What to Bring to Axe Throwing: A Practical Checklist (2026)

Most first-time axe throwers spend the week before their session worrying about technique they will never actually need. The throwing part takes ten minutes of coaching to get the hang of. The actual planning question -- the one that decides whether the night goes smoothly -- is what to put in the bag before you leave. ID requirements, BYOB rules, food policy, what the venue provides versus what they expect you to bring, and the small details that catch groups off guard. This guide covers the practical checklist that experienced throwers and group organizers have built over a few hundred sessions across the country.

If you are wondering specifically about clothing -- jackets, hoodies, what shirt to wear -- our what to wear guide covers the dress-code logic in detail. This guide is about everything else.

The Universal Bring List

This is the short version. The longer version of each item is below.

Personal Documents and Logistics

A photo ID. Every reputable axe throwing venue runs a waiver process that requires you to verify identity. Some scan your driver's license to auto-populate the waiver form, others ask you to enter the info manually. Either way, no ID means no throwing. If your group has a 12-year-old, they need a parent or guardian to sign their waiver in person -- no exceptions -- so the adult who is doing that signing needs ID.

For groups doing BYOB beer or wine, every adult drinking needs valid ID. Some venues spot-check, others ID everyone at the door. Bring it.

A signed waiver, completed in advance. Almost every chain (Bury the Hatchet, Stumpy's, Bad Axe, Urban Axes, Lumber-Jack's, etc.) has a digital waiver you can complete from your phone or laptop before arriving. The link usually comes in the reservation confirmation email. Sign it on the drive over. If your group of 12 walks in without waivers signed, expect 15 minutes of lobby time while everyone fumbles through it. With waivers pre-signed, the same group walks straight to the lanes.

Your reservation confirmation. Have it on your phone. Walk-in venues do not need this, but for booked lanes, having the confirmation visible avoids any "we don't see your booking" friction. Forward it to one or two other people in your group as a backup in case your phone dies.

Cash for tips. Axe throwing coaches typically work tips into their compensation. A $5-$10 per person tip for a coach who has spent an hour with your group is standard. Some venues bake gratuity into the package price (check the booking page), others do not. Cash tips reliably reach the coach; card tips often go into a pool. If your coach was actively engaged and the night went well, a cash tip means a lot.

Payment for the bar or merchandise tab. Venues with on-site bars or food run typical restaurant tab dynamics -- credit cards fine, some take cash only. Merchandise (axe throwing branded merch, league tournament shirts) often only sells in person and only in cash or card. Bring both options.

Footwear and Clothing You Must Wear (Not Pack)

Closed-toe shoes. Every dedicated axe throwing venue requires closed-toe shoes. Sandals, flip-flops, slides, open-toe heels, Crocs in mode-down -- all rejected at the door. Some venues are stricter than others. Sneakers, boots, loafers, oxfords, hiking shoes, work boots -- all fine.

This is the single most common reason people get turned away or sent to the corner store before throwing. If you are coming straight from a summer dinner, plan ahead.

For the full dress code logic, see our what to wear guide.

A sweatshirt or layer. Most indoor axe throwing venues run the room intentionally cool. Throwing is physical, the coaches and staff are moving constantly, and warm rooms make for sluggish lanes. For throwers, that means you start the session warm in long sleeves, you end the session warm without them. Bring a layer you can shed and pick back up.

Hair tied back if applicable. Long hair plus an axe throwing release motion is a coordination problem. If your hair is long enough to swing into your sightline mid-throw, tie it back. A spare hair tie in the bag is a good idea -- they always disappear.

BYOB Logistics (When the Venue Allows It)

Many axe throwing venues are intentionally BYOB. Some have full bars. Some have neither. The booking confirmation should specify, but the rough national landscape:

Likely BYOB: Most Bury the Hatchet locations, many Stumpy's locations, most independent neighborhood venues, mobile axe rigs at private events.

Full bar on-site: Most Urban Axes locations, larger multi-activity complexes (Supercharged, Apex, larger venues with attached restaurants), bar-focused independents.

Neither: Some smaller venues, certain mall-based locations, certain mobile setups.

If your venue is BYOB, the practical bring list:

• Beer, wine, or hard seltzer for the group. Most BYOB venues set a reasonable per-person quantity limit -- often something like a six-pack per person across a 2-hour session. Some venues do not specify but expect groups to drink responsibly. Hard liquor is almost universally banned at BYOB venues. Bring beer, wine, hard seltzer, or canned cocktails (RTDs).
• A cooler with ice. The venue does not store your beer; you do. A small cooler is the difference between cold beer and warm beer at minute 90.
• A bottle opener or corkscrew. Some venues have these behind the counter. Many do not. A $3 hand-held opener pays for itself the first time.
• Cups, koozies, or glassware if the venue does not provide them. Most BYOB venues stock plastic cups and koozies. Some leave you bringing your own. Confirm when you book.
• Trash awareness. BYOB venues run on the assumption that groups clean up after themselves. Tossing cans into the venue trash is fine; leaving an entire empty case under the lane bench is rude.

