21 tips for Burning Man from the festival's most hardcore attendees

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The Burning Man Festival is held annually in Nevada. REUTERS/ Jim Urquhart

Each year, thousands of people flock to Nevada to celebrate the annual Burning Man Festival, a weeklong celebration of art, philosophy, education, and social enterprise held in the Black Rock Desert.

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Everything from sweltering days and frosty nights to dust storms and even chemical burns await those who do not do their homework before setting out for Black Rock, or "the Playa" as it's known by Burners. 

Though you won't find any WiFi at the festival, the internet is a great resource to plan your adventure. From the official Burning Man Survival Guide to dozens of blogs and Reddit threads, veteran Burners are eager to help newcomers. 

Without their guidance, you might end up a "Sparkle Pony," a term reserved for people who show up completely unprepared for the festival. 

Think you could handle a week at Burning Man? Keep reading to learn everything you'll need to know to spend an exciting week in the desert. 

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1. Water — gallons of it

The Temple of Grace, less a dust storm

A photo posted by Kevin La Presle (@lapresle) on Sep 9, 2014 at 12:05pm PDT

 

No water is provided for you on the Playa, so you'll be responsible for bringing your own. Given the heat on the Playa and the elevation in Nevada, the Burning Man Survival Guide recommends one and a half gallons of water per person per day.

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2. Vinegar

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To avoid the dreaded "Playa foot," a chemical skin burn caused from exposure to desert dust, many Burners swear by treating their feet with a mixture of vinegar and water to neutralize the alkali in the dust and soothe dry skin. 

 

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3. A cup

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A pirate ship cruises the Playa during the Burning Man 2014 "Caravansary" arts and music festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada August 26, 2014. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart

To help with staying hydrated, always have a drinking cup handy. "Even if it's only a short walk to the porta-potty you never know how hard it can be to find your way back home," explains another Redditor

 

 

 

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4. A photo ID

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"Photocopy your ID and stick it to the side of the cup with some nice wide clear tape," recommends this innovative Redditor. This way, you'll always have it with you. 

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5. Goggles

 

You're going to need a solid pair of goggles to protect your eyes from all the dust. Redditors recommend using ski goggles for maximum visibility and safety. Many Burners also decorate their goggles for a little festival flair.

 

 

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6. A spray bottle with lemon juice — and even more water

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Flickr/Bureau of Land Management

This isn't for drinking, but to protect your skin.

"Have a spray bottle of water and lemon – your skin will love you," recommends one travel blogger. "The sand at the Black Rock Desert is an alkaline, the lemon in the water acts as an acid. Not only will you be carrying portable air conditioning of sorts but you have a way to keep your skin from completely drying out (and you will smell nicer!)."

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7. A tent or RV

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A photo posted by Richard Cha (@wada_cha) on Aug 30, 2015 at 10:08am PDT

 

Given all the elements in the desert, it's important to have a safe place to rest each night. Burners camp in everything from RVs and vans to tricked out tents.

"[We used] rope light wired up to some batteries for that apocalyptic boudoir feel," wrote one Redditor about their Burning Man camp.

 

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8. Reinforcements

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The Playa is known for high winds, so veteran Burners recommend fastening everything with tie-downs. For tents, bring steel reinforcements, or "rebar," to secure your temporary home.

 

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9. Ear plugs and an eye mask

 

Nighttime on the Playa can be anything but quiet, so Burners recommend these to help you catch some much needed sleep.

 

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10. Gifts for bartering

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If you forget something small, don't worry. Burning Man works on a "gifting system," so people will be willing to help you out.

Just make sure you're prepared to return the favor, which can be something as simple as offering "a smile and a good attitude," one Redditor explained.

 

 

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11. A bike

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Many people bring bikes to travel around the Playa. You'll need one with wide tires to traverse the desert dust and mud. Given the rugged terrain, you'll likely experience technical difficulties with your bike over the course of the festival. This is where your gifts could come in handy.

"Anticipate an oh f--- moment," recommends one Redditor. "Bring a six pack for that person who will unf--- your bike."

 

 

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12. Bike lights

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"If you bring a bike, please, please, PLEASE light it up. A headlight, tail light, and a cheap set of battery-operated LED or Christmas lights is WAY more than enough," writes one Redditor. "The other lights can also save your life at night. You have no idea how dark the Playa is until you're out there at night... zero ambient light, whatsoever."

 

 

 

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13. Sensible shoes

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You'll also be doing a lot walking, so it's important to take care of your feet. You'll need a pair of comfortable closed-toe shoes that are sufficiently broken in before the festival begins, according to veteran Burners on Reddit

 

 

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14. Socks

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A photo posted by Meagan Geyer (@megsteezy) on Sep 3, 2012 at 8:00pm PDT

 

Be sure to bring plenty of socks, at least one pair for each day, as another way to avoid Playa foot.

"I'm a sockophiliac out there," explains one Redditor. "Give me socks. ALL THE SOCKS."

 

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15. A homemade shower

 

"Using a cheap kitchen sink sprayer nozzle mounted on a pressurized garden sprayer is, by far, the best and simplest low water shower tool I've ever used," one Redditor explained

Keep in mind, the Playa is a leave no trace zone, so anything you bring to the festival must also leave with you. That includes run-off water from showering and cooking.

 

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16. Baby wipes

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Some Burners forgo showering entirely.

"Every morning ... I used a couple baby wipes," explained one Burner on Reddit. "That's it. I used about 3 wipes a day and never felt too disgusting."

 

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17. A festival friendly wardrobe

Burning love 💖 @thaismom in the RIO #burningman #burningman2015

A photo posted by LEE + LANI (@leeandlani) on Aug 30, 2015 at 7:30pm PDT

Style is a big part of the Burning Man scene, but don't bring any glitter or feathers. These are considered "Matter Out of Place" or MOOP.

"Everything that wasn't originally on or of Black Rock Desert, no matter how small, is considered MOOP," according to the Burning Man website.

 

MOOP is an important element of Burning Man’s leave no trace policy. Technically everything Burners bring to the Playa is considered MOOP, but because stray glitter and feathers are nearly impossible to clean up entirely, it's best to just leave those at home.

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18. Food

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Nutrition can be tricky on the Playa. Many veteran Burners on Reddit believe in the "'low-effort-on-playa' school of culinary logic," including protein bars and pre-made meals. 

If you feel like cooking, check out this complete Burning Man meal plan to keep you fueled for the festival, with hearty staples like chili and cornbread.

 

 

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19. Pickles

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A photo posted by Burning Man USA (@burningmanusa) on Aug 25, 2015 at 3:32am PDT

 

It sounds random, but burners on Reddit are unanimous about this one. 

"You don't know how good a dill pickle tastes until you've sweated out twice your body weight in sweat over 3 days," explained one Redditor.

 

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20. Your best self

 

The festival can be physically demanding.

"Start running and riding bike early in the year and work yourself in the hot season," writes this Burner. "By doing so you will be able to withstand extreme temperatures, after effects of parties (e.g. hangovers of all sorts) and lack of sleep/rest a lot better."

 

 

 

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21. An open mind

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A photo posted by Burning Man USA (@burningmanusa) on Apr 2, 2015 at 11:38am PDT

 

There's also level of mental preparation required too. Be ready to "say yes to as much as possible," to get the full Burning Man experience, recommends one Burner on Reddit.

 

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