The Ultimate Music Festival Packing List: 20 Items You Need to Pack for Camping
Whether youโre headed to a music festival for the first time or a festival veteran, packing for an event can be overwhelming. You want to ensure you donโt forget anything important and to come out with a killer look. Iโm a true festival veteran, attending some of the biggest dance music and alternative events worldwide. Iโve learned the hard way over the years, and this article will give you the top 20 things that need to go on your music festival packing list, plus some top packing tips.ย
Why Do People Need a Music Festival Packing List in the First Place?
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy a festival. The air is sweeter, the sun is warmer, and there are more festivals than you can count. But how do you make the most out of your summer festival experience?
People look for ways to make their festival experience more enjoyable every year. Focusing on what you bring is a great way to ensure you have everything you need.
But what do you need to take to a festival? Most events donโt provide a music festival packing list, meaning that people might not know what they need and will carry unnecessary items.ย
People should always have a packing list for festival camping to reduce the eventโs stress and ensure they have everything they need for the campsite.ย
Top 20 Music Festival checklist for campingย
1) Ear plugs and eye mask
Depending on the festival, you could be sitting next to a rowdy crowd or in the middle of a deafening stage. Itโs always good to have earplugs on hand! Theyโre also great for protecting your ears from loud music that could otherwise cause damage long-term. There are many different options available too, so be sure to add these to your festival necessities.
Shop ear plugs and eyemasks on Amazon
2) Rechargeable battery bank
If you want to stay plugged in, you must bring a portable charger or two. You might be able to get by with this during social hours, but if things start getting too crazy later at night or people are starting to pass out, youโll have a backup portable phone charger. Just donโt forget to charge it first! Also, think about the electricals youโre taking, the cables you need and whether you need any extras like a selfie stick โ these are all essential festival necessities.
Shop rechargeable battery banks
3) Portable speaker
Sure, there will be music sound systems everywhere, but what about when youโre getting ready or back at the tent when all the music has finished. You will want to keep the party going, and a portable speaker will help you do that.
Shop portable speakers on Amazon
4) A roll of duct tape.
We all know that duct tape is one of the most versatile equipment out there. It will help you fix damaged camping equipment, but youโll be surprised at what other uses you find for it.ย You can live without this on your music festival packing list but it really does come in handy!
5) Medicines/First Aid Kit
You donโt need to go all out with this, but things like plasters, hand sanitiser, antiseptic wipes etc., will all come in handy at a festival. In particular, donโt scrimp on the all-important painkillers! Other handy items are vitamin tablets to ensure youโre hydrated throughout and antiseptic cream, Bonjela, lip balm and nasal spray.
6) Water bottles
Water is relatively expensive at a festival, so itโs best to have your transportable cup, flask or bottle. Most music festivals have water points you can refill, particularly at the campsite. Alternatively, take a few mineral water bottles to ensure you can stay hydrated and hygienic.ย If youโre heading into the campsite it is also wise to take bottle caps with you as if you buy water they donโt give you the lid!
7) Hygiene essentials
Toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, soap and a towel are the standards you should aim for at a music festival. But your necessities may vary depending on what you want to bring! One new contraption that is proving to be a great hit at festivals is the portable toilet urine bottle. This saves you those awkward long journeys to the toilet in the middle of the night.
8) A tent and mallet
If you are camping, bring a tent. If not, donโt worry โ there are plenty of options for every kind of festivalgoer to make their time away from home much more enjoyable! Donโt forget you need to carry it (and pack it up at the end), so it needs to be practical, waterproof and provide enough space for all your things. Donโt forget the mallet to get those pesky tent pegs in the ground! Some of the best selling tents on Amazon for festivals are pop up tents, inflatable tents and black out tents.
9) Microfiber Towel
Whether you intend to take a shower or not, a towel will always come in handy on your packing list for festival camping, particularly if it rains. Donโt take a big cotton towel, though. Not only will it take too much space, but it wonโt dry properly. Invest in a microfiber towel instead.ย
Shop microfibre travel towels on Amazon
10) Sunglasses
Whether it rains or shines, a festival packing essential is sunglasses. Make sure you take at least one pair because, letโs face it, theyโre easily lost or broken. You can usually pick up a cheap pair at the merchandise stand if you need to.
11) Torch or camping light
it doesnโt matter if you have your phone or not, because most of the time it will be dark! Thatโs why we like to take a flashlight or head torch just in case. Plus, you donโt want to waste precious battery power trying to find your tent after a music festival!
12) Sleeping Bag
Sounds pretty obvious if youโre packing for a camping festival, but you wouldnโt be the first person to forget one. Invest in a sleeping bag that is both lightweight and warm. Music festivals get cold at night, even if you fall asleep in your clothes.