Drink-pacing rule. Almost every venue has the same rule: you can drink, but if you appear intoxicated, you stop throwing. Some venues run a hard two-or-three-drink limit during throwing time, others rely on staff judgment. Either way, axe throwing rewards being sharp -- the people having the most fun are not the ones drinking the most. Bring less than you think you need.

For more on the bar-and-axe combo, see our axe throwing bars guide.

Food: BYO, Venue-Provided, or Order In

The food situation varies widely. Three categories:

Venue with on-site food. Order off the menu. Bring nothing food-wise. This is the simplest scenario. Examples: Supercharged Edison's Burgers and Brews, Urban Axes' bar menus, larger complexes with restaurants.

BYO-food venues. Many smaller and independent venues let you bring outside food. Pizza delivery during a session, a charcuterie board, a birthday cake -- all routinely allowed. Confirm when booking. For a 2-hour session, having food on the lane bench keeps the energy up and keeps groups from getting too drunk on BYOB drinks.

Mid-session food breaks. If the venue does not allow outside food and does not serve food, plan a pre-or-post-throwing dinner. Most venues sit within five minutes of a restaurant cluster. Some groups deliberately keep the throwing session to an hour, then go to dinner after.

The bring list, if you are doing BYO-food:

• A charcuterie board, snack platter, or pizzas. Group-friendly food that does not require a fork and plate.
• Plates, napkins, and a knife if needed. Some venues provide these, many do not.
• A trash bag. Lane attendants will appreciate you bagging up the food trash separately.

Birthday Parties: The Additional Bring List

Birthday parties have their own checklist. If you booked a birthday package, the venue typically provides a private lane, dedicated coach, and lane time. They almost never provide:

• Cake. Bring it. Most venues have a small fridge they will store it in until cake time, others don't. Confirm before.
• Candles, lighter, plates, forks. Bring them. The venue is not stocked for birthdays.
• Decorations. Most venues allow lane decorations within reason -- balloons, a small banner. Confetti and crepe paper streamers are sometimes restricted because they create cleanup. Confirm before.
• Party favors. If you want to send kids home with a small bag, bring it.
• A music playlist. Birthday lanes often allow Bluetooth speaker connections. Have a playlist ready.
• A camera, phone with charger, or designated photographer. Birthday party photos in axe lanes look incredible on social media. Designate one person to handle photos so the birthday kid is captured throwing.

For birthday-specific planning, see our birthday party guide.

Bachelorette and Bachelor Party Bring List

Bachelorette and bachelor parties extend the regular list with:

• Sashes, tiaras, or themed accessories. Most venues allow these. Confetti and breakable props are sometimes restricted.
• Custom T-shirts or jerseys for the group. Bachelorette throwing photos in matching shirts photograph beautifully.
• Prosecco or wine if the venue is BYOB. With glasses or solo cups.
• A schedule for the rest of the night. If axes is one of three stops in the evening, the group organizer should have the next two locations confirmed, with rideshare or transit pre-arranged.
• A backup plan for late arrivals. With 12 people, two will inevitably be late. Designate someone to greet them at the door and walk them to the lane.

For bachelor and bachelorette planning at scale, see our bachelor and bachelorette guide.

Corporate Offsite Bring List

Corporate offsites bring different requirements. Coordinated by HR or an event planner, the bring list often becomes:

• Pre-signed waivers for everyone. HR should coordinate digital waiver completion 1-2 days before the event. Saves 20 minutes of lobby check-in chaos.
• Name tags. If departments are mixing for the first time, name tags help. Cheap, fast, friction-reducing.
• A printed bracket or schedule. The venue runs the bracket logistics but a printed copy on the team table reduces "what lane are we on" questions.
• A prize or trophy. Engraved trophies, gift cards, or themed prizes for the winning team. Order in advance.
• Cards for the company tab. Whoever the booker is should have a card ready for the lane reservation, food, and BYOB sign-off if applicable.
• A schedule that includes downtime. A 25-person team doing a 2-hour axe session does not throw axes continuously. There is rotation. Build in 15 minutes of bench time for each group across the hour.

For corporate event planning at scale, see our corporate team building guide and our large groups guide.

Date Night Bring List

A date is the lowest-effort bring list:

• ID, waiver done, closed-toe shoes.
• A six-pack or bottle of wine if BYOB.
• A reservation if it is a Friday or Saturday night.
• Cash for the coach tip.

The actual date logistics tend to be solved by where dinner is -- before or after, walking distance or short drive. For date-night planning beyond the bring list, see our date night guide.

