My dungeon master is helping me make a background. I'm following Jame's design workshop, and I wondered how  "practical" equipment is defined. I could also use some help brainstorming up a piece of this practical equipment that is unique to someone coming from the desert. 

Desert folk value water, warm bedding (desert nights are as cold as the days are hot), and domesticated animals. For equipment I would recommend adding a Waterskin (so the PC can start with 2), a Blanket (most pack only come with a bedroll) and possibly a Tent, two-person. For skills, I might suggest Animal Handling.

Whoa, thank you s much for the response. I thought about adding a waterskin, but I thought the character gets one in the equipment pack they choose; it is good to know I was on the right track. I also already added animal handling to the skill list. I have the unique item as a luck stone(stone of good luck), but I'm having trouble with the tooltip, can you help with it?

You mean Stone of Good Luck (Luckstone), the magic item worth approximately 500gp. That should not be included in a background. That’s why I suggest the tent, as a “unique item,” you might also consider a rain catcher.

Back in 2e I had a character die from dehydration, every character I have ever made since 1997ish carries 2 Waterskins.

I don’t think my guy is smart enough to use a rain catcher 😅

That doesn’t matter. This background isn’t being designed for one character, it’s being designed to fill a niche. This character just happens to plan on using it. Someone else in the party can use the rain catcher.