LARP field kit: six things your bag needs before you walk on site
SaveA LARP field kit is the practical gear you carry through the day, separate from your costume and your weapon: first aid basics, spare layers, food and water, and the small tools that fix problems before they ruin your afternoon. This is different from building props for your character or working out what that character wears — a field kit is about getting through the day comfortably, whatever the weather or the terrain decides to do. Fantastical Quests puts this list together from one simple principle: pack for the event you're actually attending, not the one you imagine. By the end you'll have a clear sense of what earns a place in your bag and what you can safely leave at home.
The kit answers a question your costume cannot
Costume and props make your character look right. A field kit keeps you upright, dry and fed long enough to enjoy it. Treat the two as separate packing jobs with separate priorities, because conflating them is how people end up with a beautiful outfit and no way to deal with a blister.
Think of your kit in three layers: what you need near-constantly (water, basic first aid), what you need occasionally (spare socks, a torch), and what you hope never to need (a way to signal for help on a larger site). Packing in that order stops the rare items crowding out the ones you'll actually reach for.
Start with first aid, not with fun
Your first aid supplies go in before anything else, because they're the one part of your kit you genuinely cannot improvise. A small personal kit covering blisters, minor cuts and any medication you take regularly should sit at the top of your bag, not buried under spare costume pieces.
- Plasters and blister pads, sized for your own feet
- Any prescribed medication, clearly labelled, with enough for the full event
- Antiseptic wipes or cream for small cuts and scrapes
- A note of any allergies, kept somewhere a marshal or game master could find it
If the event runs overnight or across a large outdoor site, check what first aid cover is provided centrally — your own kit supplements that, it doesn't replace it.
Weather layers do more work than people expect
Pack for the forecast you're given, then add one layer for the forecast you weren't given. Fields and woodland sites change temperature fast between morning, midday and evening, and costume fabric rarely insulates as well as everyday outdoor clothing.
What to actually carry
A waterproof layer that fits under or over costume without ruining the look is worth more than almost anything else in your bag. Spare socks are the single most reused item in most players' kits, closely followed by a warm layer for after dark. If your costume relies on specific fabrics, check now whether they cope with rain at all.
Footwear matters more than fashion
Your boots or shoes need to survive mud, uneven ground and a full day of walking, not just look right in character. Break new footwear in well before the event; nothing ends a weekend faster than boots you've never actually walked in.
Food and water keep your character playable
Dehydration and low blood sugar flatten your ability to stay in character long before they become a medical problem. Carry a refillable water bottle you can top up through the day, and pack snacks that survive being carried around without needing a fridge.
| Item | Why it earns a place in your kit | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Refillable water bottle | Keeps you drinking through the day without relying on a single stop | Outer pocket, easy reach |
| Snack bars or dried fruit | No preparation needed, stable in warm weather | Side pocket |
| Spare socks | Wet feet end a day faster than almost anything else | Middle of the bag, in a bag within the bag |
| Torch or headlamp | Sites get genuinely dark; phone torches drain batteries fast | Top of the bag, for quick access |
Small tools solve problems before they grow
A roll of tape, a few safety pins and a short length of cord fix more costume and kit problems on site than most players expect. None of this needs to be elaborate: a strap that's about to fail, a hem that's caught on something, a bag that won't close, all of these have quick fixes if you've packed for them.
- Pack a small repair pouch with tape, pins and cord before you pack anything else
- Add a multi-tool or basic knife only if the event's rules allow it on site
- Carry a spare bag liner in case rain gets into your main pack
- Check your torch has working batteries the night before, not the morning of
- Pack a written copy of any medication or allergy notes, not just a phone note
- Set your bag out the evening before and physically check each item off
Sort your bag by when you'll need things, not by category
Group items by moment, not by type: what you need the second you arrive, what you need mid-afternoon, what you need once it's dark. A head torch buried under spare clothes at the bottom of your bag is no use to you at nine in the evening.
Keep anything you might need urgently — first aid, allergy notes, a torch — near the top or in an outer pocket. Everything else can sit deeper in the bag, because you'll have time to dig for it.
Checking the event's own rules saves you packing the wrong things
Every event sets its own expectations around camping gear, site rules and what's allowed on the field, so your kit should flex around those rather than a generic template. Before you finalise your bag, work through what the event's own information actually tells you about terrain, facilities and overnight arrangements.
If this is your first time packing for an event, it's worth reading more broadly about getting ready for your first LARP before you commit to a final list, since a lot of what you pack depends on how the whole day is structured.
Build the bones of your kit this week
You don't need the finished kit today — you need the first few items that make everything else easier to add.
- Lay out a bag and start a repair pouch with tape, pins and cord
- Check your current footwear for comfort over a long walk
- Write down any medication or allergy notes to keep in the bag
- Test your torch and replace the batteries if needed
#Beginner tips #Event preparation #First event #Camp life
Download PDF: LARP field kit checklist PDF, 28 KB
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring to LARP that beginners usually forget?
Spare socks and a written note of any allergies or medication are the two items new players most often leave out. Both are small, cheap and solve real problems once you're on site.
How do I decide what goes in an overnight LARP kit versus a day kit?
An overnight kit adds warm layers for after dark, a torch with spare batteries, and anything the event's own information says about camping facilities. A day kit can focus on first aid, water and weather layers alone.
What goes in a LARP bag checklist if the event is on a muddy field site?
Prioritise waterproof layers, broken-in boots and a spare bag liner to protect the rest of your kit from rain. Spare socks become even more important on ground that's likely to be wet underfoot.