We Asked Some of America’s Most Obsessed Tailgaters for Their Favorite Supplies — Here Are Their Picks

Your favorite football team could already be off to a terrible start, but your ability to dominate the parking lot should never falter. No matter what’s happening on the field, you’ve gotta be able to bring the heat (and the burgers, and the beers, and all the other necessary supplies).

To help you, we tapped six tailgating fanatics — they’ve been to more than 657 games combined! — for their must-have parking-lot cooking essentials. Here’s what they say you need.

“There is literally nothing better than a cheeseburger at a tailgate. To keep everything cold until I’m ready to cook it up, I rely on my Yeti Tundra. It’s got a lot of buzz, but with good reason — it really is the best and I never need to worry about my food spoiling, no matter the weather.” —Rob S., who cheers for the New York Mets

“It packs easy, is reliable, and can cook up large amounts for a group all day if you have the propane for it. I try to get two meals in if possible, like a breakfast and lunch of sorts — but the real key is making extra and setting up a post-game tailgate so you can avoid the long lines of traffic heading out of the stadium and fuel up before the trip home.” —Craig D., a Penn State football fan

“I love the Coleman Road Trip Grill. It can cook eight burgers at a time, and runs on propane, so there’s no need to worry about hot coals. Plus, there’s a placeholder on each side for things like plates, utensils, marinade, and more —and it has wheels.” —Jon T., who cheers for the New York Giants

“A good drink dispenser is essential — all the better if it’s team branded. This one keeps beverages hot or cold, so we can just as easily use it for coffee or some sort of mixed drink.” —Andrew B., an Arizona Cardinals supporter

“No matter which grill I’m using, I always make sure to pack mini Coleman propane tanks. They’re a lot smaller than regular-sized propane tanks, which are extremely heavy to lug around. Plus, they pack enough propane to last the whole tailgate.” —Justin K., who tailgates before New York Mets games

“I always bring as much branded stuff as I can. I have all sorts of Jets ‘homegating’ stuff, like my set of barbecue tools for when I man the grill. For food, you can’t go wrong with Bubba’s bacon cheddar burgers, and there always needs to be a Kan Jam or Cornhole set around.” —Chris M., a New York Jets fan

Do you tailgate? What’s your must-have gear? The more specific, the better!