le Creuset Dutch oven, which is the size and shape that most people imagine when they talk about Le Creuset, but it’s still a beautiful and functional piece of cookware. And for just $200, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth.

Former Strategist senior editor Margaret Rhodes was gifted this French press by her boyfriend. It’s not as quick to make coffee as her old drip coffee maker, but it’s much more civilized. Plus, she writes, “the matte white ceramic looks nice on the kitchen counter.”

These reusable sandwich bags are made of silicone, and, according to Haley Boyd, they’re great to keep in a grocery tote, too, since they fold down flat.

When writer Hilary Reid talked with a trend forecaster about the women’s gifts that will sell out this year, scrunchies came up as a go-to stocking stuffer — and, according to the trend forecaster, the coolest scrunchies are from Danish brand Ganni.

By our count, at least 11 people on staff at New York own a pair of Vejas.

Boy Smells is one of our picks for the best “status” candle, thanks to its unique scents and eye-catching pink label.

Nordstrom’s Cyber Monday sale is actually a full Cyber Week of deals, with tons of Strategist favorites up to 50 percent off. That includes these Hunter rain boots, which are rare to find on-sale in classic black.

We surveyed 12 tween girls to find out what they want for the holidays this year, and four of them specifically asked for HydroFlasks. One told us, that the Hydroflask is the “water bottle all of my friends want or carry right now.” It’s also available in lilac.

These Blundstones are writer Hilary Reid’s go-to winter boots: “They’re fairly lightweight, but solid enough to withstand walking through the dreaded curbside black holes of slush.”

Senior editor Anthony Rotunno calls these boots his “blizzard Red Wings. To me, they look more like your standard winter boot; less fashion, more function (but still stylish enough).” And they’re suitable for plodding through huge snow banks.

When Lori talked with hairstylists to find the best curling irons, many recommended this one from GHD. The temperature maxes out at 365 degrees, so it minimizes the amount of damage it can do to hair, and it evenly heats to create gentle, perfect waves.

This self-watering planter comes recommended by the owner of a gardening company, and it’s a great gift for those who want fresh herbs all year long.

The discount including already on-sale styles, like these TechSweat leggings, which came recommended by professional trainers for low-intensity classes, like barre or yoga (and they’re the cheapest we’ve ever seen).

Maxine likes these high-waisted, mid-weight warm-up leggings so much, she bought two pairs in one month.

For those who’d like to sleep on a cloud but don’t want to buy a new mattress, this Parachute mattress topper is an affordable option. Former Strategist senior writer Lauren Levy tried it back in 2016 and reported, “I felt myself gently melting and folding into the topper, while it enveloped me from beneath. I woke up feeling lightly sandwiched between layers of plushness.” It’s 20 percent off today, along with just about everything on Parachute’s site.

After testing six gear from different direct-to-consumer cookware brands, managing editor Maxine Builder determined that Potluck’s pots, pans, and utensils were the best deal. She writes that this 12-piece utensil set “looks and feels like it came straight from a restaurant supply store on the Bowery, and I mean that as the highest compliment. It’s chef-centric and utilitarian,” and right now, it’s on sale (which rarely happens).

This Swedish sparkling water machine looks nice, is easy to use, and makes seltzer with bubbles that our managing editor described as “strong, fine, and even, almost like Perrier.”

The Dyson V8 isn’t the newest cordless Dyson vacuum, but according to Margaret, it still works “like a small tornado designed to very quickly suck up every bit of dust, dirt, and hair that covers your floor and furniture.” And though it was a good deal on Prime Day last year, it’s an even better deal now.

Grub Street editor Alan Systma gifted this Nespresso machine to his parents and reported, “I’m not exaggerating when I say it was all they could talk about for a while.”

There’s a lot of beauty gift sets available at Sephora right now, including this “vault” of skin care from Peter Thomas Roth. It includes a dermatologist-approved hydrating moisturizer and a Buzz Bissinger–approved hydrating gel face mask.

Makeup artist Amanda Shackelton told us that this waterproof mascara from Too Faced “has all the elements needed to get lashes thick, long, and separated.”

