On My Mind: Comfortable Couches and Vintage Knicks Gear
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your account’s‘Saved for Later’section.
Comment
“Strategist Brain” is a series in which staffers share the stores they’ve stopped in to, stuff they’ve spotted, and extra tidbits from stories they’ve worked on. You’ll hear from a different writer every week.
The last time I wrote an entry for this column,back in August, I talked about lots of running-related products that were on my mind. Not much has changed since then — I’ve still been training, and I think about running gear constantly — and all of that time spent alone with my thoughts has given me time to mull over how different shoes feel on my feet, how certain long-sleeved shirts breathe better than others, and how I’ve become hyperaware of the thickness in a pair of socks. Each run is like a gear-testing session.
But this spring, I haven’t beenmarathon trainingas much. After going to physical therapy this month for a nagging IT-band issue, my PT told me that I overdid it a little: I ran three marathons in 2024 and barely took any breaks in between training periods, I started working in apizza kitchenon the weekends, and I picked up mytennisracket for the first time in months. Now my body is angry at me. Here, the things I’ve been using during this recovery period, plus a few other items that have been on my mind.
New! You can now save this product for later.
I’ve been running in more cushioned shoes lately, and I’ve really enjoyed the Novablast 5’s — supportive daily training shoes that are also good for faster speeds and workouts. My feet have been happy in them.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Last week, I went to the launch of this collaboration between Bandit and ASICS for the Novablast 5. It’s the same shoe as the one I’ve been testing for the past few months, except in a limited-edition color, and yet it looks like a completely different shoe. Bandit always does supercool launches like this; it’s arguably the most popular running-apparel brand at the moment.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For thepizza-kitchen gig I mentioned, I need shoes that protect my feet and can transition between hot and cold weather. These clogs have been a lifesaver. They have the cushioning and stability of a regular Blundstone sole but with an open heel that lets my feet breathe. Plus they look nice enough to wear out.
Here’s everything else I’ve seen recently …
New! You can now save this product for later.
If there’s a single article of clothing that best encapsulates my current wardrobe, it’s this blue Madewell hoodie that I got in February. It has a nice thickness and a slightly oversize fit. (I normally wear medium, but I went with a small.)
New! You can now save this product for later.
My wardrobe is currently dominated by that Madewell hoodie’s shade of blue: a light cobalt. Maybe it’s because I’ve been listening to Faye Webster’s albumUnderdressed at the Symphony, whose album art consists of Webster surrounded by blue clothing. A possible subconscious influence?
New! You can now save this product for later.
Truthfully, I was drawn to this book’s cover design when I was browsing my local bookstore (shout-out toBooks Are Magic!), and I’m glad I took a chance on it. It’s a novel about many things, including addiction, grief, death, attachment, and family. It’s so good — and I was surprised to learn it was this author’s debut novel. I’m about halfway through, and I’m certain that I’m going to finish it in the next few days given how fast I’m making my way through it.
New! You can now save this product for later.
My roommate and I recently threw out our old couch, which was, hands down,the worst thing I bought in 2022. My colleague Erin Schwartz, who is our resident sofa expert, got word of my situation and worked with Quince to let me test a sample of the brand’s Performance Basketweave sofa. It’s a game changer. It’s infinitely more comfortable than the Wayfair couch, and it has a nice depth that lets me relax and lean into the corners so I can put my feet up across the sofa (I often fall asleep this way after dinner, before crawling to my bedroom at midnight).
New! You can now save this product for later.
I recently restrung my racquet and restocked on new grips. I’ve been using these overgrips from Wilson for years. In high school, I usedTourna Grip, which was sort of the gold-standard grip at the time (anyone remember those Bryan brothers commercials on the Tennis Channel?), but I never liked how they disintegrated and frayed. These ones from Wilson are a little more durable than those, have a slight tackiness to them, and have perforations that add breathability — great for sweaty hands like mine.
New! You can now save this product for later.
It’s almost playoff time, and I am feeling a bit nervous even though we’ve just notched back-to-back 50-win seasons for thefirst time since 1995. In the past six months, I’ve collected some Knicks gear, including this varsity jacket below from theGrand Bazaarflea market. It fit me perfectly, so I had to buy it. I also got this clock from a guy on Craigslist who said he “just wasn’t that big of a fan anymore.” His loss!
Here’s a Knicks varsity jacket from Mitchell & Ness that’s very similar to the one in the photo below. The one I got at the flea market has a shorter hem.
New! You can now save this product for later.
I’ve been on a yearslong search for a pomade or cream that can tame my thick, straight hair without gunking it up. (My search iswell documented. I most recently liked theAēsop Violet Leaf Hair Balm, which moisturized my hair, but I found that I had to apply a lot to give my hair the right hold.) It’s an impossible battle because products with a stronger hold are often stickier. Although I haven’t found the ultimate product, this pomade from Highland comes very close. It has a semi-thick texture that melts when I rub it in my hands (likely thanks to sandalwood oil), which means there aren’t any visible chunks of pomade when I work it into my hair. It has notes of pine, and I love that I don’t have to reapply throughout the day.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Similar to my hunt for pomade, I’ve also been looking for the right shampoo that doesn’t sap my hair of moisture. I’ve recently tried thisKiehl’s shampooand this one fromMalin+Goetz, and even with conditioner, my hair has felt dry and stiff after using them — I’m not sure which ingredient was causing this. But Highland recently sent me its shampoo, and I have been loving it so far. It’s now my main shampoo. The best part is that it leaves my hair feeling hydrated and smooth — without conditioner. I was surprised by how quickly it created a thick lather with just a small pump. Plus it has a refreshing minty-sandalwood scent.
New! You can now save this product for later.
I am a huge Conan O’Brien head, and for years I’d been trying to find a mug from his late-night show. I found this on eBay last year, and I brought it to my friend’s Oscars viewing party along with my matching shirt. (O’Brien hosted the Academy Awards this year and is set to host it next year, too!)
New! You can now save this product for later.
This is the only pen I’ve been using for the past few months, and I can imagine it’ll be the only one I’ll use for the foreseeable future. We have them in the supply closet at the office. On one end, it has a finer tip than a classic Sharpie, and on the other end is an ultrafine tip that lets out just the right amount of ink without excessive bleeding. I’ve never had any issues with smudging.
The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
