What I'm Taking to the Football Field This Season
There is a very specific kind of packing that goes into a Saturday in the South. You have a clear bag policy to work around, you are going to be outside for six hours in weather that starts at ninety degrees and ends in a jacket, and you would still like to look cute in every single photo. That is the whole assignment.
This is everything I am taking to the field this season, from the tiny things that have to fit inside a stadium-approved bag to the beaded straps that make a clear purse actually worth carrying. It works for a Saturday in the SEC, a Sunday NFL game, and honestly for Friday nights at my own kid's games too. All of it is on Amazon.
My Top Picks at a Glance
Best clear bag: a stadium-approved 12x6x12 tote that holds everything. Shop it here
Cutest clear bag: a small crossbody you can wear all day. Shop it here
Best upgrade to any clear bag: a beaded purse strap in your team's colors. Shop it here
Best charger: a 12000mAh power bank with cables and a wall plug built in. Shop it here
Best fan: a pocket 3-in-1 that is also a backup battery. Shop it here
Best just-in-case: a hooded poncho that packs down to nothing. Shop it here
Best hat: a vintage football trucker that goes with everything. Shop it here
Best sunglasses: oversized square shades under twenty dollars. Shop it here
Cutest little extra: handmade football stud earrings. Shop it here
Best team spirit move: peel-and-stick team tattoos, no water needed. Shop it here
The Necessities That Have to Fit in Your Clear Bag
Most stadiums cap you at a 12 by 6 by 12 clear bag or a tiny clutch, which means every single thing you bring has to earn its space. This is my exact list, and it all fits with room left over.
Bug spray you can wear instead of spray
Evening kickoffs near the water are brutal, and nobody wants to be the person misting repellent into a crowd. These little woven bands go on your wrist or your bag strap, they are DEET-free, and they come individually wrapped so you can hand them down the row when someone inevitably asks.
A poncho, because they will not let you bring an umbrella
This is the thing people forget every single year. Most stadiums ban umbrellas but allow ponchos, and a surprise storm with no cover is a genuinely long afternoon. The hooded ones fold down small enough to sit flat in the bottom of a clear bag and forget about.
If you just want a few disposable ones to keep in the car and the tailgate bin, the multi-pack is a few dollars and does the job.
A water bottle and hydration packets
Check your stadium's rules, but most let you bring an empty bottle in and fill it inside. The insulated one keeps ice through a whole game, which matters more than anything else in September. And a hydration packet is the difference between feeling fine at the fourth quarter and feeling awful, especially if you started the day at a tailgate.
A fan and a mobile charger, ideally the same thing
My phone dies from photos and group texts by halftime every time. This little 3-in-1 is a handheld fan, a power bank, and a flashlight, so it covers the heat, the dead battery, and finding your car afterward in one pocket-sized thing.
Shop the 3-in-1 fan and power bank
If you want a real charger, this one has the cables and a wall plug built into the body, so you can top up at the tailgate and then take it in with you with no cords to lose.
Shop the 12000mAh charger with built-in cables
A keychain-sized charger that clips right to the strap. Shop it here
Lip gloss, and the SPF version of it
The one thing I reapply more than anything else. The tinted lip butter is the pretty one I actually want in photos, and the SPF lip balm is the practical one, because six hours of sun on your lips is not a joke.
Shop the tinted lip butter balm
A plumping glossy lip treatment for the pregame photos. Shop it here
An SPF 30 lip balm that is genuinely worth carrying. Shop it here
A tiny wallet instead of your whole wallet
Clear bag rules usually let you carry a small opaque clutch or wallet inside, which is the loophole that saves you. Slim it down to a card holder so your entire life is not on display through a PVC bag.
An RFID card holder with a keychain wristlet. Shop it here
A mini zip wristlet with a detachable pouch. Shop it here
A slim bifold with a zip coin pocket. Shop it here
The little things that keep you looking human
Six hours outside is a long time. These are small, they are cheap, and they all fit in the wallet pouch.
Blotting sheets, which are the single best thing you can carry in September heat. Shop it here
Travel-size aluminum-free deodorant, four little ones in a set. Shop it here
A cooling towel for the neck that you soak at the water fountain. Shop it here
A compact UV umbrella for the walk in, before bag check. Shop it here
A clear football pouch to corral it all inside the bag. Shop it here
Sunscreen and hair, which nobody plans for
Your part burns. I promise you it does. A scalp mist and a face SPF are the two things I wish someone had told me about my first season.
