Burning man - packing list
Contents
About
Burning Man is an iconic annual week long event in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. Up to 100,000 people go and one of the main principles is radical self-reliance. If you want to read more about the event, start with my main Burning man page... this specific page gives you a list of items you should consider taking to (a) survive a week in this flat fine-dust desert and (b) have a great time.
Everyone there forgets *something*, but read this list and you'll be better prepared than most newbies. It's taken from my own experiences and other lists too. Hope it helps!
Burning Man - Packing List
Here's what I will bring next time. I've broken this down into each main "piece".
- IMPORTANT: On each piece write your name and camp address in case you lose it. A business card can help too. I met a guy who lost his whole backpack... and with 70,000 people, there's a huge chance he never found it again. That said, there is a huge lost and found in center city where they take photos of everything and you can search on a laptop for a missing item.
Drinking Mug
Every good burner has a mug. I was gifted a titanium camping mug, which clipped nicely to my backpack... but smarter people had a lidded mug so they could take drinks to go. Smarter still, get a big mug (they'll give you more alcohol) and stick to the front a photocopy of your driver's license. Many places will accept a photocopy!
For me, I put my real drivers license inside a transparent case on my phone, because I know I don't lose my phone.
Phone
If you are lucky a friend will have solar or some way to charge your phone... else bring a big charge pack. Don't waste time waiting for spotty cell connection to contact people, just put your phone onto airport AND battery saver mode immediately to extend the battery. Use your phone for photos only and collect the emails of people you want to Facebook / share photos with when you return.
Useful Phone Apps
Before you leave, you will want to install these apps on your phone:
- iBurn 201X App. This is an offline map with all camp addresses and events etc. You should update just before you leave, because some camp addresses are added only just before it starts. Sadly the search feature is a bit janky, as is the map - it's hard to navigate.
- Time To Burn App. Similar to iBurn, with a cheesier interface, but I actually thought it was better.... it has nice features like an arrow to get to the nearest restroom.
- Sign up to Facebook's Burner Map early on and you might be surprised which of your friends are going. You might like to print this out, but don't be surprised or disappointed that you don't have time to visit any of your friends in neighboring camps... it's just too hard to coordinate without cell phones! Hopefully you'll have too much fun to care.
- Find the latest unofficial map, like this Unofficial Map (unofficialbrcmap.com) and note your camp location.
Pockets
I love wearing costumes, but I found it really handy to wear those mesh running pants underneath so I could have good pockets. Pockets for:
- phone .................... (photos)
- drivers license .................... (for free drinks)
For girls, you might think about some arm strap etc. It would be horrible to leave your phone on your bike and lose it forever.
Medium Backpack
I started with a camel-pack, but it wasn't big enough so I finally shifted to my large backpack. Get one with comfortable straps, sometimes you might just leave it with your bike.
- drinking mug .................... (for free drinks, don't forget photocopy of license)
- big (2 liter) water bottle
- another small water bottle
- 2 x chapstick
- sunscreen
- hand sanitizer
- clear googles ............................ (for dust storms)
- light dusk mask .................... (for dust storms)
- 5 granola bars
- gifts ......................................... (at least 5 per day)
- headlamp .................... (for when day becomes night - your minimum safety)
Bike
Get a burner bike with the fat tires and no gears. Bikes with gears break more easy in the desert - happened to me. People who decorate their bike with LEDs, stuffed animals, inflatable things, or giant poles are smart - they find thier bikes more easily. Always try to remember where you parked it too of course, but if your bike looks like all other bikes, you are screwed. The more lights on your person the better - if you walk or ride your bike in playa at night without lights are likely to get hit by someone on a bike - they just won't see you! Here's the minimum you should get for your bike:
- lights .................................... (at an absolute minimum front and rear lights)
- bike lock ........................... (use it every time)
- bike basket .................... (tie on with cable ties, store extra stuff)
- unique decoration .................... (leds for night and streamers etc can also help identify)
Bike Basket
If your backpack is heavy, you might transfer some of it to your bike basket!
- extra 2 liter water
- shaded goggles
- jacket .................... (when it gets cold)
- more snacks
Tent
I was lucky to have a big tent and my camp had a shade above all the tents to keep it cooler. People without that luxury might consider something with reflexive properties. Check your tent doesn't have mesh holes like mine did.
- rebar stakes ................................. (small tent pegs won't cut it)
- warm sleeping bag
- sleeping pads .................................. (lots of them, or just a full on inflatable bed if there is room)
- pillows
- folding camping chairs .................... (often only $10 from target if you don't have any)
- tent light ............................................... (like this solar inflatable one)
- tarp
- collapsible trash basket
Clothes
This assumes the full 7 days. The best advice I got was to ziplock everything!
- 8 x underpants
- 6 x hankies
- 7 x socks
- 1 x $10 comfortable shoes from discount store .................... (they will get destroyed, I went to Ross)
- 1 x $10 flip-flops
- 3 x costume outfits
- hat
- bandanna
- e-wire
- small sewing kit .................... (safety pins are your friend)
- gloves
- jacket
Costumes
I had fun with a cape, but ultimately I really wore my barbarian outfit most days. For some reason the dust didn't stick to the material. I wore white pants for hippy dancing one day, but the dust destroyed them. They say "White Wednesday", but if you're doing burning man the fun way, you'll get white destroyed.
Other
- 20 gallons of water
- baby wipes tub .................... (you'll want a few per day)
- hand sanitizer bottle
- white vinegar
- spray bottle
- first aid kit
- toiletry bags
- earplugs
- more lip balm
- body lotion ............................ (post-sun burn stuff)
- shower system .................... (you can actually shower with a single 1 liter bottle with practice)
- pee container .......................... (use something opaque like a bleach bottle)
- 1 x roll of single ply toilet paper (must be 1 ply) ...... probably you'll always find toilet paper in the toilet structures, but just in case)
- ziplocks
- garbage bag ......................... (for used clothes)
- zip ties
- bungee cords
- more duct tape
- fire extinguisher .................... (actually overkill I think)
- little rake .................... (probably you can borrow one though)
Cooking equipment / food
You won't need cooking equipment if your camp has a meal plan... but you should always have emergency snacks:
- lots of trail mix
- energy bars
Car
- spare keys ................................... (essential - don't be the guy that loses them! hide them or give one to each of your peoples)
- duct tape ..................................... (to cover all the cracks)
- reflective insulation ........................ (for windows)
- car cover
- 55 gallon water drum .................... (more than enough for 2 people... fill it up at reno)
- hand pump
Optional
- generator and fuel
- solar charging option
Luxury
- massage table .................... (was a big asset for me, although got ruined)
See Also
- Burning man... my main doc.
