Prepare for the Upside Down: How to Build Your Own Stranger Things Toolkit
Everything you need to survive demogorgon hunting!
With the new season of Stranger Things dropping in a few weeks, you might be thinking about what you’d need to brace yourself for an impending apocalypse. Think about it: pretend you’ve gone back in time to Hawkins, Indiana and it’s the mid 1980s. You and your friends live a pretty normal life playing Dungeons & Dragons, riding bikes, and working at the ice cream shop at the local mall, when things turn upside down–literally–and demogorgons start invading your town. Well, best to be prepared!
We put together a list of the things you should make sure to have on hand should this ever happen. You can use a vintage metal lunchbox or tackle box to hold all your items. (In all seriousness, this toolkit is a great addition as a decorative prop for a Stranger Things watch party as you binge seasons 1-4 in preparation for the drop!) Make it your own, and get creative! Here’s what we’re putting in our Stranger Things toolkit:
Walkie-talkies
A no-brainer. Remember, kids in the 1980s didn’t have cell phones, so the coolest way to keep in touch was with walkie-talkies two-way radios. Just remember to brush up on your radio code lingo. (Of course, if you want to hold onto your smartphone, this cool case might make you feel a bit retro!)
Walkman
Believe it or not, it’s not that difficult to find a Walkman these days. But you’ll need it–with a corresponding Kate Bush cassette–for your survival through the Upside Down.
D&D dice
Dungeons & Dragons may be a tabletop game, but you can bring your dice anywhere. Your toolkit should include a set, in case you get bored while on a stakeout or need to do some in the moment role playing to strategize your next move.
Polaroid camera
You’ll need to document your experiences–otherwise nobody will believe you. A polaroid camera is a low-tech solution with instant results.
Christmas lights or fairy lights
There’s no better way than to communicate with someone in the Upside Down from the real world, as we learned from Joyce Byers. Having a light source on hand means you’ll always have contact.
Eggo waffles
Frozen Eggo waffles are a perfect snack food at any time of day. They also travel well and keep fresh for long periods of time, which we know from watching Hopper leave them in a box in the woods for Eleven to find.
1980s retro candy
Look, you’re going to need sustenance and those Eggos might not be enough. Pack your toolkit with all the 80s retro candy you can find: Pop Rocks, Laffy Taffy, Reese’s Pieces, Twizzlers, etc. Remember the chalky taste of a Bazooka gum? The tart perfection of a box of Nerds? All that sugar is bound to get you through a day of demogorgon-fighting.
Notebook and pencil
Channel your inner Nancy and make sure you have a reporter’s notebook and pencil or pen handy. You’ll need to take notes on everything you see.
Compass
A compass is essential for your journey: it’s the only piece of tech that will work in the real world AND in the Upside Down. When you need to find your way home–or to the next portal–a compass will be your guide. Get yourself a friend like Dustin who knows how to read it–even his Funko Pop doll comes with a compass!
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