This one is practical, though. I am doing a cleanup of the flat, and have several pages of "things to buy for burning man." I've been holding on to them b/c I haven't wanted to throw them out without reviewing them. Specifically, what did I think I needed but didn't, or vice versa.
Without further ado,
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Burning Man Supplies Recap
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- AAA Card - good idea but not necessary. Terrain isn't that harsh, and lots of people on the roads, but it is in the middle of nowhere and gas is hard to come by.
- batteries - yeah, but didn't use that many. It's not that dark at night, so headlamps aren't on all the time. Maybe a half dozen or so.
- beef jerky - i did eat it all, so that's good, but you really don't want things that make you thirsty. I hated it by the end. Get real meat (ham with water added) instead.
- bicycles - again, yes and no. It's not *that* bad to walk. Cycling is much faster (water run in 10 minutes rather than 40) but the "roads" kill your rear end. Either pad the seat, make a mutant vehicle, or walk. That said, small cheapo bike is fine, just tighten it.
- bike bell - nah
- bike carrier (car) - absolute must
- bike headlamps - yes
- bike locks - absolutely
- bike rack for back of bike - nah, but a front basket is great
- bike repair kit - eh
- bike taillight - not so important really so long as you have headlamp
- bike water bottle - eh
- binoculars - didn't have, small and light would have been good, as lots to see.
- breads - yes for sandwiches. Keep it moist
- breakfast bars - didn't have, wouldn't recommend
- bug spray - no
- bungee cords - yes, for stringing up stuff in tent. 4-6 is fine.
- camelback - yes, light one, put ice in it YUM
- gifts - fewer, smaller, relevant
- chapstick - yes, 1-2 sticks
- collapsible shovel - no
- compass - nah
- cooler - essential. Wheeled is great.
- costumes - yes (1-3)
- disposable camera - ok
- dust mask - either that or bandana is absolute necessity
- earplugs - if light sleeper. yes, to be safe
- fire extinguisher - suppose
- first aid - must
- fix a flat - nah, have AAA
- flashlights - use headlamp
- fleece/sweater - 1 is fine
- frisbee - ok, but do you want to carry?
- fruit cocktail - would have been great
- gatorade - hated it. hated it. Sprite was a godsend.
- gloves - didn't use, but did get a blister, so I suppose good.
- goggles - essential only behind water
- GPS - unnecessary
- hand sanitizer - yes, 2-3 little bottles from Target hooked to beltloop
- hat with chinstrap - yes, though no necessary if sunscreened
- head lamps - yes, can serve as bike headlamp probably
- high wind candles - no
- ice insulated bags - yes, but *must* be very strong, or else have an outer bag to carry
- instant cooked food - hit or miss. oatmeat good, lasagne passable, rice dishes blandly icky
- lawnchair - yes, but nice if one is there, tend to be some around
- lemonade mix - ick. ick ick, at least instant.
- luggage - well yeah, but it *will* get dust embedded in it for eternity
- matches/lighters - 1 lighter
- nuts - awful. dries the mouth, intolerable. threw them out.
- pb&j - would have been okay maybe with a drink (the J part), but nah
- plastic bottles/tennis balls - to cover stakes. Use bright orange stakes instead, else yes.
- portable shower w drain - cheated this. tough one; yes but drain is something to still figure out.
- power charger for car - yes.
- pyjamas - yes
- multitool - yes, for the scissors/knife and pliers part.
- road atlas - yes, or AAA maps
- sandals - yes, but remember sunscreen for feet!
- long shirt - ok, tho for coverage not warmth
- short shirt - yes
- shorts - yes, or swimtrunks / cool undies
- sleeping bag - yes
- soap - liquid better
- socks - nah
- spray mist bottle - yes, 1
- stove - nah, but if no access then no "just add hot water" foods
- tarot deck - didn't use, no unless built into something
- tarp/plastic sheeting - yes yes yes. car, tent, inside after you leave, bring 3x what you think you need.
- tent - yes, unvented if possible. all about the dust
- tire pump - for bike, yeah i suppose
- toilet paper - yes, but less than you think (some there, and you go less than you'd expect)
- toothbrush/paste - yes
- towels - yes, 1 each + 1 in case
- trash bags - yes, though we went ovweboard. needed about 15 all told.
- travel neck pillow - good not essential
- tripod light/lantern - used overhead light; want some fixed source for tent.
- trousers - not really, 1 for travel back (hot day, costume night)
- umbrella/shade structure - if none for camp. not stay in tent, too hot, need breeze.
- utensils - depends on food.
- vienna sausages - didn't take, suspect would be OK but need drink.
- visine - yes, but clean eyelashes first w/ water else salt runs in eyes, makes worse. get normal kind, not allergy watery-eye
- walkie talkie - nah
- washbasin - nah
- washcloth/puff - 1 ok, not critical, but exfoliating puff afterwards is great
- water - yes, 2 gal/day fine
- sunscreen - yes, and use it
- wet naps - yes, but didn't use tons.
- windbreaker - ok, wasn't cold in '07
- zip ties - optional
- ziplock bags - ok, but NOT repeat NOT waterproof. if could find waterproof would be great
- blanket - ok, want some kind of underneath layer below sleeping bags (little rocks)
- advil - should be part of good 1st aid kit
- kite - ok, good environment if you get out into playa
- videocam - yes, but need approval and keep it polite (good for surveying art, capturing vibe)
- plastic cups - yes, lots if serving drinks but mind disposal
- skin lotion - good idea
Wish we'd had:
- more juicy stuff (think nectarine not apple)
- soda
- more ham
- more cheese
So that's that. And now back to our regularly scheduled procrastination...
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