Shop lightweight sleeping bags on Amazon
13) Ponchos or rain jacket
Another way to stay dry is to bring ponchos. Theyโre perfect for the rain and are lightweight too! Depending on the music festival you go to, they sometimes give the disposable ones out for free but donโt get caught out and take one just in case.
14) Spare shoes or wellies
The type of festival youโre attending will influence the type of footwear you need to take. Are the music areas on grass or wood chipping? If so, it will get muddy throughout the weekend, even if it doesnโt rain! Perhaps the flooring is hard or concrete? Then it would help if you had some good trainers or boots that are comfortable and supportive. Consider investing in some good inner soles to add extra comfort.
15) Toilet roll and wet wipes
toilet paper is an important commodity at a festival. There are many different types of toilets these days, flushable, composting or portaloos and even posh loos for posh poos. Donโt be caught short; carry some handheld tissues or baby wipes for those unlucky occasions. Similarly, wet wipes are an essential item on your packing list for festival camping, especially if itโs a muddy weekend!
16) Backpack / Bumbag
Youโll need something to carry your stuff, let alone make a fashion statement. Backpacks are handy but can also be bulky and annoying in crowded spaces. Bumbags or cross-body bags are a great alternative that holds the essentials, which donโt get in the way.
17) Festival outfits and accessories
So, youโre going to pack festival gear, but the trick is not to over or under pack. If you get bad weather, you will change your outfit more often, and your wet clothes will not dry properly. Have some spares. Equally, you donโt want to be lugging loads of clothes that youโre not going to wear around or find that youโve packed stuff that doesnโt match or is impractical to wear. Donโt forget accessories such as belts, hats, hair ties etc. Pack for the day and the evening and travel back from the event.
18) Air mattress & air pump
To make the most of the music festival, pack a comfortable air mattress and pump or a sleeping mat. The last thing you need is to face the cold, hard floor after a day of dancing. Iโve recently discovered a USB chargeable pump which is a real gamechanger; way better than foot or hand pumps.
19) Food and drinks
Unless you have unlimited money and patience, you will want to stock up well on food and drinks. If youโre travelling within your own country, a portable camping stove and cooking utensils will be very handy and save you money on expensive festival food.
Shop portable camping stoves on Amazon
20) Camping chair
letโs face it, festivals are exhausting, and the last thing you want to do is get back to your tent and have to sit on the floor. It might even be wet. If travelling with a camping chair is too much hassle, consider inflatable furniture. Youโll already have packed your pump, after all.
Other things to consider when packing for a music festival
To slim down the things to pack for a festival, the first thing to consider is what type of festival youโre attending. Some festivals will require more preparation than others โ for example, a summer festival may require lighter clothing to avoid heatstroke, while a winter festival may require heavy coats.ย
Be sure to check the weather ahead of time and donโt overly rely on the forecast when you pack.
10 Tips and Tricks on How to Pack the Ultimate Festival camping checklistย
It is a common misconception that packing for a festival is a one-time task. However, it is important to know how to pack your clothes and ensure you have all the essentials for the festival.
- Separate your clean clothes from your dirty clothes โ you can do this by taking some spare carrier bags. Doing this also helps keep them waterproof if the worst happens and your tent floods.
- Pack light! You donโt need more than what youโre wearing, but if you want more, bring extra outfits in case of rain or accidents.
- Pack all your toiletries in one place so you can easily access them before going on stage or at any point during the day.
- Pack an extra pair of shoes in case something happens to yours.
- Pack a backup outfit or two just in case something happens to yours too! Itโs good to have an extra outfit just in case something happens.
- Use a vacuum sealer to remove air from your luggage so that you can store more items in them.
- Use fabric softener sheets to ensure your clothes stay fresh and soft even when packed away for long periods.
- Organise what you will pack on the bed so you can see everything easily and determine if anything is missing.
- Consider the festival grounds when packing for festival camping โ how far will you have to walk, and what is the festival campsite like?ย Make sure the gear youโve packed be easy to drag over the festival terrain.
- Read the rules of the music festival, so you know what is prohibited; alcohol is normally restricted to certain quantities, as are glass bottles and sometimes things like aerosols.ย
The Ultimate Music Festival Packing List in Summaryย
A music festival is an unforgettable experience that is hard to replicate, so itโs no wonder people look forward to festival season. Itโs a chance to spend time with friends, see new places and meet new people. However, the cost of festivals can be high, and many people end up overspending and overpacking.
The most important thing to remember is that festivals are not just about the music but the community. So if you do forget anything on your music festival packing list, this is a perfect time to make friends with your fellow festival goers. So, grab your festival ticket, get packing and have the ultimate experience.
Why not check out tickets to upcoming events:
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