Before You Leave Town: Most Important Items
If you are pressed for time, you can at least ensure you have these key items!
(Extra toiletries, food and water can be easily acquired on the drive down if needed)
1) Valid passport to enter the USA (or enhanced driver's license for Canadians)
2) Credit card and ATM bank card
3) Some US cash (especially for buying ice or coffee at Burning Man)
4) Burning Man ticket (or Will Call information) + vehicle pass + early arrival pass if applicable
5) Any required medicines or medical supplies (but NO illegal drugs)
6) Dust Goggles, contact lenses/solutions, glasses
7) Travel Medical Insurance Policy Number and Toll Free Claim Number **
8) Cell phone, cord, charger & car charger (and portable batter chargers for extra power)
9) if you are driving: Printed route map & Directions (as cell service may be spotty at times),
Driver's license, Car Insurance papers, Extra set of car keys, Roadside Assistance info
10) Emergency Contact Numbers (Next of kin or close friends)
11) Headlamp (more useful than a flashlight & not necessarily easy to find on the road)
** Visitors to the USA: If you step foot in the US, you’ll want some medical coverage. One night in
a hospital there can cost over $1000.
For Canadians:
PC Financial has good single trip medical coverage with no deductible: Call 1-800-826-0339.
The Co-operators has single or multi-trip coverage 1-800-984-0429
TD Canada Trust has single or multi-trip coverage 1-800-293-4941
(Prices will range based on your age, province of residence and length of trip.)
Even if you've been to Burning Man before, some of these links are helpful to review!
Survival Guide + First Timer's Guide
Little Woo’s Burning Man Tips & Printable Packing Lists!!
About the Elements
Recommended Reading
the Burning Man forum (Q&A and info)
Driving to Burning Man + Different Driving Route Options
My articles are educational and informational resources for Burners. I make no guarantees about the information and
recommendations provided herein. Following any info or suggestions provided here is at your own risk.
Tips for That Week In The Desert
1) Use stainless steel cups, bowls, plates and utensils as they clean more easily than plastic and
add aesthetic value to the meal...
2) Use Spray bottles whenever you clean to reduce the amount of grey water you create!
- Have one bottle (2/3 water + 1/3 white vinegar) in your kitchen area to spray dishes, tools, gear and
your hands/feet. Wipe dry with paper towels or hand towels.
- Have another bottle (water + drops of lavender essential oil) as an efficient daily shower or for a
refreshing daytime mist!
~ Remember to bring extra vinegar + essential oil to replenish your spray bottles!
3) Minimize leftover food particles by eating everything off your plates whenever possible. Spray
dishes with a water/vinegar solution and wipe dishes clean with a dish towel or paper towel.
4) Basic evaporation ponds will only work if you seriously reduce your use of water. Bring an extra
pond liner sheet if the first one gets too dusty. (It evaporates based on the amount of heat coming
from a black surface) More tips at http://burningman.org/event/preparation/playa-living/gray-water/
The heat & dryness of the desert reduces body odors significantly so you need not shower as often.
e.g. I wipe my skin before bed with my lavender mist and small towel. Then only once or twice during
Burning Man, I will shower and wash my hair. Some camps may be gifting showers or hairwashes
which are heavenly but don’t expect it as a service – it’s a gift!
5) Have 1 clean face towel for each day on the playa. Wet the face towel in the morning to freshen
up the face and then use again before bed on your arms, legs and feet. Throw into a laundry bag and
start with a fresh face towel the next day. Having clean feet when going to bed is a particularly
delightful feeling and rubbing them with some soothing lotion is nearly orgasmic on the playa.
6) Use sarongs as body towels since they dry very fast, are lightweight and compact. I like to bring
4 sarongs: one for the hair, one for the body and one in my daypack for multi-use as shade or
something to sit on. Use the extra one to replace the daypack sarong once it is dusty enough.
7) Use bedsheets and a comforter instead of a sleeping bag if you have space. Way more
comfortable and easier to throw off mid-morning when you feel the heat in your tent or vehicle. Also,
having a change of sheets mid-week is such a sweet luxury!
8) Gifting is a great gesture but avoid giving items that are likely be discarded as trash or end up
as "moop" (matter out of place) in the desert. Also consider non-physical gifts that don't take up space
in a landfill. e.g. gift your compassionate listening skills when someone needs to be heard or gift your
time and energy to help someone setup or cleanup.
9) Digital cameras & phones seem to do alright if you are careful NOT to use them during a dust
storm. Consider storing in a clean ziplock bag when not in use!
10) Giant Plastic Bins (e.g. Rubbermaid bins) are commonly used as storage for clothing and
gear. Mark your bins with your name and phone number or email.
11) Keep each costume in its own ziplock or plastic bag. This makes it easier to find your stuff
when it’s in a big plastic bin and it keeps your outfits less dusty in between use. Don’t bring anything
that is too precious or fragile as it could get lost, destroyed or become MOOP at Burning Man.
