Camping Gear

Your Playa Pack

Burning Man is an unpredictable place, full of marvelous and unexpected distractions. You may go to the porta-potties at noon and not find your way back to camp until… what time is it?! Your most important resource is a small pack with all of your playa needs. Keep it close at hand when you’re in camp, and carry it with you whenever you leave camp. Consider carrying:

Water

Leaving camp without plenty of water is asking for serious trouble. Water bottles work well, but a hydration pack with a drinking tube works even better. Yes, the mouthpiece will get dusty. No, you won’t care.

Food and related supplies

Environmental protection

Personal supplies

Night time supplies

Optional/Ephemera

Stuff you probably don’t need

Your Tent

If you’re camping with us, you get to pitch your tent under our residential shade structure. It cuts 90% of UV, and provides substantial protection against wind and dust. Remember, though, we take down the shade cloth before our final night, so you’ll need something that can withstand the fury of the open playa.

Each person or couple gets a 10’ x 10’ space in the shade structure. Because of the way our support poles are set up, your tent needs to fit completely into exactly that space.

You’re going to be living in the middle of it for a week. Investing a little effort into making your playa home comfortable is well worth it.

Things to think about when shopping for a tent:

Furnishing your tent

Sleeping

You have a couple of options for bedding. No matter what you choose, remember that temperatures can drop into the 40s at night. From most to least luxurious:

Don’t forget:

Personal care

You’ll want to bring most of your usual personal care supplies. Remember that water is very scarce, and it’s important to minimize gray water.

Personal protection

In addition, you’ll need to be prepared for the brutal playa environment. You’ll need sun protection, and unless you’re exquisitely careful about taking care of your feet, you’re likely to need some foot remedies also.