LARP Packing List – The Ultimate List for Live Action Role Playing (with Printable List for Download)

No matter if it’s a linen shirt, lederhosen, corset, dress, or skirt – you need clothing that turns you into your character from head to toe. Keep in mind that many basic pieces together can also just look basic. At least one special, fancy piece of clothing is advisable.

Feel free to raid your wardrobe or costume box. If you’re willing to spend some money, you can also invest in clothing from dedicated shops like Mytholon, LARP-Fashion, Battlemerchant, Ritterladen, or Burgschneider.

If you want to sew yourself, you can find many free patterns online. Our author Sophia also likes to buy more complex templates from Burda or on Etsy. Just make sure that the latter is not an AI-generated pattern.

It can actually get pretty cold even in summer on open fields. Warm underclothing, which does not have to be IT-compatible, is advisable. Nobody wants to bring home a cold from the event. Long undershirts, leggings, thick socks… Everything is fair game.

Important: You can always take off the warm underclothing. But for autumn and winter events, as well as for cool summer evenings, the onion look is essential.

Theoretically, the coat belongs to the clothing. But because it is so essential, it gets its own entry.

A thick, heavy, waterproof coat not only gives your character a mysterious appearance but also fulfills the function of a raincoat, sun protection, and picnic blanket. Here, function is more important than appearance.

My gray standard coat with a hood has faithfully accompanied me for five years now and shows no signs of wear. Although I am longing for a different model by now, mostly because I want to move my arms more freely. But so far it has performed all its functions flawlessly, keeping me dry in the rain, warm in the cold, and my clothes clean when lying in the grass.

Depending on your character concept and how you feel, you will need armor. Also, pay attention to what your event allows: At the Dragon Festival, for example, you have to buy the ability for certain armors with points.

Possible Armor Materials: Fabric (e.g., gambeson), leather, chain, scale, or metal plate.

Possible Armor Parts: Helmet, breastplate, shoulder pads, stealth protection, arm and leg protectors

As mentioned in the introduction: Many simple basic pieces can make your character look very basic as well. Accessories are your way to individuality! A belt around the waist or hip keeps the clothing together and can be equipped with pouches and weapon holders.

Chains, rings, bracelets made of fabric, with gemstones, or just heavy metal give you character. Maybe you’ve joined a guild and have a banner to show? The Curious Guild sends its regards.

All together, it can be summed up under the term “trinkets” – it’s everything that makes you unique.

A dedicated headgear for warm and cold days is always sensible. Nothing is worse than having your artistically styled hair ruined by a downpour or getting sunstroke from the summer sun. Straw hats, bonnet, berets, felt hats, turbans, a headscarf, or even a tricorn – there are so many options; there’s something for everyone.

If you’re wearing armor, you are usually secured with a helmet. Just remember that metal can heat up quickly under direct sunlight.

Not every character may have makeup or war paint, but it’s always worth considering. For pirates, it could be the Jack Sparrow stripes around the eyes. Amazons might wear more elaborate war paint. A lady from a fine house, on the other hand, might wear lipstick.

And let’s not overlook the effect of martial paint when heading into battle.

There’s little that can influence your fun at LARP more than your footwear.

If you are at a relaxed event indoors or have a beer garden as an outdoor area, light shoes should suffice. For this, you can use medieval footwear or riding boots.

But the moment you are at a large con with terrain and weather influences, your shoes need to do more than just look good. The appearance is then replaced by a grippy sole, a firm grip (even at the ankle), and waterproofing. Of course, this only applies if you want to do more than just sit and leisurely stroll across the meadow.

Personally, I have not yet found the holy grail in footwear. At my first events, I wore sturdy mountain boots, but they didn’t survive the terrain. I’ve buried two pairs of more expensive shoes so far. Now I own nice riding boots, whose sole came off at the last Dragon Festival. Although a cobbler was able to save them, it was still unpleasant.

For 2026, I am still searching for suitable boots. My LARP crew has recommended work boots from Haix or hiking shoes from Lowa. A friend said she is very happy with Dr. Martens.

After I successfully got through the last final battle in my well-worn Dr. Martens, maybe such could work for me, especially since they fit my character visually unlike Haix and Lowa.

… and remember spare shoes. Don’t be like me. Pack spare shoes.

If you want to be armed in LARP, you can use your fists. But it’s certainly way cooler to be equipped with a stylish weapon. Whether it’s a dagger, sword, war hammer, pistol, or rifle – depending on the setting and character, you can choose from many different types of weapons.

However, it is important to pay attention to LARP suitability. Swords and daggers, for example, should have a foam blade that wraps around a core rod. Due to the core rod, they should not be stabbed with. Stabbing weapons are also made of foam, but they don’t have a rod for stability built in.

Firearms do not have to be made of foam. If they aren’t, you should only pretend to hit someone on the head with them. Here, it is much more important that they have cool effects to simulate the shot – whether with a sound effect or even artificial smoke.

For bows, you should check whether your event has a restriction on archery power. For arrows, it is advisable to color the tips or shaft.

LARP weapons can be purchased. The shops linked under clothing all have a selection. However, if you are handy, you can also build a weapon yourself.

Drink plenty of water. This applies in real life and also at LARP. You move a lot and will sweat. Nothing is more unfun than landing with the medics due to dehydration.

Therefore, always have a water bag with you, from which you can drink. Alternatively, you can dress up a plastic bottle and take it with you.

If you want to be really fancy, you can also hang a cup or horn on your clothing (for example, with a carabiner directly on the belt). Both can be filled with liquid at the water tap. Or at the bar with a fun drink of your choice.

But in the end: Always have a non-alcoholic drink on you to stay hydrated.

You will have a few things with you for which you will need a bag. Whether it’s your phone, keys, ticket, real as well as LARP money, or even alchemical potions or ingredients. It’s worth investing in a bag that matches your clothing.

I personally have a medieval purse on my belt, a pouch, and a fanny pack. This way, I always have everything neatly stored.

Theoretically, a jute bag without advertising print should also suffice. Of course, you can spend more money here too. Be it for a real adventurer backpack or bottle holders. My recommendation would be to look at your own wallet and maybe just sew a few bags into the clothing itself.

Only with a ticket can you access the event. Once you’ve shown it on-site, you can presumably lose it, destroy it, or frame it. As you please.

But you should definitely pack it.

The phone reception on LARP sites is often rather poor. For emergencies, a signal to home, or just to look something up, you should have the smartphone with you.

You should always carry your OT wallet with your ID and possibly other cards for insurance and a bit of cash. For emergencies.

In general, you should always take your house key when you leave home. At LARP, it is sufficient to securely stash it in your bag. At large events, I usually leave it in the car.

Depending on your preferred mode of travel, you should of course have your car key or your train or bus ticket with you.

It’s always a good idea to carry small snacks with you. Whether to bridge the time between lunch and dinner or to prevent hypoglycemia from too much movement. Granola bars, chocolate, nuts… Always have a snack of your choice ready.