Festival essentials

Ah, festival season – the magical time of year when music lovers, party-goers, ravers and mosh-pit fanatics unite for an unforgettable experience, creating unforgettable memories. No matter if you’re gearing up for a weekend-long camping extravaganza or a day-long city bash, packing the right stuff can turn a good time into a great time. Of course, you’ll need the festival essentials like your ticket, ID and money but what about other festival necessities? We’re talkin’ hats, bags, sunnies and a few other festival must-haves. Whether it's set to be scorching hot, pouring with rain or a mixture of both – we love you, unpredictable British weather – you can get your act together early thanks to yours truly. Follow our guide and you'll rock up to your arena or field fully equipped for every outcome. Oh and we might just have mic-droppin’ deals on festival essentials, so stay tuned, movers and groovers…


Festival packing list

Wondering what to bring to a festival? Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up heaps of festival essentials that you’ll need to take with you and popped them onto a festival packing list so you can tick ‘em all off in one go. And even though some of these might sound far-fetched, trust us, they’re the festival necessities you’d be lost without *cough* bog roll *cough*. So, without further ado, we introduce to you, our festival packing checklist…

In your bum bag:

- Ticket
- ID
- Phone
- Cash and bank/credit card
- House keys
- SPF *an absolute must!*
- Lip balm
- Any make-up for touch ups
- Compact mirror
- Vapour rub (it'll block nasty loo smells!)
- Mints
- Small snacks
- Tissues/toilet roll
- Hand sanitiser
- Reusable water bottle (clip-ons are great)
- Hair bobbles
- Mini fan
- Portable charger
- Phone charger lead
- Optional: disposable camera (shop our top pick)
- Optional: a Shewee or Travel Jane
- Optional: hip flask or tinnies

In your backpack:

- Trousers
- Socks (take two pairs for each day)
- Pants
- Cosy socks to sleep in (your toes will thank you)
- Extra bra (plus a strapless one if needed)
- Evening 'fits (think sparkles, tassels, prints!)
- Warm sweatshirt or hoodie
- Waterproof jacket or poncho *do not forget this!*
- Jacket to layer up in the evenings
- Pair of shorts
- Leggings/jeans (festivals can get pretty chilly)
- T-shirts (pack one per day)
- Dresses (pick portaloo-friendly ones if poss)
- Full-length PJs
- Hat (bucket, baseball, cosy or cowboy)
- Wellies
- Sliders of flip-flops to wear around your tent
- Trainers that you can get muddy or dusty
- Sunglasses (we think the jazzier the better)
- Bikini/swimsuit for hot days and showering
- Accessories/jewellery to elevate your looks

In your camping kit:

- Festival tent (buy ‘one man’ bigger in size)
- Roll mat, camping mat or airbed
- Camping pillow (don't scrimp on this)
- Sleeping bag
- Lightweight, foldable camping chair
- Water holder for refills/showering
- Tent light (trust us, it's surprisingly handy!)
- Ground sheet (unless your tent has one)
- Food and drink (breakfast bars = the best)
- Bin bags for rubbish/wet clothes and towels
- Camping towel
- Optional: flag (to help you find your tent)
- Optional: camping stove
- Optional: camping cookware
- Optional: Aeropress and coffee
- Optional: trolley for heavy items
- Optional: camping washing line
- Optional: canopy/gazebo
- Optional: small torch with batteries
- Optional: spare tent pegs
- Optional: travel speaker

In your toiletry bag:

- Make-up (ft. biodegradable glitter)
- Cleanser, toner, moisturiser etc.
- Mirror
- Biodegradable make-up remover wipes
- Dry shampoo (or regular if you're showering)
- Hairbrush
- SPF *an absolute must!*
- Sunscreen
- Aftersun (to soothe any sunburn)
- Deodorant
- Perfume/body spray
- Eye mask (it’ll get sunny very early!)
- Ear plugs
- Biodegradable baby wipes (take two packs)
- Toilet roll or biodegradable wipes
- Toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash
- Period products
- Insect repellent
- Hay fever tablets
- Painkillers (two packs, just to be safe)
- Plasters (you'll be walking and dancing loads)
- Any daily medication
- Mini shower gel if you plan on showering



Festival bags

If you’re dancing all night, you’re gonna wanna go hands free with a crossbody or bum bag to store your festival essentials: wallet, bog roll, lip balm (y’know, the festival must-haves). Stand out in the crowd whilst still being practical with these field-tastic finds from yours truly. And if you’re looking for a big-brand backpack to store all your festival necessities, you can bag one of them right here too.



Festival sunglasses

Another one to add to the festival essentials list: sunnies. Gotta protect those peepers while you’re two-stepping in the sun, right? We’ve been eyeing up these festival sunglasses and they’re pretty spectacular, if we do say so ourselves. So why not grab a pair for you, your brother Drew and your best mate Sue? C’mon, at these prices, it’d be rude not to. *Mic drop*.



Festival hats

You know what is so 2003? Sunburn and heatstroke. Avoid a festival season mishap with the festival essential of all festival essentials: the humble hat. Big-brand bucket hat? Cool cap? Fancy fedora? Yep, yep and yep. At these prices, you can get your hands (and heads) on every kinda style and it’ll still be waaaay cheaper than your fezzie ticket. Just don’t forget lashings of sun cream from a top label (we’ve got that too, for less).