What items do you carry when walking the Playa?
- mudpuppy000
- Posts: 1552
- Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:54 pm
- Burning Since: 2009
- Camp Name: THE BELLIGERENT GAP
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- theCryptofishist
- Posts: 40313
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:28 am
- Burning Since: 2017
- Location: In Exile
I'm going to BRC for the first time this year but I plan to bring (and to prepack it this way to with any luck):
Emergency Kit with Epi's
SPF Lipbalm
Sunscreen
Ziplock bag
Baby Wipes
Two Reusable bottles of water
Saline (I wear contacts)
Snack
Goggles (if I'm not wearing them)
The only thing is, has anyone ever made there back pack (while still removable) a part of their bike and left it there while they ran around?
Emergency Kit with Epi's
SPF Lipbalm
Sunscreen
Ziplock bag
Baby Wipes
Two Reusable bottles of water
Saline (I wear contacts)
Snack
Goggles (if I'm not wearing them)
The only thing is, has anyone ever made there back pack (while still removable) a part of their bike and left it there while they ran around?
We break to remind us how to mend.
- Sham
- Moderator
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- Location: The hidden mythical place.....
I am going to make a recomendation for a backpack that is going to get AntiM in a tither. There is a very lightweight, full size backpack that I've used for several years. It has shoulder straps, side pockets, clasp and draw strings etc. It has been absolutely perfect for the playa and it costs under $4.00. ($3.96) The kicker is that it's at the evil Walmart in the sporting goods department. I was afraid that they might discontinue them, so I bought extras just in case. I have not seen these in any other store.
I only carry water, beer and thermals in the backpack.
All other essentials are on my person.
Flasks of good stuff in utilikilt pockets.
Leathermen tools on belt.
Smokes and ashtray on belt.
Lip balm on belt.
Goggles and headlamp on hat.
Bandanna around neck.
Glasses on face.
Lamminet arround neck that says "If found, please return to xxx unmolested if possible"
Everything else is just dead weight.
All other essentials are on my person.
Flasks of good stuff in utilikilt pockets.
Leathermen tools on belt.
Smokes and ashtray on belt.
Lip balm on belt.
Goggles and headlamp on hat.
Bandanna around neck.
Glasses on face.
Lamminet arround neck that says "If found, please return to xxx unmolested if possible"
Everything else is just dead weight.
- bm_cricket
- Posts: 756
- Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:06 pm
- Burning Since: 2008
- Location: My mind is on the road to BRC
On the drive out to the playa I have a huge bag of lip balm. By around Monday I've lost all of them. By the time I get back home and unpack (unpacking seems to happen in mid November) I finally find all of them again....clerkkent wrote:I have a small crescent wrench and a tube repair kit in case I come across a bike that needs help (including mine).
I bring a few extra lip balms, since I seem to lose, lend, or gift them, and one always likes to melt.
I also have a sippy cup dangling from my pack, in case I come across a kind soul distributing beverages.
One thing I plan on trying this year is to have two packs, one for day, and one for night. That way I'm not dragging sunscreen around at night, and a bunch of blinkies and lights during the day.
Oh, but I usually have one of everything I could need in my smallish camel pack. It's a 1.5l (I think). Finding yourself in the middle of the playa at some art installation with the artist sitting there trying to fix a broken light only to offer a zip tie and some tools to the un-prepared person makes their day.
It was better next year. -Burners
- bm_cricket
- Posts: 756
- Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:06 pm
- Burning Since: 2008
- Location: My mind is on the road to BRC
At first I thought you were being serious. One of my camp mates cracked a bottle of motor oil and he was asking everyone in camp if they had any use for it (the thing had rotted in the sun and finally split.. when we were on the playa!!) You really can use that stuff on almost anything.. However when I realized what was being discussed I was disgusted...Shambala wrote:Why not bring a quart of 10W40 motor oil and keep that in your back pack. It's good for everything!
It was better next year. -Burners
- Madgirl
- Posts: 252
- Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 8:55 pm
- Burning Since: 2009
- Camp Name: Synapse Conduit
- Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
Going along with what everyone else said....
Water (2L Camelbak)
Dust mask
Goggles
Snacks
Cup
Chapstick
Duct tape
Zip ties
Notepad
Lots of pens (I ended up giving most of them away)
Extra Ziploc bags
Hand wipes
Headlamp
Camera
Toilet paper (although I found I never needed it)
Swiss Army knife
Trash bag for moop
I think that's everything.....
Water (2L Camelbak)
Dust mask
Goggles
Snacks
Cup
Chapstick
Duct tape
Zip ties
Notepad
Lots of pens (I ended up giving most of them away)
Extra Ziploc bags
Hand wipes
Headlamp
Camera
Toilet paper (although I found I never needed it)
Swiss Army knife
Trash bag for moop
I think that's everything.....
- Sham
- Moderator
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- Location: The hidden mythical place.....
I'm not going to ask about never needing toilet paper.Madgirl wrote:Toilet paper (although I found I never needed it)

