Start Tailgating Season Right with This Great Gear
Updated: Aug. 31, 2021Read on for great tailgating gear for all styles, from glamgater to good old-fashioned bumper sitter.
Super-Versatile Coleman Tailgating Table
The Coleman Pack-Away 4-in-1 Adjustable Height Folding Camping Table is the tailgaiting table version of an all-purpose running back—it can go short, high, square, rectangle or multi-level. Use the two rectangular tables as separate bar and food-service stations, or bracket them together into a square or rectangle, depending on the space and your buffet table preferences. Think of it as the Bo Jackson of tailgating tables.
Well-Rounded Grill
Large crowd? The FireDisc is a solid auxiliary grill well worth any serious tailgater’s investment. I’ve seen a pile of bratwurst swim around in this meat wok of sorts until they were grilled to perfection. It runs on one propane tank and has a 22-inch diameter—big enough for any grilling hodgepodge, whether that’s steak, chicken and veggie dogs, all in different zones, or eggs, pancakes and bacon, when breakfast-gating before an early kickoff.
Don’t say we didn’t warn you: These are the worst grilling mistakes you can make while tailgating.
ID Your Beer (and Yourself)
These Hello, My Name Is coolies are the pro tailgaters answer to ripping a label a certain way on a bottle or turning the tab on your beer can to identify your beverage. This ingenious product keeps your beer—can or bottle—safe from others and cool at the same time, while also promoting easy mingling. No more striking the Heisman pose to keep your beer safe.
Keep that tailgating party rolling! Here are some tips to make it all go smoothly.
Comfortable, Portable Chairs
The secret to the Kijaro Camping and Sports Chair‘s success is the quality-to-portability factor. (Sure, that’s not a thing yet, but neither was Quarterback Rating until the seventies.) A dual lock provides reinforced stability that can comfortably support up to 300 pounds. It’s made of ripstop fabric, a nylon that’s resistant to tearing and ripping, with a mesh back, designed to lend breathability and comfort on the hottest of days. Handy features include not one but two cupholders, a mesh pocket for your mobile phone, sunglasses and things, plus an attached strap, for fold-and-go ease.
The Ultimate Yeti Tailgate Thermos
The first time I saw a Yeti Rambler, I scoffed at the idea of a cocktail being mixed in a thermos. When I saw the ice cubes still intact forty minutes later, I was a convert. The Yeti keeps hot drinks hot, too. A Florida Amazon.com reviewer shared my wonder at the thermos’ ice cube retention, “Bought two for drinks on the beach. Performed incredibly! Ice lasted all day in the hot Florida sun!”
Check out this list of camping hacks you’ll want to know about before your next adventure.
Super Yeti Cooler
Hazmat suits and whitewater rafts were both models and ingredients when creating the Yeti Hopper TWO Cooler—the more portable version of Yeti’s iconic Tundra ice chest. It can keep ice solid for days, so keeping a 12-pack ice cold and your precious meats at a safe temperature throughout gameday is a given. The built-in shoulder strap helps make up for the fact that it’s wheel-free.
Here are nine of the best ways to keep food cold while camping.
Old School Coleman Cooler
You don’t have to go space-age and expensive to keep your beer cold. This 50-quart Coleman Cooler can hold up to 84 cans—or fewer, plus all your grillables and super-sized chip dips—for less than $50. “Took a chance on this and it paid off,” said a verified purchaser on Amazon.com. “Weekend after weekend, this cooler keeps everything cold the entire time.”
The Multi-Position, Multi-Talented Coleman Grill
The Coleman Road Trip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill is a multi-surface, three-burner superstar with an integrated thermometer and matchless push-button start. The two durable side tables provide the perfect place to rest your next batch of grillables or set down your drink. There is a removable water pan to catch grease and three independently adjustable burners, for cooking a variety of food at different temps. After you have your tailgating spot secured, you’ll be tempted to roll this carry-on suitcase-sized grill around the parking lot to show it off.
Break that onion out of your cooler to clean your grill (and impress your friends). Here’s how!
Gimmie Shelter
The tailgate must go on. Forge ahead in all elements, whether rain, heat, snow or a blustery wind, with the waterproof, UPF 50+ ABCCANOPY Popup Tent. Included sandbags help prevent sag and collapse. Pick from 22 colors to match your team’s colors.
Earth-Friendly Disposable Cups
One day, it’s August, and you’re baking on the hot surface of the tailgate lot, cold drink in hand. The next thing you know, it’s November, and you’re shivering in that same parking lot, looking for a warm one to wrap your hands around. Face it: Those standard red plastic keg cups don’t cut it in either pre-game situation. Trade them for these 6-ounce disposable, biodegradable cups, which keep your cold drinks cold and your steamy beverages hot. They withstand sogginess, too.
Just Add Music ION Speaker
Up your tailgate game with the ION Audio Block Rocker, the ultimate party speaker with a powerful 8-inch woofer. Send music from any Bluetooth-enabled device, or connect directly to your car’s sound system with the â…›-inch auxiliary input. The built-in AM/FM radio lets you tune into the local broadcast, for pre-game banter or kickoff, and the rechargeable battery lasts a full 50 hours. An included microphone accommodates impromptu karaoke or parking lot fight song wars.
Get the big game up at your tailgate or campsite: Find car power inverter instructions here!
Cornhole Hero
The thud of cornhole bag hitting board may well be the trademark sound of tailgating. Upgrade the quintessential game by adding team spirit with a USA-made Victory Tailgate Regulation NCAA Cornhole Board Set. They’re American Cornhole Association-regulation size and weight, too. An Amazon reviewer (and Florida State fan) said, “Very beautiful boards! Construction is solid, well made. Was also thrilled to see the New Logo on the board!”
Want to build a corn hole game yourself? Here’s how!
Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.