Braving the crowds and adrenaline of San Diego Comic-Con for the first time? Welcome! It’s an amazing, exhausting, exhilarating experience that you will never forget.

Remember, though, one does not simply walk into Comic-Con.

With all the panels, exclusives, activations, booths, and constant flood of news, there are several things you can do to make sure the rip-tides of the event don’t pull you out to San Diego Bay. Below are a few ways to make the most of your con.

Footwear & Physical Preparation

• Invest in comfortable shoes: Depending on your budget, recommended brand and model recommendations include New Balance Fresh Foam x More v4, Hokas (specifically Bondi 8s), and Adidas Ultraboost or NMD lines.
• Break in shoes early: Start breaking in any new footwear well before the convention, rather than wearing them for the first time at the event.
• Pack extra socks: Changing into a fresh pair of socks midway through the day helps keep feet feeling refreshed.
• Consider a running store fitting: If you are looking for specific shoe inserts or the right shoes for your arch type, visit a specialized running store for an expert recommendation.
• Rotate footwear: Some people bring at least two different pairs of shoes and alternate between them each day.
• Condition your body: Do walking and cardio daily leading up to the convention to prepare for the physical demand. Moving and light exercise also engage the lymphatic system, which helps boost your immunity.
  

Line Management & Camping Comfort

• Portable seating: If planning to enjoy any of the high interest elements like Hall H, Ballroom 20, exclusive lines, or activations, invest in a compact line chair that fits into a backpack, such as a Cliq chair, Campster 2.0, or similar.
• Line-camping gear rules: Sleeping bags and single-person chairs are allowed for overnight camping lines (like Hall H), but large inflating camping beds/cots or giant gaps between people are usually restricted or discouraged.
• Utilize bag check: Use the convention center’s bag check service to store bulky camping gear so you don’t have to carry it around the main floor.
• Bungee cords: Use bungee cords to secure loose items to your backpack to consolidate everything into “one bag”.
• Share snacks: Bringing extra snacks to share with others is a great tip for making friends while waiting in long lines.
  

Weather, Health, & Staying Cool

• Sun protection: Bring a sun umbrella (light and small enough for a water bottle pocket) to guarantee shade during outdoor lines, though avoid using it on windy days. Always apply sunscreen and wear a hat.
• Layer clothing: Dress in comfortable clothing for the daytime heat, but bring a light sweater or jacket for air-conditioned rooms and cooler night temperatures.
• Staying cool in cosplay or regular clothes:

• • Run cold water over the undersides of your wrists.
  • Incorporate vents, lightweight pieces, and sweat-wicking/cooling fabrics into clothing.
  • Carry a handheld misting fan or a portable air duster (which acts like a hand-held air dryer).

• Medication supply: Ensure you pack a sufficient supply of any necessary medications to last the entire duration of the trip.
• Travel insurance: International travelers should secure medical travel insurance, as medical care in the U.S. is very expensive.
  

Electronics, Packing, & Logistics

• Stay powered up: Bring multiple portable phone batteries (such as a 10,000mAh Anker) alongside multiple USB chargers. Wall sockets are rare in the convention center.
• Multi-port adapter: Bring a small 3-plug adapter or a multi-port GaN wall plug. If you find a wall socket that is already in use, you can offer to plug it in so multiple people can charge at once.
• Power strip: Take a power strip for your hotel room. Many hotel rooms have a few outlets, but a power strip can allow you to charge all your items without having to spread all over the room just to charge up.
• Pre-made packing lists: Utilize a digital checklist (like a Google Sheet) with auto-updating percentages to keep track of your packing progress.
• Print important documents: Printing physical copies of your hotel reservations and badge confirmations can be a real life saver in case your phone fails or internet access cuts out.
• Use the tech: From SCHED to Google Sheets to the Comic-Con app, there are many a tool at your fingertips. Use them. Calendar reminders and panel list will help you keep organized and lower the stress of trying to keep it all in your head.

Food and drinks pricing strategy

• Starbucks pricing: If possible, avoid ordering from the Manchester Grand Hyatt, Hilton Bayfront, Marriott Marquis, or Hard Rock locations, as their prices are significantly higher than standard, non-convention pricing found at local Starbucks. For those prices, a mom and pop is a great alternative.
• Refillable water bottle: Bring one to use at the convention center’s numerous water stations. Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. 
• Food and drinks: Pack plenty of sandwiches and snacks. Outside food is explicitly permitted inside the convention center; outside alcohol is not.
  

Convention Navigation & Transport

• Trolley strategy: When taking the trolley, get off at the Gaslamp Quarter stop instead of the Convention Center stop. Gaslamp drops you off at 5th Street right in the middle of the convention floor and gets you out of the heat faster, whereas the Convention Center stop lets you out further north by a narrow, painful, and crowded sidewalk.
• The “hidden” walkway: There is an open, plant-lined, and mostly shaded path located between the Marriott Marquis and the convention center. It serves as an excellent shortcut to bypass crowds when navigating from the front to the back of the center, or when heading toward Hall H or offsite activations.
  

Signings, Merch, & Security

• Autograph pricing & preparation: Official SDCC portal lottery signings are free, while independent booth signings usually charge fees (which artists often post on social media or tracking sites like the SDCC Unofficial Blog).
• Post-it notes for signing: Stick Post-it notes on the comic books or items you want signed, labeling the booth number/location and writing exactly how you want your name spelled (“To [Name]”) to save time.
• Art portfolios: If you plan on purchasing custom art prints, 11×17 inches is the most popular size for artists, so bring an appropriately sized art portfolio to keep them safe.
• Keep a written merch list: Instead of taking photos of booth merchandise—which can sometimes draw pushback from protective artists fearing art theft—write down the item details along with the booth name and number in a notes app.
• Car security: If parking at the venue, lock all purchases completely out of sight in the trunk. Never leave items on the back seat where they might entice thieves.
• Parking pass security: Print out only your individual daily parking passes rather than a master sheet showing all your bar codes; if your car is burglarized, thieves won’t get access to all your prepaid passes.
• Bank notification: Inform your bank about your travel plans, and keep in mind that purchases made at booths belonging to international vendors (e.g., from Canada) may trigger fraud alerts.
• Trading tickets safely: When trading offsite tickets, cross-reference the trader’s reputation in chat groups or request a screenshot of their tickets. If trading in person, always coordinate the exchange in a highly trafficked area, such as a local CVS or inside the convention center itself.

FOMO

• You will miss things: There is no way humanly possible to see everything at Comic-Con. You will miss something. Something will be sold out or a line will be capped or a drop will be missed. That’s ok. That’s part of it. It’s a tall order, but try not to stress. You get into what you get into and you do what you can do.

I know it’s a lot, so above all else, have fun. Make friends in line. Everyone is there for the same stuff. You likely have more in common with the random person next to you at Comic-Con than any random person back home. Comic-Con is a community bonded by the fandoms we love and the sweat we all shed in San Diego.

One does not simply walk into Comic-Con…we do it together.