Convention Survival Kit

As fun as conventions can be, they can also turn into long and tiring days. Besides carrying your con badge, cash, and having a positive attitude, maximize your enjoyment by packing the following essential items in your convention survival kit.

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In case you didn’t already know, staying hydrated is super important. Trust me, keep drinking water to prevent yourself from feeling gross, tired, or from getting a really bad headache. There are no excuses not to find a bathroom sink or water fountain to fill up an easy-to-pack, collapsible water bottle.

As much as I’m an advocate for limiting solo phone time, and for encouraging interacting and engaging with your con surroundings, I’m also an advocate for ensuring your phone doesn’t die. Our devices, after all, are quite handy for a number of tasks. Heck! Maybe you’re being social by battling fellow trainers in Pokemon Go while waiting in a panel line together.

Unfortunately you’ll probably find yourself waiting around at least once or twice over the course of a convention weekend. Make the most of that wait time by packing something to entertain yourself with. Whether that’s a Gameboy or a travel game, I encourage you to pick an option to get to know your fellow nerds. Check out my list of recommended convention games for some great options!

You never know who you might run into while wandering the floors of a convention. Be prepared to capture an autograph or an artist’s sketch with a blank notebook, a pen, and a sharpie marker (these suckers will write on any surface, including a glossy convention schedule you may be interested in jotting notes on). You don’t want to miss an opportunity because you’re scrambling to find a halfway decent napkin to be scratched upon.

A downside to many conventions tends to be the greasy food that’s available. Keep yourself energized with fuel for your body that has more nutrients. Bananas and apples are great portable fruits. Or try your hand at baking up an easy batch of homemade energy bars for a tasty but healthy treat.

I’m creating a mini bucket with this one. Please do yourself and other con goers a favor by taking care of yourself; everyone is in close quarters all weekend after all. Do your best to eliminate germs and odors by having hand sanitizer, gum or mints, and deodorant on hand in the very least. Also, it doesn’t hurt to have some pain killers on hand in case sore feet or a headache pop up.

If you’ll be dressing in cosplay for the con then you’ll want to be sure to pack a cosplay emergency repair kit. This travel size kit includes items to repair your outfit should the unexpected occur. Even if you won’t be cosplaying, I’d highly recommend still packing some of these items including extra hair ties or bandages (in case a pesky blister pops up).

While they’re not a travel portion of the cosplay repair kit, I would 100% recommend that everyone also pack (or outright wear) a good pair of shoes to keep your feet happy all day long.

You’re going to need a bag to carry all these essentials around. I would recommend one of two options. First, if you just need the basics, you might be able to get away with using a mini backpack. I like this option for when you want a comfy but non-bulky solution. If you plan to acquire treasures from the artist’s alley or carry around other valuables then an anti-theft backpack would be a good option. Whichever you choose, be sure it’s sturdy and has comfortable straps.

So now that you’re ready to hit the con floor, which convention(s) are on your list this year? What’s packed in your con survival kit? Share in the comments below!