There is a specific kind of dread that hits at 11 PM in your hotel room, standing over an open suitcase, realizing you forgot deodorant. Or your phone charger. Or shoes that don't destroy your feet after four hours on the dealers den floor.
You will walk more than you expect, sleep less than you should, and need things you never thought to pack. This checklist exists so that your first convention memory is "I had the best weekend of my life" instead of "I spent $14 on hotel gift shop toothpaste."
We have a separate first-timer survival guide that covers the social side: etiquette, the 6-2-1 rule, pacing your energy, and handling Post-Con Depression. This guide is purely about what goes in the bag.
Key Takeaways
Bring cash in small bills ($200-$400): Convention WiFi drops constantly, card readers fail in the dealers den, and many vendors are cash-only. Small denominations ($1s, $5s, $20s) make tipping and purchases painless.
Invest in comfortable shoes: You will walk 5-8 miles per day on hard convention center floors. Broken-in sneakers or walking shoes are non-negotiable. New shoes will give you blisters by Saturday afternoon.
Pack a full toiletry bag from home: Hotel gift shop markup is brutal, and running out during a con means choosing between a panel you want to see and a trip to the nearest drugstore.
Carry a portable charger (20,000mAh+): Between photos, Telegram group chats, convention apps, and coordinating meetups, your phone will not survive a full day on its own.
Earplugs are the most underrated con item: Hotel walls are thin, room parties run late, and your 9 AM panel does not care that the hallway rave ended at 3 AM.
The Essentials (Don't Leave Home Without These)
These are the items that will ruin your weekend if you forget them. Check these first.
Government-issued ID - Required for registration pickup, alcohol purchases, and hotel check-in. Keep it on you at all times.
Cash: $200-$400 in small bills - $1s and $5s for tips and small purchases, $20s for dealers den spending. See our budgeting guide for a full cost breakdown.
Phone charger + power bank (20,000mAh minimum) - Bring the wall charger and a portable battery. Convention outlets are scarce, and you will drain your phone filming fursuit parades and checking schedules.
All medications - Prescriptions, OTC painkillers, allergy meds, anything you take regularly. Pack more than you think you will need. Conventions are not the place to run out.
Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes - Sneakers or walking shoes you have already worn for 8+ hours. This is the single most important comfort decision you will make.
Insurance card / health information - Keep a photo on your phone at minimum. Convention crowds, heat, and exhaustion occasionally send people to urgent care.
Clothing & Comfort
Convention centers are climate-controlled to the temperature preferences of no one. The main halls are often frigid, the dance floor is a sauna, and the hotel lobby is somewhere in between.
What to Pack
Layers - A hoodie or light jacket for panels and the main hall. You can always take it off, but you cannot conjure warmth from a T-shirt when the AC is set to arctic.
3-4 comfortable outfits - Plan one outfit per day plus a spare. Convention laundry facilities exist but are always in use. T-shirts and jeans are the unofficial uniform.
One nicer outfit - For group dinners, the dance, or the closing ceremony. Nothing formal. A clean button-down or a non-wrinkled dress works.
Pajamas - You will be sharing a room. Pajamas are a courtesy.
Extra socks and underwear - Pack one more pair of each than you think you need. Your feet will thank you for a fresh pair of socks midway through a long day.
Sandals or flip-flops - For the hotel room and quick hallway runs. Also essential as shower shoes.
What to Skip
Do not overpack clothing. You will spend most of the con in casual wear, and dragging a massive suitcase through a crowded hotel lobby is miserable. Four days does not require ten outfits.
Hygiene & Health
The 6-2-1 rule (6 hours of sleep, 2 meals, 1 shower per day) exists because conventions are petri dishes. "Con Crud" is real, it spreads fast, and your hygiene kit is your first line of defense.
Full-size deodorant - Bring your own from home. Bring a backup if you are even slightly worried about running out. This is not optional.
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss - Hotel freebies are terrible. Bring yours.
