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Tour Essentials for Bands: Road, Van and Gig Bag Gear
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items We have toured across Canada, and these are the tour essentials for bands that I recommend packing every time. It covers gig bag must haves like in-ear monitors and gaffer tape, van gear like a jump starter, charging gear and the stuff that keeps you...
Sections
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Gig Bag Essentials for Musicians
Van and Road Trip Survival Gear
Charging and Merch Table Gear
Sleep and Health on Tour
Gig Bag Essentials for Musicians
Small stuff that saves the show when something goes wrong.
Popular entry level in-ear monitors for musicians. Great if you are moving from wedges to in-ears without spending a fortune.
Shure SE215 PRO Sound Isolating Earphones
Turns the volume down without making everything sound muffled. Protect your hearing, you only get one pair of ears.
Etymotic ER20 High-Fidelity Earplugs
Every band runs on gaffer tape. Setlists, cables, broken stands, it fixes everything and peels off clean.
Permacel Pro Gaffers Tape, 2 inch Black
Always carry spare strings. Regular Slinkys are a go to set for a lot of guitarists and easy to find anywhere.
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Electric Guitar Strings 10-46, 3 Pack
Van and Road Trip Survival Gear
Stuff you will be glad you packed when the van dies at 2am.
A dead battery in a gas station parking lot can kill a whole tour day. A portable jump starter is cheap insurance.
NOCO Boost GB40 1000A UltraSafe Jump Starter
Load outs happen in dark alleys and parking lots. A headlamp keeps both hands free for gear.
Black Diamond Spot 400-R Rechargeable Headlamp
Stick these in your guitar cases, pedalboard and gear trailer. Peace of mind if anything ever goes missing.
Apple AirTag 4 Pack
Pliers, screwdrivers and a knife in one tool. Handy for quick fixes on gear, the van and the merch table.
Leatherman Wave+ Multi-Tool
Charging and Merch Table Gear
Keep phones alive for maps and keep the merch line moving.
Phones die fast on long drives with maps and streaming. A big power bank keeps everyone charged between venues.
Anker Power Bank 20,000mAh with Built-In USB-C Cable
Fast charging from the van's outlet so nobody shows up to load in with a dead phone.
Anker 40W 2-Port USB-C Car Charger
Most fans do not carry cash anymore. A card reader at the merch table can make a real difference in sales.
Square Reader for Contactless and Chip (2nd Generation)
Sleep and Health on Tour
Rest, hydration and a healthy voice keep the shows tight night after night.
Sleeping upright in a van is rough. A supportive neck pillow makes those overnight drives a lot easier.
Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow
Blocks out light in the van, hotel rooms and couches. A must for anyone trying to sleep at weird hours.
Nodpod Weighted Sleep Eye Mask
Staying hydrated is half the battle on tour. Tough enough to survive being tossed in the van all day.
Nalgene Sustain Wide Mouth 32 oz Water Bottle
A popular pick with singers for soothing a tired throat after a loud show. Easy to keep in the green room bag.
Traditional Medicinals Organic Throat Coat Herbal Tea