You’ve set alarms, created intricate spreadsheets and counted down the moment until you can buy a ticket to the party of the summer. But, once you have the paper invite firmly in your hands, well...that’s when the admin truly begins.
Prepping for a festival isn’t all fun and games - that’s for when you arrive on the green fields. There’s a long way to go before you get to that reward, with military-level prep and organisation to ensure you are ready for a weekend of outdoor living and round-the-clock partying. While some are content to download the festival app, pack a pair of wellies and be done with it, we’ve been to enough festivals to know that leaving home without some choice essentials will hamper the exceedingly important business of having fun by a country mile.
Certain provisions must be procured to optimise the experience and make it as comfortable as possible, especially for new and amateur campers. As Scout leaders across the country decree: fail to prepare; prepare to fail.
Seasoned festival goers will be all too familiar with the many, many bits of kit needed, but if it’s your first time going to a festival, you may be wondering where exactly to start.
So, we’re here to help. Between us, we have more than 20 years of experience of going to festivals, so whether you’re looking for the best blow-up mattress inflator, tent pegs that won’t break when they inevitably get trampled on, or something to make a trip to the compost loos slightly more bearable, we’ve got the knowledge - and we’re here to share it.
We’ve made up a handy checklist for everything you should have before you reach the festival gates. We know that camping equipment doesn’t exactly come cheap, so we’ve tried to include budget-friendly options too. However, remember that you get the quality you pay for.
See you at the cider bar
Transport: Blacklane
Getting to and from any festival is always a logistical nightmare, but if you’re tactical, you can make the journey as seamless as possible.
When you’ve left it to the last minute, and every train and coach is booked out (a Glasto pitfall, in particular), look to Blacklane. The premium chauffeur service will help you pull up and leave the festival ground in style as your fellow festival goers look on with unbridled jealousy at your chic Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Audi chariot.
Book through the app and communicate directly with the driver to ensure no stress or worry. It’s just what you need after a long weekend of partying.
Buy now, Blacklane
Camping essentials
Vango Omega 350 tent
Weighing a not-too-shabby 5kg, the Omega 350 basecamp tent may be designed for expeditions like DofE, but it promises to serve perfectly well as your festival HQ too.
Average pitch time is just 12 minutes, and for once the listing as a three-man lives up to the hype - thanks to the compartment design. The zipped sleeping compartment is separated from the large living area, giving you dedicated spaces to sleep and change clothes so you always look your festival finest.
It’s a necessary addition if you want to keep the mess to a minimum and sleep in a mud-free zone.
Buy now £335.00, Go Outdoors
Eurohike Utah 4 Leg Campbed
An airbed may seem like the most obvious option to sleep on, but they tend to deflate throughout the night and you wake up in the morning with an aching back and grass in your hair.
This year, we’re going for the campbed instead. It may be slightly more weighty (although not much), but it offers a proper bed surface. You can even step it up a notch with a foam mat padding. This option from Eurohike is just 3.3kg and should fit into smaller tents. Just sling your sleeping bag on top and you’re ready to rock.
Buy now £17.00, Go Outdoors
Campingaz Airbed Quickbed
Best for: convertible
A sumptuous raised single bed that supports campers weighing up to 184kg, this design offers a multitude of options for the avid camper. Made from durable multi-layer PVC inside boasts a supportive coil structure with a flocked surface for a more comfortable night’s rest. Inflate it by mouth or with an electric pump and sleep soundly knowing the airtight system and double lock valve won’t leak air overnight.
Buy now £35.99, Amazon
Mountain Warehouse Summit 250 Sleeping Bag
Suitable for three seasons, Mountain Warehouse's Summit sleeping bag is ideal for weathering anything British festival season throws at it. The item comes in a selection of bold hues including this fetching teal and is packed with hollow fibre stuffing to keep you toasty in the early hours. The regular size will fit campers who are 5"9 or less, but if you're taller - don't despair. There is a longer length suitable for those 6"4 tall too.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
Solar Rope
Best for: pretty lighting
If you’re fed up of tripping over guy ropes after coming back from the main stage, low and behold - solar power operated rope lights.
These tiny LED bulbs sit safely in a clear PVC casing and give six hours of warm white illumination (choose from on, off and flashing modes) from an all-day charge through the attached solar panel.
Wrap them around your tents ropes and tuck the panel by side so it won’t get trampled on. Free pretty lights to enjoy all night long.
Buy now £18.95, Amazon
Vanilla Leisure Vesuvius Folding Outdoor Heated Camping Chair
Prepare to turn the rest of your camping party green with envy with a camping chair that heats up. It’s just the thing you want in case the weather takes a cold or wet turn.
Bringing tech to tent life, this clever folding chair comes with a heated seat and backrest which warms when you plug in your portable power bank. There are three levels of toastiness to sink into with padding to make things feel even more luxurious. And there’s an insulated cup holder to keep your drinks at just the right temperature for longer. The dreamiest a camping chair can get.
Weighs 5.1kg and comes with its own carry bag.
Buy now £79.99, The Range
Sitpack Campster 2
Whether you’re festivaling or staycationing, we Brits can always be sure that the weather will throw some rain our way, which makes seating a dilemma. But that’s where the Sitpack Campster 2 shines. It’s the most compact chair we’ve come across when folded at around the size of a 1.5L bottle and comes equipped with a carrying strap for ease in taking to and from the site, even if you’re arriving via public transport.