A scalp and hair sunscreen mist that is not greasy. Shop it here
A daily face sunscreen that sits well under makeup. Shop it here
A set of travel SPFs for the bag. Shop it here
A gold claw clip for when it is too hot to have hair down. Shop it here
No-damage elastics that do not leave a crease. Shop it here
Satin scrunchies for a soft ponytail that survives the wind. Shop it here
A flyaway stick for the humidity, which is undefeated. Shop it here
The Accessories: Clear Bags and the Straps That Save Them
Here is the part I actually get excited about. A clear bag is a rule, not a look, and a beaded strap is what turns it into an outfit. This is where you get to show your team colors without buying one more logo t-shirt.
The clear tote that fits the whole day
If you are the person carrying for the group, get the full 12 by 6 by 12. It is the maximum most stadiums allow, it is waterproof and easy to wipe out, and it comes with an adjustable strap so you can wear it crossbody up the ramp.
The small clear crossbody, which is what I actually carry
Nine times out of ten I want my hands free and I do not want to hold a tote for four quarters. A small clear crossbody with a top handle is the one, and it looks far more expensive than it is.
A budget small clear crossbody under ten dollars. Shop it here
A clear crossbody with a smooth zipper and adjustable strap. Shop it here
A clear stadium bag that also works for concerts and festivals. Shop it here
A clear crossbody tote that comes with a wide guitar strap. Shop it here
A simple PVC stadium purse for under fifteen dollars. Shop it here
A beaded game day purse if you would rather skip clear entirely at a bag-friendly venue. Shop it here
A small top-handle crossbody for the days you are not going into the stadium at all. Shop it here
The beaded straps, which are the whole point
This is the best twenty to thirty-five dollars you will spend on game day. A beaded strap clips onto a plain clear bag and instantly makes it yours, and you can swap it out depending on who you are cheering for that week. Buy one clear bag and two or three straps rather than three bags. Trust me on this.
Shop the navy and orange beaded strap
Purple and yellow with stars. Shop it here
Red and white with gold hardware. Shop it here
Orange and purple college colors. Shop it here
White with gold stars, which goes with more than you would think. Shop it here
Red and white stars, 49 inches long. Shop it here
Orange and white football beads. Shop it here
The sequin and woven straps for a different vibe
If beads are not your thing, or you want something that also works with a regular handbag on a Tuesday, these are the ones I reach for.
A beaded sequin strap made for clear bags. Shop it here
A beaded football strap in a wider style. Shop it here
A red and blue sequin game day strap. Shop it here
A wide woven jacquard strap under ten dollars. Shop it here
A classic striped adjustable strap. Shop it here
A patterned team strap in a narrower 1.5 inch width. Shop it here
A handmade beaded strap if you want something one of a kind. Shop it here
The Cute Must-Haves: Hats and Sunglasses
These are the two things that do the most work in photos and the most work protecting your face, which is a rare combination. If you buy nothing else in this post, buy a hat you like.
The football trucker hat
A vintage-washed football trucker is the easiest thing in the world to throw on, it works over a ponytail, and it does not commit you to one team the way a logo cap does. I own this in two colorways.
Shop the vintage football trucker hat
There is also the upside-down reversed version, which is the one that gets the most comments.
The hat for a two o'clock kickoff in full sun
For the early season games where there is genuinely no shade, a wide brim beats a trucker. The visor with the ponytail hole is the practical one, and the packable straw fedora is the pretty one that survives being shoved in a bag.
The wide brim visor with a ponytail hole and a wind strap. Shop it here
The packable straw fedora with a chin lanyard. Shop it here
Sunglasses, and why I own several cheap pairs
You will drop them, sit on them, or leave them on a bleacher. I buy inexpensive polarized pairs in a few shapes and rotate them, and I have never once regretted it. The oversized square is my most-worn.
Shop the oversized square sunglasses
Classic polarized aviators. Shop it here
A square polarized pair that suits most face shapes. Shop it here
Retro polarized aviators with a vintage edge. Shop it here
A round vintage frame in a lightweight TR90. Shop it here
A small retro square in a 90s shape. Shop it here
The Team Spirit Extras (These Are So Fun)
This is the stuff that costs almost nothing and makes the whole day better. It is also the section that works just as well at a Friday night high school game as it does on a Saturday, so if you are going from your kid's field to a college kickoff in the same weekend, buy these once and use them for both.
