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Gear up for game day with these must-haves.
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Southern Living
As Southerners, we knowtailgating is serious business.
You need durable, portable equipment thats going to enhance the experiencenot hold it back.
Add these items to your tailgate, and youre guaranteed to score big this football season.
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Setup is just a matter of unfolding the frame, pushing the center button, and extending the legs.
It even held its ground when we left it out overnight and handled light rain without an issue.
This canopy comes complete with guy ropes, stakes, and weight bags for long days outside.
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Cleanup was also a breeze with just a quick wipe.
It folds in half for compact storage, ideal for tossing in the trunk between games.
Its a bit heavy, but worth it for the durability and space it brings to your game-day setup.
It folds up into an included carry bag, though we found it a little tricky to repack.
And when collapsed, it neatly fits in a trunk or truck bed.
The ignitor isnt the most reliable, but this grills value and portability make up for the inconvenience.
Unlike most smokers, the Tailgater is built to travel with foldable legs, wheels, and a handle.
Its also incredibly versatile, with the ability to grill, smoke, roast, braise, or bake.
The Delta 2 Max is up to the task.
It fits easily in a vehicle and charges quicklyabout 1.5 hours via a wall outlet.
you might also use a car outlet or solar panel.
The app offers setup help and advanced features.
For powering your whole tailgate, its a reliable and versatile choice.
Inour testing, it matched a pricier coolers performance without the high cost.
And itdoubles as a tumbleras well.
In Southern heat, it kept drinks cold for hours, making it a tailgate must-have.
Just keep in mind that not all finishes are dishwasher safe, so check before tossing it in.
It fits snugly against a standard9-by13-inch casserole dish, and the insulation keeps food warm.
The L.L.Bean Puffer Blanket is our favorite outdoortravel blanket.
The BackTap is perfect for tailgates, offering easy portability with backpack straps and a metal handle for carrying.
Its large size makes it ideal for big tailgate parties, though it can be heavy when full.
This portable unit keeps drinks flowing smoothly while you enjoy the game or grill with friends.
It cooked shredded chicken to juicy perfection in just two hoursduring testing.
Below, youll find some additional recommendations based on our research.
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It also comes in lots of different design options to fit your tailgate theme.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 Speaker: A quiet tailgate is no fun!
Keep the energy high with a portable Bluetooth speaker.
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We recommend the Wonderboom 4, which allows you to sync two speakers for even bigger sound.
Its 360-degree sound ensures music fills the space no matter where you place it.
Why Trust Southern Living?
A proud University of Georgia alumna and Athens native, shes no stranger to tailgating.
Melanie curated this list of top-tested tailgating essentials, drawing from both lab and at-home testing.
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Credit: Amazon
We used the Weber Traveler’s ample cooking surface for sausages and burgers. We did find there was a significant loss of heat when the lid was raised.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Amazon
Despite its small footprint, the Weber Go-Anywhere was large enough for us to cook six chicken breasts or burgers at a time.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Southern Living
The Traeger Tailgater has foldable legs, wheels, and a handle so you can bring it along for tailgating, camping trips, or more.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Southern Living
The EcoFlow Delta 2 Max was small enough to fit inside the back of a vehicle, although it was quite heavy at 50 pounds.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Southern Living
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Credit: Southern Living
The strong, durable shoulder straps help distribute weight for easier transport. .Credit: Southern Living
The OXO Good Grips Insulated Bakeware Carrier fits snugly against standard 13- by 9-inch casserole dishes, keeping them secure during transport.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: L.L.Bean
The L.L.Bean Puffer Blanket comes with a small drawstring carrying case that’s about the size of a 40-ounce tumbler.Credit: Southern Living
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The Courant 1.6-Quart Slow Cooker heated our cheese dip to perfection in about 40 minutes without scorching the cheese.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Southern Living
The Amazon Basics Triple Slow Cooker comes with three individual cookers housed in a rectangular base, making it easy to offer multiple hot items at once.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Amazon
The Black + Decker has a chalkboard exterior and even comes with two pieces of white chalk to write dietary restrictions, allergy concerns, or even recipes on the pot.Credit: Southern Living
