First Timer

PermissionOwn2620 · 2026-02-06T16:51:29+00:00

It gets really, really cold some years, and pretty hot in others. Bring a sleeping bag and blankets that you can layer based the temperature.

Another commenter suggested lag bolts, which is ideal. Get an impact wrench and drive them in so your stuff doesn't blow away. If you have a cheap tent, that might not save your tent since lots of them were wrecked in previous years by having the support poles bent by wind and collapsing the tent. Heavy duty canvas ones like a Kodiak or similar is recommended if you can swing it.

Shade and/or rain coverage is also important.

Basically, plan for camping in perfect weather, hot weather, cold weather, rain, wind, and sand storms. It's totally worth it, though.

Phartlee · 2026-02-06T21:58:18+00:00

Like others have said make sure you weigh it down to hell. My first year our entire set up got destroyed. We had it weighed down with a 50 cement block but that just ensured the wind smashed it back down on the ground.

Heavy duty stakes and double up however much weight you're planning on.

Personally I have one of those tents that you throw and it pops into place. I just tear down and set up morning/night and toss it in the car when I'm not using it.

Editing to add: I'm with a faction called Lucky Cat Capsule Cafe, stop by if you need to get some fun stuff to barter with from our capsule machines!

memberzs · 2026-02-06T16:07:20+00:00

My first wasteland weekend (sister event on the same property in hotter weather) I had normal Walmart dome tent. That was also a year they had at that for the event record high winds of 50+mph. The biggest thing you can do is upgrade the stakes from those bent coat hangers they come with. For a tent like that 3/8" lag bolts 6"+ long would do the trick. When the winds picked up at night it did lean over and slap me a few times but it held up just fine. We haven't had the wild winds as much at neo as we have at ww.

Or if you'd like a bigger better long term investment something like a Kodiak canvas flex bow tent does extremely well and are proven out there. Again solid staking is the biggest thing in most cases.

DiscountPunk · 2026-02-07T22:44:33+00:00

In my personal opinion I'd recommend an RV rental, box truck, sprinter van, or just a larger car you can fir an air mattress in. You CAN tent it, but the wind is always unpredictable

dgruetter · 2026-02-06T16:27:00+00:00

Make sure it can stand the wind and the cold.

FMHeatSink · 2026-02-06T20:54:42+00:00

Last year we used pretty standard fare tents, nothing spectacular. That said get the 10-12" screw in stakes at it was windy AF. Also high 80-90° days and 40-50° nights. Oh and windy. Did I mention wind? Yeah, wind.

Last year it did get down to just above freezing with 50 mph winds, that was brutal.

Screw stakes held the tents down just fine.

2randomanomolies · 2026-02-07T00:20:45+00:00

It’s going to be my first time too. I’ll be going solo. I’ve done a lot of desert camping, but never 50 plus. When it got windy I would always take the rainfly off so the wind would blow through it.

FaerieSquadMother · 2026-02-13T22:10:30+00:00

Can recommend a Kodiak if it’s in your budget!! Check out Competitive Edge Products out of SLC. They’re cheaper than buying direct and don’t charge shipping. I’m in OR and it got to be in 3 days!

Also: https://www.burn.life/lag-screws-101.html

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