Guide to Burning Man Gear

A good Burning Man experience really starts long before you ever show up. I showed up very well prepared for my first Burn - for camping anyway. I was terribly prepared for Burning Man. Over the past three Burns, I've thought about and continued to refine my supply list. But unlike most checklists, I've put some meat on this list because I tend to look at an item and think to myself, "hm, do I really need that?" forgetting why I originally put it on the list.

2004. Packing toiletries into zip bags at the bathroom counter, with the printed checklist alongside.

2004. The checklist itself, printed from my notes and ticked off by hand as each item went into the bag.

• Rent or beg for an upgrade to a mini-van (especially one that can fold down the back seats). It may be dorky looking, but it'll have plenty of room for packing your gear in/out as well as serve as shelter if needed. You can toss an air mattress in the back and have a well-insulated, extremely stable "tent".

• Think about what appeals most to you and optimize your gear for that experience. For example, the community building aspect is my favorite part so I go heavy on food and supplies. On the other hand, I can hardly stay up long enough for most of the rave parties so I go light on the costumes (okay, okay, I don't bring any costumes at all).

• If, like me, you are flying into Reno and then heading into Burning Man, you can't carry it all with you so you'll need to buy a few items in Reno. I've marked good candidates (based on weight, cost, and availability) with an asterisk (*).

• Bring along a good, big duffle bag with wheels (like the eBags Mother Lode)

Clothing And Personal Gear

Consider both practical desert heat and desert cold clothing as well as costumes, if desired. If you do wear a costume, keep in mind that evenings can be freezing cold (literally)! You can wear your clothes multiple days and cut down on the Basics section but do not cut down on any other section.

Here are some things to keep in mind while packing your clothes:

• The day time temperatures can be north of 100 degrees while the night time temperatures can be south of 40 degrees (we're talking about seeing your breath cold).

• Dust storms are a fact of life. Every year I've gone, there's been at least a few mini storms and a big one. They can be fun exploring if you have the right gear (goggles and a dust mask).

• Do not think of Burning Man as an opportunity to get a tan (even if you have a "base tan")!

• If you're really fair skinned or unaccustomed to arid heat, wear light long sleeve shirts and long pants to help keep the sun off your body and retain body moisture.

• Your day clothes will get caked with sweat and Playa dust (which, unlike normal dust, does not easily come off with a brushing). It may get torn and/or beyond saving.

• Your evening clothes may be okay, although it will still likely get Playa dust caked on.

• Many times, there may be no place to sit other than on the Playa itself. Accept it or bring something to sit on.

Foot Wear

• Boots - necessary for long-term Playa travel as well as protecting your foot against the many bumps and scratches from your camp site, art projects, and clumsiness

• Flip flops - great for showering and hanging out in your camp site

Skivvies

• Socks (1.5 / day)

• Underwear (1 / day)

• Comfy Sweat Pants - sleep wear

• Comfy Sweat Shirt - if night gets really chilly, you'll be glad you have it

Basics

• Short Sleeve Shirts (1 / day)

• Long Sleeve Shirts (1 / day)

• Shorts (1 / 2-3 days) - rugged utility shorts with many pockets are tremendously useful

• Pants (1 / 2-3 days) - rugged utility pants are useful for evening wear, but only necessary if you're not going to change to a costume

Protective/Survival Gear

• Jacket - something that can keep you warm at the upper 30 degrees yet not be too hot at the upper 50 degrees (anything north of that and a long sleeve shirt will be sufficient). This is a great place to get something cool looking.

• Poncho - just in case it rains

• Sunglasses (maybe even 2 pairs)

• Goggles - something that is enclosed (like the Wonka Vision goggles or motorcycle riding goggles) to keep the dust out during dust storms

• Wide Brim Hat - make sure it will keep the sun off your face and ears

• Bandana - useful as an ad-hoc dust mask

• Dust Mask - invaluable during dust storms

• Camel Pack / Water Bottle - I personally find a water bottle sufficient, easier to carry and easier to reload

• Fanny Pack / Side Pack / Small Backpack - make sure it can carry around your Camel Pack / Water Bottle and other small things (like your goggles, dust mask, camera, snacks, and gifts). Personally, I think a fanny pack or side pack is the way to go - a backpack would be too hot.

