Not too long ago, in the backseat of a Prius far far away from home, it hit me. I hadn’t packed half of the things I needed for the LARP I was attending. The event itself was perfect and in hindsight, I had a good time, but I was short of socks, underwear, food, and just about everything you can think of when it comes to keeping stuff dry.
This was a weekend-long event starting on a Friday, the climate was perfect and the sun was gazing on my poor arms for hours. I never thought of bringing sunscreen to a LARP. First of all, it never crossed my mind to bring sunscreen. Second of all, feral beasts and wizards rarely wear sunscreen.
The weather changed drastically during nighttime. It started raining and most of my belongings were soaking in water because of my second-to-all camping gear.
Packing is numero uno if you’re going to a LARP. Keep in mind that I still enjoyed it from start to finish and I would go through it again but I promised myself I wouldn’t. That’s why I’m doing a list to help others pack.
Here’s everything you need to pack for a weekend-long LARP in no specific order.
Hygiene
- Deodorant – This is so important. It turns out you develop a rather horrible smell after running around in the woods like crazy for a couple of days. There might be a shower but most of the time you’re lucky if you can find a pond or a stream nearby. If you do find a natural stream of water remember to use products that don’t harm the environment while cleaning yourself.
- Toilet paper – Alright. This one is really important, especially for those who have a sensitive gut. Your eating habits and sleeping habits will be off during the LARP – it will affect your stomach. Don’t forget toilet paper. When crisis strikes you will be so thankful.
- Hygiene essentials – Anything you need to keep yourself clean during a game. You’re going to interact with other players so make sure to wash for their sake – killing an orc is one thing, and smelling like one is another.
- Feminine hygiene articles – In the case of “that time of the month”. Always be prepared.
- Hand sanitizer – Great idea. An easy way to keep your hands free from bacteria when it’s time to eat. Not cleaning your hands is like begging to get sick. Well…. almost!
Clothing/Wearables
- Extra socks – This should be taught in school – If you’re going outside for an adventure, bring extra socks. The terrain will get muddy if it rains, your boots might be waterproof but trust me, there will be proof of water inside them. The journey can have you pass through a stream of water or snowy mountains – that’s the perfect recipe for wet socks. There’s no sneaking with wet socks. Make sure to bring 2-3 extra pairs just in case.
- Comfy shoes – Your feet will be tired. Make sure they get some rest. Wear something comfortable when you’re out of character or resting. If you’re playing the role of a monster you should wear something comfortable that fits your outfit.
- Blankets – Come night this will be very useful. Most of us are used to sleeping in a warm bedroom in an isolated house full of radiators. That’s not really what it’s like to sleep in a tent. Make sure you’ve got extra blankets in case it gets very cold. You could use these during the daytime to cover up all your modern items if needed.
- Small pouch – Great place to keep your belongings such as phone, wallet, keys, and ID. Don’t bring them to the battlefield. Every year people claim they have lost their keys out on the field. Searching a couple of acres for a pair of keys is not an easy task. Keep them in your tent.
- Multiple fighting outfits – If you’re going as an NPC I would suggest you pack a couple of garbs. The luxury of changing outfits – waking up in your tent the second day you’ll really thank yourself for packing another pair. Getting back into the dirty ones isn’t fun.
- Hand warmers – Bring anything that can keep your hands warm.
- Earplugs – You’ll miss the comfort of your soundproof bedroom. Make sure to bring earplugs, there are thousands of sounds that will wake you up from your beauty sleep. An easy solution to a big problem.
- Contact lenses and solution – If you do bring these. Make sure to really clean them every night to avoid infections.
- Hat – Bring a cap to keep the sun from your face or a warm hat to cover your head from the cold at night.
Medication/Pharmaceuticals
- Sunscreen – Yeah, I guess you knew that one if you read the introduction to my article. I will never attend a LARP in Southern California without sunscreen again. My fellow mates called me Red Redemption for an entire weekend.