12) Wear boots instead of sandals when going out of your camp area. This keeps your feet clean
from the caustic playa dust (which can cause cracking and bleeding for some people). Zip-up boots
are more convenient than lace-up boots. (Especially if you need to take them off when visiting other
people’s chill spaces) Real leather boots last longer than vinyl or pleather boots. But of course, don’t
bring your most precious pair of boots and DO clean them post-event.
13) Have a pair of flip flops for lounging at your camp and for showering.
14) Have a complete set of clean clothes for the trip home in a separate sealed bag. (include clean
underwear, socks AND shoes! Trust me, you won’t want to wear dusty clothing on the way home.)
15) Bring a sewing kit for quick fixes or for completing costumes by hand on the long drive down
16) Plastic Set of Drawers to keep small items. e.g. one drawer for toiletries, one drawer for kitchen
tools and one drawer for setup tools. So much easier to find your things in drawers than in a big bin.
17) Alarm Clock AND a Watch: I have a battery-powered alarm clock in my sleep area for keeping
my Burning Man sleep schedule and a watch in my backpack for attending special events that do
have a start time. When we are not slaves to time, a watch is a very useful tool! If you bring some
portable battery chargers or have power at your camp, you could use your cell phone clock/alarm.
18) Keep a small sealed container (like tupperware) and a water bottle inside your sleep area for
brushing your teeth at bedtime and waking. If you’re keen, you can even keep a large sealed
bucket for late-night pee breaks if your camp is not near a porta-pottie. Empty the urine in a portapottie later. Don’t forget to bring bleach disinfectant for your bucket.
19) Get a quiet battery-powered fan that you can use if sleeping between 8am-11am or for
afternoon naps - really keeps it cooler in your vehicle or tent. The one that I used was about 10
inches high and very quiet. One of the best purchases made for the playa!
20) Tip for women: I highly recommend using the Diva Cup or the Keeper (for menstruation) and
learn to use it at least a month before the festival. I've used mine since year 2000 and it's one of the
best products I ever bought in my life! Available at most local health food stores or order online.
21) Ora-MD drops (or other liquid toothpaste): Perfect for camping as it produces very little grey
water. (no foam = less rinsing) Made with 100% pure essential peppermint oil, spearmint oil and
almond oil. http://www.oramd.com/
22) Ear-Plugs For Sleeping & Dancing: High-fidelity earplugs (like ones from Etymotic) are great
for use on the dance floor or whenever you need to cut down the noise level yet still hear everything.
Foam plugs (or silicone moldable ones) are better for sleeping as they muffle everything and are soft
- Allow time to ship from the US. (do a bulk order with friends)
-- Etymotic even has an option for people with narrow ear canals like me! (most foam ones pop out of my ears). But they
are NOT suitable for sleeping as the hard plastic end protrudes from your ear.
23) Have a small backpack that you carry everywhere with all your essential items:
- water bottle
- phone or camera (labeled with a companion’s number & camp name/address if applicable)
- snacks (my favorite backpack snacks are beef jerky and dried mango)
- reusable mug (people may gift you a drink but you must have your own mug)
- lipbalm + small bottle of hand lotion
- goggles and bandana (for dust storms)
- sarong (helpful as shade and to sit on if needed)
- sunglasses
- headlamp
- medications if needed
- small bottle of hand sanitizer
- roll of single-ply toilet paper (they sometimes run out of toilet paper and double-ply will clog porta-potties)
- earplugs (for those really loud soundstages)
- condoms/lube
- a watch (if you have responsibilities or want to attend specific workshops)
- gum or mints
- notebook + pen
- small folding fan
- Burning Man “what where when” booklet (you'll receive this at the gate)
24) Contact Lenses & Glasses
- Use disposable soft lenses since the dust is harsh on contact lenses.
- If you wear hard contact lenses, ensure you put on your dust goggles during a storm!
- Always bring a pair of glasses as backup
* Some people may have issues wearing soft lenses in the Black Rock desert since the alkaline dust seems to suck the
moisture out of the eyes & lenses. Mine was serious enough to require medical intervention so now I must wear only gas
permeable (hard) contact lenses at Burning Man.
25) Basic Lighting:
- Have solar garden lights around your camp (around your vehicle or your tent)
- Keep a headlamp handy in your backpack
-Put lights on TOP of your backpack AND on your bike so others can see you at night (especially so
other cyclists and art cars don't run over you!)
- Strands of lights powered by a small battery pack (AA) or solar powered strands of lights are often
found at IKEA and even in some home/garden or hardware stores.
- Bring sufficient batteries for your various lights etc.
26) Shade Structures, Shade Cloth & Stakes
You will want sturdy shade structures for use over your tent (truly necessary) and kitchen area. Two
very popular options are large car ports with very thick poles (that can’t be bent by standing on them)
and "Monkey Huts". Other common options are portable yurts and domes. (Normal popup tents and
gazebos are not strong enough for the playa.)
