Welcome to the Strategist, a site for helping you shop the internet. It is written by journalists (not robots), and is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Our goal first and foremost is to help you find the best version of whatever it is you are looking to buy, while introducing you to the stuff (a Japanese nail clipper that cuts with the precision of a Santoku knife, for instance) that you didn’t know you needed. We’ll test things ourselves; we’ll call up 40 interior designers to find the best-looking and most comfortable couch under $2,000; we’ll investigate how a certain coat from a certain retailer became a nationwide phenomenon; we’ll write odes to products that we’d happily do an infomercial for; and we’ll ask Anwar Hadid about his favorite hand soap. To give you a taste of what we do, here are some of our all-time favorite travel accessories.
These Actually Stylish Compression Socks Made My Mom Cry
Writer Alison Freer found genuinely attractive compression socks that look more like a style choice rather than a medical necessity. Read more here.
Mid-Fold, This Perfect Travel Toothbrush Almost Looks Like a Ballerina
After many trips with less than stellar hygiene products, former senior writer Lauren Levy discovered the Tour travel toothbrush and became fascinated by its hygienic jackknife design. Read more here.
The Foldable Water Bottle I Can Stow in My Back Pocket
This discreet water bottle designed for hikers helped writer Caroline Bankoff survive an all-day summer wedding in humid Maryland heat. Read more here.
This Padded Foot Sling Makes Economy Feel Like First Class
While searching for sleep-aid products to get her through a 20-hour flight, writer Alyse Whitney stumbled upon this foot sling that gave her a first-class experience. Read more here.
I Put These Patches on My Butt and Mosquitoes Don’t Even Know I Exist
According to writer and frequent traveler Alice B-B, these patches that she puts on her butt are the only mosquito repellents that actually work. Read more here.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