- Bug spray – The mosquitos go crazy once the sun sets. Applying some kind of repelling lotion or bug spray makes it easier to withstand them. You don’t want to have mosquito bites all over your body when you carry armor.
- Medication – I’m talking to anyone who regularly takes medication. You don’t want to miss out on your medication for this special day.
- First Aid Kit – Just bring one. It doesn’t need to be a big one that takes up much space. Just make sure to bring the essentials. There will be climbing, terrain, fights, etc. I’ve got a small one that I bought for next to nothing. With that, you’re covered.
- Aloe Vera – Has a cooling effect on your sunburn if you happen to get one. It’s a luxury article but it’s nice to have. They aren’t expensive either.
- Ibuprofen/aspirin – Don’t let headaches stop you from enjoying the event. Considering how easy it is to drink much less than your body needs when you’re waging war or doing quests, you should pack these. Make sure to always drink water no matter what you bring though – It’s the first step to curing a headache.
- Allergy stuff – I think this goes under “medication” but it’s a sweet reminder for those who forget. You’ll be outdoors – if you’re allergic to pollen you’ll have a hard time. Make sure to pack everything you need to avoid those allergic reactions.
Technology
- E-Cig or Vape – Wearing a costume and taking on the role of a character doesn’t mask your addiction. Bringing a vape that fits in your pocket makes it easier to get that regular fix without too much commotion. The biggest bonus is the possibility of smoking inside your tent when it’s freezing outside. I stopped smoking two months ago but up until then I used a vape at LARPs.
- Tent heater – The temperature will drop during the night and for those who sleep in tents, it gets really cold. I shared my tent with 2 other friends and we were all frozen solid. Luckily for me, I learn from my mistakes, whenever I pack my tent I make sure I’ve got my tent heater with me. I’ve got this tent heater and I love it – you can find it on Amazon.
- Portable charger – Try to bring a power station of some kind to keep your phone charged. There’s a shortage of outlets at most LARPs.
- Flashlight or headlamp – Keep one of these in your tent for your nightly toilet runs. It gets really dark.
- Extra batteries – Needs no reasoning. They’re great!
- Cooler – Name one item that makes your weekend better – It’s this one. If you have the possibility to bring a cooler I would. Keep your drinks cool and broaden your food options. You can prepare your food at home, store it in the cooler and then use the campfire to heat it. This cooler is great and not too expensive.
- Single burner propane stove – If your campfire isn’t your first option when preparing your meals then I sure hope it’s a propane stove. These heat your meal up instantly. Quick meals become a god-given gift when you’re hungry and freezing to death. We use ours for LARPs, camping trips, hikes, and festivals.
Lodging items/Items for your camp
- Water & Food – You know you’re going to need it. If you’re a big eater make sure to bring even more food now. You’ll be hungry and tired after a full day of questing, marching, and fighting. Bring snacks, fruit, dried fruit, or sandwiches to keep yourself energized through the day. Always bring water. Keep bottles in your tent and grab a little one with you. I use leather bottle holders with plastic bottles that look like glass bottles – these look like they could actually be part of my character’s outfit. Not only does it look good but it keeps me from breaking character, visually. Some LARPs do have taverns that offer both food and water in exchange for real money.
- Biodegradable plates – These are awesome. Once you’re done eating you could throw them in the fire or bury them in the dirt without doing any harm to the environment. I’ve got a bunch of them stored.
- Wooden lantern – It would be wise to bring a lantern with some candles. It brings life to your camp at night.
- Duct Tape – You never know when you’re going to need it. Make sure at least one person in your camp brings tape.
- Something to sit on – Bring a chair of some sort and throw something over it to make it fit the setting. Camping chairs work great and they are really inexpensive.
- Banner – Your camp will need its own banner, make sure you bring something to either tie the banner to a tree or something you can dig into the ground that holds the banner up.
- Garbage bags – For easy disposal of trash and safekeeping. Great idea to bring a couple of these. They can work as a cover for those rainy days, for your items, or you – cut a hole in the bag and make a poncho out of it.
