Football season is back, and for many of us, the tailgate is every bit as important as the game. It is where friends gather, traditions continue, and the day’s best stories often begin. Whether you are setting up outside a college stadium, cheering on your favorite NFL team, or hosting a home tailgate in the backyard, having the right gear can make the entire experience easier—and a lot more fun.
I recently shared some of my favorite tailgating must-haves on Good Day DC on FOX 5. As a longtime Virginia Tech season-ticket holder, I have spent a lot of Saturdays tailgating. Our setup now includes two trailers, four televisions, plenty of food, and a crowd of family and friends. I know that a great tailgate takes planning, but it should never feel like work once your guests arrive.
These game-day finds help with all of that. From portable cooking and smart food monitoring to space-saving serveware and reliable internet, here is everything you need to take your tailgate from kickoff to the final whistle.
Bring Wood-Fired Flavor Anywhere With the Traeger Tailgater
The food is usually the star of a tailgate, and the Traeger Tailgater Pellet Grill makes it possible to serve far more than basic burgers and hot dogs.
This compact pellet grill offers Traeger’s six-in-one versatility, allowing you to grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and barbecue. That means one grill can handle wings, ribs, burgers, pulled pork, vegetables, and even baked dishes. It gives you the freedom to create a full game-day menu without bringing several different cooking appliances.
What makes the Tailgater especially useful is its portable design. The legs fold up, and built-in handles make it easier for two people to load and unload. At 62 pounds, it is substantial enough to feel sturdy but still designed to travel. Once the legs are folded, it can also be positioned on a safe, appropriate surface when your setup calls for it.
The grill has 300 square inches of cooking space—enough for up to 12 burgers, according to Traeger—and an eight-pound pellet hopper. Its temperature range runs from a smoke setting up to 450 degrees. The Digital Arc controller helps maintain a consistent temperature, while Keep Warm Mode can hold food until everyone is ready to eat.
One detail to plan for: the Tailgater is electric-powered and uses an included AC cord. You will need access to an appropriate power source at your tailgate. Once that is handled, you can bring real wood-fired flavor to a stadium parking lot, campsite, patio, or backyard.
My favorite tailgate gear earns its place by being versatile, and this grill absolutely does. It can become the centerpiece of your setup while keeping the cooking process simple.
Stop Babysitting the Grill With MEATER
No one wants to spend the entire tailgate standing over the grill while everyone else catches up, plays games, and enjoys the party. A MEATER smart meat thermometer helps take the guesswork out of cooking so you can step away without losing track of the food.
The wireless probe goes directly into the meat and works with the MEATER app to monitor the cooking process. Its sensors track the internal temperature of the food as well as the temperature around it. In the app, you choose what you are cooking and how you want it prepared, and MEATER helps estimate cooking time and alerts you as the food gets closer to being ready.
That is especially helpful at a busy tailgate. You can put chicken, burgers, pork, or another protein on the grill, insert the probe correctly, and then spend time with your guests instead of repeatedly opening the lid. Because checking a grill too often releases heat and can affect cooking time, monitoring from the app can also help you leave the food alone while it cooks.
MEATER and the Traeger Tailgater are a natural pairing: one brings wood-fired versatility, and the other lets you follow the food from your phone. You still need to follow food-safety guidance and remain attentive to your cooking area, but you no longer have to hover over every item.
Create a Better Food or Beverage Station With the REVO Dubler
Presentation matters, but keeping food and drinks at the right temperature matters even more. The REVO Dubler is an insulated party cooler that can be configured for beverages, chilled food, or hot dishes. It is one of those products that makes you wonder why every tailgate has not been using one.
For a cold setup, add ice and turn it into a drink or food station. You could build a mimosa bar for an early kickoff, create a Bloody Mary bar, chill canned beverages, or use food pans for toppings, fruit, salads, and other items that need to stay cold. Its open design lets guests see and reach what they want without digging through a deep cooler.
For hot food, REVO offers its Dubler HEAT configuration with microwaveable heat packs and compatible food pans. That makes it useful for items such as sliders, meatballs, dips, chili toppings, or other tailgate favorites. The insulated body helps maintain the desired temperature without requiring the traditional setup of open flames and pans of hot water.
A cover can also help protect the serving area from flies, leaves, and other outdoor annoyances. That is a small feature that becomes very valuable when food is sitting outside before and during a game.
The Dubler can also work for backyard parties, brunches, graduation celebrations, and family gatherings, moving easily from the tailgate to entertaining at home.
Save Valuable Table Space With Totem Serve
Space is always at a premium when you are tailgating. Even a large table can fill up quickly with trays, bowls, drinks, napkins, condiments, and utensils. Totem Serve solves that problem by taking your serving space vertical.
The idea came from a relatable family experience: several people ordered fajitas at a restaurant, and all of the plates and accessories would not fit comfortably on the table. That inspired a modular serving system designed to organize food on multiple levels instead of spreading every dish across the table.
For a tailgate, the tiered design can hold cookies, brownies, chips, pigs in a blanket, sliders, fruit, or other grab-and-go foods. Guests can reach items from different sides, while you preserve space below and around the stand for the rest of your spread.
