Best products from r/SDCC

Also, if you NEED a panel on Saturday & it's not first thing you can sit through the panel(s) before. Unlike D23 Expo & others they don't clear the room. If you're trying for a 6 room you can usually get in 1st thing without camping out but be there when the doors open. Indego ballroom has been hit or miss for me: either walk in or wait all day to get in the last panel.

Don't camp out for a Sunday hall H panel. There's no need (disclaimer in the past).

• make your plan before you get to the hall back in your hotel room. Download the app/check the website. But always make a backup plan so your time there isn't destroyed because you couldn't get into that 1 panel you wanted. The hall H cutters not too long ago prove that no matter how good your plan & attempt & guaranteed entry wrist strap, sometimes it just doesn't work out. So plan for backups so your money doesn't feel wasted.
  
• And don't be afraid to wander in random panels. Some of my favorite panels have been while squatting for something later or killing time sitting down in the AC.
  
  FYI the free shuttle busses are slow because they go everywhere. I opt for trolley tickets instead. It's not fast either, it's just faster.
  
  Packing IMHO:
  
• backpack (had a free bag die .02 seconds after they gave it to me. I wasn't even out of line yet & they shrugged). Also be sure to have something flat against the back of the backpack so you're not poked all day.
  
• GOOD padded walking shoes. For me it's a pair of big souled sketchers rather than a traditional athletic sneaker. Do not walk around in anything open toed because you will be stepped on. I also include thick white socks for added padding. Do not wear shoes for the first time there. Break them in!!
  
• deodorant, NOT perfume or cologne (people are allergic), & depending on the weather some type of gold bond or baby powder to soak up sweat & prevent rashes.
  
• sunglasses, baseball cap, & for the love of God sunscreen (this is me after waiting for Rick & Morty outside the Indego ballroom all day & I never got in). Lines can go outside or next to windows & there is cool stuff to do outside the con as well.
  
• a poster tube. Every year I bring one I don't need it & every year I don't bring it I need it. I love this one from Amazon because it's a harder plastic & it can expand lengthwise if need be. It's protected many a poster after people stepped on it & got dropped numerous times.
  
• a mini first aid kit. Nothing worse than a papercut or blister on the show floor. Also your fave pain killer (Tylenol, aspirin, etc) for aches, pains, & dehydration headaches. Also wipes & hand sanitizer. Pocket Kleenex. & if female, your choice of feminine hygiene even if it's not due. The stress of comic con can (& has!) sped things up to a surprise red wedding.
  
• water bottle (can refill via water fountains & save you money). If you've got a good set up, freeze half of it the night before, then fill it up & wrap it in foil to keep it cold.
  
• snacks! By the end of the day you will need it. Not just junk. Healthy stuff too. You're body is going through enough with walking & sweating & avoiding con crud. Personally I opt for a big free continental breakfast at the hotel & don't officially eat again until I return at the end of the night. You can pack sandwiches, etc if need be to save money too. Just try to keep snacks to "movie theatre" appropriate if you plan to snack during panels.
  
• a paper printout of your ticket confirmation, hotel info & any other ticket you might acquire for an offsite, etc. Wifi is not reliable & phone batteries die. You won't use it but you'll be thankful if you need it.
  
• if you're info buying comics & autographs some plastic sleeves may be worth an investment so any signatures don't bleed into the wrong thing in your bag or an errant sticker cling to your new limited edition
  
• I always have a sharpie & something to sign (daily schedules are great for this) within quick draw range. I've randomly run into people & the only reason I got an autograph (& a drawing once from Pendleton Ward) was because I was ready to go when others weren't & got to them before a handler whisked them away
  
• PHONE CHARGERS. yes more than 1. & cables.
  
• lots of cash & 1 credit card (usually one that square already knows to avoid wasted time) AND A BUDGET/LIMIT so you don't go broke. Personally I avoid debt cards in case of worst case scenario.
  
• if you're a pro bring business cards. I have a small case that fits in my pocket ready for quick draw if need be. But that being said don't spam the artists. 99.98% of the time they have no desire at the moment or means to get you a job. But I run into former coworkers all the time & we swap info while catching up. But you may also want some because people make friends in line all the time.
  
• a flashlight. Be the hero during a rare power outage or getting back to your hotel after midnight.
  
• a windbreaker/light jacket for late at night or cold AC in rooms after you've been sweating trying to get in. I recommend a jacket vs a hoodie b/c of ease of removal while in line or sitting in a chair. I've seen too many people get hit in the head by an elbow as someone takes their hoodie off.
  
  I know there's more but that's enough for now.

When deciding on a bag for conventions, especially for huge, packed conventions like SDCC, you should try to keep in mind how your bag will affect others. I've been to many conventions where people would have huge backpacks filled to bursting, extending way more than a foot from their backs, and it's always a pain in the ass. They swing around and you get smacked, sometimes they'll knock stuff over at booths, and if they need to take it off in the middle of the convention floor, it's even more of a pain. Then you have to keep in mind when you go see a panel. Unless you're at, like, the Viz Manga panel or something, the panel rooms will probably be at max capacity, so you won't be able to put your stuff on a chair. Imagine what a pain it is going into Hall H and having to fill a seat in the middle of a row, your huge bag hitting people, you trying to stuff it under a seat, worried someone else will take it, or having to hold this big, heavy thing on your lap for hours.

