Avoid Death in the Desert: 75 Packing List Essentials for Burning Man
As Burning Man is upon us, I wanted to share with all of you a packing list to make sure you don’t forget anything. A good friend of mine prepared this list for my first burn and I have been using it ever since.
Some items may not be needed depending on your plan especially if you are in an RV. If you are going the ultimate radical self-reliance route of self-camping, as I do, you must also bring your own food and water. Here are a few options for sourcing water. If you come with the Burner Express, you can simply add the water add-on option.
Camping
| Sleeping bag & pillow |
| Water bottle |
| Warmer blanket |
| Tent light decorations |
| Eye mask (to sleep in tent during the day) |
| Ear plugs |
| Cup for drinks at camps |
| Hand towel + towel |
| Portable phone charger |
| Mirror (costumes/fun face things) |
| Lantern |
| Big Ziplocs (to seal your post-burn clothes) |
| Trash bags (take your trash out with you) |
| Stakes (keep tent from blowing away) |
| Bungee cords (for tent) |
| Tarp (underneath/on top of tent – dust) |
| Electrolyte stuff |
Venturing
| Backpack |
| Bike lock |
| Camelback |
| Tissues |
| Goggles |
| Sunglasses |
| Scarf (warmth) |
| Bandana (dust mask) |
| Cheap indestructible watch |
| Headlamp |
| Batteries |
| Lights for bike (functional, decoration) |
Partying
| Lights for self (don’t get run over) |
| Vitamins |
| Face paint/face jewels |
| A gift to offer |
Toiletries
| Wet Wipes (dust) |
| Face Wipes |
| Toothbrush |
| Toothpaste |
| Hand sanitizer |
| Deodorant |
| Dry shampoo |
| Sunscreen |
| Face Wash |
| Small body wash |
| Brush |
| Hair ties & bobbies |
| Rx meds |
| Other meds (stomach, Advil, **nose spray**) |
| Makeup remover & cloth balls |
| **Eye drops** |
| Toilet paper |
Clothing
| Warm sleep clothing |
| Warm coat |
| Mid layer |
| Night outfits (warm) |
| Day outfits (sun) |
| Chill non-costumes e.g. linen pants |
| Jewelry/head pieces/fun accessories |
| Flip flops/sandals (around camp) |
| Boots |
| Bag for dirty clothes (dust) |
| Lots of socks |
| Hats |
| Clean PJs, clothes for plane/hotel for hotel (*seal* for after you leave) |
Print/bring
| Bike rental receipt |
| Friends’ camps list |
| Schedules (e.g.; iFeel cruise) |
| In/out transportation tickets |
| Camp volunteer schedule |
Misc
| Cash for goodies |
| ID |
| Ticket |
| Safety pins |
| Band aids |
| Duct tape for bike light / zip ties |
| Scissors |
You can also find the list formatted in Google Docs.
A few tips:
- *Do not forget your tickets* – somehow this happens, and they *will not let you in*
- Prepare for not having phone service to access any info like flight details or friends’ camp coordinates
- Be prepared for the dust/dryness: goggles, bandana/face mask, wet wipes, nose spray, tissues, chap stick
- Bring lights for yourself and your bike (+batteries and a way to attach the lights) – you can rent a bike to pick up on playa here
- If you’re sleeping outside, a lantern for camp and lights for your tent are super helpful
- Bring a portable cup if you want to drink at camps
- Things like scissors, safety pins and duct tape come in handy
- I’d recommend each having whatever you need individually in your backpacks (sunscreen, water bottle, lights…) in case you end up in a classic “I wandered off for a sec to see what those cool lights were at 11 pm and ended up following this awesome girl I met onto on an art car, headed to the other side of the playa and one thing led to another and now it’s 7am” situation 🙂
If you are bringing your own bike make sure you install the most comfortable seat ever on it. Trust me on this one!