Shampoo, conditioner, body wash - Travel-size bottles from home are cheaper and better than hotel dispensers.
Hand sanitizer (at least 2 small bottles) - Use it after touching door handles, elevator buttons, and before eating. Conventions are high-contact environments.
Wet wipes / face wipes - Quick refresh between events when a full shower is not possible.
Cold medicine (DayQuil/NyQuil or equivalent) - If Con Crud hits on day two, you want to have this ready in your bag, not hunting for a pharmacy.
Vitamin C / Emergen-C packets - Start taking these a day or two before the con. Prevention beats treatment.
Shower shoes - Flip-flops or cheap sandals for the hotel shower. Shared bathrooms, shared risk.
Basic first aid - Band-aids for blisters, ibuprofen for sore feet, antacids for questionable food truck decisions.
Convention-Specific Gear
These items are not strictly survival essentials, but they make the difference between a smooth convention and a frustrating one.
Badge holder / lanyard - Many conventions provide a basic lanyard, but a sturdy one with a clear badge holder protects your registration from sweat, spills, and loss. A retractable badge reel is a nice upgrade.
Backpack or messenger bag - You need something hands-free to carry your purchases, water, snacks, and charger. A small-to-medium backpack is ideal. Too large and you will bump into suiters in crowded hallways.
Reusable water bottle (with a lid) - Hydration is critical, and a screw-top bottle means you never have to worry about leaving an open drink unattended. Clip it to your bag.
Business cards or art cards - If you create art, write, make music, or want to share your social media, these are how the fandom exchanges contacts. You can print 100 cards online for under $15.
Sharpie / pen - For signing autograph books, writing on art prints, or swapping info when your phone dies.
Small sketchbook - Even if you are not an artist, these are great for getting quick sketches from artists you meet and collecting signatures.
Snacks - Granola bars, trail mix, or anything shelf-stable. Convention food is expensive, lines are long, and sometimes you need calories between meals without leaving the con floor.
For Fursuiters
If you are bringing a fursuit, your packing list gets significantly longer. We have a full breakdown in our must-have fursuit accessories guide, but here is the bare minimum you should not leave without:
Balaclava (at least 2) - Absorbs sweat and protects your suit head's interior. You will soak through one per suiting session.
Moisture-wicking base layer - UnderArmour, athletic compression shirts, or similar. Cotton traps heat and sweat.
Water bottle with a built-in straw - You cannot remove your head every time you need water. A sports bottle with a long straw lets you hydrate through the mouth opening.
Portable fan / cooling vest batteries - Check our cooling solutions guide for the full rundown on budget and premium options.
Rubbing alcohol spray + lint roller - For spot-cleaning and freshening your suit between wears.
Suit repair kit - Hot glue gun (mini), needle and thread matching your suit colors, spare elastic, safety pins. Fursuit emergencies happen.
Pack your suit components in a separate, dedicated bag. Checking a fursuit head as regular luggage is asking for heartbreak.
Tech & Entertainment
Conventions have a lot of downtime that people do not expect. Lines, breaks in your room, and late nights where you are awake but not ready for sleep. Plan for it.
Phone + wall charger + portable battery (20,000mAh+) - Listed here again because it is that important. Your phone is your camera, your schedule, your group chat, and your map.
Camera - If photography is your thing, bring a real camera. Phone cameras struggle in dim convention halls and at dances. A compact mirrorless or even a good point-and-shoot outperforms any phone in low light.
Earplugs / noise-canceling earbuds - For sleeping when your neighbors are not. Foam earplugs cost $3 and will save your sanity. If you already own noise-canceling earbuds or headphones, bring them.
Nintendo Switch / Steam Deck / tablet - The game room is a convention staple, but having your own entertainment for hotel room downtime is a good call. Late nights in the lobby playing Mario Kart with strangers is peak convention culture.
Small extension cord or power strip - Hotel rooms never have enough outlets, especially with 2-4 people sharing. A compact 3-outlet strip makes you the most popular roommate.
