Festival Essentials You’ll Actually Need

You’ve bought your ticket to the festival, looked over the lineup and you’ve started to stock with festival essentials. Here’s the ultimate packing checklist to help you get your festival packing like an expert. You’ll be thankful in the future.

Everyone has been through it. You were able to plan your ticket months years ahead of time. Then you arrive in the evening of the festival with only a ticket, a empty bag as well… nothing else.

Although the notion to “winging it” when packing your festival bag using just a couple of pairs of underwear as well as a tent that pops up may seem like a good idea, it’s actually not that effective in the real world (trust me I’ve done it).

This is the reason I’ve put together the ultimate festival packing checklist to help you conquer the summer’s festival season like the pros.

Why Do I Even Need A Festival Packing List?

I’ve been to festivals for longer than I’d like to admit (nine If your insist). Some are boiling hot, others freezing cold, throughout Europe, the UK, Europe, and further away.

What is the common thread that binds them the whole? A little preparation can go a long, far way. Sure , there are some tricks for music festivals available but they only get you so far.

It’s dependent on you if you’re ready for the task of carrying these massive trolleys over seemingly endless distances However, spending some time preparing and packing prior to your departure will make your life much easier.

This is the ultimate list of things to pack for your festival to help you get ready for the next festival.

An Essential Packing List

Your Tickets

It’s the first on the list of top festival kits, since (it almost seems obvious) it’s the top thing on the list. Make sure you have your festival tickets.

There’s nothing more frustrating than bringing all of your equipment to the festival , only to realize that your ticket is in a gleeful spot on the kitchen table at home.

Money + Credit Cards

Love for festivals usually doesn’t beget complimentary food, drinks, and all the other festival items necessary to keep your day.

Take some cash along with cards for additional withdrawals.

Tent

It’s a given that you should have the tent you’ve chosen to include in your kit for your festival (unless you’ve hired one already erected that is, of course). It’s fair to say that all tents are made equal.

Be sure to get one which is large enough to be able to sit in. I once slept in an outdoor tent that was too low, I was forced to crawl into it from a near horizontal position. This made dressing very difficult, and it became quite exhausting after just five days.

If you’d like to be a complete baller, buy the tent you are able to stand in (though due to the weight and dimensions, it’s a good idea to share tents that are larger with a couple of other individuals).

No matter what size you pick the porch will be worth the price in the event of a breakfast-after-coffee-fuelled conversations with your friends in the rain (or scorching hot and bright) outside.

Sleeping Bag

Similar to tents, it might be tempting to pick the most affordable sleeping bag on your list of camping options for your music festival and leave it at that. In the end, what’s the most dangerous thing that could occur…

It’s like you’re spending your entire night shivering your tits off and dreaming about the warm, cozy comfortable, soft, cozy mattress at home. It’s a sleeping bag the next step.
Find a good sleeping bag and make sure that you’re warm and cozy when the temperature dips as the sun sets.

Sleeping Mat / Airbed

I’ve never thought about the purpose behind those extremely thin mats for sleeping. This is because they’re ineffective at the single thing they’re made to stop your body from feeling as if you’re sleeping on the floor.

Get a bigger sleeping mat or head out and purchase an airbed (and an air pump and don’t forget to bring your pump!). I’m sleeping on a mat but recently changed to an airbed as I’m a diva with no shame.

Inflatable Pillow

It’s OTT to take a huge feather pillow (and it’s likely you’ll receive lots of snark from your fellow travelers as well).

Make sure you have an inflatable cushion They’re more comfortable than resting your head on your dirty clothes.

Eyemask

Not just to look as if you’re a model reclining on a chaise lounge. Eye masks can be great to help you get the extra hours of rest to feel like an (kind kind of) completely functioning person. You’ll need all the support that you can receive in this regard make sure to add it to your list of festival essentials as soon as you can.

Earplugs

You’ve made friends with the men who have camped right near you. They’re funny, cool and awesome… till you’re forced to hear them bawling on while all you would like to do is go to sleep.

Reusable Water Bottle

Alcohol can be fun, but it won’t keep you well-hydrated (even cider is basically water, but much more delicious).

Use a reusable water bottle to drink it continuously as well as refilling it. You’ll be thankful for it when you wake up in the morning. Bobble Bottles can filter your water in a way that is automatic Metal bottles are strong and durable. In either case, you just need to ensure that you keep track of when you use the item.

Portable Battery Pack

The portable battery pack has advanced a lot over the past few years. Find one that is compact enough to be able to fit into the bum bag, but large enough to keep you going through the festival. Do not forget a charger, waiting for a fee is tedious and a complete wasted time.

Phone

In the event that you find yourself separated from your loved ones and aren’t sure where are. Who wouldn’t like to be the person who shouts out every single thing they see in a desperate attempt to aid their friends in finding them.

The phone’s slings are essential to make sure you don’t drop your phone when you’re out dancing.
Torch

Handheld torch holders are fantastic. When you are ready to switch to head torch.

Head torchers do the same thing that hand-held torches can do however you don’t need to carry them around in your hands. The mind is blown.

Make sure to bring a torch for your head to ensure that you don’t wander off in returning to your tent.
Blanket

Blankets are a great way to shield yourself from elements. We require protection during those cold winter nights as well as to keep warm and cozy after a night spent dancing.

Duct Tape

I’m going to share with you a story of the night we spent at Glastonbury just a few years back. Don’t worry. It’s completely PG and 100% related to the reason why duct tape should be in your music festival camping list.

We were in bed in our tent when we were awakened by alarming shouts and lots of swearing. It turned out that the person who tripped had fallen over safety ropes (see the need for an emergency light source for the head) and fell into the tent across the street (and the sleepy inhabitants inside).

Then, not only was he disturbing our neighbors’ sleep and disturbed their sleep, but he also cut the roof of their tent. It was pouring rain because it was in the UK and it’s not uncommon to have an abundance of rain to make a difficult situation appear even more dire.

Luckily , our clever neighbors had duct tape and they put it back together and went to sleep in their warm and patched-up tent.

This is why you should use the use of duct tape. It’s also helpful for air mattresses that leak or bags that have been ripped or shoes that are deteriorating as well as emergency situations involving waxing.

Include a few rolls duct tape into your kit for festivals any moment that could prove useful.

Bin Bags

Bin bags are extremely useful during festivals. You’ve probably seen pictures of someone wearing one during a rainstorm and they’re also useful to sit on when the ground is wet, and also keeping the bag dry. Also you can also make them into bin bags too.

What Should You Not Pack for a Festival: Items that you can leave at home

Hair Straighteners

Rolls eyes. Do you really require them?

Gazebos

You’ll be annoyed when you’re forced to carry it around and they take up the camping space.

Glass Bottles

Different festivals have different rules regarding this, but generally speaking the only option is plastic.

Last but not least: A Very Important Festival Tips

Bring everything you own home. You’ve put in the effort (and invested the money) on purchasing things and bringing it home to take it home with you when you leave.