The Ultimate Tailgate Checklist: What to Pack for Game Day
WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. For adults 21+.
A good tailgate comes down to the list you pack from. Forget the tongs or the trash bags and you'll feel it all afternoon. Here's the full tailgate checklist we use for game day: setup, food, comfort, cleanup and the small stuff that's easy to leave on the counter.
Pillowz is for adults 21 and over who already use nicotine.
The tailgate checklist at a glance
| Category | Pack it |
|---|---|
| Setup | Pop-up canopy, folding table, camp chairs, cooler, ice |
| Cooking | Grill and fuel, tongs, spatula, lighter, foil, meat thermometer |
| Food and drinks | Prepped food, buns, condiments, snacks, plenty of water |
| Serving | Plates, cups, napkins, paper towels, cutting board, knife |
| Comfort | Sunscreen, a hat, layers, blanket, hand warmers for late games |
| Fun | Speaker, portable charger, cornhole or a football |
| Cleanup | Trash bags, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, a small bin for recycling |
| Your stash | A couple tins of pouches, a travel tin, can koozies |
Setup: claim your spot
- Canopy. Shade in September, cover from rain in November. Bring stakes or weights.
- Table and chairs. One table for food, one chair per person, plus a spare.
- Cooler. Pre-chill it the night before with a bag of ice, then pack it cold.
- Arrive early. Most lots open a few hours before kickoff. Getting there early means a better spot and time to cook without rushing.
Cooking: the stuff people forget
The grill gets packed. The tongs don't. Keep a dedicated tailgate bin with tongs, a spatula, a lighter, foil, a meat thermometer and a roll of paper towels so it's ready to grab every week.
Comfort: plan for the whole day
Tailgates run long, and the weather turns once the sun drops. Pack sunscreen, a jacket you can layer, and a hat. If you need one, our Stitch Logo Foam Trucker Hat comes in Ember Red, Midnight Black, Arctic White and Backwoods Camo. Right now, orders of $100 or more get a free hat.
Your pouch stash
Pouches fit the tailgate: no smoke, no lighter and nothing to spit, so they work around the grill and the cornhole boards. A few things make game day easier:
- Bring a couple of flavors. A sour for the afternoon and a mint for later. The Multi Flavor Pack covers five sours in one roll.
- Keep tins out of the sun. A tin sitting on a hot tailgate all day won't taste as fresh. Keep it in a bag or the cab.
- Use a travel tin. The Metal Travel Tin holds your pouches in one tough case. Right now it comes with a free mystery flavor.
- Toss used pouches in the trash. Never on the ground and never in the grill.
- Know the stadium rules. Many stadiums are tobacco-free inside the gates, and some policies cover nicotine products too. Check your venue's policy before you head in.
Every Pillowz pouch is made for 30+ minutes of flavor. Our guide to how long pouches last helps you plan how many tins to pack.
Keep drinks cold
A koozie is the cheapest upgrade at any tailgate. Our Remarkably Refreshing Can Koozies come in Orange, Peach, Blueberry, Apple and Raspberry, so everyone can tell whose drink is whose.
Cleanup: leave the spot better than you found it
- Pack two trash bags: one for trash, one for recycling.
- Let the grill cool before you pack it, or bring a metal bucket for hot coals.
- Do a last lap of your spot for caps, wrappers and anything that blew away.
Picking flavors for game day
For a bold sour, go with Sour Raspberry or Sour Orange. For something softer, try Sour Watermelon or Sour Peach. When the sun goes down, Peppermint and Wintergreen keep it cool. Tasting notes for every sour are in Best Sour Nicotine Pouch Flavors.
FAQ
What should I bring to a tailgate?
A canopy, table, chairs, a cooler with ice, a grill with tongs and a lighter, food, plenty of water, sunscreen, layers, trash bags and a speaker. Use the checklist table above.
How early should you get to a tailgate?
Most people arrive a few hours before kickoff. Check when your stadium's lots open.
Can you bring nicotine pouches into a stadium?
It depends on the venue. Many stadiums are tobacco-free inside, and some policies include nicotine products. Check your stadium's policy before game day.
How many tins should I bring?
Each Pillowz tin holds 20 pouches. Pack what you'd normally use in a day, plus a spare tin in case you swap flavors.