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For awhile I would overthink what kinds of bags to bring to a convention. I'd always think I needed a huge, bulky bag that can hold everything I needed. Then a few hours into the con I'd be miserable because I'm in a hot sea of people carrying, what, 10+ pounds of shit on my back/shoulders. It's not fun standing in long, hot lines with a huge bag on, and if you take it off you're just going to have to bend over and pick it up every few minutes when you move. I hated wondering if I was the asshole smacking people with their bag. You don't need to pack for a convention like you're spending a week in the wilderness. So eventually I just downsized.

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My bags I brought were a Thinkgeek Convention Bag of Holding (might be hard to buy now that Gamestop killed ThinkGeek, but if you can, I recommend it). It's a should bag that's pretty slim, but still has plenty of room for all your smaller essentials (charging cable, a battery pack, smaller snacks, tissues, a book, a portable game system, it has a clear pocket that folds out if you want to bring your iPad or similar sized tablet, etc.), it even has a spot on it's side to hold a smaller poster tube. You can fit a lot of stuff in it. Then I had one of those drawstring gym bags. It was plenty big enough to hold my lunch, other snacks, and extra water, without being really bulky. Finally, for any purchases I would just have a few tote bags. One larger one that can easily hold stuff like Funko figures, as well as plenty other larger items, as well as smaller tote bags if I needed them. I can't really link one I recommend, because all of mine were acquired when making purchases at cons. This set up is probably good enough for most people that aren't going to buy 50 Pop figures a day or something. The average con goer, I guess.

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This probably seems overly long and rant-y, but convention bags were something I agonized over for years.

I've been going the past 4 or 5 years, and I've come down to this: Take nothing.

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I've always been 'prepared' every year.. backpack, snacks, poster tube, autograph book and pens/markers, etc. I've used none of it. Granted, my experience may be different than some.. I spend my time walking and looking. LOTS of walking... like 12 hours a day every day for 4.5 days. This shit begins to hurt.. in addition to the extreme foot pain, my back and shoulders hurt, and all for nothing.

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This year, this is my plan:
Visit a podiatrist (I have shitty feet.. long and narrow with a high arch, and Im a bit heavier than Ideal) to possibly find a proper shoe.
Wear cargo shorts.. can keep a minimal amount of stuff in them and help keep the weight down.
No backpack. I was REALLY hoping for a downtown hotel this year, but of course I didnt get one, so my plan is to get a bag wherever I go, or possibly buy one of the ultralight bags that fold down to pocket size, something like ( https://www.amazon.com/Trek-Light-Gear-Ultralight-Daypack/dp/B00GRUDFD6?th=1 ). Fill it up during one of my shopping treks, then make use of the bag holding services. Its like $10/bag, but makes it so you dont have to carry it around all day; just need to get it from there to your hotel at the end of the day.
Snacks can be had everywhere.. it may cost a bit more, but when you're already spending $1500 or more for tickets, hotel, etc.. whats a few more dollars really?
Poster Tube.. theyre about $10. Buy one if you need one.. you're not always going to end up with posters, and carrying it around without a need sucks. If you get a poster, just walk with it over to one of the 3-4 people selling them and grab one.


If you do intend to stay in lines (they're getting worse and worse every year, so much so that I don't even bother anymore), you're probably better off just sitting on the floor. Carrying around a chair all day, even an expensive $100+ ultralight will suck. You're more likely to need the chair BECAUSE you're carrying the chair.

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Don't bother with a jacket. If you can't stand a little discomfort, you really shouldn't be going to any con. It will also only be coolish at night, so you won't spend a whole lot of time out in it.

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Put on sunscreen before you leave the hotel.. if you feel you will need a refresh, find the smallest tube you can that will fit in a pocket.


Sunglasses are great, but again, an additional item to carry around.. is it worth it? Most of your time will be spent in doors, or in the Gaslamp District where you'll be surrounded by tall buildings.

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Refillable water bottle? Grab one of those plastic bottles that crumples at the slightest touch. They're refillable too, and can be compressed down and shoved into a pocket when empty. No need to carry around a 5 pound stainless steel bottle with carabiner and shit.. just fill up the bottle, drink it and go.. it can fit into a pocket even when full usually.. as long as you're not wearing girls pants.

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Decide whether or not you intend to do any quality photo shoots. If not, your phone will most likely suffice. Turn off gps, bluetooth, nfc, etc to prolong battery life. At most, you will likely only need a very small pen sized battery throughout the day, not some large 10Ah+ batteries. Every year I go, I tend to have the latest power hungry phone, and I've never had battery issues, but I also don't take a whole lot of photos, and I don't play games on it while in line.

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Everything is subjective based on your intentions. Are you standing in the Hall H line? Are you standing in the smaller (but still ridiculous) lines? Are you wandering looking for merchandise? Are you actively seeking out celebs for autographs? Are you going to any of the parties? Are you solo or with a group?

If this is your first time, you may want to fully prep yourself with everything.. who knows, you may end up with a very different experience than someone like me. Me personally though, I'm downsizing.

This is the chair that I use, it collapses and straps very nicely on the side of my backpack.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009WH1920/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1