Tailgating season is kicking off — here's our all-star team of gear, from $8

As summer turns to fall turns to early winter, a stadium parking lot can get pretty chilly — to say nothing of the frozen tundras that Vikings, Lions and Bears fans (oh my!) contend with most of the year. So, yeah, you'll want to have a pack of hand warmers, um, handy. The manufacturer actually refers to this 10-pack as the "tailgate bundle." 

"They actually work better than I thought they would," reported this chill customer. "To my surprise, they were still hot hours after first using them. Even when they cooled off, they got hot again after rubbing them."

Still dealing with cold toes? Check out our guide to the best heated socks of 2024.

Whether you're nursing a beer or pounding Diet Coke, you want your drink to stay as cold as possible for as long as possible. Why not make that happen with a fetching foursome like this (or one of the other five color combos on offer)?

"These are the best koozies! I like them so much that I tossed out all those that I'd accumulated from advertisers and ordered another set of these," said this dedicated shopper. "They don't fray on the top or bottom and hold up well. Each family member has a different color."

Your team (and fellow partygoers!) may wind up trashed, but the site of your tailgate bash shouldn't. This bin folds down to just 2.5 inches thick, but pops open to a very capacious 23.8 inches. 

But don't believe us — believe this fan: "Got this to use for tailgating recently, and it was absolutely perfect. It appears to be well-made and sets up and breaks down very easily." 

To state the obvious, no tailgate party is complete without a game of catch. This pigskin is the same size as, and has the feel of, an official ball but is made rubber — all the better to withstand the punishments of parking-lot asphalt. 

Speaking of stating the obvious ... "Definitely a football" assured one thoughtful reviewer, who then admitted: "I'm not an expert on footballs, but I haven't seen anything wrong with the way this one is performing. It's easy to grip and throw, and it doesn't have that cheesy 'Hey. I'm a recreational football' look to it."

Of course any serious tailgater will want at least a couple of these. Aside from showing your love for the home team, though, these are seriously practical. They're waterproof, include an all-important beverage holder and fold up in seconds, after which they'll slide right into the included carrying bag. They're available for all NFL franchises and lots of NCAA teams too. 

"Perfectly priced!" said this enthusiastic partner of a Cheesehead. "These chairs will be perfect for my love's Packers man cave. I did sit in them and do a few bounces for sturdiness, no issue."

Tailgate grub doesn't have to be just burgers, dogs and ribs. What about an appetizer array? Dig into your crudites, cold cuts, olives and even chilled seafood treats with this compartmentalized chill tray. Plop some cubes in the base, and you're looking at a pre-game feast your fellow fans won't soon forget. 

"This product is perfect for outdoor parties where you need to keep food cold," said this experienced nosher. "The main piece has a round section for dips, olives, etc. The rest is divided into a full half and two quarter sections. I plan to use it to serve shrimp with cocktail sauce and maybe some cut-up vegetables."

Tailgate parties often begin in the a.m. hours, which means that hot pre-game coffee is a must! Enter this No. 1 Amazon bestseller. Its 15-cup capacity means you and your gang will begin the day nice and caffeinated. Of course, should you opt to use it for a chilled beverage — say, a potent pregame punch — we won't tell. After all, this keeps liquids hot or cold for up to 20 hours. 

Take it from this party animal: "My family and I used our[s] for fall and winter festivals. ... We filled [it] around 10 a.m. with hot water and we were making piping hot chocolate, tea, hot toddies and instant coffee well past 10 p.m. as we happily sang and seat-danced." 

Know what's a big hit at tailgate parties? Chili! Also, homemade salsa and guac. With this trio, you can have all three ready to go and kept at the proper temp all day long (read: for an hour, tops, before they're all scarfed up). This set includes three sizes (1 quart, 2 quarts, 2.6 quarts) and is also available in blue or pink.

Recalled this reviewer: "We needed something that we would be able to serve our signature pico de gallo in, and these we more than perfect for the job. The contents were still cold three hours after they were removed from the fridge."

Would you look at this thing? It's like a kitchen pantry and a first-aid kit had a baby! Padded compartments will secure your mayo, marinades, rubs, rolls and any other comestibles you want to bring to the stadium. All that and it's a paper towel holder too!

"Must have for tailgating!" shared this shopper. "I love having everything in one spot and ready to go. I would also recommend this for camping and am debating buying a second one."

