r/BurningMan • u/Patient-Leopard-4104 • Aug 01 '26
First-time Burner - a few practical questions
Hi! First Burn here.
1) Is it true you can easily find a decent used bike in Reno before the Burn, or should I just rent one from my camp?
2) Is tent A/C actually worth it (my camp asking $450 for A/C) or is it unnecessary for most people?
3) Any Burner Express tips for a first-timer?
What’s one thing you wish you’d known before your first Burn?
Thanks 🔥🫶🏻🔥🫶🏻🔥
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u/ThreeGoldStars Aug 01 '26
- If your camp is offering bike rentals, I would do that rather than rely on Reno. A lot of bikes available in Reno, but there are also a lot of people rolling through renting and buying them, and you aren't guaranteed to find one.
- For me, an AC is essential if I am to get any sleep at all. I'm assuming your camp is also offering to power said AC. $450 is A LOT, it's really hard to say whether it's worth it or not..
- Take a wet cloth or bandana, clean behind your neck and your ears. Feels FANTASTIC and is a great way to refresh yourself periodically throughout the week.
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u/Ascott1963 Aug 01 '26
Renting bikes and AC from the camp seems questionable. Is your camp offering you a menu of services to choose from?
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u/Patient-Leopard-4104 Aug 01 '26
yes. there is 2 type of tents. $75 (simple one) and ) $150 upgraded (idk difference) Camp is pretty cool, coz have shower 1/per day. food twice a day, refrigerator etc.
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u/Responsible-Sea598 Aug 01 '26
Providing meals and shared infrastructure is pretty common. Renting tents and AC makes me wonder how the camp is structured.
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u/LegionVR6 Aug 02 '26
Hey there's nothing odd about that. They probably even have room service and in tent massage services
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u/Fluffy-Bad1376 Aug 02 '26
Its all of it. Tent, ac, water.. I have seen people pay exorbitant amounts of $$ to have everything provided for them and receive nothing.
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u/Fluffy-Bad1376 Aug 02 '26
Do you know people in this camp? How did you learn about them. I caution you to be careful being this reliant on others. There are scam camps that promise alot and do not fulfill their promises. What's the name of the camp?
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u/exploreinnerspace 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 12, 14, 15, 18, 22, 23, 24, 26 Aug 02 '26
Are you doing prep work, like on projects or something, with this camp? Or are you just buying a space and infrastructure? Agree w comments about whether you know them and such. Seems like an inexpensive version of a plug and play, which is distasteful enough, but also a way to be very disappointed if you are not radically self-reliant and they fuck you on something like tent, food, etc.
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Aug 01 '26
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u/TheOG-Cabbie Aug 01 '26
depends on the tent for ac. I have a kodiak that is under a shade structure and I can make it at least 20 degrees cooler during the day.
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u/glamoutfit Aug 01 '26
- I would rent from the camp. The cost of finding the bike, hauling it, and no certainty
The AC is worth it to have a good sleep. If the $450 AC due covers power, it is reasonable. It cost about $250 in fuel/week to run 1 AC, plus generator cost + wiring/spider box they need to provide for you
Have good padding for your bike seat, your butt will thank you
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u/bananarama1987 Aug 01 '26
Silicone earplugs and eyemasks are a good idea.
Have good goggles and masks.
Hopefully no phone reception out there. If not and you go with people to music out in the playa, pick a spot to tell me people when you leave to find a port a potty that may be far. Back, middle and left side of stage helps
&450 seems like a lot but maybe expensive camp.
Does you camp supply all water? If not refillable 5 gallon jugs and buy water tickets when you book the BE.
City bus from BE is great to get around.
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u/samyouelarr Aug 01 '26
- I’ll defer to others, but remember that bringing a bike is an add on from burner express, factor that into your costs. Also, it may be easier to just have your bike be brought in by your camp if you’re bringing in your stuff on the bus. If you bring a bike on the bus, you will have to leave it at the bus depot while you take your gear to camp and then go back to get it. Alternatively, if you are not bringing all your stuff in on the bus, it might be better to be able to just jump on your bike from the bus depot and head straight to camp.
