Going to Boulder: What to Bring, What Not to Bring

Packing for a trip is a serious undertaking no matter where you’re traveling or for how long. Bring too much stuff and you’re weighed down; bring too little, and you’re either stuck buying duplicates of something you already have, or you’re just plain stuck. Sometimes without enough underwear.

Aside from the obvious things to pack— passport, toothbrush, pants—traveling to Boulder necessitates a few additional items that you may not normally think to throw in the suitcase. Here’s the insider scoop on what you must bring, what you mustn’t bring, and a few other things that will come in pretty handy.

Necessary

First of all, don’t forget to pack sunscreen and sunglasses. This may be something you normally pack, but Boulder gets over 300 days of sunshine a year—more than San Diego or Miami—so it’s extra important here. Not only that, Boulder is over a mile above sea level, so the sun’s rays are much more intense because the reduced atmosphere is less able to filter out the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. The altitude also necessitates bringing a reusable water bottle, which is paramount for staying hydrated in Boulder’s semi-arid climate and for fitting in with the locals.

Boulder may not be on the coast, but it certainly isn’t short of bodies of water to swim in, so bring your swimsuit for tubing down the Boulder Creek or swimming in the Boulder Reservoir. If you’re a climber or a biker, be sure to bring along your climbing or biking shoes (and maybe even your bike) so you can enjoy some of the best outdoor activities Boulder has to offer. Bike shorts are perfectly acceptable attire here, so throw those padded spandex wonders in your bag, too.

Totally Unnecessary

There are some things that are not only totally unnecessary, but that are just not a good idea to bring with you to Boulder. The main thing you should leave at home is a closed mind. Boulder is an unusual place filled with unusual people, and the more you’re open that strangeness, the better your trip will be. Never done yoga before? Boulder is a yoga Mecca, so drop in on a free class. Never meditated before? The Shambhala Center offers weekly drop-in meditations that are free and open to the public.

The majority of Boulderites would probably characterize themselves as environmentalists; thus, you should probably also leave your hummer or other gas-guzzler at home, as well as your fur coat.

Boulderites may not take their football rivalries as seriously as Midwestern schools, but it’s still probably a good idea to leave your Nebraska cornhuskers gear at home and fly under the radar on this one.

Unless you’re traveling to Boulder for some sort of suit convention, a suit would be overkill at most businesses and restaurants, so instead opt for a natural-fabric button up, slacks, and casual shoes, ideally ones that are also appropriate for biking.

Things you might not think to pack, but come in pretty handy

What does the typical Boulderite always have in their bag? Getting back to the altitude and the semi-arid climate, lip balm with SPF is always a good idea to have with you. In addition to bringing your reusable water bottle for staying hydrated, other reusable items such as a coffee mug and a collapsible bag are great things to keep with you as you explore the town.

If you don’t manage to drink enough water when you first arrive, you may begin to experience symptoms of altitude sickness (such as headaches, nausea, light-headedness, and shortness of breath). And if you couldn’t figure out a way to bring extra red blood cells along with you, osha root can help alleviate your symptoms. Osha root is a herbal medicine that has been used by various mountain-dwelling North American cultures throughout history and can be found in tincture or dried form in herb stores.

[Photos courtesy of Geograph, turtlemom4bacon, Pascal \o/, and Casey]