The Dorm 100

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For many students, moving into a dorm will be their first time setting up a home (okay, room) of their own. Then they’ll need twin XL sheets, but which ones are the best? How about a laundry basket — stand-alone or backpack-style? And what about a mini-fridge? When putting together The Strategist Dorm 100, Rachael Griffiths and Bella Druckman interviewed hundreds of college students and recent graduates about the best stuff. (And as relatively recent graduates themselves, they also thought about what items made them feel best equipped for their own college experiences.) What they found was, besides the practicals (mattress toppers, shower caddies, extension cords), many of the items on this list help “make the space feel like a place that’s actually lived in,” says Griffiths. That’s where the fairy lights, weighted comfort dinosaur, snuggly blankets, and slippers come in.

Meanwhile, there are loads of back-to-school sales happening if you still need to replenish supplies (or are simply a stationery lover who needs an excuse to buy more pens and notebooks).

Also on the site: Contributor Will Porter gathered everything you need to run when it’s a zillion degrees out. And speaking of running in hot weather, you might need to replenish your electrolytes; this one from DripDrop is gear writer Jeremy Rellosa’s favorite, as it has just the right amount of carbs and sodium and tastes great. —Ashley Wolfgang, newsletter editor