Secure all your structures with rebar stakes (not normal tent stakes). Rebar can be purchased
from places like Home Depot. Cover the dangerous end that sticks out with empty pop bottles or
tennis balls. Make your guy wires visible with reflective ribbons or lights.
Staking Your Shade Structures: https://sites.google.com/site/potatotrap/rebarfaq
About Monkey Huts: http://www.chromatest.net/Lovemonkey/ http://grasshoppernight.org/shade.php
Aluminet Shade Cloth: This type of "shade cloth" cuts out a significant portion of the heat/sunlight
yet allows some wind to pass through the fibers. A quick search online provides many Aluminet
options. You probably have to order online from the US so allow lots of time for shipping.
Here is one company that looks good price-wise and quality-wise at a glance:
http://www.shadeclothstore.com/products/aluminetcoolshade70__aluminetshadecloth.html
27) Tools, Cords, Ropes and Straps
- A sledgehammer to pound stakes and rebar into the ground.
- zap straps are great for many purposes.
e.g. for securing lights onto shade structures, backpacks and bikes.
- Heavy duty rope for tying down structures etc
- Bungee cords for multi-purpose use
- A tool kit (e.g. screwdriver, hammer, wrench, pliers etc)
- A pair of work gloves to protect your hands during setup and tear down!
28) Tent & Mattress
- If you are camping in a tent, ensure it’s high-enough quality to withstand the strong winds
- A larger tent is useful for containing all your gear AND so you don't get cooked in a tiny tent in the
hot mornings. Or if possible, bring a second tent to hold your bins of stuff and costumes.
- A tent with very little or no mesh is best since you wish to block the dust as much as possible
- Pre-check your air mattress for holes & bring a repair kit OR use a foam mattress instead
- Remember, a shade structure over your tent is crucial if you wish to sleeping anytime after 7am.
29) Bicycle
- Having a bike on the playa helps you cover large distances or do quick trips to a workshop or camp
- If you really cannot bring one, walking around has its advantages (you’ll see things or meet people
that you otherwise would have missed on a bike)
- You can also catch the occasional lift from art cars when you are not on a bike
Useful accessories for your Bike:
- A kickstand to prop up for quick stops
- A bike basket is very useful - especially for carrying ice blocks from Arctica for your cooler
- Lights on the back, side + front so art cars and other bikes can see you at night.
- Bike lock (most people are not planning to steal a bike but if they are intoxicated or sleepy, they
might mistakenly take your bike if it's NOT locked)
Note: Keep track of where you parked & locked your bike as it’s easy to forget amid the shiny things.
Also, please DON’T tie it to an artcar. It may not be there when you get back!
30) Food & Water
Get specialty items from your local area but if you can, purchase most of your food and water closer
to the final destination if you are driving to Burning Man. (You cannot bring fresh vegetables or meat
over the Canadian border) This will also reduce your gas consumption as your load is lighter for most
of the way down. A week’s worth of food & water is heavy!!
Water: Read the Burning Man website for tips on potable water. As a good basic amount, I’d
recommend 6 Litres per day = 4.5 litres for drinking + 1.5 litres cooking/cleaning/shower. (6 Litres =
1.5 US Gallons) You’ll perspire a lot more than usual so drink a LOT more water per day!
31) Ice for your cooler at Burning Man
Thankfully, you can buy ice at Burning Man at their “Arctica” locations. (It was $3 USD per bag, not
sure what it is currently) You can choose from “block ice” (for your big cooler) and “cubed ice” (for
your smaller drinks cooler). Also, my friend Cal has a great tip: put all ice bags into large ziplock bags
before you put into the coolers so when they melt, you can save the water for drinking or washing
purposes. Plus, you won’t have a dirty watery soup in your cooler to deal with (which is GREY water
that you’ll have to evaporate it or pack it out!!)
32) Extra tarp, area carpet or rugs
Having an extra tarp or rug that you can stake down in front of your tent or camper (where you enter
your sleep area) and a larger one for your kitchen area helps keep down the dust!
33) Label Your Gear – Especially Expensive Tools & Gadgets
a) Label your camera or other gear with your email address, camp name + camp address if possible.
Most people will return an item if you make it easy for them to find you.
b) Label your phone with a companion’s phone number (who is camping with you) and in your cell
phone directory, add the listing "Owner of this Phone" (with that same person’s number).
34) Back up Your Computer
Before you head out of town, back up important computer files.
35) Autoresponders and Voicemail Greetings
If applicable, set autoresponders on your email addresses to let people know you are offline until a
specified date. Also set your voicemail on extended absence greeting. (There are some wifi hotspots
at Burning Man but it’s not great reception AND it’s best to remain mostly offline to really be present!)
Tips For That Week In The Desert by Little Woo is licensed under
a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Written in 2009. Updated July 2016. Made with love from www.littlewoo.org