If you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered what famous people add to their carts. Not the JAR brooch and Louis XV chair but the hair spray and the electric toothbrush. We asked Sleater Kinney’s Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein, currently on tour to support their new album Little Rope, about the clothing, beverages, and appliances that they can’t live without.
What Corin can’t live without
This is a balm that has not just CBD but THC in it as well. After carrying a Les Paul all the time, my shoulder gives me trouble at the end of the day. This is the best thing I’ve found for recovery, post-rehearsal and post-show. It’s highly effective the way they’ve synthesized those ingredients to provide both immediate and long-lasting pain relief. I used to use Rescue Rub, and it was good. But I was at a local chain weed store in Portland called Nectar and a young gentleman there was like, “Listen, if you like Rescue Rub, I’ve got a product for you.” He had been in a car accident a year before, and this stuff was really helpful. I’ve gotta say he did me right. It’s a great product. I just went out and bought another one for tour for myself and our drummer.
I find a lot of headphones uncomfortable. And they don’t sound good. With the Beats Solo, I feel like I’m in the world of the mix. And I used them for mixing the last two records. They’re extremely comfortable — my ears are really sensitive. I don’t mind if it’s a little bass-y, I kind of like that in my mixes anyway. I don’t like AirPods. Sorry. I hate them. They’re really uncomfortable, and they don’t sound good. They feel horrible. I feel like I’m shoving a tampon inside of my ear.
I think a hat is sometimes your best defense against getting sick when you travel. Percentage-wise, the most heat you’re going to lose from your body is from your head. Especially me, because I’ve got a giant head. It’s the best prophylactic on tour. Masks are good, hand washing, all that stuff, but if I have to pick one thing that’s going to prevent me getting sick, it’s the hat. I have multiple from this very cute Portland boutique called Sloan. They have these hats and cute stuff like that that keep us going in the winter.
I like a kombucha, and I think kombucha in a glass bottle is preferable. They make this in a very solid glass bottle. It’s extremely calming, and it always settles my stomach. I feel like the quality and the taste are superior. There’s a clearness to the kombucha. It’s very finely strained and all that. It’s not too tart. Some kombuchas are a little acidic, but this one is very smooth feeling. The Health-Ade one is also really good. But it’s kind of a giant bottle. The bottle is a little too big. This one is the perfect size, and it tastes great.
Huge fan. I got really freaked out by this recent New York Times article that was like, Are you taking too much Advil? I was like, Oh my God, you’re going to ruin my life. But I read the whole article and it’s just like, “Don’t take more than 1,200 milligrams per day.” And that’s fine. That’s reasonable. I can live with that. In relation to playing lots of guitar and doing rehearsals and stuff, all of these products are working together. The ibuprofen, the kombucha, the CBD balm — they’re all reducing inflammation. Which is going to help me when playing guitar and singing long-term. A lot of people recently have said to me, I can’t believe you’re still doing this. You’re old. Very blatant. Yes, I know. But here we are. I still love doing it. I’ve got the ibuprofen — I’m ready to go.
What Carrie can’t live without
I’m wearing them right now. I have three pairs. They’re the perfect indoor-outdoor shoe. I’m not someone that really subscribes to athleisure. If I wear sweats or soft pants at home, it reminds me of being sick or under the weather. And I feel the same way about slippers. I like coming indoors and taking off my shoes — it keeps the house clean, I think it’s more hygienic — but I don’t like putting on slippers. I need a shoe with a little structure that makes me feel like I’m still capable of doing something besides sitting on my couch. And I think these shoes have a really good hybridity. You can still take the trash out or go get your mail, but they’re great for indoors too. They have a rubber sole, so it doesn’t feel like you’re just padding around the halls of an institution. You’re still capable of standing upright, sending off an email, conducting an interview. I’ve got my thinking cap on despite wearing these comfy shoes.
It’s literally the best gift that I’ve purchased for myself in my adult life. It is a game changer. If you have pets, it’s the best mechanism for cleaning up pet hair. The attachments work really well. It’s really good on all surfaces and for getting under things. It has great suction power, great torque. And good battery life, which is important for a cordless vacuum. It’s not too heavy, and it just allows me to keep my house clean — or to clean up quickly if I have someone coming over or if I’ve tracked dirt through my house because I didn’t throw the Tevas on fast enough. Having to work out the square footage that your wired vacuum can reach in every room is so tedious, so I think going cordless is definitely the way to go. But if you’re going to go cordless, don’t settle. It’s one of those things, like a good espresso maker. You will save money over time. That’s how I feel about the Dyson. I have never looked back.
I tend to get cold in my extremities, so I needed a pair of gloves that were lightweight and that weren’t necessarily fashion gloves for going out. These don’t look like I’m going out to play in the snow either; they’re pretty versatile in terms of what I can wear them with. They’re very soft, and I can still use my fingers — I think that’s important with gloves, that you don’t feel clumsy when you’re wearing them. The weight is perfect for an all-round glove, and they come in a couple of different colors. I have the black because it’s the most neutral and goes with most of my clothes. I’m from the Pacific Northwest, but I’m not necessarily interested in just wearing outdoor gear 24/7, 365 days a year. Some people there dress like there might be a surprise hike forced upon them, but these gloves don’t veer into that category. They’re an unassuming but utilitarian pair of gloves.
What I like about it is that it allows me to have multiple cups of coffee in the morning instead of a single or double shot of espresso. Or if everyone is home, it allows multiple people in the house to have cups of coffee. It’s super-easy to use, and it gets the temperature of the water just right. It’s very rapid, too. Sometimes there’s that paradox where you need a coffee to make coffee. And this is a pretty quick injection of it. It’s also aesthetically pleasing. Other coffee makers can look sort of bulbous. There’s a frumpiness to them. But this is an elevated coffee maker. Sorry, Mr. Coffee.
I probably have these T-shirts in six or seven different colors. I’m actually wearing one right now. That is how on-brand I am. There’s a pocket, which I love, and sometimes I’ll put my glasses in it. The shape is narrow, but it’s not tapered. It’s also not boxy, which I like. And it’s not cropped. So it has great proportionality. It’s soft and it washes well, which I think is important. One indicator of a good T-shirt is that it can withstand being put through the laundry week after week because that’s what we do with T-shirts. You don’t want one that becomes threadbare. You don’t want one that shrinks excessively. You want to be able to throw it in the dryer. I think these are really well made, and I have not had to donate or get rid of any of them. I don’t like the idea of going through T-shirts. They should grow with you, get worn in, and last for years. I think a lot of people are looking for that sustainability, and this is a good company for that.
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.
