Best Overall Tailgating Gear
Corkcicle Eco Stacker Cups
Pros
- Insulated
- Stackable
- Ergonomic
- Sustainable
Cons
- Very expensive, compared to other cup sets
It’s not a tailgater without proper drinking vessels. These stackable cups from Corkcicle are the best we’ve tried, effortlessly portable, plenty durable, and sleek as ever thanks to their stainless steel makeup. The four-cup set is so good you’ll want to get another batch, upgrading your party cups for something a little more post-college.
These are great for any number of beverages, insulate just enough, and can be reused time and time again, making them teammates with the environment. They fit cleanly into cupholders and can be thrown into the dishwasher when the final whistle is blown.
But a great cup goes above and beyond the call of duty. The Eco Stackers also boast sharp design, with excellent grip and a silicone base that won’t slip, even when the weather becomes questionable. The volume is large enough for even a big pour of beer and the trio of color options makes them quite easy on the eye.
Read more: Best Travel Mugs
Portability | High |
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Weather Ready | Fully |
Car Friendly | Yes |
Durability | High |
Best Tailgating Speaker
Sonos Roam 2 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Pros
- Lightweight
- Rich sound
- Strong battery life
Cons
- Very expensive compared to similar portable speakers
A big part of the tailgating experience is getting amped up for the match. It’s hard to do so without a proper playlist, preferably playing through a mobile speaker with robust acoustics. Fortunately, Sonos has come through with a major assist. This gadget is extremely portable while offering the kind of sound you would associate with something much bigger and more stationary.
The speaker is lightweight, voice-activated, and even waterproof. Even better, it drops the bass and touts 10 hours of battery life. That’ll get you and your crew very much in the mood for the big game ahead.
Portability | High |
---|---|
Weather Ready | Waterproof |
Car Friendly | Yes |
Durability | High |
Best Tailgating Chair
Helinox Chair One HDB
Pros
- Stylish
- Easy set up
- Great packing case
Regular fold-out chairs are out, stylish ones are in. This option from Helinox blends a midcentury minimalist aesthetic with some serious functionality. The chair could not be more portable, packing neatly into a carrying case. The canvas backing us as strong as oak and the vegan leather patches add a pleasing touch.
The frame is so sophisticated you’d think you’d need a manual to set the chair up but it snaps into place in seconds. Sure, there are many portable chairs, but this is portable furniture, refined and ready for anything. You’ll wish you could pack it into the game and sub it in for the rigid stadium seats.
Read more: Best Camping Chairs
Portability | High |
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Weather Ready | All-Weather |
Car Friendly | Yes |
Durability | High |
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Best Tailgating Weather Gear
ALL-TOP Vehicle Awning
Pros
- Easy set up
- Weatherproof storage container
- Can handle snow
Cons
- Hard to fit in small cars
Football season and other summer and fall sports bring all the elements. Week one could be a scorcher, while week three is a monsoon. Weatherproof your car with this slick awning, a portable shelter that will keep you cool and dry.
The awning packs up in a travel bag and when assembled, is both waterproof and UV-repellent. Setup takes a mere minute, and a universal design means it works with just about any vehicle. The aluminum poles are rust-proof, which is great when the weather isn’t so much. And when the sport season subsides, you can keep giving the awning reps by using it while camping.
Portability | High |
---|---|
Weather Ready | All-Weather |
Car Friendly | Mostly |
Durability | Average |
Best Portable Pizza Oven
Solo Stove Pi Prime Pizza Oven
Pros
- Clean burning
- Fast cooking times
- Includes pizza stone
Want to be the king of deliciousness at the tailgater? Then don’t leave home without this stellar outdoor pizza oven. It produces restaurant-quality pies with ease, from the back of your truck or atop your foldout table. The high-heat oven can cook a pizza in as little as 90 seconds, a feat worth celebrating. We found that the burn is clean thanks to a propane setup and while a little heavy at 30 pounds, the oven does travel pretty well. The ultimate bonus comes in the form of the pizza stone, which cooks the pies evenly and quickly, time and time again.