• Headlamp - very useful for night time rides or hunting around in your tent at night

• Extra Headlamp Bulb

• Extra Headlamp Batteries

• Glow Sticks / EL Cord (1 / day) - not only useful for ambient light or cool looking but really essential at night on the Playa to avoid getting hit by a biker or art car

• Flashlight

• Extra Flashlight Bulb

• Extra Flashlight Batteries

• Compass - The Playa is not oriented with 12 O' Clock to the North so a compass helps set up your tent and shade structure properly. Also, post-Burning Man burn, one of the largest land marks is gone (plus camp sites moving out and idiots removing street signs) making for tougher navigation.

Gadgets

• Camera - a lot of people bring disposable cameras but I've never had any issues with point and shoot digital cameras. I wouldn't bring a high-end shooter with a separate lens since the dust would be everywhere.

• iPod and iTrip - for the long, potentially boring drive in and out of Burning Man

Toiletries

It's extremely difficult to maintain your normal standards of grooming at the Burning Man. In fact, it's difficult to maintain normal camping standards of grooming. The dust is everywhere and dust storms may have you dirty within minutes of a camp shower. That said, your lips and fingernails are likely to chap. Your hands, feet, and exposed skin will be extremely dry yet caked with a combination of sun block, lotion, and Playa dust.

Sun Protection

• High SPF Sun Block - Don't be macho - use sun block. I personally like the spray-on, no-rubbing-necessary for its convenience. I have a pretty dark complexion and I still use SPF 30.

• High SPF Face Sun Block - I use different, less greasy, more moisturizing stuff for my face.

• Zinc Sun Block - the stuff that life guards run on their noses may not be a bad idea for your ears and nose - at least at the height of the sun

• Moisturizing Lotion - use it like mad

• Lip Balm - use it like mad

Cleaning Gear

• Shampoo

• Soap

• Toothpaste

• Toothbrush

• Hair Brush

• Deodorant

• Drying Towel - something to dry off your hair and body

• Toilet Paper - the Porta-Potties are often empty. Bring stuff that is Porta-Potty friendly.

• Nail Clippers - all that caked-up dust on your skin ends up under your nails so keep them trimmed

Comfort Gear

• Ear Plugs (2+ pairs) - if you're by a loud theme camp or raver with a megaphone, you'll be glad you have these

• Contact Lens Case

• Contact Lens Solution

• Extra Contact Lens

• Prescription Glasses - just in case your contacts get completely hosed, or your eyes go haywire

Camp Site

If you're part of a group, you can split the camp site gear across the group, but be sure to still bring your own individual gear. If you're on your own, I'd suggest that you become part of another camp site as soon as possible.

2002. Unloading the minivan on open playa. The van doubled as storage and backup shelter.

2002. The same camp in a dust storm, with a tarp strung off the roof rack to shade the kitchen table.

2004. Three canopies in a horseshoe around a carpeted common area, the kitchen under one and the gear bins under another.

2005. Joined canopies over artificial turf with a full camp kitchen: a two-burner stove, a cooler, and a lantern hung from the frame.

Individual Gear

• Tent - definitely bring a sturdy tent. The winds can get rough and really challenge your structure. One in which you can stand up makes it much easier to change.

• Sleeping Bag - bring one rated to keep you warm in 15 degrees.

• Pillow - I always use a pile of clothes, but as they get dirty, it gets kind of nasty. I think I'll start bringing at least an inflatable pillow.

• Inflatable Sleeping Mattress - skip the thin rubber mattress and go with an inflatable mattress. Not only is it more comfortable, it's warmer because it keeps you off the cold, cold ground. *

• Battery-Operated or Auto-Charger Air Pump - don't try pumping the sleeping mattress by hand (some mattresses are self-inflating, in which case, you probably don't need a separate pump)

• Ambient Tent Lighting - Tap Lights work well

Site Structures

• Canopy - there are a million different types of canopies available ranging from basic tarps over poles to parachute domes to custom-built-quasi-permanent structure. Shade structure can be purely practical or another chance for self-expression (make sure it's still practical). A good canopy will be strong and capable of standing on its own (don't bother with lean-to type canopies) with tie downs. I always end up lacing the inside with gear like paper towels, lanterns, hat hangers, etc. *

• Tie-Down Flags - when you tie down your canopy, put some flags or something on the rope or people will keep running into them

• Canopy Walls - you can use a tarp, but a slightly transparent yet thickish and heavy cloth works extremely well for blocking out the sun

• Wall Clips - bringing along some industrial clips makes it easy to move the wall as the sun changes position. I personally don't like having walls on too many sides because it seems to discourage people from stopping by and saying hello.

