Get Ready, Get Packed, Go! What To Pack In Your Bag For Comic-Con

What to put in your bag could be one of the most important decisions you make for comic-con.

It seems like it would be simple when it comes to picking out what to bring into a comic-con, but after many trials and errors on my end, I can assure you that it's not so straightforward.

The first thing to think about is what kind of bag you're going to bring. My biggest piece of advice to you is bring a backpack. Whether it's a draw string bag, a mini backpack, or a full-fledged Jansport bag, carrying a backpack is essential at comic-con.

Comic-con is one of those special places that actually allows you to bring a full-sized backpack into the event. While it may take a bit longer for you to get through the initial security check with a larger backpack, it will ultimately help you carry more goodies and necessities around.

One perk of wearing a backpack is it keeps your hands free throughout the day. This means you can easily file through stacks of comic books or peruse through shelves of Funko! Pop figures with no issue. Honestly, that's my personal favorite part about bringing a backpack to comic-con: hands-free capabilities!

But what to put inside that nifty backpack of yours is the next step of your preparation plan.

First thing is first, always keep your wallet on you. I recommend buying a smaller, travel wallet ahead of time that holds some cash, your ID, credit card, and maybe three or four other important cards you have. A compact wallet saves space in your bag and allows you to place it in small areas in your bag.

Personally, I always put my wallet inside of the large compartment of the bag and then within one of the smaller pockets. This is a memorable spot that is easy to access. Also, utilizing one of the inner pockets of your bag prevents anyone from swiping your wallet from one of the outer, easier to reach pockets.

Next, be sure to bring a water bottle. There's a lot of walking around inside of comic-con and many convention centers can get crowded, stuffy, and hot pretty quickly. You're going to need to keep yourself hydrated so you can keep pushing yourself through the day.

Most comic-cons let you bring water into the event. Take advantage of that! Since a majority of comic-cons take place at convention centers, the price of water could reach upwards of $5.00 per bottle. To save some money and time waiting on lines, pack a bottle of water with you. It could be full or empty, just not partially filled. Partially filled bottles will get thrown out at security because any liquid could be stored inside of the bottle. To avoid this, just bring a fully sealed or empty bottle. If you elect to bring an empty bottle, you can always fill it at available water fountains inside of the convention center.

Another perk of most comic-cons is that you can bring sealed food into the event, such as granola bars, protein bars, or wrapped snack bags. Not only will this save you money on food, but it will keep you energized throughout the day. My favorite snacks to bring in are Power Crunch Protein Energy Bars. They're individually wrapped and can fit into snug spots inside of your bag.

For cosplayers and anyone who will be snapping photos at comic-con, something to invest in would be a small cosmetics bag. They're perfect for slipping into your bag and carrying some important grooming supplies, such as make-up, hair brushes, hair ties, and most importantly, band-aids. Keep a few band-aids in your bag in case you get blisters from your shoes or your cosplay outfit starts rubbing you uncomfortably.

One thing I especially like to toss into that cosmetics bag is a travel stick of deodorant. Like I said, comic-cons involve a lot of walking and you can get hot. That stick of deodorant keeps you nice and fresh throughout the day. Keeping a small bag of cosmetics on you will ensure you stay cleaned up and looking perfect for your picture with your favorite cosplayer or celebrity.

I'm a stickler about the weather. Mainly, I just hate the rain. Walking to a comic-con in the rain is never fun. You end up cold and wet and your day seems like it will be miserable when you have to walk around with wet shoes. Because of this, I never forget to bring a travel umbrella. My go-to umbrella is Elvira Mini Compact Travel Umbrella. This umbrella folds up so it will fit perfectly inside of your bag.

But what are you going to do? Carry around a wet umbrella inside of your bag? Nope! Just bring a plastic shopping bag from home. Keep the plastic bag in your backpack until you get to the comic-con. Then, once you're inside, fold up the umbrella, slip it into the plastic bag, and toss it into your backpack. Now you don't need to carry around an umbrella in your hand all day or worry about it soaking up whats inside of your bag. The used umbrella will only get the inside of that plastic bag wet!

For anyone who is getting a photograph with their favorite celebrity or getting a picture signed by them, be sure to bring either a folder or a plastic sheath with you. Slip your photograph or signed picture into a folder in order to protect it from getting scratched or damaged in your bag. Some comic-cons can sell you plastic folders for your photographs for around $5.00 per folder, but other comic-cons don't always offer it. It's always safe to bring one with you just in case.

The last thing that I always pack with me is a portable phone charger. There's no specific brands I like, but I never leave the house without one. Grab a snack bag at home and stick your portable charger and charging wire inside of it to prevent the wire from getting tangled with the other things in your bag. Whether it's to look up scheduling, take pictures, or download your photo-ops, you'll be using your phone at comic-con a lot. Packing a portable charger prevents you from having to search for an outlet to sit by and charge up your phone. You can use your phone on the go while still keeping it charged.

There's plenty of things you can throw into a backpack to prepare you for comic-con, but this list includes my personal favorites. It gets me through my day without any worries and makes my comic-con experience much more enjoyable and hands-free.

Always be sure to check out your comic-con's website to check the list of things that are allowed into the event prior to packing!