Snowe Home is offering 20 percent off purchases of $75 or more, but you’ll hit that minimum if you’re buying a set of its percale sheets. They were recommended to us by Kai Avent-deLeon, owner of Sincerely, Tommy, who says, “They’re cotton, which is the only material I buy now, and they’re really soft, kind of plush. They’re breathable and low maintenance, so I don’t have to constantly clean them even though I buy an off-white color.”

The start-up lingerie brand is slashing 25 percent off its entire inventory with the code BESTDEAL25. This wireless T-shirt bra became a favorite of senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson, who described it as “very comfortable thanks to its soft, microfiber fabric, stretchy band, and full-coverage cups with seamless front straps.”

“It may look like a medieval torture device,” Rio writes of this derma roller, “But I can promise from firsthand experience that it’s actually a nice, gentle way to take care of issues that just can’t be solved even with the best vitamin C serum,” like hyperpigmentation.

This olive oil–based cleansing oil is fragrance-free and very gentle, which is why one dermatologist we spoke with recommended this for every skin type.

Foreo is one of Rio’s approved brands for combatting cystic blemishes, and this easy-to-clean, easy-to-use motorized facial-cleansing brush, that’s also beloved by reviewers, gently exfoliates and cleans.

Just in time for cold, dry winter weather, Rio’s favorite hydrating eye patches are on sale.

We first wrote about the Belmint foot massager in 2017, when a reader wrote in looking for the best foot spas. Since then, it’s become a perennial Strategist best seller — especially around Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, since a foot massager is a great gift for any hard-to-shop-for parent.

Some more L.O.L. dolls. This set from Walmart comes with over 70 “surprises” for them to unbox, making it a big gift, if you’re looking for something impressive.

Another toy for kids that we expect to sell out are Hatchimals, and these dreamy llama-corns — which are half-llama, half-unicorn — combine both last year’s hottest toy trend and this year’s. And though it seems basic, apparently the kids are very into “unboxing” their toys this holiday season from fun packages, like this egg.

This mystery egg from child YouTube sensation Ryan’s World did sell out last year, so we’re surprised to see it on-sale at all, especially since trend forecasters told us that it’ll be popular again this year.

One of our picks for the best family board game, Ticket to Ride is described by one satisfied reviewer as, “a well-made game and should be in every game-loving family” since it can be played by folks of all ages.

Of the 16 dentists and dental hygienists Liza Corsillo spoke with, 13 of them recommended Waterpik by name. This water flosser is easy-to-use and effectively breaks away plaque and bacteria from your teeth.

This is writer Kurt Soller’s pick for the best electric beard trimmer for travel: “The small size, decent battery life, and punchy color make it just right for my Dopp kit.”

If you’re looking for an even less-expensive version of the Theragun, there’s the Liv. It’s the company’s most affordable option — with only one speed, compared to the G3’s two — but it still has a lot of percussive power. And it’s even more affordable right now.

The Braun Silk-épil is Fiona Byrne’s go-to hair-removal device, and she swears it has saved her “(no lie) thousands of dollars on leg and bikini waxing, not to mention the hassle of scheduling and keeping appointments.” And now, you can save a bit extra on the device itself, since the newest model is on sale at Walmart.

We’ve described the Philips Norelco as the best electric razor for most people. According to former deputy editor Jason Chen, the Philips has a lot of good things going for it: “A clean and easy shave, a nice feel in the hand, an easy weight, and the ability to be cleaned with just a rinse under the sink.”

If you want a full-size version of the aforementioned Peter Thomas Roth gel face mask that Buzz Bissinger loves, it’s on sale at Walmart.

If you’re looking for Cyber Monday shoe deals, Zappos is a good place to start, with tens of thousands of items on sale — including these very comfortable Dansko clogs, worn by the maitre d’ at Frenchette, writer Stephanie Danler, and four Strategist editors.

Our resident cool guy Chris Black wears these oxfords from Dr. Martens — without the brand’s signature yellow stitching.

We called these Merrell boots the best waterproof hiking boots for men. According to one hyperenthusiastic Amazon reviewer, they are, “about as good a fit as one can get without having boots custom made.”

These canvas sneakers are one of our picks for the best white sneakers for women. Photographer Louise Parker says that these Supergas look like “cute tennis shoes.”