San Diego Comic Con is just around the corner. We’ve made a list of 10 things you won’t want to forget if you are attending the show in person.
- A reusable water bottle or a Camelbak. There is a very good chance that you won’t drink as much water as you should, but there is no reason you shouldn’t try! Dehydration absolutely sucks, and with the sun shining and the convention hall packed, you are going to be sweating like crazy. I usually opt for a slim reusable water bottle, but any sort of water bladder will more than work.
- Liquid IVs. I swear by Liquid IVs when I know I won’t be drinking as much water as I should. They can easily be tossed in your bag and virtually take up no room. While I don’t feel it is as good as just straight up water intake, it is certainly more helpful than becoming dehydrated. This is also why I opt for a reusable water bottle vs a water bladder. You can easily dump the Liquid IV into the water bottle and be good to go.
- Snacks. Yes, you can get food at the convention or pretty much anywhere else in the Gaslamp District, but when the hunger comes on as you are waiting in a panel line, you’re going to wish you had something to munch on. Having just got back from Anime Expo, the following snacks were a lifesaver:
- Mixed nuts
- Kodiak Granola Bars
- Kind Healthy Grain Bars
- Figgy Bars
- Gum / Mints
- Sunscreen and other sun protection. San Diego is a much more tolerable climate than many conventions up the freeway, but the sun will likely be blazing all day. The last thing you want is to get a sunburn on day 1 and have to deal with that the following days. There are tons of rub-on lotions and sprays that can help you throughout the con. In addition to sunscreen, it’d be wise to bring your sunglasses and some sort of head covering. It’s almost always sunny in San Diego, especially in July. As for the sunscreen, I use the below:
- Sun Bum Spray Sunscreen
- Sun Bum Rub On Lotion Sunscreen
- Sun Bum Face Mist
- Cards and cash. Credit Cards will be the best bet in most situations, but there are often times you can get slight discounts via cash in places like Artist Alley. I generally pay by card due to it being easier to manage, but having some spending money can go a long way if you are spending considerable time in Artist Alley. Also, be sure to have two cards accessible. Especially if you are buying something in Artist’s Alley, there’s a chance a foreign transaction might alert your card carrier. The last thing you want is to be stuck without a card. You might even want to alert your credit card company that you’ll be buying something that may pop up as a foreign trasnaction.
- An external charger. Your phone is going to be your lifeforce for finding out what is going on at the con. Do everything in your power not to let it die. External chargers can be found relatively cheaply via Amazon through the likes of Anker. Don’t forget to also bring two cords for your phone. Losing one would suck if you don’t have a spare.
- Comfortable walking shoes. Bring along your most comfortable shoes that you own. If you don’t have any, buy those NOW and break them in beforehand. I would strongly advise against buying brand new shoes and assuming they will work for hours on end. You want well worn-in shoes that you know will handle hours upon hours on your feet.
- Storage for merchandise. If you are coming to SDCC, you will buy something. There would be nothing worse than for you to pick something up from your favorite artist/creator and for it to get damaged while at the con. Here are a few things we make sure to bring if we think we are going to be buying anything:
- Layers. San Diego has an extremely temperate climate, but that’s not to say that you won’t ever be cold at the con. Various panel rooms will be colder than others. If you are spending a considerable amount of time in any one room, it might be nice to have a light sweater. Nights are generally fine, but if the humidity is low it will definitely cool off in the evenings.
- Your Badge. Hey, you know someone has forgotten their badge at home. Don’t be that person. It wouldn’t be the end of the world, but it would create a massive headache if you have to wait in the registration line to get help with your badge.
These 10 items are by no means an end all be all for what you should bring to San Diego Comic Con. They just represent the things we felt were most important that you might not have thought of. Follow along as we continue to delve into tips for the con for first-timers or seasoned-vets.