What You Should NOT Bring

A short list of things that will get rejected or cause friction:

• Your own axes. Even competition-grade axes are rejected at most venues. You throw their axes -- they are sharpened, maintained, weight-matched to the lanes, and insured. Bringing your own creates safety, liability, and consistency problems. The exception is league night at some dedicated venues where regular members bring their own; that does not apply to a first-time or casual session.
• Glass bottles in BYOB-friendly venues. Cans, plastic bottles, or sealed boxed wine are usually fine. Glass bottles are universally banned in BYOB venues because of the broken-glass risk on a hard floor with sharp objects nearby.
• Hard liquor. Almost universally banned at BYOB venues. Beer, wine, hard seltzer, canned cocktails -- yes. Bottle of whiskey -- no.
• Children under the age minimum. Most venues set 10-13 as the minimum age. Showing up with an 8-year-old expecting to throw is a non-starter. Some venues offer non-throwing observer arrangements for younger siblings; confirm in advance.
• Pets. Almost no venues allow pets. Service animals are an exception with the standard documentation.
• Outside alcohol at venues with full bars. If the venue has a bar, they almost certainly do not allow BYOB on top of it. This is the most-violated rule by first-time groups. Read the booking page before stuffing a backpack with beer.

A Pre-Session Time Buffer

The single most useful thing a group can bring is time. Arriving 15 minutes before your reservation gets you through waivers, restroom stops, locker pickup, and coach introductions without rushing. Arriving five minutes before means you start late and lose lane time. Arriving 30 minutes early means you sit in the lobby. The 15-minute buffer is the sweet spot.

For 12-person groups, the 20-minute buffer is more realistic. Someone is always running late.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to bring my own beer to BYOB venues?

You do not have to drink, but if you want beer or wine, you bring it. The venue does not stock alcohol if it is BYOB.

Can I bring hard liquor or pre-made cocktails?

Hard liquor is almost universally banned at BYOB venues. Canned ready-to-drink cocktails (Cutwater, High Noon, NUTRL) are typically allowed because they are low-ABV and pre-mixed. Open spirits bottles are not.

Does the venue have a fridge?

Most do not have a fridge for customer drinks. Bring a cooler with ice for BYOB. The coolers go under the lane bench and stay out of the throwing area.

Can I bring an axe-throwing-themed cake?

Yes -- bakeries do excellent axe-throwing themed cakes and venues almost universally allow them. Confirm whether the venue has a fridge for the cake before, or plan for it to sit on the lane bench.

Should I bring my own gloves?

Most venues do not require gloves and many actively discourage them because they affect grip release. If you have a hand injury or sensitive skin, ask the venue coach before throwing.

What if I forget my ID?

You likely cannot throw, and you definitely cannot drink. Bring it.

Do I need to bring closed-toe shoes if I'm wearing them?

You need to wear them. You do not need to pack a spare pair unless you want to change before or after.

Do I need to bring water?

Most venues provide water. If you are particular about hydration, a refillable bottle is fine.

Can I bring my phone for photos?

Yes. Phones are welcome. The throwing lanes have safety zones -- photos and video are taken from behind the throwing line, not in front of it.

Is tipping required?

Tipping is appreciated and standard for engaged coaches. $5-$10 per person for a 1-2 hour session is the norm.

The Pre-Session Checklist

Before leaving the house, run through this list:

• [ ] Photo ID
• [ ] Waiver signed digitally (check the email)
• [ ] Wearing closed-toe shoes
• [ ] Reservation confirmation on phone
• [ ] Cash for tips
• [ ] BYOB drinks if applicable (cooler, opener, cups)
• [ ] Snacks or food if BYO-friendly
• [ ] Birthday extras (cake, candles, decorations) if applicable
• [ ] Phone charged
• [ ] Sweatshirt or layer
• [ ] 15-minute time buffer in the drive plan

If those eleven items are accounted for, the rest of the night runs itself.

The Small-Bag Philosophy

Experienced axe throwers travel light. The standard kit is a small drawstring bag or backpack with a six-pack, an opener, a phone charger, and maybe a hair tie. Everything else either comes from the venue (axes, lane time, coaching, often glassware) or from your wallet (food, tips, merchandise). The mistake first-timers make is overpacking -- bringing food the venue does not allow, bringing axes they will not be allowed to use, bringing a multi-day cooler for a 90-minute session.

The actual product is simple: small steel in clean wood, with friends watching you do it for the first time, in a room that smells like fresh pine and (sometimes) hops. Everything you bring should serve that, and almost everything you bring is optional except the ID, the closed-toe shoes, the waiver, and the time buffer to enjoy it.

Browse our full venue directory to find venues near you, check our what to wear guide for the dress code logic, and read our beginner's guide for first-throw expectations. For the bar-friendly venue subset, see our axe throwing with bar filter.