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Being at the ball park all day unprepared can be pretty painful. In this post you will find ball park essentials you are not going to want to live without. Springtime in my household means the start of a new ball season which means spending all day at the ball field. Though with travel ball, we play ball pretty much all year long. With 3 kids playing Little League, we spend lots of time out in the elements. Linked below are different types of bags and accessories that work well for the ball field, followed by what to put in the bag that will make your day a bit more comfortable and save you money at the concession stand.
Simply Modern bag/ Bogg bag/ dupe Bogg bag/ cloth baseball-softball bag/ cloth bag/ baseball bag
clear plastic dividers/phone holder/ hooks for sunglasses/clear bags w/hooks/ white plastic divider trays
The bag:
A durable waterproof bag works best for the ball field and an added bonus, the beach. Pretty much everything in this bag will also work well at the beach. The bag itself will get dirty and most likely have something spilled in or on it so being wipeable is a must. While having the larger size bag seems a bit much, it is helpful when packing a snack tray, along with all the other items. The tray I have linked will fit into my narrow Bogg cooler bag and allow room for all the other items I want to have on hand.
The Wagon:
One thing I did not include in the graphic is a wagon. A wagon is awesome for getting all of the things to and from the field. Bonus, if your child is small enough it can double as a place for the littlest one to nap. I will link one here for you. The one I linked is amazing with all terrain wheels and a bottom hatch for a pop-up tent or chairs. It’s at a great price right now too!
What to pack in the bag!
snack box/ sunscreen/ first aid kit/ cooling towels/ ice packs/ hydration water packets/
dry bag insert/ bogg cooler insert/ tissues/ beef sticks/ yogurt covered raisins/ protein bars/square cooler insert/ wipes
What to pack for the game:
It’s hard to predict all the things the kids will ask for while away from the house, in the elements, all day. However, the last few times we were out at the ball field for hours, I took notes on what was requested or needed. On the graphic above you will see almost everything I was asked for. What’s not on there I will list below it.
If it’s a hot day, bring lots of drinks. Most drinks at a concession stand are marked up by 200%. one or two bottles of water at $2.00 each is do able, but when you are there for 3 games at 1-2hours each! Those $2.00 water bottles are going to add up quickly. I packed 2 waters and 1 Gatorade per kid last Saturday, and still ran out. Each kid went through 4 waters plus sodas and Gatorades. I have learned my lesson and will be packing the cube cooler for the next game-packed Saturday.
Cooling towels are necessary to cool down your ball player after running around a ball field in 90+ degree temps. Keep them in the cooler until needed. Baby wipes were used often last Saturday for Cheeto hands and sticky popsicle hands. Each kid had a neck fan that is rechargeable. The portable charger listed below will charge both the neck fan and cell phones. Tissues were used for runny noses and dry messes. Sunscreen is a no brainer for long days in the sun. Really you can get sunburned in less than an hour so sunscreen should be worn for all games on sunny days.
Blankets are great for kids that aren’t currently in a game or in-between games. They are good for just stretching out or even playing games on. As far as shelter goes, I love a pop-up tent with a metal frame. They just do not last very long and they are super heavy. I love the cover it provides. I linked 2 different options below that are not as heavy and are easy to set up by yourself. If you only need shelter for yourself a simple clip-on style umbrella will work great on most chairs. These are super affordable. Usually around $10-$30.
Not pictured but much-needed items:
Some items not pictured are bug spray, concession stand money, and sunglasses. I always keep a first aid kit in the car which can be helpful. Band-aids and icepacks being the most used items out of the kit. Part of the fun is getting candy from the concession stand so I try to bring a few dollars for that and the town ice-cream truck just in case he shows up. Same goes for the unexpected food truck. OK, this last item is a splurge but man it sure is nice to have. A portable standing fan. linked here. My sister has this and I found myself stealing it often. It works way better than a neck fan.
portable charger/ snack tray/ beach blanket/ square cooler/ ice packs/ chair umbrella
neck fan/ weather pod/ pop up shelter/ tent fan and light/ pop up tent/
Different types of shelter
There is no way you can stay outside all day at the ballfield during the summer months, without shelter. A pop-up tent is very nice for shade and you can hang fans from them. You do have to be very careful packing them up and pulling them out. They can easily be broken if you’re not careful. Also, they are heavy to carry so I would recommend getting a wagon to help get it to your spot at the field.
Another option for shelter is the weather pod. This is nice when it’s spring and raining a lot. Unfortunately, if it’s not thunder or lightning, the kids have to play in the rain. If you are not a fan of the tent another option is this pop-up shelter. The upside to this option is it is super light and can be put up without additional help.
Let’s play ball!
Ok, that’s everything you need and more to have a comfortable day at the ball park! Keep in mind you can totally go empty handed and use the concession stand and shelter at the park if you have one. However, for a family spending the entire day at the ball field, this is the way to go. Honestly, I pack my bag at the beginning of the season and just update the snacks and freezer packs. Recharge the chargeables and leave them by the front door. Grab it on the way out! I hope this post was helpful. It was a labor of love that took a ball season of research, trial and error.
check out my other posts while you are here and drop a comment below! whether it’s just to say hi or if you have something to add. Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO
Beckie
