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All the Gear You Might Need During the

Coronavirus Pandemic

rex ndzi
Apr 7 · 8 min read

It’s a scary time to go shopping. There are shortages of all sorts of odds
and ends, and knowing what you actually need to get you through the
Covid-19 pandemic can feel super stressful. The WIRED Gear team has
spent the past few days talking to experts (as well as among ourselves),
and have come up with this master guide to everything you might need
right now (and a few things you should avoid buying for the sake of the
greater good).

DISCOVER THE HIDDEN TRUTH ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS

Need more information? Be sure to check out our full coverage of all things
Covid-19, and to pay attention to any new information coming from the
Centers for Disease Control and other reliable sources.

If you buy something using the links in our stories, we may earn a small
affiliate commission. Here’s how this works. You can also support our
reporting and reviewing by purchasing a 1-year print + digital WIRED
subscription for $5 (Discounted). Updated March 27: We’ve added more
retailers so you have more options and replaced links for items that are out
of stock.

First thing’s first: Know when you might be sick.

Symptoms of the Coronavirus include fever, cough, and shortness of

breath. It can also cause body aches, coughing, nasal congestion, runny
nose, and sore throat. A lack of these symptoms alone does not mean you
are free of the virus. Many who get Coronavirus show few or no symptoms,
which is why we recommend following these recommendations from the
CDC on how to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Stay home (especially if you’re sick) unless you absolutely need to

leave.

If you are out and about, keep your distance from others (about six
feet). Avoid groups of 10 or more.

Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough (into your elbow
or use a tissue).

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Frequently. You can use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol if
you’re on the go.

Clean and disinfect areas in your home you frequently touch.

Food and Supplies You (Might) Need

Frankly, the most necessary supplies are things you should already have
on hand: Food, water, and a warm place to sleep. It’s also a good idea to
make sure you have basic emergency supplies on hand.

Water Purifier: You don’t need to panic-buy a bunch of bottled water

to reach the recommended two weeks of water in any emergency kit.
It’s just a lot of wasted plastic. It’s unlikely anything will happen to your
water supply. The easiest method? Snag a Pur water pitcher ( Walmart,
Target) to filter your water if you’re nervous. It’s also nice to have a
Lifestraw stashed somewhere safe; it’ll be good enough for most
emergencies. The straw is selling out fast so this Lifestraw bottle is
another alternative ( Amazon, Target).

A Month of Needed Medications or Baby Supplies: Don’t forget to

refill medications, pick up baby stuff like diapers, or snag other
monthly-use items you might forget about, like toothpaste, toilet paper
(please don’t go nuts), shampoo, or anything you are extremely low on
right now.

DISCOVER THE HIDDEN TRUTH ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS

Stuff You Definitely Don’t Need

Please do not buy more than a few weeks’ worth of supplies at a time.
Panic-buying massive amounts of toilet paper and cleaning supplies won’t
make this problem better, and it might hurt those in need. Grocery stores
are already struggling to keep up with demand for some items as everyone
panics and buys too much. Try not to strain the system further or some
people in your community won’t have access to items they need.

No Face Masks (Unless You’re Sick): Wearing a face mask does

offer some protection from Covid-19, but you’re better off washing your
hands instead of buying them in bulk. There’s a shortage of these
masks right now and buying them means you’re taking them away from
medical professionals and actual sick people who need face masks
most. Please don’t buy a mask unless a medical professional
recommends it to you.

No Hoarding an Insane Amount of Anything: You don’t need to

stockpile survival supplies or prepare for nuclear winter. Just try to limit
your close exposure to others, wash your hands, and avoid touching
your face. Keeping normal supply streams running where they need to
go is a good way to help everyone else.

Gear to Feel a Little Calmer at Home

Navigating something like Covid-19 can cause stress and anxiety among
even the most level-headed people. It’s important to take good care of
yourself-in no small part because stress takes a toll on your immune
system. Do whatever you can to relax if you have time, whether that’s
hanging out on the couch with your kids or taking your pup for a walk. We
have some tips on how to stay social at home, but here are some products
that help us chill out.

DISCOVER THE HIDDEN TRUTH ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS

If Your Kids Are Stuck in the House

If you have small children, odds are you’ve spent the past week or so
panic-buying Legos and tiny trampolines on Amazon. We have a few
suggestions for you here, but we’ve also assembled a bigger list of gear to
make this time with your kiddos more fun. Be sure to read our full guide on
How to Entertain Your Young Children During a Quarantine for more ideas!

Pillage Your Closet: Nearly every parent that WIRED’s Senior Writer
Adrienne So spoke to used goods around the house for crafts. Washi
tape, cardboard boxes, and recycle bins were all mentioned, but she
liked the versatility of wrapping paper (plus the fact that many of us
always have extra on hand). You probably have some scissors and glue
around. Go to town!

Puro Sound Labs’ BT2200 Kids Headphones for $68 (Amazon,

Walmart): There are only so many times you can listen to Baby Shark
during the workday. We like these headphones to protect their tiny ears
and keep kiddos quiet while you take an urgent conference call.

DISCOVER THE HIDDEN TRUTH ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS

DISCOVER THE HIDDEN TRUTH ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS

If You’re Working From Home

If office and school closures have you suddenly working from home, there’s
some gear that can make the job easier. As a mostly remote team, WIRED’s
Gear writers have nailed down a routine for getting work done without
becoming too distracted-or distraught. For more ideas, check out our
Remote Workers Gift Guide. This story on working from home without
losing your mind may be helpful as well. Here are a few of our favorite
tools:

Mr Coffee OneTouch Coffeehouse Espresso Maker and

Cappucino Machine for $255 (Walmart, Amazon ($255)): If you
can’t get your caffeine fix because the coffee shops nearby are closed,
then this is a machine that can help, and it’s also our top pick in our
guide to the Best Espresso and Latte Machines. If you want to make the
best espresso in the comfort of your own home, then splurge on the
Breville Barista Pro, our upgrade pick. But consider how much you’ll
make caffeinated drinks as this one’s $900.

Noise-Canceling Headphones: If your home is noisy, a good pair of

noise-canceling headphones will help you concentrate. The best
models, like the Sony WH1000XM3 ($278, $72 off right now from
Amazon, Walmart), are a few hundred bucks, but you can find good
headphones for less than $100, too.

DISCOVER THE HIDDEN TRUTH ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS

These Services Are Discounted or Free Right Now

Whether you’re ordering in while working or trying to remotely connect

with your colleagues, a few companies are offering discounts or other
perks during the pandemic. We also have a roundup about the companies
and nonprofits helping to fight the pandemic.

If You Need Something to Do

On the upside, now’s the perfect time to hunker down and read, play, or
watch all the things that you’ve been meaning to! Here are a few of the
WIRED Staff’s favorite things right now:

Videogames: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s expansive

game world ( Amazon, Best Buy) and rich story make it an excellent
choice for anyone with a lot of time on their hands. Stardew Valley (
Amazon, Best Buy), on the other hand, has a smaller focus. You take on
the role of a character restoring an old farm and living in an idyllic
country town. It’s relaxing, engrossing, and the soundtrack slaps. We’d
also be remiss we didn’t mention our staff’s current obsession with The
Witcher franchise ( Amazon, Best Buy). Looking for something free?
Pokemon Go has also changed its rules to be more indoor-friendly. We
also rounded up all the games we at WIRED are playing , and have
recommendations on educational games for kids along with mobile
 games to play on your phone if you don’t have a console.

Co-op videogames: If you’re stuck in the house with family or

roommates, consider local multiplayer games like Lovers in a
Dangerous Spacetime or Jackbox to pass the time. If not, there are
plenty of great online multiplayer titles to keep you entertained like
Overwatch, Final Fantasy XIV, and the new Animal Crossing: New
Horizons. We have a guide for some of the best games to play right now
while stuck indoors, and if you want more options, check out our guides
to the Best PS4 Games, Best Xbox One Games, and Best Switch Games.

Movies and TV: The new season of Netflix’s Ugly Delicious dives into
more than just regional delicacies-the first episode is actually a very
compelling hour on acclaimed chef David Chang’s transition to
parenthood. We’ve also been liking the new Star Trek: Picard, despite
the fact that it requires a CBS All-Access subscription. If you’re looking
for something longer, check out , a star-studded murder mystery that
just showed up on Amazon. Already seen them? Senior Correspondant
Adam Rogers says you’ve got to go international: offers great spy
action set in South Africa, and The Ghost Bride is paranormal romance
mystery in 1930s Macao.

Board Games: Board games like The Grimm Forest and others can be
a great way to keep your mind off of being stuck inside. Check out our
full guide to recent favorites.

Break a Sweat and Work Out: Now’s a great time to get outdoors
and go running or cycling (in less populated areas), and also a good
time to get a bike trainer or Yoga Mat and embrace the trend of smarter
at-home fitness. If you’re used to logging steps or miles on a treadmill,
consider nabbing a fitness tracker to pair with your running gear on
outdoor adventures. Looking for inspiration? Check out our story on
how WIRED’s Editor-In-Chief Nicholas Thompson started running faster
in his forties.

Watch, Listen, or Stream Anew!

If you’re stuck at home, now might be a good time to consider upgrading

your home theater, audio setup, or smart home tech. After all, there’s
never more time to futz around with TV mounts or your old record
collection than now. Be sure to check out our lists of the Best Smart
Speakers, prettiest TVs, and easiest to use streaming devices if you need
more inspiration.

WIRED is providing free access to stories about public health and how to
protect yourself during the coronavirus pandemic. Sign up for our
Coronavirus Update newsletter for the latest updates, and subscribe to
support our journalism.

DISCOVER THE HIDDEN TRUTH ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS

More From WIRED on Covid-19

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Originally published at https://www.wired.com.

Coronavirus Pandemic

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