Totem Serve is particularly helpful for anyone working with a folding table, a compact vehicle setup, or a home tailgate where kitchen-counter space is limited. It is practical, but it also creates a polished display without requiring complicated decorating.
When every inch counts, building up instead of out is a very smart solution.
Show Your Team Spirit With YETI Fandom Drinkware
Team gear is part of the fun, and YETI makes it possible to bring your fandom to the drink station. Its licensed offerings include collegiate and NFL designs, so fans can represent their favorite teams with durable drinkware and barware.
For my television segment, I brought Virginia Tech and Washington Commanders options—a perfect combination for my house. Depending on the product and current availability, YETI offers team logos across different styles, making it easy to carry water, coffee, cocktails, or another game-day drink in something that feels more personal than an ordinary cup.
Insulated drinkware is especially useful at an all-day tailgate. Early games may begin with coffee on a cool morning, while later in the day you might want ice water or another cold drink. Choosing the right YETI for your beverage helps keep it at the temperature you want while reducing the need for disposable cups.
Some options are also designed for batching or transporting beverages, which can simplify your setup. Instead of carrying multiple bottles, you may be able to prepare a drink ahead of time and bring it in one secure container. Always serve alcohol responsibly, follow venue rules, and have a designated driver.
Carry the Cold More Comfortably With YETI Hopper Coolers
Traditional hard coolers are effective, but they can be bulky and awkward to move through a crowded parking lot. YETI’s soft-sided Hopper line offers durable, more portable options in several carrying styles.
The YETI Hopper M20 Backpack Soft Cooler leaves your hands free for chairs, food, or other gear. Padded straps make it easier to carry from the car to the tailgate, and its wide opening simplifies loading and unloading. YETI says it can hold up to 36 cans without ice or 22 pounds of ice alone, and it is tall enough to accommodate wine bottles.
If you prefer a tote style, the YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler has an extra-wide mouth that stays open while you pack it. Its magnetic closure and quick-release buckles are designed to help keep the cold contained, and the exterior is built to handle the bumps and spills that come with outdoor use.
The best option depends on how far you have to walk and what else you are carrying. In our family, I jokingly call them “his and hers,” but my husband knows the truth: if they are full, they are probably both his to carry. Either style can make setup and cleanup much less stressful.
Give Everyone a Reusable Cup
One of the simplest tailgate upgrades does not require much technology at all: use reusable cups and label the bottom with each guest’s name.
This cuts down on the pile of half-finished cups that accumulates when people forget which drink belongs to them. If you tailgate with the same group throughout the season, assign each person a cup, take the set home after the game, wash it, and bring it back the next week.
Reusable cups from Top Cup can reduce waste, save money over time, and add another layer of team spirit when you choose your school or team colors. Keep a permanent marker at your drink station for guests, along with a separate container for used cups so cleanup stays organized.
Sometimes the least expensive ideas are the ones that make the biggest difference.
Bring Your Own Connection With Starlink Mini
Anyone who has tried to send a text, check a score, stream another game, or process a mobile payment near a packed stadium knows how unreliable cellular service can become. Thousands of fans are trying to use the same network at once, and even a strong signal may not translate into a useful connection.
Starlink Mini offers a portable satellite-internet option for locations with a clear view of the sky. Its compact design makes it easier to bring on the road, and it can support phones, tablets, computers, and smart televisions through a Wi-Fi connection.
For our tailgate, that matters because we run four televisions. Reliable internet allows us to watch other games before kickoff and after our game ends. It can also help guests check fantasy football scores, stay in touch with family, or post photos without fighting an overloaded stadium network.
Starlink Mini does require power. Depending on your setup, that may come from a compatible generator, portable power station, or vehicle-based power solution. You will also need to position it where it has an unobstructed view of the sky. Service-plan terms, availability, performance, and venue rules can vary, so check the current details before game day.
The Best Tailgate Gear Lets You Enjoy the Tailgate
A great tailgate is not defined by how much equipment you own. It is defined by the people, traditions, food, and sense of community that make game day special. The right products simply remove friction so you can enjoy more of those moments.
The Traeger Tailgater expands what you can cook. MEATER helps you monitor it without hovering. The REVO Dubler keeps food and beverages organized at the right temperature. Totem Serve makes better use of limited table space. YETI drinkware and Hopper coolers add team spirit and portability. Reusable cups simplify cleanup. Starlink Mini helps your group stay connected when local networks are overwhelmed.
You do not need to add everything at once. Think about the biggest frustration in your current setup and start there. If food preparation keeps you away from your guests, focus on the grill and thermometer. If your serving table is chaos, begin with REVO or Totem Serve. If carrying gear is the hardest part, upgrade the cooler. If everyone complains about the internet, explore a portable connection.
Most importantly, choose products that fit your venue’s rules, your available power, your vehicle space, and the way your group actually tailgates.
Then put on your team colors, invite your favorite people, and enjoy the best season of the year. Win or lose, a well-planned tailgate is always worth celebrating.
Catch the full segment here:
https://www.fox5dc.com/video/fmc-wkvrsuqtaed61uvg