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- Hydration, chargers, safety pins, and meds top the essentials list—don’t leave home without them.
- Hygiene, comfort items, and backup gear (like wig bags and makeup) can make or break your con day.
- Be prepared for anything, help others if you can, and always bring the wallet (and the vibes).
Cosplayer's Guide to Staying Safe from ConvWhat to Pack for an Anime Convention (From a Cosplay Veteran)
There’s a special kind of joy that comes with prepping for a con—planning your cosplay, organizing your weekend schedule, and yes, packing your convention bag. It might sound simple at first… until you realize you’re 10 minutes from the hotel, your wig is slipping, and your phone just hit 3%.
Fear not, fellow otaku. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned cosplayer who’s accidentally left their badge in the hotel room one too many times, this is your ultimate con bag checklist—with personal tips, practical advice, and maybe a few hard-learned lessons.
So grab your backpack (bonus points if it’s character-themed), and let’s get packing.
🧃 1. Hydration is Not Optional
Bring: A refillable water bottle
Why? Because cons are hot, crowded, and sweaty. Whether you’re in a full armor cosplay or chilling in jeans, you’ll dehydrate faster than you think.
Keep it in a side pocket for easy access—and sip often. Bonus points for bottles that don’t leak and fit nicely into your bag.
🔋 2. Chargers Save Lives (and Selfies)
Bring: Phone charger, portable power bank, charging cable
Your phone will be working overtime for pics, maps, meetups, and TikToks. A wall plug is handy for rest areas, and portable chargers are clutch during long panels or photoshoots.
Trust us, “sorry my phone died” is the new “I forgot my badge.”
📌 3. Emergency Repair Kit
Bring: Safety pins, mini sewing kit, eyelash glue
Cosplays break. Belts snap. Zippers fail. Safety pins are your new best friend. Eyelash glue can even hold down a rogue wig bang in a pinch.
If you cosplay, you or someone near you will need this. Be the hero of Artist Alley.
🌱 4. Reusables & Eco-Friendly Gear
Bring: Reusable straws, foldable shopping bags
Food court drinks and Artist Alley hauls are unavoidable. Bringing your own straws helps reduce plastic, and fold-up shopping bags are a game-changer for holding plushies, prints, and mystery loot.
💊 5. The "Con Mom" Pharmacy Kit
Bring: Your meds, plus painkillers, allergy pills, Tums, and band-aids
Even if you’re not the one who needs them, someone else will. Headaches from wigs? Tummy troubles from con food? Help is in your bag.
And yes—bring your own prescriptions and keep them in an easy-access pocket.
🧼 6. Health & Hygiene Essentials
Bring: Deodorant, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, period products
Yes, showering is required. But midday deodorant refreshes? Lifesaving. Bring pads or tampons even if you don’t need them—someone will.
No one wants to ruin a cosplay with surprise spills or stains. Add a Tide To-Go stick to your lineup!
💨 7. Stay Cool or Die Trying
Bring: Handheld fan
Con halls get hot. Between the wigs, makeup, and crowds, overheating happens. Fans not only cool you off—they make great photo props too. Bonus: they double as cute face coverups if your eyeliner melts mid-day.
👓 8. Vision Essentials
Bring: Contacts, contact case/solution, glasses, eye drops
Dry eyes and colored lenses don’t mix. Always bring eye drops and your backup glasses—you don’t want to be blind at a con or worse, trying to drive home without lenses.
💄 9. Makeup Touch-Up Kit
Bring: Blotting paper, foundation, powder, brush, lipstick, chapstick
Sweat happens. Shine happens. Eyeliner runs. Pack just enough to keep your face photo-ready without taking your whole makeup drawer.
Bonus points if your compact is themed (shoutout to the Eevee powder case squad 💖).
🧷 10. Hair & Wig Helpers
Bring: Hair ties, bobby pins, wig glue, wig cap
Whether you're styling your natural hair or keeping your wig in place, hair ties and pins save the day. And yes, bring a spare plastic wig bag—when your head is done, you’ll thank yourself later.
🧴 11. Lotion That Doesn't Suck
Bring: A solid, non-greasy hand lotion
Between sanitizer and AC dryness, your hands will be crunchy by midday. A good lotion keeps you comfy and smooth, and bonus: everyone wants to borrow it.
📸 12. Camera or Vlogging Gear
Optional but fun! If you’re into capturing your con journey, bring your camera (plus batteries or SD cards). Strap it separately across your chest or shoulder—backpack + camera = heavy, but worth it if you’re a memory hoarder like us.
💰 13. The Wallet Situation
Bring: ID, badge, credit/debit card, cash
Don’t be that person who gets to the Dealer’s Hall with no way to buy anything.
PRO TIP: Keep your essentials in a zippered wallet or pouch. Lanyards are great for con badges + room keys too—bonus if they match your cosplay!
✨ Final Checklist of Things You'll Kick Yourself for Forgetting
- Room key / car key
- Convention badge
- Snacks (protein bars = lifesavers)
- Reusable water bottle
- Emergency meds
- Wig cap / wig bag
- Stain stick
- Lip balm
- Foldable shopping bag
- Safety pins
- Extra mask (if needed)
- Portable charger
- Contact lens case
- Hand sanitizer
- Deodorant
- Period products
Pack Smart, Stay Chill, and Enjoy the Ride
Anime conventions are chaotic, joyful, and absolutely unforgettable—but being prepared makes the whole thing smoother (and a lot less sweaty). Whether you’re there for the cosplay contest, the panels, or just to buy way too many keychains, your bag is your survival kit.
Pack with intention, plan for the unexpected, and maybe throw in a tiny plushie just for fun. You got this.
Keep your con experience comfy, organized, and chaos-free with more tips from Land of Geek Magazine!
#AnimeConChecklist #CosplayTips #ConSurvival #PackingLikeAPro #LandOfGeekConLife
