If you are viewing this, you are looking for help with Strands, the sophisticated word-search game from the New York Times.

Strands offers players a distinctive variation on the classic word search. Words can be created from adjacent letters in any orientation, including diagonally, and can alter direction to form unconventional shapes. Every letter in the grid contributes to a solution. Each puzzle revolves around a theme that connects all solutions, in addition to the “spangram,” a unique word or phrase that represents the day’s theme and extends throughout the grid either horizontally or vertically.

By providing a vague clue and excluding the word list, Strands delivers a thought-provoking game that requires more time to complete than alternatives like Wordle and Connections.

If you’re having difficulty or cannot spare 10 or more minutes to tackle today’s puzzle, we have all the NYT Strands hints you require to advance at your own pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Getting into gear

The words refer to items necessary for game day.

Today’s NYT Strands theme clearly outlined

These terms represent sports gear.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today’s spangram is SportingGoods.

NYT Strands word list for September 5

– Cleats
– Racket
– Glove
– Sporting Goods
– Paddle
– Skates
– Helmet

Searching for more daily online games? Mashable’s Games page provides additional hints, and if you want more puzzles, Mashable has games available now!

Explore our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword puzzles, and more.

Not the day you want? Here’s the answer to yesterday’s Strands.