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Three Grands Prix in, here’s what I actually pack
I’ve done Monza, Spa, and Interlagos — three very different weekends with three very different weather problems. Monza hit 97°F and the only water security would let through the gate was factory-sealed (cooler with sealed bottles + ice from the supermarket = the only sane answer). Spa was the Ardennes in full mood — my dad had two rain ponchos folded at the top of his backpack before we’d cleared the grass-field park-and-ride. Interlagos had a wind that cut through a “waterproof” jacket I’d never tested at home. After those three weekends, my kit got a lot shorter and a lot more specific.
This is the generic Grand Prix packing list — the stuff that travels with me to every race, regardless of track. If you’re headed to a specific circuit, I’ve got deeper guides for Monza and Spa that cover the weather and gate rules for each.
Hearing protection: the one thing you cannot improvise
Current-gen F1 cars are quieter than the V10 days, but a grandstand near the pit straight at full throttle still sits around 110-120 dB. That’s painful, and by Sunday afternoon it’s genuinely damaging. Foam earplugs work, but they kill the engine sound along with the danger — you came here for the sound, so buy the filtered kind that drops the volume without flattening the tone.
I carry two pairs: one high-fidelity reusable pair on a cord, plus a strip of cheap disposables for anyone who shows up unprepared (this happens every single weekend).
The power bank rule nobody tells you until the gate
Most F1 circuits cap power banks at 300 Wh or explicitly list a mAh ceiling, and they will confiscate anything over it. My working rule: one 20,000 mAh bank, under 100 Wh, with the capacity printed on the case so gate staff can read it without arguing.
You will use every milliamp. Between the official F1 app for live timing, your phone camera, WhatsApp with whoever you’re meeting at the track, and transit apps to get home, a full charge is gone by lunch on race day.
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Race radio, or the app that replaces it
Kangaroo TV is long dead. What replaces it depends on the circuit: the official F1 app works for live timing almost everywhere with signal, and some tracks rent FM race-radio receivers at the entrance. If you care about team radio and sector-by-sector gaps (I do), bring wired earbuds — Bluetooth is unreliable when 100,000 phones are fighting for the same cell tower.
Panasonic ErgoFit Wired Earbuds #ad
Seating, because the grandstand bench is a punishment
General admission mounds and most grandstand bleachers are metal or bare concrete. By session three on Saturday your back is done. A compact folding stool or a stadium seat cushion is the difference between staying through the F2 feature race and leaving early.
Trekology YIZI GO Folding Stool #ad
Trekology YIZI GO Folding Stool #ad
Optics: you want binoculars, not a zoom lens
Every first-timer brings a camera with a 200mm zoom. Every veteran brings 8×25 binoculars and watches the race. Unless you’re a working photographer with a paddock pass, your phone handles the memory-shot duty fine, and a small pair of binos lets you actually track a move through a chicane instead of fumbling with focus.
Nikon Aculon A30 8×25 Binoculars #ad
Sun, heat, and the <500ml bottle rule
Most circuits let you bring in an empty, clear plastic bottle under 500ml and refill at water stations. Glass and metal are banned. A collapsible silicone bottle is my compromise — packs flat in the bag on the way in, fills up on the way through security.
HYDAWAY #ad
Thinksport #ad
Packable Wide-Brim Sun Hat #ad
Rain: you don’t know until you know
Spa taught me this one. A rain poncho weighs nothing and lives in the bottom of the bag for every race, even forecasts that say 0% chance. The forecast lies. A ziploc bag big enough for your phone is the other rain insurance — I’ve seen people’s weekend ruined by a single soaked lightning port.
FROGG TOGGS #ad
LOKSAK aLOKSAK Waterproof Phone Bag #ad
Feet: this is the most important section
You will walk 8-12 miles per day at a Grand Prix. Parking is miles from the paddock, the infield bridges are long, and if you’re chasing different corners across the weekend you’re basically doing a hiking vacation with no scenery breaks. Break your shoes in at home first. A new pair on Friday is a blister factory by Sunday.
HOKA #ad
Bags: small, crossbody, soft-sided
Most circuits publish a bag size limit around 25 x 25 x 15 cm or similar. Hard cases and backpacks over the limit get turned away. A soft crossbody that you can squish if security asks is the safe play, and a crossbody is also subway-safe on the way to and from the track.
Travelon Anti-Theft Crossbody #ad
Power and adapters (Europe races)
If you’re flying in for a European GP, a multi-port EU adapter charges the power bank, phone, and camera battery overnight off a single hotel outlet. One adapter, not three.
TESSAN European Travel Adapter #ad
What I stopped packing
- Full rain jacket for most races — a poncho is lighter and folds smaller. Spa is the exception (see the Spa guide).
- Zoom lens — nothing I shot was better than what F1 TV posted 20 minutes later. Binoculars and phone only now.
- Hydration bladder — banned at most gates. Empty collapsible bottle is the replacement.
- Selfie stick / tripod — banned at every circuit I’ve been to.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the real bag size limit at F1 races?
It varies per circuit, but 25 x 25 x 15 cm soft-sided is the safe default.
Can I bring a camera with a zoom lens?
Usually yes for lenses under 200mm, sometimes with a professional-equipment fee above that. In practice you’ll enjoy the race more with binoculars.
Do I need a portable radio to hear team comms?
The F1 official app streams team radio during the session. The old FM race-radio boxes are still rented at some circuits if you want a dedicated channel.
How many mAh of power bank can I bring?
100 Wh / ~27,000 mAh is the airline rule and a safe ceiling for most circuits. A single 20,000 mAh bank is fine almost everywhere.
Is the food at F1 tracks actually bad?
It’s expensive and the lines are 30-45 minutes during session breaks. Most circuits let you bring in sealed snacks; I pack granola bars and eat a real meal in town after the checkered flag.
Keep reading
- Monza-specific packing guide — Tifosi culture, September heat, and the <500ml rule enforced hard
- Spa-Francorchamps rain gear guide — the wettest race on the calendar, done right
- What I’d do differently — lessons from 11 destinations
Get the rest of the kit list
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Written by Jenna Fattah
I have visited 25+ countries across 6 continents, attended 7 Formula 1 races, and spent 4 years writing about what actually works and what I would do differently. Every recommendation on this site comes from trips I planned and paid for myself. Read more about me