How about spray sun block.
Home made first aid kit.
Energy bars.
Tissues.
Extra bandana.
No need to bring the bag for moop. I have never found enough to put in a bag. The odd wrapper or paper can just be put in a pocket in your backpack and dumped later.
- Sail Man
- Posts: 4523
- Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2008 10:03 am
- Burning Since: 2008
- Camp Name: Kidsville: Delicious
- Location: 20 Minutes into the Future
LBV with hydration bladder
ruger mini-14 tactical with 7 30 round clips
OTIS cleaning kit
IFAK
drop leg holster with ruger p89 9mm and 5 15 rd clips
cammenga compass
surefire light
2 flashbangs
2 smoke grenades
gas mask
frs radio with throat mic
survival kit with emer rations
k-bar knife
oh wait, wrong "festival"
for this festival, yeah, what everybody already listed
ruger mini-14 tactical with 7 30 round clips
OTIS cleaning kit
IFAK
drop leg holster with ruger p89 9mm and 5 15 rd clips
cammenga compass
surefire light
2 flashbangs
2 smoke grenades
gas mask
frs radio with throat mic
survival kit with emer rations
k-bar knife
oh wait, wrong "festival"

for this festival, yeah, what everybody already listed

Excuse me Ma'am, your going to feel a small prick.
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Algorithms never survive the first thirty seconds of patient contact
- Fire_Moose
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- Contact:
- Fire_Moose
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- some seeing eye
- Posts: 3723
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- Camp Name: Woo
- Location: The Oregon
One of the most useful ePlaya threads!
I cover my everyday backpack with synthfur, cut to size and safety pinned into submission. You can do it to to a larger water pack, or transplant water bladders and the drinking tube to any backpack/waistpack.
Water
Largest available stainless Sierra Cup-style/bowl/dish
Cheapo and ironic thrift store mug - good for hot and cold
Chopsticks
or plate/mug/bowl/fork/knife/spoon
Plastic bag to put dirty dishes or whatever in
Wipes for cleaning, purifying eating cup/bowl/dish/utensils, etc.
Moleskine pasport size notebook and pen, spare pens, for long term connections and sketching
Paper for giving peeps my info
Info to locate me/my camp if I loose it
Camera, spare battery
Spare dustmask; sunglasses, hat, sunscreen (day); gloves, warm hat, headlamp batteries (night).
Chocolate
Spare partial TP roll in a ziplock
Chapstick
Minimal, not trying to fix or cure the world. Hey if you can do that on the playa, more power to you!
I cover my everyday backpack with synthfur, cut to size and safety pinned into submission. You can do it to to a larger water pack, or transplant water bladders and the drinking tube to any backpack/waistpack.
Water
Largest available stainless Sierra Cup-style/bowl/dish
Cheapo and ironic thrift store mug - good for hot and cold
Chopsticks
or plate/mug/bowl/fork/knife/spoon
Plastic bag to put dirty dishes or whatever in
Wipes for cleaning, purifying eating cup/bowl/dish/utensils, etc.
Moleskine pasport size notebook and pen, spare pens, for long term connections and sketching
Paper for giving peeps my info
Info to locate me/my camp if I loose it
Camera, spare battery
Spare dustmask; sunglasses, hat, sunscreen (day); gloves, warm hat, headlamp batteries (night).
Chocolate
Spare partial TP roll in a ziplock
Chapstick
Minimal, not trying to fix or cure the world. Hey if you can do that on the playa, more power to you!
- Bounce530
- Posts: 1593
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:26 am
- Burning Since: 2007
- Camp Name: BRC Guardian Landing pad
- Location: Still stalking BDV
I also have a sheet or two of blank stickers, the big Avery kind. They're great for giving a reminder to somebody about your camp address, and/or happenings. I slap them on peoples cups/water bottles, etc. I've also used them on the handlebars of my bike for notes to myself so I don't have to dig through the backback looking for a notebook/pen.
What other people think about you is none of your business.