You may well need a larger table for your setup, instead of or in addition to this 23" x 35" option. Still, we love this for a smaller bash, for displaying condiments and seasonings or as a platform for a small grill. Quick assembly, waterproof, adjustable feet ... and it folds up into a briefcase-like carrier! Talk about a marriage of form and function (and football). An aluminum alloy frame means stability, and how 'bout that handy mesh "shelf" underneath?

"Amazing sturdy table for camping, tailgating or outdoor events," averred this alfresco advocate. "Great for having a meal, displaying items or just as a catchall while camping."

What's a tailgate party without some charcoal-grilled animal flesh? We love the vintage look and the ingenious design of this portable grill. Plop it onto a table, flip it open, and you've doubled the size of your cooking surface! That's right; it comes with two grills and two charcoal pans. 

"Perfect for tailgating season!" said this giddy gridiron fan. "This grill is sturdy enough to withstand outdoor conditions and cooks food to perfection. Can't wait for football Sundays!"

Need something bigger? Salivate over our picks for the best grills of 2024.

Unlike namby-pamby baseball, football games do not get rained out, so unless you're literally a fair-weather fan, you'll want to invest in some protection from precipitation. This folding gazebo sets up in seconds and, at 10' x 10', it's big enough to keep your brewskis, brats and Buds dry ... you know, until that mad dash to your stadium gate, anyway. Post-party, just collapse it and slide it into its included carrying bag. Choose from tan, orange, American flag, black and this festive red. 

"Great looking tent, and really helps keep you out of the elements," said this fan. "The top is easily secured to the poles by little clips that hook into the pole. Everything is super simple ... and I would definitely buy another in the future. Fairly compact, and the carrying case is nice as well. ... It will take two people to get it up, but really great product."

If you're the prime organizer when it comes to tailgates, chances are your backfield's been in motion all morning and you deserve a luxurious place to take a load off. At nearly 58 inches wide and 23 inches deep, this is that place. It holds up to 650 pounds and comes in this Raiders-friendly gray and black as well as Rams-ish blue and Bengals-esque orange. 

"SO COMFORTABLE!" said this shouty shopper. "We needed a chair where both my husband and I could comfortably fit, and easily assemble! Well, we got more than what we asked for the money, we even get to nap in it!"

Can any get-together be properly called a party without a banging soundtrack? We could've recommended any of a score of Bluetooth speakers — and we have more great expert-vetted picks on our list of the best outdoor speakers of 2024 — but JBL's Flip series has been a longtime standout and brings a combination of great sound, compact size and affordability. This bundle (it includes a carrying case) also comes in black, camo, red and gray. 

Said this shopper: "I would never had thought this little speaker could sound so good. My friend had one and once I heard his I knew I needed to get one. I use it on a daily basis. You won't be disappointed on the sound of this little thing."

The centerpiece of any tailgating bash is a good cooler. And while there are a gazillion options out there, why not opt for a classic? With a 100-quart capacity, the 316 can hold enough food and drinks for the hungriest, thirstiest brood, and it'll keep ice intact for up to five days. That handle and those wheels mean it'll be a cinch to get it from your house to your ride and back again. It's got side handles too, not to mention cup holders in the lid and a drain plug. Oh, and its heavy-duty construction means it can support up to 250 pounds, making it, in effect, another chair. 

"Best ice chest we have ever owned!" raved this Amazon shopper. "This one held ice 50% longer than even my double-insulated Igloo, which had been my go-to ... cannot say enough good things about this unit." 

Wanna skip the fumes, mess and disposal complications of charcoal (and look pretty chi-chi in the process)? Go with gas — specifically, this sleek propane number from Cuisinart. With 145 square inches of cooking area, sure, you're not going to be cooking a side of beef or anything, but there's more enough space for a gaggle of gametime revelers to get their chow on. 

"Four years going strong!" trumpeted this reviewer. "Might seem small, but we've used it to cook burgers, chicken and hot dogs for 10-plus hungry guys in good time."

Perhaps this is less a "must-have" than a "could-have," but if you'd like to bring a "glamping" sensibility to your tailgate — complete with actual home appliances and a real stereo — you can't go wrong with this 300-watt monster. It includes two AC outlets, along with USB-C, USB-A and DC ports. And hey, it wouldn't hurt to have this around during a blackout or weather-related disaster, either. 

This outdoorsman called it "a versatile, powerful, and convenient solution for powering up all our essential gadgets. Whether it's keeping our phones charged or adding the comfort of a fan in our tent, this device has been up to the task. If you're an outdoor enthusiast looking for a reliable power solution that will never let you down, I highly recommend."