Mrs Fishkin's Highly Sought After, Very Helpful, Burning Man Packing List
...My playa gift for you, your campmates, your newbies…
I’ve been improving, updating, and sharing this list since the 90s, it’s got All The Things.
This information was hard earned and forged in dust. I’ve been a burner since 1996; Burning Man has been a design client for 15 years for logos (here, here and here), survival guides (here and here), and calendars (here and here). I like to think of myself as a Burning Man designer, but some folks know me for my packing list… so if you see me out there, let me know if it was helpful, or if I should add anything.
LEAVING/DRIVING Ticket Burnermap (friend’s location) Parking Pass Early Arrival Pass ID/driver’s license Health insurance card Auto insurance card ATM/credit card Cash Clothes for ride home (sealed bag) Phone charger, cords Instructions for watching your child / pet / plants Email vacation message
BIKING Bike Bike lock Bike lights Bike tag Spare tubes Bike pump Comfortable bike seat Bike Basket Tennis ball for kickstand Cocktail cup Gifts Car rack
FREEZING Sweaters/sweatshirts Jackets/coats Pants Gloves Scarves Hats Long johns Warm Socks Leg and arm warmers Wigs
SWEATING Sunglasses Sunhat Spray bottle Hand held fan Light loose layers
COOKING Bowls / plates Knives / Forks / Spoons Cups / Mugs Paper towels Dish Soap Sponge Dishtowel Cook stove Fuel Cutting Board Sharp knife Pot/Pan Can and bottle opener Spray cooking oil Spatula Wooden Spoon Frozen water bottles for cooler Cooler Tupperware Ziplock bags Lighter attached to stove with string
EATING Yogurt Bacon Hard boiled eggs Bread Crackers Salty meat Lox Tuna Cheeses Greens/Veggies Avos Fruit (with thick peels last longer) Instant noodles/soups/miso/ramen Tasty Bites Frozen homemade meals Hummus/Dips Dried Fruit String cheese Jerky Bars Cookies / brownies Chips and salsa Pretzels, salty crunchy things Pickles Olives Cheesy poofs Nuts Sweets Something indulgent Your favorite thing That thing your bestie likes
DRINKING Booze Mixers Juices (frozen, plastic bottles) Coconut water Gatorade Electrolyte powder/tablets Milk/soymilk Tea Bottled iced coffee Energy drinks Kombucha/sparkling water Coffee/maker /sweetener/milk stuff Copy of your ID to carry in case you’re carded or busted
CAMPING Tent/domicile Appropriate hardware to secure your tent/domicile Pillows Blanket/sleeping bag Sheet Thermarest/Mattress Pee bottle Safety pins Battery-powered fan Folding chairs Folding table Tent light Eye Mask Garbage Bags Gasoline Container with gas Plastic Tub for Dishwashing Bucket for draining cooler water Rug Tinfoil/foam insulation for RV windows Music player/speakers/playlist Cords/chargers 2×4 planks for under your cooler (keeps them cooler) Blanket or flexible insulation to wrap cooler Cart/wagon for hauling ice Shade Solar lights, camp decor Lantern Tennis balls or cover for any stakes, etc sticking out of the ground
SURVIVING Water Bottles/Camelback Water (gallon per person per day) Dust mask Goggles Earplugs Bandana Walkie-talkies Carabiner Watch To-go cup or mug Batteries, AA, AAA, _____ Headlamps (extra batteries) Camera Camera battery and charger Camera memory card Tripod Pen and paper Electrolyte chews Energy Bars Energy Drinks Extension Cords Powerstrip Lip Balm (tons) Mints/Gum Spray Bottle Belt with pockets Day pack Adhesive Velcro Sharpies Stash White board + markers for messages
SURVIVING: PANDEMIC EDITION Face mask (N95, etc) – personalized Portable hand sanitizer, carabiner Covid home tests Thermometer Theraflu/Nyquil/your survival sauce
HYGIENE Soap Shampoo / Conditioner Toothbrush / Toothpaste Face sunscreen – high SPF Body sunscreen – high SPF Contacts and supplies 1-ply toilet paper Towel Wet wipes Face wash Face wipes Floss Brush / comb Hairties Face lotion w/ SPF Body lotion Moisturizer Face mist Body Oil Nail clippers / file / polish Pee funnel Prescription Meds Sleep Meds Aspirin/NSAIDS Vinegar / witch hazel to de-playa Razor & shaving cream Deodorant Makeup False Eyelashes & eyelash glue Clown nose & glue Makeup remover & cotton swabs Tweezers Birthcontrol, condoms Lube Sex toys Tampons/Pads/etc Saline nasal spray (Ocean) Bandaids Blister Bandaids Antibacterial ointment Solar Shower Nail brush (for peeling cuticles) Neti Pot
FIXING Work gloves Mesh laundry bag Multi-tool Zip Ties Hammer Mallet Duct Tape Gorilla Tape Scissors Clamp Wrench Step ladder Rebar/something to cover ends Tools and hardware appropriate for your setup, varies wildly Vice grips for pulling out stakes
