NYT Strands for 18 October 2026 has the theme “Fast fashion”. There are five theme words and one spangram to find.
18 October 2026 NYT Strands #959 Theme: “Fast fashion”
The board has 8 rows and 6 columns, and every letter belongs to one of the five theme words or the spangram.
18 October 2026 NYT Strands: Hints
Open the hints one at a time. Each hint gives away more than the one before it.
Hint 1 · speed and style
The clue links an idea of speed with an idea of style.
Hint 2 · things to wear or use
Look for items a person might wear or use while exercising.
Hint 3 · first letters
The theme words start with H, S, S, V and W.
Hint 4 · spangram route
The spangram starts in the top-left corner of the board and ends on the bottom edge.
Hint 5 · spangram shape and meaning
The spangram has two words, with letter counts of 7 and 4. It means the wheels and related parts that let a vehicle move.
Three words that earn a hint
These three words are valid on today’s board and are not theme words: WHAT, HERE and USED. Entering three such words earns one hint in the game.
18 October 2026 NYT Strands: Answers
The five theme words and the spangram are folded below. Open them one at a time.
First two letters of each theme word
The theme words start with HE, SN, SU, VE and WA.
Today’s five theme words
- Headphones
- Sneakers
- Sunglasses
- Vest
- Watch
Spangram
The spangram names the theme and runs from one side of the board to the opposite side.
Spangram letter count
The spangram has 11 letters.
First and last spangram letters
The spangram starts with R and ends with R.
Today’s spangram
RUNNING GEAR
Running gear is a dictionary term for a vehicle’s wheels and related parts. The puzzle plays on the phrase by using things a person might wear or use during a run.
Reveal the board one word at a time
Each fold below adds one word to the board, so you can stop after any word. The last fold adds the spangram.
Word 1 of 6 on the board
Headphones
Word 2 of 6 on the board
Sneakers
Word 3 of 6 on the board
Sunglasses
Word 4 of 6 on the board
Vest
Word 5 of 6 on the board
Watch
Word 6 of 6 on the board
RUNNING GEAR
Yesterday’s Strands answer for 17 October 2026
Yesterday’s theme was “ Quite the crush”. The theme words were Babble, Blush, Fidget, Giggle, Perspire and Stumble, and the spangram was FALLINLOVE.
More Strands: Yesterday’s puzzle · Play Strands on The New York Times
Also today: Wordle · Connections · Pips · Phrazle · Quordle · Keyword · Colordle · Unwordle · Hurdle · NYT Crossword · NYT Mini · NYT Midi · Jumble · Spelling Bee · Letter Boxed · Parseword · Poeltl
Earlier days: 17 Oct · 16 Oct · 15 Oct · 14 Oct · 13 Oct · 12 Oct · 11 Oct
Questions about Strands
When does Strands change to a new puzzle?
A new puzzle arrives at midnight in the player’s own time zone.
How many tries does a player get in Strands?
There is no limit on guesses, and the game cannot be lost.
Where can a person play Strands?
Play on The New York Times Games site or in the NYT Games app: Strands.
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