Portability | Average |
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Weather Ready | Best in good weather |
Car Friendly | Yes |
Durability | High |
Best Portable Game
L.L.Bean Ladder Ball Set
Pros
- Rustic wood frame
- Lightweight
- Useful beyond tailgating
Cons
- Requires flat surface
Going to the game requires some games beforehand. Ladder ball is a choice option, and all the better when it’s a classy wood set like this one. Credit to corn hole, you’re a standup game, but ladder ball is a bit more involved and includes cool-looking frames that break down and pack up easily.
We love that it’s made of New Zealand pine wood, and is only ten pounds in weight. And while it’ll no doubt be a hit at the tailgater, it’s also great in the backyard or at the campsite.
Read more: Best Yard Games
Portability | Average |
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Weather Ready | All-Weather |
Car Friendly | Average |
Durability | High |
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Best Portable Grill
Traeger Ranger Tabletop Grill
Pros
- Compact
- Great smoky flavors
- Includes griddle
Cons
- Average heat distribution
Tailgating and grilling go hand in hand. But leave dragging your giant backyard barbecue to your buddies. Instead, pack a gadget built for the road, like this portable Traeger unit. You get all of the wood-fire goodness no matter what the destination.
The temperature control is through the roof and the setup even comes with a meat probe. That’s a recipe for perfectly-cooked burgers and dogs even away from home. What’s more, it heats up to 450 degrees and can handle a full rib rack, should you be so inclined. Compact, pellet-based, and reliable, this is your new favorite tiny grill.
Portability | High |
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Weather Ready | Low |
Car Friendly | Extremely |
Durability | High |
Best Power Source
Jackery Solar Generator 600 Plus
Pros
- Durable
- Tremendous power
- Compatible with many appliances
Going away from home does not necessarily mean leaving the grid. And with a tailgater, you’re going to need the juice, so show up prepared with this solar generator. It delivers in all of the ways a top brand should, with a user-friendly setup and more power than you would imagine. (800W output). Durable and made for the outdoors, this puppy can power everything from a projector to a coffee maker to a portable refrigerator. That means you can bring some of those beloved creature comforts of home to the tailgating site. All from the power of the sun.
Read more: Best Solar Generators
Portability | High |
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Weather Ready | Best in sun (it’s a solar unit) |
Car Friendly | Extremely |
Durability | High |
Best High-Tech Cooler
Dometic CFX3 35 Powered Cooler
Pros
- App controled
- Extreme cooling power
- Durable handles
Cons
- A bit expensive for the size
A cooler seems like a cliche choice for a tailgating list until you read between the lines. Yup, this is a powered cooler, a portable refrigerator of sorts. No more giant plastic boxes full of ice. Your perishables deserve the finest treatment. This cooler can hold 36 liters in volume (aka 50 cans) and chills all the way down to 7 degrees F. You can control everything with an app and the durable handles make towing a breeze. Cool and freeze all in one unit, one that’s set up with a color display and touchscreen. This kind of temperature control leads to tailgate day peace of mind.
Portability | Average |
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Weather Ready | All-Weather |
Car Friendly | Yes |
Durability | High |
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Most Innovative Tailgating Gear
Space Innovation Labs Tail Table
Pros
- Adaptable
- Seats eight
- Includes built-in cutting board
Cons
- Not the easiest setup
Innovation and tailgating don’t often run in the same sentence but why not? Great tech is welcome anywhere, especially in a place where you need creative solutions to the dilemma of dining in a parking lot. The tail tale is here to lend a helping hand, a beaver-like gadget that attaches to the rear of your car and splays out as a functional table. It’s perfect for impromptu meals and snacks and affords enough seating for up to eight people. It attaches to most cars and the built-in glass holders are the work of an engineer who definitely majored in tailgating.
Portability | High |
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Weather Ready | All-Weather |
Car Friendly | Mostly |
Durability | High |
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