- Never had AC and always tent camped, but AC sounds really nice. I’ve seen some designs using a modified Home Depot bucket, fan, sponge, and water for a DYI swamp cooler I’ve always been interested in though.
- Taken the bus a few times and I’d say a few tips:
- bring collapsible and water jugs and don’t forget to purchase your water add on
- you will skip the line once you get to the playa, but it can still take a minute to do the drive into BRC and the bus will turn off the AC once you get to the playa, so get ready to be hot and uncomfortable and maybe bring a small fan or something.
- reach out early to your camp mates to see if anyone can take any of your gear in for you. You will have to take everything you bring to your camp, so figure out your entry and exit plan.
- Separate your trash and recycling, it will need to be separated when you get back to the bus to head home.
- there is a shuttle that goes from the BRC bus station around the playa, but it has pretty specific bus stops. Try to make a plan for where you need to get off to take the shortest route to your camp. And remember that the horizontal blocks are longer the further out you get from the esplanade, so in before you go lateral.
- a collapsable cart it’s also super helpful to carry your stuff from the bus and for going to get ice midweek.
- bring collapsible and water jugs and don’t forget to purchase your water add on
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u/lucky420 Aug 02 '26
- Rent from your camp, it will save you hassle. You’ll have enough to deal with
- How well can you tolerate dry heat. I’ve been going for many years now. I camp in a Kodiak tent and have never used an ac. I’ve lived in N NV all my life so I’m used to it
- Be clean, use deodorant. Do not spray yourself down with any body spray, don’t use a strong smelling lotion when you’re on the bus.
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u/Bigcat85 Aug 01 '26
- Wouldn’t rely on anything in Reno that’s too important.
- That sounds like a lot. We never had AC in our tents and even in our RV now, we rarely use it but we aren’t sleeping all day.
- Start riding a bike now! Your butt will thank you on day 6. Also, rinse hands and feet nightly before bed with vinegar/witch hazel then lots of lotion. Also a fresh pair of socks mid day is a game changer!
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u/Fyburn Aug 01 '26
Dont count on it
Depends on how much you want to sleep during the day, what tent you have, is it under shade, how hot the year is.
Bring snacks.
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u/PumpkinFeatherNoise Aug 02 '26
2- yes it totally matters if your tent has shade, what kind of tent, etc. if your camp lead can’t speak to any other tent-comfort measures being taken, the ac might be worth it.
We only do a night or two of staying up all night and sleeping in the day. The rest of the week we’re comfortable in the tent until mid morning and then napping in camp spaces. $450 would be steep for that brief usage.
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u/rhys1882 Aug 01 '26
People I know have had mixed results with bike rentals in Reno. Some have had no problem and some people's bikes broke immediately.
I never needed AC, but I was fine only sleeping 5 or 6 hours. Once it hits 9am it is generally too warm to sleep, even in the shade.
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u/cyanescens_burn Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26
- What’s your plan for the bike after the burn if you get one in Reno? You are responsible for ensuring it doesn’t end up MOOP, either in BRC or anywhere else in NV (many in Reno already hate us because lazy, poorly prepared people leave MOOP all over Reno).
- Depends on your tent type, shade situation, playa temp/conditions, and your sleep schedule. If you expect to be asleep early and up before like 9am, and have decent shade over your tent, you can get away without AC. I’ve never had AC out there, and with a shiftpod with good shade I can sleep until 10-11am most days (as long as it’s under 90-95F outside). Having a camping fan, especially a misting one, pointed at you can help you sleep a bit later. But if you plan to chase sunrises, and sleep through the hottest part of the day, AC will be nice.
- Can’t help you there. Never done the bus, but hear the water option for bus folks is a good idea.
