What I Bring to Burning Man: Packing List (Updated for 2019)
By: Daniel Liebeskind
Tags: Camping, Magic, Festivals, Packing Lists, Burning Man

Essentials

Bag

CamelBak 2016 Lobo: If you’re like me, you will likely spend most of your free days exploring the playa. There is so much to see, learn, interact with and experience — you want to be as mobile and free as possible. One of the biggest limitations to mobility is lack of water. Some first-timers try to get away with just a water bottle that they’re planning on carrying around with them. You’ll be upset with yourself if you do that. My recommendation is the CamelBak 2016 Lobo. It is lightweight and can carry 3L of water plus all of your other essentials (think: lip balm, sunscreen, gum, food, extra batteries, dust mask, goggles, playa gifts and much more). With this bag you’ll be mobile and untethered! This is what I’ve used for the last 4 years and can’t be beat. It also doubles as a vehicle for lights so that you can be seen from behind.

Headlamp

Energizer LED Headlamp: Burning Man is very dark at night. Not showing up with lights is a common and very dangerous rookie mistake. Again, don’t be a darkling! A headlamp is not only a source of light alerting others to your presence, it is also a way for you to navigate without smashing into things (especially while riding a bike at night). The one I’ve been using is the Energizer LED Headlamp. At 315 lumens, it’s super bright, light and fits comfortably. It can also last you the whole week without having to replace the batteries (although I definitely recommend packing replacement batteries just in case)!

Lights

Zitrades 5-pack: Hopefully you’ve already added a headlamp to your list, which will help you see and be seen at night. But that’s not enough! You also need lots of El Wire-enough to make sure that you are visible to art cars and other burners from all sides. Your bike, itself, should be lit up so that it’s not a darkling when it is locked up. I recommend at least 5 El Wire, so this pack is a great option. But, honestly, the more lights, the better. Just remember to bring enough batteries — each light requires 2 AA.

LED rope light: There are insanely light LED lights that change colors. They are much more powerful than El Wire, but more expensive and they have a bigger battery pack (3 AA vs 2 for El Wire). Buy some of these and people will be envious of your lights. Will also help your bike stand out, which is especially important when there are hundreds (or thousands) of bikes clustered together. You can also buy this USB version, but you’ll need to plug it in.

Solar-powered inflatable lanterns: You should bring at least 2 of these. One for your bike and one for your tent. They recharge during the day and are incredibly powerful. Plus they are easy to attach and can be flattened for packing.

Bike Lock

UShake Bike Lock Cable: You’ll be biking at Burning Man. The first thing you’ll quickly realize is that the playa is much bigger (and more epic and magical) than you ever imagined. Having a bike is essential if you have any hope of exploring even a fraction of it. If you don’t lock up your bike, there’s a pretty good chance it’ll go missing — this has happened to many of my friends. Avoid this common pitfall by bringing (and using) a bike lock.

Pick one that uses a combination instead of a key, since keys can be lost. I highly recommend the UShake Bike Lock Cable as it’s inexpensive, easy to operate and will keep your bike from being accidentally “borrowed” during the week.

Goggles

GV Eliminator Goggles: Whether you’re a multi-year Burning Man veteran or a virgin burner, you likely have mixed emotions about the sandstorms. If you fear them, it’s likely because the idea of being caught in a sandstorm sounds like a situation where it would be hard to breathe and see. But sandstorms at Burning Man can be amazing and epic. Get ones with the darker (smoke) lens if you want them to double as sunglasses.

Let’s say you’re dancing with a few other people on a makeshift pirate ship. Everyone is smiling and waving their arms around. Suddenly, you see that everyone is throwing on their goggles and pulling up their dust masks and you notice a sandstorm approaching over the backdrop of the ship’s sail. Do you have goggles? Do you have a dust mask? If not, you’re going to be pretty unhappy pretty quickly. If yes, you’re about to join the hundreds of thousands of burners that have danced and biked and sang and explored in the middle of a sandstorm.

It’s like Mad Max meets Alice in Wonderland. Get 2 pairs of these GV Eliminator Goggles and make sure you always have one pair in your Camelbak or around your neck. Consider getting a pair that are tinted for daytime and a pair that are clear for those dark nights.

Dust Mask

Buff Headband: During my first burn, I used a legit dust mask like the GVS Elipse Respirator. And while it is incredibly effective, it is rather bulky, heavy and I’ve realized over the years that what I prefer is a multi-purpose headscarf. I recommend the Buff Headband, which comes in 50 different textures. It is an effective dust mask, can be kept around your neck, easily absorbs moisture and has UV protection.

I recommend packing more than one headscarf — after a long day wearing one in the heat of the desert, it is nice to swap out your sweaty headscarf for a clean, dry one. I typically order a cheaper variety pack like this — which is a great giveaway if you run into someone trapped in a sandstorm with no dust mask!

Bath Wipes

No rinse bath wipes: This is the easiest and most efficient way to stay “clean” on the playa. I have almost entirely given up on showers on the playa - they are difficult, use a lot of water and you often end up more dusty if you are outside with wet skin. Instead, I use these bath wipes multiple times a day to wash off. You will be very happy to have them!

A Mug, Bowl & Utensils

Remember — Burning Man is all about radical self-reliance. If you plan on eating or drinking anything on the playa you need a cup, bowl and spork (at a minimum).

I recommend this lightweight, easy to pack collapsible bowl and this lightweight spork. The cup is a bit more of a personal choice, I have these camping cups and also a Hydroflask thermos, which will keep your beverages hot or cold all day. The key is to have something that can attach to your bag with carabiners.

Consider which option is best for you — you will likely be drinking a lot of different drinks from your cup (anything from: tea, coffee, liquor, beer, hot chocolate, smoothies, juice, etc.), you want something that you can easily clean out and that will work for a variety of drink options.

Food

Don’t forget food. Many camps give away food, but the lines are usually long and you’ll be pretty hungry if you don’t bring enough.

Water

You should plan on drinking 1.5 gallons (~6L) per person per day to make sure you stay hydrated. Bring even more if your camp has showers. Easiest thing to do is get your water in Reno or as part of the Burner Express package.

Bicycle

This is super important. If you don’t have a bike, it’s going to be really hard for you to get around. Burning Man (and the greater playa) are massive. You will have trouble getting around by foot, but it is possible thanks to the many art cars.

Sunscreen

If it’s not super dusty, the sun might fry you…

Batteries

You need batteries for many things, but most importantly for your lights. Make sure you bring enough for you and friends. Check all of your items for whether you need AA batteries or AAA batteries.

Duct Tape

This Gorilla Tape is useful for lots of things. Especially for attaching lights to your bike and bag. Duct tape can also save your tent and help you secure things to your campsite.

Garbage Bags

Collect your moop (matter out of place) and bring it out with you.