🔐 Top 10 Things to Have When Attending an Escape Room Challenge

Your Complete Guide to Comfort, Strategy & Team Victory

Escape rooms have taken the world by storm, offering an exhilarating blend of mystery, teamwork, and time-bound puzzle solving. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned escape artist, showing up prepared can make all the difference in your experience.

Before the clock starts ticking, you want to be confident, comfortable, and completely focused. From what you wear to what you bring, this guide lists the Top 10 Things to Have When Attending an Escape Room Challenge—plus extra tips to help you win and have fun doing it.

Let’s unlock the secrets to the best escape room experience possible!

⌚ 1. Watch or Timer

Tags: #watch #timer #escapechallenge

Time is your biggest opponent in an escape room. Although most facilities have clocks in the room, wearing your own watch or digital timer helps you keep track without relying on wall clocks, which may be hidden or part of the puzzle.

Why You Need It:

• Manage time across multiple puzzle zones

• Track how long you’ve been on a clue

• Avoid last-minute rush or panic

Pro Tip: Choose a non-digital watch if you suspect electronics may be disallowed inside the challenge room.

👟 2. Comfortable Shoes

Tags: #comfortableshoes #escape #puzzle

Escape rooms often require standing, walking, crouching, or climbing through hidden passages or dimly lit corridors. That means your footwear matters—more than you might think!

Best Options:

• Athletic sneakers

• Cushioned flats

• Slip-resistant shoes

Avoid high heels, flip-flops, or hard-soled dress shoes. Prioritize comfort and flexibility, especially for multi-room experiences.

📝 3. Notepad and Pen

Tags: #notepad #pen #puzzlesolving

A small notepad and pen are invaluable tools for jotting down clues, combinations, or theories. Some escape rooms provide these, but having your own ensures you're always ready.

Why It Helps:

• Track patterns or symbols

• Write down key information quickly

• Sketch layouts or item locations

Use shorthand or code with your teammates to keep communication swift.

🍫 4. Snacks or Energy Bars

Tags: #snacks #energybars #escapeactivity

Escape rooms can last 60–90 minutes, and some venues offer extended or multi-room experiences. Keeping a light snack or energy bar in your bag can help you stay sharp, especially if you're solving puzzles after a long day.

Smart Snacks Include:

• Protein bars

• Trail mix packs

• Fruit snacks

• Energy chews

Note: Most rooms don’t allow food during the session—but having a snack before or after can boost your mental clarity and mood.

💧 5. Water Bottle

Tags: #waterbottle #hydration #escapeevent

Staying hydrated during an escape room session can impact your focus, stamina, and comfort. Bring a refillable water bottle to sip before you enter (and afterward during your celebration!).

Look for:

• Leak-proof design

• Compact, easy-to-carry bottle

• BPA-free or stainless steel options

You don’t want thirst to distract you while defusing a "bomb" or escaping from a dungeon.

👕 6. Comfortable Clothing

Tags: #comfortableclothing #flexibility #escapechallenge

Escape room challenges aren’t red carpet events. You’ll want movement-friendly outfits so you can bend, reach, and search in comfort.

Recommended Clothing:

• Activewear or jeans

• Breathable cotton tops

• Hoodies or jackets if it’s cold indoors

Avoid tight-fitting clothes, flashy jewelry, or long scarves that can snag or become distracting.

👯 7. Teamwork Gear (e.g., Matching Shirts)

Tags: #teamwork #matchinggear #escapeactivity

Attending with friends, co-workers, or family? Rock your team unity with custom T-shirts, pins, or bandanas.

Why It's Fun (and Smart):

• Boosts morale and team identity

• Looks great in photos

• Easy to spot each other in dark rooms

Plus, escape rooms often offer discounts or freebies for group bookings—another reason to coordinate.

🔦 8. Flashlight or Small Light

Tags: #flashlight #lighting #escapeevent

While many escape rooms are dimly lit for effect, bringing a small flashlight (or even a penlight) can help illuminate obscure clues—especially if your eyes struggle in low light.

Best Options:

• Compact LED flashlight

• Headlamp (if allowed)

• Light-up keychain

Be sure to ask the staff if using a flashlight is permitted, as some escape rooms don’t allow external devices inside.

📱 9. Phone (for Emergency Use)

Tags: #phone #emergency #escapeevent

Most escape rooms require you to lock your phone away during the game, but having it before and after is important.

Why You Need It:

• GPS for locating the venue

• Emergency calls

• Photos after the session

• Access to booking confirmation

Enable battery saver mode or bring a portable charger just in case.

🧾 10. Event Confirmation

Tags: #confirmation #booking #escapeevent

Don’t forget to bring your event confirmation or booking email—especially if it includes a QR code for check-in.

Helpful Items:

• Digital ticket or email

• Printout if required

• Group code if attending with a team

It’s your golden key to enter and start your quest!

🎯 Bonus: How to Win at an Escape Room

Once you're packed and ready, sharpen your gameplay with these pro tips:

✅ Communicate Openly

Say everything you see or notice out loud. One teammate’s discovery might match another’s observation.

✅ Delegate Roles

Assign someone to manage the notepad, one to keep time, and others to search, solve, or organize.

✅ Don't Fixate

If you’re stuck for more than five minutes on one puzzle, move on and revisit later with fresh eyes.

✅ Ask for Clues

Escape rooms usually offer 2–3 hints per game—don’t be afraid to use them strategically.

✅ Keep Items in One Place

Create a “clue corner” to store keys, locks, and discovered tools. It keeps your space organized and reduces confusion.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who Should Try Escape Rooms?

Escape rooms aren’t just for puzzle geeks or thrill-seekers. They're ideal for:

• Friends and family gatherings

• Corporate team-building

• Birthday celebrations

• Date nights

• Bachelor or bachelorette parties

• Youth groups or clubs

Every room is different, offering themes like murder mystery, sci-fi, haunted mansions, ancient temples, or spy missions.

🧩 Popular Escape Room Themes

1. Heist Missions – Crack the vault and get out before the guards arrive.

2. Haunted Houses – Solve the mystery of a ghostly presence.

3. Time Travel – Fix the past to preserve the future.

4. Jailbreak – Escape from a locked cell with only your wits.

5. Sci-Fi Spaceship Crisis – Navigate puzzles in zero gravity.

6. Fantasy Quests – Search for magical artifacts or mythical creatures.

7. Murder Mystery – Become a detective with only 60 minutes to solve the crime.

🎉 Post-Escape Room Activities

Celebrate your victory (or laugh at your defeat) with post-game fun:

• Grab food or coffee with your team

• Post your group photo with a quirky caption

• Leave a review for the escape room

• Start planning your next challenge!

📋 Final Packing Checklist

🧠 Fun Fact

Did you know? The first real-life escape room was created in 2007 in Kyoto, Japan, inspired by “escape-the-room” video games.

Today, there are over 50,000 escape rooms worldwide—and that number’s growing fast!

📲 Share the Experience

Once you’re done, be sure to share the fun online with photos and your team’s results. Use and follow hashtags like:

Tags:
#comfortableshoes #escape #puzzle #watch #timer #escapechallenge #notepad #pen #puzzlesolving #snacks #energybars #escapeactivity #waterbottle #hydration #comfortableclothing #flexibility #teamwork #matchinggear #flashlight #lighting #phone #emergency #confirmation #booking #escapeevent