- Rope fence – For your camp. It marks your camp’s territory. The majority of the camps I’ve seen have used a combination of rope fences and torches to mark their boundaries.
- Pad/Mat – Sleeping in a tent is basically like sleeping on the ground without touching it directly. You’ll need a pad or mat under you to insulate the heat. Try to get a couple of layers between your body and the ground – sleeping directly on it will give you a cold.
- Kettle to boil water – Again with the cold and the energy, but seriously, when you’re tired, cold, or just woken up it’s crucial to get a cup of coffee or tea to give yourself that edge you’ll need. You’ll be tired, hungry, and cold several times during an event – a warm cup might change that.
- Fan – While this post has focused heavily on cold weather conditions there are events that take place in warmer regions. Having a fan in your tent can make or break your sleep. There are smart portable ones on Amazon.
- Microfiber towel – Mine is smaller than a regular towel and works wonders. I would call this essential for a LARP. Doesn’t weigh anything, and doesn’t take up much space. Having one to clean yourself with before entering your tent or getting dry after a shower is smart.
- Wet wipes – If this list was done in order of importance then there would be way up the list. When it comes to LARPing, Wet wipes are like swiss army knives. Use them when there’s no shower nearby, when you need to clean your utensils or when you need to remove makeup, fake blood, or dirt. Small items can really make the biggest difference.
- Dice or Card game – Some amusement for your camp and a great way to make even more friends.
Character & Extras
- Energy Drinks – Thank me later. Keep a couple of energy drinks in a cooler for that extra boost when you need it.
- Sewing kit – If your costume takes a hit you’ll want to repair it. I’ll be honest… I’ve always found someone to help me at the event. This one is a recommendation to me.
- Spare car key – Bring a spare just in case. Oh, I’ve got a tip for you. If you don’t have a spare key make sure you tie something abnormally large to your key rings (I tied a balloon and a couple of feathers). That way you’ll find your keys if you drop them.
- Character props – I think this one goes without saying. This includes prosthetics, jewelry, scars, glasses, wings, etc. Anything you need to make your character stand out.
- Multiple weapons – If your weapon breaks, doesn’t pass the security check, or is lost, you will want to bring an option to wield. Keep them stored in your tent away from the rain. An easy way to secure your weekend.
- Musical Instrument – If you know how to play an instrument you should absolutely bring it to the event. Having an instrument for those campfire gatherings is awesome. We brought guitars to our camp and people would stop to hear us play, at night there was a bit of singing too. It’s an easy way to make friends during a LARP.
- Alcohol – If your event allows it, if you enjoy it and if you’re old enough to drink it. There will most likely be booze at a LARP event. Remember to fill up on food and water before you get started. Your body will need it after a day of LARP. To stay true to the theme of the event – try to find something to drink out that doesn’t break your character.
- Birth control – You never know what happens when the booze and the instruments appear. Make sure to bring items that keep you safe if you find yourself in a situation that requires it.
- Baby powder or soothing lotion – Your legs, armpits, or crotch can really start to chafe after an entire day of running around all geared up. Bring something to rub on your skin to soothe the irritation.
- Mirror – If your character uses make-up, or has a strange hairstyle or facial scars you’ll want to have a mirror to see what you’re doing while transforming into your character.
Those of you who have read through the entire list must think “How am I supposed to pack all of this?” “Do I REALLY need all of this?” No. You don’t need all of it. The key is to separate what you want to bring from what you need. First, you pack the things you need then you get the things you actually want to bring. They are just as important for your amusement and comfort during the event.
This list has been very useful to me and my friends over the years. We don’t follow it religiously but we tend to lean on it while packing for events and we’ve had a better time because of it. Sometimes we happen to be the “go-to” group for supplies because we’re so structured when it comes to packing.
You know yourself better than I do but these recommendations sure make my adventures better.
Remember that every LARP has its own rules that determine what you can bring. Many arrangers publish a checklist for their events on their websites.
Good luck at your event. Hope you have a great time. Comment below if you can think of something that could be useful for others that I forgot to mention.