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 recharger)
- 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 (wont work well at BM as hundreds of people have ‘em so
there are no open channels).
Camp/Sleep Stuff
- Tent (buy a cheap one – anything
you take out there will get ruined
- Optional – RV, Trailer or Cargo
Van (if you are a wuss ;-)
- Waterproofing the tent – spray,
testing, etc. (CampDry)
- Warm Sleeping Bag! (and Extra
Blankets?) and pillow(s)
- Air Mattress or Cot,
- Foam Ear plugs
- Tarp or old carpet (that goes under the tent)
- Lantern (electric or battery
operated for inside of tent)
- Propane tent heaters - I have a Coleman ProCat (optional)
- 18" rebar stakes! (with
tops "U'd" over for safety) & small sledge hammer
- Fluorescent surveyors tape/ribbon
(tent ropes) + Rebar covers
- Shade Structure (approx 10x10
for the front 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)
- Carpeting
- 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, rebar anchor)
- Cook Stove & Gas + waterproof
matches
- Pots, pans, dish soap, scrubby
- Small tub to wash and collect gray water
- Camping lantern
- Extension Cords and Power Strips (if you are taking a generator)
- Battery powered Christmas Lights
- Battery operated radio (for Radio
Electra, Radio Free Burningman, etc.)
- Extra batteries
- Bikes, tire repair kit, tools,
air pump, lock, spare tube
- 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!
Food & Drink Stuff
(ALWAYS try and end up with trash that can be burned in burn barrels - and eat and drink 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/lexan=
reusable - you decide
- Gatorade
or some other electrolyte replenishing drink
- Camelback or
large water bottle with strap
- 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 won’t 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, Tasty bite, rice,
- Alcohol – as
needed.
- ICE!
- Bring as much as you can store (Ice at Burning Man is about $2.00 a bag
BUT it there are long lines and they often sell out)
- Coolers – food
packaging, Dry Ice, etc. – multiple coolers – drinks cooler (opened frequently),
food cooler (opened less often) tight seal (tape), Extreme Coolers
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) vs. Halogen (a little cheaper)
- Sun
Shower Bag (the portable
solar camping type)
- Propane shower heaters (optional)
- 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)
- First Aid kit
- Foot care (lotions, salts, mole-skin)
- Chapstick (buy several with SPF
protection)
- Wet Wipes - Baby wipes rock for late night cleanup, pre meals,
or just to cool down during the day)
- Tampons, Condoms, Prescription
meds, etc.
Clothing and Costume Stuff
(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 – (don’t
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
- 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
Entertainment & Misc Stuff
- 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,
APS disposable work well and give you a panoramic option)
- Film - keep it cool and dry
- Drums (the more the better. Any
thing percussion / bells / chimes)
- Musical Instruments. guitars,
flutes, baby grand.... (caution - dust and possibly moisture issues if we
have rain)
- Gifts/Trinkets (don’t barter - try giving for the pleasure of
gifting)
- Tribal Art - Sculptures, Totems,
Flags, Banners,
Clean-Up Stuff
- 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
Websites
Version 5 - updated June 16, 2005
Copyright None - But drop me a note if you find this to be helpful
Email: ruvi
(at) cox (dot) net
Member of The Tribe