THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE GAME DAY TAILGATE
Get ready to crush your pre-game.
By Devin Pangaro – August 16th, 2022
As far as pre-game festivities go, it’s nearly impossible to beat a good tailgate party. A crazed scene of food, drinks, music, cornhole, and fans getting appropriately hyped before they filter themselves through the gates for the first snap. It’s a glorious nationwide tradition no matter what team you root for. So, whether you’re calling an audible and rewriting the playbook this season or just looking to add some fresh gear to an already formidable lineup, we’ve got all the picks to get you across the goal line come game day.
OUR TOP PICKS
BEST PORTABLE GRILL: The Original FireDisc - 24’’ Short Portable Propane Cooker
Just like how Deebo Samuel lights up the scoreboard as a dual threat running back and wide receiver, The FireDisc provides similar versatility by being easy to set-up and get cooking anywhere from the parking lot to your backyard. Sporting a massive surface, this spread specialist uses multiple temperature zones to ensure that your meats and veggies come at the same time. We like to call that a balanced offensive attack.
BEST COOLER: YETI Tundra Haul Wheeled Hard Cooler
Because there’s no way you, or anyone on your team wants to load up on too many $18 beers once you’re inside the stadium, rolling out a fully packed cooler is a crucial component to any game day. With that in mind, this YETI cooler serves up cold ones at a championship level by holding up to 45 cans or 55 pounds of ice in a single go. Combining permafrost insulation and an extra thick fatwall design to lead the league in ice retention and toughness, locking down the top cooler of the season comes easy.
BEST CANOPY: Rightline Gear SUV Tailgating Canopy
Don’t be that fan with the oversized tent that takes up three parking spaces. It’s a bad look. And it’s a pain to assemble and break down. Make it easy on yourself and others by opting for this space saver and attaching it to the rear hatch door of your SUV, minivan, crossover, wagon, Jeep Wrangler hardtop, or pick-up truck with cap. Equipped with protective waterproof strapping, sandbags to keep it in place, and a stuff sack for easy carry, you got all the shade needed for tailgating success.
BEST CHAIR: Picnic Time Fusion Chair
Abide by two rules and two rules only: Never auto-draft in your fantasy leagues and never settle for a standard fold out chair. While we don’t pride ourselves on fantasy advice, we can confidently claim that Picnic Time’s addition to the tailgate is an impressive one indeed. Durably constructed for extra comfort where it counts, this seat includes such highlights as a fold-out table with expandable shelves, molded cup holder, two sturdy fabric loops on the back of chair to secure an umbrella or sports banner, and a detachable cooler bag with multiple utility pockets. It’s the whole package. And it’s made to hit everything on your checklist.
BEST KIT: PICNIC TIME 3-PIECE BBQ TOTE & GRILL SET
Take control of the game and gear up to slap some meat on the grill. Taking cues from the league’s top equipment managers, this must-have set contains everything you need to cook up a feast, from the tongs and forks to the integrated bottle opener. Basically, if you’re looking for the missing link to the next tailgate, this is it.
BEST BARBECUE SAUCE: Hasty Bake Barbecue Sauce
You don’t underestimate the special teams unit on the field. And you don’t underestimate the sauces that give your meals that extra kick. Meet Hasty Bake Barbecue Sauce, the evenly balanced mix of tangy and sweet goodness that takes any dish into Hall-of-Fame territory.
BEST TAILGATING SHIRT: Men's Don’t Hate Tailgate T-Shirt
You’re welcome to rock the jersey of your favorite player ‘til the cows come home, we won’t try to tell you any different. But there ain’t no rules against having a shirt reserved specifically for tailgating. After all, you could always throw on the jersey when the game starts. This American-made cotton-polyester blend conveniently gets the party started in style.
