TAILGATING 201 - Basic Equipment (CONTINUED)

We have found that this is the best solid choice for canopies. We have three. Why is E-Z Up the best? 1) Quality product. 2) Extremely easy to pop up and tear down. 3) Comes with a nifty carrying case with wheels. 4) They haven't paid us to endorse their product, but we're willing to listen to offers. Mr. E-Z Up, sir, have your people call our people.

2.3 Seating
Chairs are a tricky subject. What you're looking for in chairs is portability, and a sensible balance between “inexpensive” and “quality”. But mostly portability. If you're going to have a bunch of people meet you to tailgate, they are going to need a place to sit. Sure, some people will bring their own chairs, but most won't.

The only chairs we use are the typical camping/tailgating chairs that fold up into a bag. Unless your tailgate party is a themed trailer trash party, do not bring these unless you enjoy being the target of scorn, ridicule, and flying beer cans:

These wonderful inventions called chairs come in three categories:

•  Super cheap – Found in your local grocery store or Target for something stupid like $4.99/each. There is a reason they're this cheap. I don't know what country they're manufactured in, but the citizens of that land have no pride in craftsmanship. If you buy 20 of these chairs, at least 8 of them will break by the end of your first tailgate. And then all your friends will be sent home filled with self-doubt about their weight and their chair-busting asses. A bad situation all the way around.

•  Pretty Cheap – The price range you're looking for is the $11.99 - $16.99 range. These are still pretty crappy chairs, but you might be able to get a cupholder out of the deal.

•  Chairs decorated in your favorite team's colors and logos – These chairs cost as much as $34.99 each, but they are the exact same as chair #2. And sometimes, ouch, they are the exact same as chair #1. Even worse, since these chairs say “GO [TEAM NAME]” on them, they are the first ones to be stolen, errrr-- I mean, inadvertently taken home by your tailgate guests.

By the way, everyone always thinks it will be funny and super-awesome to bring a huge couch for your tailgate party. But if you're planning to throw 6-8 tailgate parties during the fall, lugging that stupid couch back and forth will get real old, real fast. I do not recommend it.

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