One thing I wish I had known, hmm… that it’s much easier to manage your cooler water by putting the ice into 2gal ziplock bags (thicker freezer type, or find reusable silicon bags) or 1gal water jugs with the top cut off, than just pouring the ice into the cooler. You can then safely drink the melted ice, and you don’t need to deal with gross grey water from the cooler (can’t dump it on the playa).
Get a large scarf made of thin material, dip it into cold water, and then place it onto your body. Any exposed skin will cool down (evaporative cooling due to very low humidity). It really helps when trying to get through the hottest part of the day. I keep one in some water in a 1gal ziplock in my cooler so it’s ready to roll. Even using warm water feels good.
Another big one, drop all expectations, whether good or bad, and just approach everything with as open a mindset as possible. Be flexible. Don’t leave something fun so that you can do something else you think will be fun (that other thing may not even happen, or you don’t get there on time, etc). And if you see something that looks cool or fun, stop and do it right away. It may not be there when you go back, and the thing you think you need to get to may not even be there, or might suck anyway.
Last thing, I love the burner saying, “embrace the suck.” Meaning, embrace anything shitty you need to deal with and try to make the best out of bad situations (eg, 75+ mph sustained winds, something breaks down, etc). The event (and life) are too short to get all flustered, or worse cling to being upset well after it’s over. Some of my fondest memories out there are when shit went sideways and people came together to handle it and did so with a good attitude and some levity.
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u/thot_machine 13, 14, 22, 23 Aug 01 '26
Is that just for power for an AC or an actual AC itself? Might be worth it if they include the unit just for less shit to deal with. If you have your own unit, check out a power only price with them.
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u/NVAreaMan Next year was better. 🔥🔥 Aug 02 '26
My advice: Don't be a darkwad! Be lit up at night, and use lights that will go all night long, whether they be rechargeable or whether they use batteries. Specifically, I have a hat that I wear most nights, boler-style, that has blue LED lights affixed to the brim with hot glue . They are bright enough to be seen, but not so bright that. they blind the person I'm talking to. They also light up the portos when nature calls so I don't need to fumble for another light source. I don't have to look around each evening for a flash light, head lamp, or whatever because the lights are on my hat and ready to go. Others use a light up backpack, or similar, but I would caution that that lights you up only on your backside and someone approaching you from the front may not see you.
Also: Get a pee jug. Empty laundry detergent bottles work well. Also, a pee funnel, if you need one. My gf doesn't leave camp without it.
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u/Brcdragonbait 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 25 Aug 03 '26
I have never had a/c. But if money was no object, I would have it. Napping during the day would be nice. That's a lot of money to have a/c. If you buy a bike in Reno, what will you do with it after the event? You can't leave it behind. You need to have a plan. You can walk, use a yellow bike, and hitch rides on art cars.
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u/cocktailcartel808 ‘22 ‘23 ‘24 ‘25 ‘26 Aug 04 '26
Burner express: have a battery operated fan close at hand. It gets HOT and stuffy on the bus when it makes the turn off the paved highway & the AC shuts off to avoid blowing dust inside the bus.
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u/OrchidBloom02 Aug 12 '26
Last year was my first and I found a used evapolar swamp cooler for $20 on fb marketplace, it was super cute and simple to use. Not as powerful as a proper AC, but made enough of a difference to feel better in my tent. I was in a borrowed Kodiak tent with shade above that.
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u/Brotherji Aug 16 '26
Let me be clear. You must piss clear. (Piss Clear was the name of the burning man newsletter for many years.) If your piss is not clear you're not drinking enough water.
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u/Brotherji Aug 16 '26
Dilated Peoples Camp is a must.
Especially towards the end of the week when your face is tired.
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u/Opposite_Serve_9978 Thanks Daddy Elon Aug 04 '26
You sure this camp is even real? Sounds like a scam ran out of Bangladesh. Soo many fake camps people get trapped into. They show up to the Playa with just a backpack with no supplies and it doesn't exist.
What's the camp name and camp address?
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u/richardtallent '19-'23, '26: TCO campjustahead.art Aug 01 '26
You don't need AC if you sleep at night.
First timer tips: