Borg Supplies

Build your borg

A borg is four moves: grab a jug, name it with your generated borg name, fill it with a funnel and your ingredients, and stock a few things so you feel better tomorrow. Here's the gear we actually reach for, top to bottom.

1. The jug

The whole thing is named after it — the gallon. One clear plastic gallon jug per person is the standard pour, so everyone can see what's left and pace to it. Pick a tier and go.

Budget pick — the basic gallon

A plain, single clear gallon jug with a screw cap. This is the no-frills standard: cheap enough to grab a few, see-through so the contents (and how much is gone) read at a glance, and a smooth side that takes a marker well. If you just want a jug that works for one night, start here. Check price on Amazon.

Mid tier — handle & wide mouth

A sturdier gallon with a molded carry handle and a wider mouth. The handle means you can actually carry it one-handed across a crowded yard, and the wide mouth makes pouring and adding ice far less of a mess. Reusable enough to survive more than one outing. The sweet spot for most people. Check price on Amazon.

Premium — insulated gallon

An insulated, double-wall gallon jug that keeps things cold for hours and won't sweat all over the table. It's the heaviest investment here, but if you reuse one all season — tailgates, St. Patrick's, the lake — it pays off and keeps your mix from going warm and flat by noon. Check price on Amazon.

2. Name it

This is the part that makes it yours: write your borg name across the front of the jug. Don't have one yet? Run the generator, screenshot the keeper, and copy it onto the jug. A named jug is the meme — and it's also how nobody grabs the wrong gallon.

Paint markers

Paint pens lay down bold, opaque lettering that pops on a clear jug and shows up in every photo. They come in bright colors, so your name reads from across the room and your jug never gets mixed up with anyone else's. The expressive option when you want the lettering to be part of the look. Check price on Amazon.

Sharpies

The classic. A pack of permanent markers is the cheapest, fastest way to label every jug at the party in one pass — hand them around and let everyone write their own borg name. They dry quick and won't smear once set. Keep a multipack on hand; they always walk off. Check price on Amazon.

3. Fill it

A gallon mouth and a full pour are a spill waiting to happen. A funnel fixes that, and a sleeve keeps the whole thing comfortable to hold once it's loaded.

Funnel set

A set of funnels in assorted sizes makes filling clean and fast — the wide one for water and mixers straight from the bottle, the narrow one for pouring in flavor drops and electrolytes without wearing them. Cheap, reusable, and the difference between a tidy counter and a sticky one. Get a set so there's always the right size. Check price on Amazon.

Jug sleeve

A neoprene sleeve slips over the gallon like an oversized koozie. It keeps a cold jug from numbing your hand and dripping condensation everywhere, adds grip so a full gallon doesn't slide loose, and gives the whole rig a finished look. A small upgrade that makes carrying a full gallon around all day genuinely nicer. Check price on Amazon.

4. Feel better tomorrow

Electrolyte packets & flavor drops

Half of a borg is water by design, and electrolyte packets are why — stir a packet into the mix and add a few flavor drops to make a gallon of plain water something you'll actually keep sipping. Hydration paced alongside everything else is the simplest way to feel better tomorrow. Grab a variety box so there's a flavor for everyone. Check price on Amazon.

Add-on: ZBiotics

ZBiotics is a genetically engineered probiotic drink you take before your first sip. It's a tidy little add to the lineup for anyone who likes to feel better tomorrow — one bottle, down it before you start, and carry on. We keep a few in the bag for the nights that run long. See the details and current price on their site. Shop ZBiotics.