There was a time when a basic music festival survival kit pretty much started and finished with a multipack of loo roll and a tent, but the list of essentials has grown decidedly more high-tech and battery-powered in recent years. Here’s our pick of music festival essentials to get you ready for worry-free revelry.
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Best for protecting your gear
Knomo Cromwell backpack (from £89)
Given the sheer amount of tech you could potentially cart to your next festival, you’ll need something safe and ultra water-resistant in which to stow it all. Our pick? The Knomo Cromwell backpack, an excellent, gadget-friendly receptacle that also looks fantastic. A quick peek inside reveals pockets aplenty – and you can fit a 14-inch laptop in the padded main compartment. The bag is made from ultrasonically welded nylon, backed with polyurethane. With a roll-top expandable design, it’s something of a Mary Poppins bag of tricks when filled to its full capacity.
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Best for recharging your gear
RAVPower AC Outlet 20100 power bank (£89.99)
This portable charger is a lot larger than the usual small slabs that fit in your pocket, but it can hold enough juice to charge your phone several times over. More importantly, perhaps, the RAVPower 20100 AC power bank isn’t limited to charging smartphones: it also comes with a three-pin AC port, which means it can power other appliances providing they don’t exceed 50W – including a portable drinks cooler, for when you can’t be bothered to trek to the bar.
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Best for camping in style
4M Bell Tent (£379.99)
The 4M Bell Tent from Bell Tent Boutique looks positively regal. Big enough to house up to five, it’s ideal for small groups or, alternatively, provides the epitome of palatial living for a couple seeking some luxury in the midst of the festival mayhem. Its canvas is treated with mould, rot and water repellent, while the zipped windows contain meshed mosquito nets to keep the nasties out.
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Best for handy digital access
Motorola Moto G7 Power (£179.99)
A few years ago, a bare-bones phone such as the Nokia 3310 would have been a must if you wanted a battery that could make it to the end of a festival. But, these days, retro low-tech options mean missing out on festival apps, mobile cashless payments, maps for finding meeting points, and – of course – festival group chats. The Moto G7 Power changes all this, managing to cram Android smarts, slick design and a 5,000 mAh battery into its splash-proof chassis. And if you do manage to drain it dry, its charger will deliver nine hours of battery life in just 15 minutes.
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Best for downpours
Helikon-Tex poncho (£24.99)
Cheap, disposable ponchos have a tendency to tear as soon you put them on. So when it comes to protection from the elements, going military-grade is never a bad shout. This offering from Helikon-Tex comes in various camo styles, giving you the ironic opportunity to use camouflage to help you stand out from the crowd.
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Best for staying warm
8K Flexwarm heated gilet (£200)
Ponchos may be waterproof, but warm they are not. If you don’t fancy looking like a walking duvet in a padded anorak, the 8K Flexwarm heated gilet could be the answer. This battery-powered body warmer is basically a smartphone-controlled hug. Built for indoor and outdoor use, it has three preset temperatures, includes a 7,500mAh removable battery pack, and can be controlled through an app, available for iOS and Android. It comes in a range of styles and is machine-washable, for when it’s time to wash out that festival funk.
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Best for shuteye
Vango Ambience double sleeping bag (£59.99)
Our slumber suggestion is the Vango Ambience double sleeping bag. This soft-to-touch microfibre pouch is cosy, snug, spacious and breathable, leaving you plenty of wiggle room if you’re a sprawling sleeper. It also copes with temperatures from -1C to 20C, making it a versatile choice year-round. Packing down to a 4.5kg bundle, it isn’t the lightest sleeping bag on the scene, but any exhaustion from carrying it will be remedied by the sleep you’ll get.
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Best for resting your headbanging head
Therm-a-Rest compressible pillow (from £14.99)
Compressible by name and nature, this pillow from Therm-a-Rest rolls down into an easy-to-stow, compacted sausage of fabric and upcycled mattress offcuts. Unpack it, give it a while to self-aerate and it fluffs up beautifully. It’s machine-washable and comes in dreamy-sounding styles such as pistachio, blue bird, denim, grey, cardinal, poppy, amethyst and mosaic.
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Best for better bedding
Vango Comfort 10 self-inflating double mat (£109.99)
If you’re looking for a double mattress, a firm favourite among campers is Vango’s Comfort 10 self-inflating mat. With a fabric surface and 10cm of insulating foam inside, it’s beautifully pillowy, while also sporting a non-slip base material – so any tipsy tossing and turning won’t have you sliding out of your tent. Its easy operation valve enables relatively quick inflation. Packing it down, however, requires a bit more elbow grease.
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Best for getting out of a scrape
Medispor first aid kit (£16.99)
Sometimes, all that joyful bounding around ends up in a scrape or sprain, and you’ll be thankful you packed a Medispor first aid kit. Both compact and versatile, it weighs less than 500g. Inside, you’ll find the usuals – plasters, cotton swabs, antiseptic wipes, scissors, and safety pins – so your minor injury bases are definitely covered. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll find an instant cold pack (which may or may not be used to cool your drinks), along with a whistle – after all, what’s a music festival without a whistle? Plus, there are plenty of bandages in there, so that impromptu monster mash costume is in the bag.
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To find discount codes for the best camping gear from major outdoors retailers, visit discountcode.theguardian.com/uk
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