NEW MEMBER OFFER!

Get 35% off GOES, your essential outdoor guide

LEARN MORE

GET MORE WITH OUTSIDE+

Enjoy 35% off GOES, your essential outdoor guide

UPGRADE TODAY

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more

Tailgating, when done right, is an art form.
Tailgating, when done right, is an art form. (Photo: beneneill/iStock)

How to Tailgate Like a Pro

Whether you’re at at football game or on the ski hill

Published: 
Tailgating, when done right, is an art form.
(Photo: beneneill/iStock)

New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up! Subscribe today.

With football season well underway and the start of ski season just around the corner, guzzling PBRs in the bed of a truck is an acceptable way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Tailgating, when done right, is an art form, right up there with composing a sonnet or carving singletrack. Just ask Colton Benford, a former Ole Miss grad who founded The Tailgate Group, a professional service that travels around the South facilitating the ultimate pre-game experience for his clients. 

“In the South, there are two major events in a person’s life: weddings and football games,” Benford says. “When you’re tailgating, you get sucked into the atmosphere. You’re surrounded by good people, good food, good drinks, and you get to take a little break from your adult life.” 

We asked Benford to detail the key pieces of gear that will take your tailgate to the next level. Here are his picks, along with our own personal favorites. 


Benford’s Picks 

Winegard Playmaker Portable Satellite Antenna ($300) 

(Courtesy Winegard)

“It can be difficult to set up a satellite dish and find the best signal. This antenna is automatic, so it finds the channel for you. It’s really convenient when you’re traveling to different locations.”

Buy Now

Powerhouse 1000w Generator ($420)  

(Courtesy PowerHouse)

“Powerhouse makes good generators that aren’t loud at all, work great, and cost half as much as the top-of-the-line Honda generators. Just make sure you run non-ethanol gas because ethanol will break the engine apart over time.”

Buy Now

Yeti Rambler ($25) 

(Courtesy Yeti)

“I love this thing, and it does a good job of keeping your beer cold even in the southern heat. The only problem is they tend to walk off from our tailgate sites, so we can’t really use them for our clients.”

Buy Now

Ultimate Tailgater ($14,000)

(Towable Tailgates)

“Towable Tailgates makes incredible trailers that have everything—built-in TVs, grill, coolers, generator, even a bathroom. It’s expensive, but it takes it to the next level, and can you put a price on having your own bathroom and sink?”

Buy Now


Our Picks

ENO Roadie Car Stand ($200) 

(Courtesy ENO)

Sitting in a chair and drinking a beer is fine, but lounging in a hammock with that beer is sublime. The Roadie allows you to use your car’s wheels for support, so you can set up your hammock without needing trees, which are admittedly scarce on asphalt parking lots. 

Buy Now

Weber Smokey Joe ($40) 

(Courtesy Weber)

Burgers, dogs, shrimp…you want all of these things when you’re tailgating, which means you’ll need a grill. Keep it simple with this small charcoal grill that’s designed to travel, with a lock-tight lid and carrying handle. 

Buy Now

Coolest Cooler ($400) 

(Courtesy Coolest)

Yes, that’s a lot of money for a cooler, but hear us out; This cooler has a blender, built-in Bluetooth speakers, a USB charger, and LED lights inside the lid. The Coolest is truly the Swiss Army Knife of coolers. 

​​​​​​Buy Now

Lead Photo: beneneill/iStock

Popular on Outside Online

sms