Peel-and-stick team tattoos
No water, no mess, they peel off like a sticker, and they go on cheeks, hands, or a phone case. These are a hit with kids and with adults who have had one drink at a tailgate, and I say that with love.
Crimson Tide peel-and-stick tattoos. Shop it here
Auburn Tigers peel-and-stick tattoos. Shop it here
Metallic gold paw prints, which work for any team with a paw. Shop it here
A 72-pack of go team tattoos for a whole section or a team party. Shop it here
The little accessories that make the outfit
Small, cheap, and genuinely cute. The football studs are the ones I get asked about most.
Handmade hypoallergenic football stud earrings. Shop it here
Custom photo buttons, which are perfect for senior night or a player's family. Shop it here
Poly pom shakers in team colors for the kids in your row. Shop it here
Two things to wear when it finally cools off
The sequin patched corduroy shacket is the one that gets the most compliments, and the graphic pullover is the one I actually wear most weekends.
A cropped football corduroy shacket with a sequin patch. Shop it here
A cute football graphic pullover. Shop it here
For the Late-Season Games
By November the whole packing list changes. If you have season tickets, or you are still sitting on aluminum bleachers in December for playoffs, these are the four things that matter.
Something to sit on
Aluminum in the cold is its own kind of misery. A stadium seat with a real back and an anti-slip base is the purchase that makes late-season games actually pleasant, and the heated one with its own battery is the genuine luxury version.
A 25 inch wide reclining bleacher seat with pockets. Shop it here
A folding reclining stadium seat that doubles as a camp chair. Shop it here
A packable inflatable cushion for away games. Shop it here
And the rest of the cold-weather kit
Rechargeable hand warmers that also warm up your pockets. Shop it here
A large waterproof fleece stadium blanket. Shop it here
A foldable neck fan for the September games, since you will need both in the same season. Shop it here
How to Pack for a Football Game Without Overpacking
Check the actual bag policy first
Most stadiums allow one clear bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12, plus a small clutch about the size of your hand. Some are stricter. Look it up on your stadium's site before you buy a bag, because a bag that is one inch too big is a bag you leave in the car.
Buy one bag and several straps
A clear bag is a clear bag. The strap is the part anyone notices. One good bag plus two or three beaded straps costs less than two nice bags and gives you far more range across a season.
Pack for two different days
An early season game and a November game are not the same event. Keep a hot-weather kit and a cold-weather kit and swap them out around the time the clocks change, rather than trying to carry both.
Anything you would be sad to lose stays home
Cheap sunglasses, a card holder instead of a wallet, and no jewelry you cannot replace. Stadiums are crowded and things fall through bleachers. This is the whole reason I buy sunglasses in multiples.
It all works for your kid's games too
Almost everything here comes with me to Friday night high school games and my own kid's fields. The clear bag rule is increasingly a high school rule too, and the chargers, ponchos, and seats do not care what level you are watching.
Football Game Day FAQ
What size clear bag is allowed at a football game?
The standard is 12 by 6 by 12 inches for a clear tote, plus one small clutch roughly the size of your hand that does not have to be clear. Gallon freezer bags are usually allowed too, but they are not cute. Always check your specific stadium, because a few are stricter.
What should I bring to a college football game?
A clear bag, an empty water bottle to fill inside, a portable charger, a poncho, sunscreen and a hat, lip balm, blotting sheets, bug repellent, and a small card holder. In late season swap the fan for hand warmers and add a stadium seat.
Can you bring an umbrella into a stadium?
Usually no. Umbrellas block the view and most stadiums ban them, but ponchos are almost always allowed. Keep a folded hooded poncho in your bag from the first game of the season and forget it is there.
What is a beaded purse strap for?
It clips onto a plain clear stadium bag to make it look like an actual accessory instead of a rule. They come in team color combinations, they are swappable, and they are the easiest way to make one bag work for every team you cheer for.
How do you look cute at a football game in the heat?
Blotting sheets, a hat with a real brim, hair up in a claw clip or a satin scrunchie, SPF on your face and your part, and a lip balm you like. The people who look great at a hot game are not tougher than you, they just packed for it.
Before You Go
If you want these finds before the season sells them out, join the email list. I send the good stuff first, and only things I actually own and use.
More posts you might like:
Sports Mom Essentials: everything I keep in my bag all season. Shop it here
Game Day Outfits for Any Age. Shop it here
Fall Home Refresh: 10 Amazon finds to cozy up your space. Shop it here
The Best Fall Decor on Amazon. Shop it here