What NOT to Bring
Some things are not worth the suitcase space, and a few can actually cause problems.
A full desktop gaming setup - You are at a convention, not a LAN party. If you want to game, bring a handheld console or a laptop at most.
Expensive jewelry or valuables - Hotel rooms are shared, bags are left unattended, and crowded floors are prime territory for losing things. Leave anything irreplaceable at home.
More than 4-5 outfits - You will wear the same comfortable clothes and nobody will judge you. Overpacking means wrestling with luggage in tight hotel rooms.
Weapons or weapon-like props - Most conventions require peace-bonding (zip-tying or otherwise securing) any prop that looks like a weapon. Many ban them entirely. Check the convention's weapons policy before you pack that sword. When in doubt, leave it.
A bad attitude about sharing space - If you agreed to share a hotel room, pack your patience. Shared bathrooms, different sleep schedules, and varying cleanliness standards are part of the deal.
The Printable Checklist
Bookmark this section or screenshot it before you pack.
Essentials
Government-issued ID
Cash ($200-$400 in small bills)
Phone charger (wall adapter + cable)
Portable battery pack (20,000mAh+)
All medications
Comfortable walking shoes (broken in)
Insurance card / health info
Clothing
3-4 daily outfits
1 nicer outfit
Pajamas
Extra socks and underwear
Light jacket or hoodie
Sandals / flip-flops
Hygiene & Health
Deodorant (+ backup)
Toothbrush + toothpaste
Shampoo + body wash
Hand sanitizer (x2)
Wet wipes
Cold medicine
Vitamin C / Emergen-C
Band-aids + ibuprofen
Shower shoes
Convention Gear
Badge holder / lanyard
Backpack or messenger bag
Reusable water bottle (screw-top)
Business cards / art cards
Sharpie or pen
Sketchbook
Snacks
Tech
Portable battery (charged!)
Camera (optional)
Earplugs / noise-canceling earbuds
Handheld console or tablet (optional)
Small power strip or extension cord
Fursuiter Add-Ons
Balaclava (x2)
Moisture-wicking base layer
Water bottle with straw
Fan / cooling vest batteries
Rubbing alcohol spray + lint roller
Suit repair kit
Find a Con to Pack For
Browse furry conventions by date, location, and size to figure out which one is right for your first trip.
How much cash should I bring to a furry convention?
Plan for $200-$400 in small bills. Dealers den vendors frequently lose card reader connectivity due to convention WiFi issues, and many smaller vendors are cash-only. Bring a mix of $1s and $5s for tips and small purchases, plus $20s for larger spending. Our budgeting guide breaks down the full financial picture.
What shoes should I wear to a furry convention?
Broken-in sneakers or walking shoes are the best choice. You will walk 5-8 miles per day on hard convention center floors, stand in lines, and be on your feet for 10-14 hours. Avoid brand-new shoes (blisters are guaranteed), heels, and sandals as your main footwear. If you want to dress up for an evening event, bring a separate pair and change for that occasion only.
Do I need a fursuit to attend a furry convention?
No. Only about 20-30% of convention attendees own fursuits. The vast majority of people attend in regular clothes and participate in panels, shop the dealers den, attend dances, and socialize. If you want to try suiting, many conventions have "loaner suit" programs or rental options. Check our guide to upcoming events to find a convention near you.
Can I bring food and snacks to a convention?
Yes, and you should. Granola bars, trail mix, crackers, and fruit are all smart choices. Convention food is expensive (think airport pricing), and lines at food vendors get long during peak hours. A small cooler in your hotel room stocked with breakfast items, sandwich supplies, and drinks will save you both money and time.
What hotel room essentials do people always forget?
The most commonly forgotten items are: a phone charger (bring a backup cable too), earplugs for sleeping, a power strip for shared rooms, shower shoes, and enough cash in small bills. A sleep mask is also worth packing if you are sensitive to light, since hotel blackout curtains rarely live up to their name and roommates keep different schedules.