Product Ideas to take your Tailgate Game to the Next Level

As summer winds down and the leaves begin to turn, for many people this means one thing: football season.

And whether you’re into college or the pros or even high school football, one of the best parts of this time of year is tailgating. That’s because there’s nothing better than cheering your team to victory and spending time outdoors in the fall with a grill, drinks and good friends.

And to help you get the most out of your tailgate experience, Timber Ridge is here to show you a few products that can help take your tailgate experience to the next level.

In this blog, we’ll talk about coolers, chairs and other gear you’ll want to add to your gameday arsenal.

So, pack your cooler, grab your favorite chair, put on that lucky jersey and get ready to learn how to dominate tailgating season this fall.

But first, we should probably answer a quick question:

What makes a product good for tailgating?

Before we talk about products, it might be helpful to discuss the criteria we’re using. In our eyes, perfect products for tailgating come down to three main points:

• Portability: When you’re packing for tailgating, much like camping, it’s important to use space wisely. That’s why we love compact items that won’t take up much space when transporting. Folding, collapsing, lightweight and easy to carry items are great for tailgating.

• Ease of setup: No matter how awesome a product is, if it takes too long to setup (or tear down) is it worth it to bring tailgating? I don’t know about you, but when we head to the tailgating lots, we want to spend more time having fun and less time setting up products.

• Functionality: This point is a little harder to quantify. What we’re looking for are products that improve on existing ones or offer something completely different to make your tailgate experience better. While your trusty folding quad chair might still get the job done, aren’t you at least somewhat curious what else is out there?

Now that we’ve covered that, let’s talk products.

Have a seat: Is it time for a new folding chair?

The folding chair has come a long way. Gone are the days of just your standard folding camp chair. These day’s outdoor enthusiasts can choose from director’s chairs, rockers, swing seats, pod chairs and much, much more. And not only are there all of these different types of chairs, manufacturers are now adding awesome features to these products.

Take for instance this Timber Ridge product: the Laurel Director’s Chair.

As you can see below, this model features the classic Director’s Chair design, but it includes a couple of improvements. On one side, you have a fold out table with cupholder that keeps important items close by. But the real star of the show is the integrated cooler.

This well-insulated, large volume cooler will keep drinks at the ideal temperature for hours. And of course, you won’t even have to get up for refreshments – at least until you empty the cooler. This sort of ingenious improvement will surely make you the talk of tailgate town.

This chair also hits on all our points. It folds compactly so it doesn’t take up much space, is quick to set up and features an awesome improvement with the integrated cooler making this a perfect addition to your tailgate arsenal.

Throwin’ shade: Keep cool while tailgating

Asphalt lots. Tailgating fields. Your own backyard. Wherever you’re getting ready for the big game, having relief from the elements can go a long way. That’s why a pop-up shade canopy is a must have for any serious tailgater. However, far too many canopies on the market take up too much space when transporting and aren’t exactly easy to setup.

Well Timber Ridge set out to solve those issues and improve on the standard shade canopy models with our easy setup Canopy.

This canopy provides a massive 200 square feet of shade perfect for a large tailgate. With this much room you’ll have no problem fitting a grill, tables, chairs and plenty of people under this canopy. And unlike other products, this canopy features an already assembled one-piece frame with easy locking buttons for a simple set up.

And despite this canopy’s large size, it fits compactly into its wheeled carry bag with handles for easy transportation and storage.

Coolers, wagons and tables: Small items that make a big difference

In this last section, we’ll cover a few “smaller” products that can make a big difference come gameday.

First up, is one of the most important pieces of a successful tailgate – the cooler.

(Side note: Did you know there are things you can do to prep your cooler, so you get the most out of it? Check out our blog on the topic here)

Sure, you could pack up one of the massive hard coolers, but we’re looking at products that are a little easier to transport. One perfect option is the Timber Ridge Insulated Cooler.

With tons of extra features and a 24-can capacity, this cooler is the perfect sidekick for tailgating - especially if you have a bit of a hike ahead of you.

This cooler is also leakproof and insulated so your beverages will stay cool for longer.

The next product is probably one of the more versatile items you can bring for a tailgate – a folding table.

If you’re looking for an extremely portable table, the Timber Ridge Folding Table is a perfect option. When it comes to portable tables, it always seems like they’re too bulky or so small you can barely fit anything on them.

Weighing only 10 pounds and measuring 47.2 x 23.6 x 27.2 inches when unfolded, this table is the best of both worlds.

This sturdy table is perfect for storing all your gameday snacks or can be setup to provide an additional area for eating. It also features a mesh storage pocket and net underneath the table for added functionality. And when it’s time to go, this table folds up to only 26 x 3.5 x 25.5 inches and features handles for easy carrying.

And the last product we’re going to cover will help you get from point A to point B with all your important items – the Timber Ridge Laburnum Tailgate Wagon.

With a 180-pound weight capacity this large wagon has plenty of space to fit coolers, chairs and anything else you need. It also features a rear tailgate that lowers to help you accommodate longer loads. And unlike other wagons, this product features a quick and easy instant set up design, so you won’t have to mess with any assembly.

Are you ready for some football?

Hopefully this tailgate season is full of good times with good friends and plenty of victories from your favorite team. And whether you choose Timber Ridge products or items from any other company, we also hope this blog helped you get some ideas about items to add to your tailgating arsenal. For more information about our available products, check out our online store shopwestfieldoutdoors.com