• Grey Water Catcher - for showers, dish water, and other "dirtied" water *

• Camp Shower - a basic gravity-based bag works, but if you find one, there are rechargeable electric pumps for ~$50 that work much better

• First Aid Kit - eventually someone will need at least an alcohol wipe and band-aid

• Battery-Powered FM Radio - the Burning Man radio station offers up the latest in news. A hand-crank powered one sounds cool but is a huge hassle.

• Extra Radio Batteries

• Battery Powered Area Lantern - something that is bright but non-directional to provide evening lighting in the camp

• Extra Lantern Bulb

• Extra Lantern Batteries

• Folding Chairs/Lounges/Cots (1 / person) - it may be the only time you'll actually use a drink holder *

• Folding Table - I've actually never brought one, but if it's convenient, it'd sure be handy *

• Rugs - keep down the dust *

Cooking/Eating/Kitchen Gear *

• Propane Stove/Grill

• Propane - obviously, you can't transport this in a plane, but you can buy it in Reno all over the place

• Lighter(s) - bring the long ones for lighting the stove

• Cooking Pan

• Cooking Pot

• Disinfecting Clean Wipes

• Waterless Soap

• Cooler (2) - one for drinks and one for perishables

• Detergent

• General Preparation Dish - for mixing foods, beating eggs, etc.

• Plastic Utensils

• Disposable Plates

• Garbage Bags

• Cups - in general, a reusable cup works the best, but some plastic cups may come in handy

• Paper Towels

• Hand Wipes

• Can Opener

• Bottle Opener & Corkscrew

• Cutting Knife

• Spatula

• Ladle

• Pam / Nongrease Spray

Tools

• Big 12" Stakes / Rebar - The stakes that come with your tent and canopy are useless on the Playa. I prefer the big metal stakes, but Rebar and the big kludgy orange tent stakes also work. Remember, if you use Rebar or anything that sticks out of the ground, cover them with highly visible items.

• Duct Tape - the universal fix-em up, tie-em down, stick-em together item

• Robogrip / Wrench - great for more industrial tasks

• Rope (lots of it) - thinnish but strong rope is great for everything from tying down your canopy to tying up lanterns in your canopy to strengthening a kite on a windy day. Be sure to tie some flags or somehow mark your rope so no one gets decapitated.

• Rappelling Clips / Carabiner Rings - general purpose item useful for clipping things to your canopy, to each other, and so forth

• Work Gloves - be good to your poor sun-dried, cracking hands

Food *

Since food is such a personal preference, I would basically suggest that you think about the perishability of your foods as well as the very strong likelihood that you may end up sharing/gifting/receiving food. Obviously, stay away from highly perishable items like seafood. But, fortunately, you don't need to survive on military/camp ration. By bringing along an extra cooler for your foods and making ice runs as needed, most perishables are okay. Consider the following some starter ideas.

• Meals - mix perishables and non-perishables. Go through the perishables early.

• Water (1 gallon / day / person) - more than enough for drinking and cleaning

• Fruits - certain fruits will last if they're properly stored. Bananas, apples, and melons seem to work well.

• Quick Energy Rich Snacks - oatmeal bars, Pop-Tarts, and quick snack items are perfect for a quick pick-me-up from a hard day of exploring

Transportation

I can't stress how important it is to have a good way to get around rapidly. It can be by bike, electric scooter, powered skateboard, or 4x4 roller blades, but above all, bring some mode of transportation to Burning Man. It needs to have biggish tires or else it just won't go - the Playa is like hardened dusty mud. For many, transportation is as much a chance for self-expression as anything.

• Bike - since I fly into Reno, I can't bring a bike. But I've found that buying a cheap one works the best. Since there are a million bikes, you may need to work on making yours stand out so you can easily find it. *

• Bike Lights - if you plan to bike at night, you should get some clip on lights to illuminate your path

• Glowing Night Decoration - if you plan to bike at night, you'll never find your bike in the dark unless you tag it with something glowing and unique-ish

• Basket / Rack - it's hard to bring ice back without a rack unless you have a big backpack *

Down-Time Entertainment

Yep, even at an event like Burning Man, things can get slow - especially around noon to 3 PM when the sun is at its peak. Most people spend this time huddled in a cool theme camp or at their own camp site. Some people dance the whole day away. Given that meeting people is such a large part of the experience for me, I don't bother bringing anything, but if you need "alone time", here's some stuff to think about.

• Books

• Journal

• Pens