Remember you are packing for several days and need to self sufficiant. Many Items on the list can be optional and only you can decide if an item is necessary for you to be comfortable

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)
• 18″ rebar stakes! (with tops “U’d” over for safety) & small sledge hammer
• Fluorescent surveyors tape/ribbon (tent ropes) + Rebar covers
• Shade Structure (approx 10×10 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
• 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 leftover
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)

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