BURNINGMAN PACKING LIST
Trip / Flight / Driving Stuff:
- Burning Man Ticket! (people have forgotten them in the past)
- Maps / Driving Directions
- Auto Insurance info and roadside assistance numbers
- Extra keys (+ extra alarm clicker thingy - trade extra keys with a friend)
- Cell Phone (charged batteries and car charger)
- 5 Gallon Gas Can - (long lonely stretches of road with no gas stations if you run out)
- Good Spare Tire (check air pressure)/ Tools and Jacks (do they all work?) and Fix-a-flat cans
- Cheap Walkie Talkies for car caravans (Need to use digitals to get them to work at BM - so you can find your own sub-channel).
- Power Supply/jump Starter/Air pump combo - can be used as a power supply (12V and 110AC depending on model) to charge camera batteries, provide light, etc.
- Tent (The taller tents are harder to keep up in the wind – they need to be well secured with guy wire. I use two dome tents. One is my “bedroom” and is sealed up all day (dust free) and the other is for storage, clothing, etc.)
- Optional RV, Trailer or Cargo Van (if you are a wuss ;-)
- Warm Sleeping Bag! (and Extra Blankets?) and pillow(s)
- Air Mattress or Cot (you lose a lot of body heat through the ground)
- Foam Ear plugs
- Tarp or old carpet (that goes under the tent)
- Lantern (battery operated for inside of tent)
- Propane tent heaters - I have a Coleman ProCat
- 18" rebar stakes! (I use straight rebar and stick pool noodles over the part that sticks up. A more traditional option is to use rebar with tops "U'd" over for safety) & small sledge hammer
- Fluorescent surveyors tape/ribbon (tent ropes) + Rebar covers
- Shade Structure (for the front or better over of your tent / rv Easy-Ups, Parachutes)
- Camp chairs, Lawn Chairs, inflatable furniture, bean bags, hammocks, old couches,
- Folding table - amazingly useful - (for cooking, bar, etc)
- Old carpeting /ground cloth - to keep dust down in your living area
- Duct tape, bungee cords, cable ties, work gloves (why ask why?)
- Rope (paracord/550 cord from Army Surplus stores)
- Tiki Torches (and Fuel) (use with caution tent safety, anchor with rebar stake)
- Cook Stove & Gas + waterproof matches
- Pots, pans, biodegradable dish soap, scrubby
- Small tub to wash and collect gray water
- Extension Cords and Power Strips (if you are taking a generator)
- Battery powered Christmas Lights (L.E.D. last so much longer)
- Battery operated radio (for Radio Electra, Radio Free Burningman, etc.)
- Extra batteries
- Bike(s), tire repair kit, tools, air pump, lock, spare tube (see Playa Bike page)
- Bike lights - please make sure you point it down so as to not blind people. Wear lots of glow/blinky stuff to avoid being hit by an art car :-) And remember to decorate your bike!
- Small generator or see Desert Power without generators
Food & Drink Stuff
(ALWAYS try and end up with trash that can be burned in burn barrels - or trash that will compress well)
- Water! - bring at least a gallon per person per day (I drink more). Alcohol and caffeine are diuretics and will drain moisture from your body so you have to drink more water to compensate.
- • Cups and Plates - paper = burnable vs. plastic/metal = reusable – but you have to wash and therefore have to deal with more greywater
- Gatorade or some other electrolyte replenishing drink
- Camelback or large water bottle with strap - see sample contents of a Burning Man Daily Bag
- Paper plates and cups for guests (they burn)
- Paper Drink Cartons (they burn too)
- Eating utensils (lexan or metal/lexan (durable) vs. plastic (cheap)
- Disposable wooden chopsticks make excellent utensils (and they burn!)
- Plan every meal if you do so you wont end up hungry or with a bunch of left-over food
- Vacuum sealed pre-cooked deep frozen foods for re-heating and consumption.
- Snack bars, trail mix, dried fruit, ice cream (huh?), jerky, peanut butter
- Dehydrated foods, rice, and something like Tasty Bite packs (optionally with a can of shredded chicken) make a quick and tasty meal.
- Alcohol as needed.
- ICE! - Bring as much as you can store (Ice at Burning Man is $3.00 a bag or a 6 pack for $15 - updated 08/20/09) BUT it there can be long lines so plan ahead)
- Coolers food packaging, Dry Ice, etc. multiple coolers drinks cooler (opened frequently), food cooler (opened less often) tight seal (tape), Extreme Coolers - see Playa Cooler advice
Toilet, Shower, and Personal Stuff
- Spare toilet paper (buy the porta-potty safe stuff usually available in RV shops)
- Flip flops (for late night bathroom trips)
- Mini flashlight or headlamp LED (lasts longer and provides bright even light)
- Sun Shower Bag (the portable solar camping type)
- Propane shower heaters (nice, but they use a lot of water)
- Shower water
- Gray water evap basin (mud issues - water on the playa just turns into mud that stays forever)
- Toiletries Bag - toothbrush / toothpaste / shaving stuff / Soap / Shampoo
- Towels (bring extra because they can get muddy)
- Lotion
- Sunblock + Aloe for post-burn
- Eye drops (contact lens issues), Nasal drops (to flush out your sinuses)
- First Aid kit, Foot care (lotions, salts, mole-skin)
- Lip moisturizer (buy several with SPF protection)
- Wet Wipes - Baby wipes rock for late night cleanup, pre meals, or just to cool down during the day)
- Condoms, Tampons, Prescription meds, etc.
(No feather boas or things that will break off like big loose sequins - we have to pick up all those teeny little things)
- Hats (The more the merrier: decorative, protection from the sun, and at night for warmth)
- Sunglasses (a couple of pairs in case one breaks Ross has cheap/cool ones)
- Goggles & Dust Masks (dont leave home without em)
- Skirts, Sarongs, Utlilikilts
- Keep a clean set of clothing in a ziploc bag for the ride home (consider stopping at a truck stop for a real shower on your way back)
- Fishnets, hose, bodysuits (Trails)
- Comfortable (hiking) shoes
- funky shoes (will get dusty/muddy, avoid stiletto heals)
- make-up (body paints, glitter gels) think shower and playa cleanup
- Coats/cloaks it can get really cold at night. Faux fur coats rock!
- Rain gear/Poncho (BM 2000 - Freezingman)
- Gloves (decorative and for warmth)
- Glow sticks, glow ropes (glow anything)
- Blinky Flashers (battery operated to wear at night)
- El-wire lined clothing
- Cameras (dust issues - good cameras can be protected by encasing them in a large Ziploc bags with the lens poking through a hole - and use gaffer's tape to seal the bag around the hole for the lens. Disposable work well and APS format give you a panoramic option - they also make disposable digitals)
- Film - keep it cool and dry
- Musical Instruments. guitars, flutes, baby grand.... (caution - dust and possibly moisture issues if we have rain), Drums (the more the better. Any thing percussion / bells / chimes)
- Gifts/Trinkets (dont barter - try giving for the pleasure of gifting)
- Tribal Art - Sculptures, Totems, Flags, Banners,
- Sifting screen, shade cloth to sift through ashes for nails and other MOOP
- Rake
- Big "hefty" garbage bags
- Empty coolers can be used for stinky wet trash (remember to close the drain hole). Clean out with bleach when you return to the matrix
Also see:
Version 7 - updated June 11, 2009
Copyright None - But drop me a note if you find this to be helpful of have suggestions
Email: ruvi (at) burningtribe (dot) com
Member of The Tribe