It’s heavier than the size would have you believe but far less cumbersome than equivalent chairs of lighter weights and can support up to 136kg. Set-up couldn’t be simpler as you pull it out of the bag and then fold out the four legs to slot it into place. It’s low to the ground but reclined at a great height to make it a comfortable lounging experience.
Buy now £89.00, Sitpack
Drowsy Sleep Co Silk Sleep Mask
The Drowsy Sleep Co puts comfort at the forefront to make sleepless nights a thing of the past. This mask has a calming cloud-like feel with super soft padding over the eyes that acts as total blackout to light pollution, while also muffling out sound. It is made from 22 momme pure mulberry silk - a fabric that is hypoallergenic, lightweight and breathable.
Buy now £69.00, Amazon
100 Pairs of Howard Leight Laser Lite Individually Wrapped Ear Plugs
While these earplugs are not completely one use, you will find that they will only stay firmly in place for a few nights on the trot before slipping out and finding them on your pillow the next morning. Luckily they come in a pack of 100 but if you are concerned about wastage, stick to a reusable option.
Twist the polyurethane foam and place inside your ears. They will expand and fill your ear canal to block out any disruptive noise. The plugs are individually wrapped so can easily be slipped into your hand luggage for use while travelling or taken with you to your local spin class if you find it’s just a touch too loud.
Buy now £14.84, Amazon
Anker PowerCore 5000 mAh External Battery Power Bank
A pocket-sized hero, Anker’s mini portable charger holds enough power to fully charge high-power smartphones like an iPhone X or Samsung Galaxy S9 and nearly two full charges for an iPhone 8 from the 5000mAh rating.
What’s great about this battery is that it facilitates high-speed charging thanks to PowerIQ, which delivers a super-fast charge speed of up to 2amp.
The device comes with a micro USB cable, travel pouch, welcome guide and an 18-month warranty. It’s a helpful bit of tech to keep charged up and in your bag, ready for when your phone needs a pick-me-up.
For the price, it can’t be beat.
Buy now £19.99, Amazon
Chilly's BIG MOUTH 4L Bottle
Continuing the trend for gigantic water bottles that may as well be renamed personal reservoirs, Chilly's has a new entrant called: BIG MOUTH.
The all-caps feel fitting when you consider the 4L capacity, which can keep chilled water cold for up to 72 hours and warm water at the same temperature for 48 hours. It might seem a bit much for daily use, but come festival and camping season or ahead of long-haul flights, it will fast become your go-to.
It comes in a subtle black or brazen lime colour.
By Abha Shah
Buy now £80.00, Chilly's
Pokito Collapsible Coffee Cup
Pokito started out, as many ingenious ideas do, as a Kickstarter project, as a rallying call to cut the reliance on single-use plastics.
The adjustable cup is all about refill not landfill and collapses into three sizes - 16oz (475ml), 12oz (350ml) or 8oz (230ml) - depending on how big a caffeine hit you’re after.
Once you’ve enjoyed your cuppa, simply scrunch down and store in your bag or pocket; it folds down to just 6cm high. The lockable lid ensures a drip and leak-free experience.
Buy now £23.49, Amazon
Raeburn x Chillys Raft Bag
Hydration is key for festivals - and no, cider doesn't count. Keep a personal supply of water to hand in style thanks to Chillys tie-up with luxe sustainable brand RÆBURN.
The fashion label has transformed ex-RAF liferafts into nifty water bottle bags. Each comes armed with zipped pockets, compartments and even an additional sling bag to stuff essentials, so you're not bogged down by bags at the main stage.
The raft bag comes complete with a matching Chillys water bottle finished with a laser print shark design. Find limited edition bundles (£199) or go for a chic black option (£82) for a bag that goes with everything.
Buy now £90.00, Chillys
Portable Neck Fan with 78 Ventilation Holes
Best for: effortlessly cool
This bladeless fan has been doing the rounds on social media - and no wonder. They look like headphones but have a sole purpose: to cool the worst of your sweat before those beads have a chance to drip.
Reasonably priced and with three wind speeds to help you battle the heatwave, it projects enough air to keep your neck, face and head at a comfortable temperature, even in the human soup that is the London Underground in the summertime. It charges with a USB port, so you can wear it at work and plug it into your computer to charge up for the journey back home. Mind you, it's not just for the commute; the hands-free design makes it perfect for using while cooking up a storm in the kitchen as well as strenuous outdoor sports.
Buy now £29.59, Amazon
Victoper Wesho Rechargeable Headlight
Offering awesome levels of illumination, you’ll become a human lamp thanks to Victoper’s headlight which uses advanced 1*L2 + 2* R2 LED bulbs to flood your space with light. Granted it’s not the longest lasting on our list - four hours charge time gives double that of usage, around 8 hours - but if you’re only expecting to use it for light use, it’s a sound purchase at this price.
Buy now £13.16, Amazon
PORTAL Deeper Festival Trolley
Load capacity: 99.7kg
Standing 70cm tall, this tough trolley will be your BFF when transporting kit from the drop-off point to your camping pitch. The folding trailer has large pockets on the outside for additional storage should the main 83 x 45 x 47cm chamber prove insufficient. There are also drink holders to keep liquids to hand when you’re working up a sweat.
It won’t hog too much space in the car or coach either, folding down to manageable proportions and coming with a cover to keep it safe from dust and scratches.
Buy now £73.99, Amazon
WANDF Drawstring Backpack
For an inexpensive but hard-working drawstring, look to this option on Amazon. It is worth opting for a bag of this type that is more than just material and string, as these have been known to fall apart mid-festival.
The WANDF bag has a large capacity, a separate compartment for shoes or dirty items and a smaller pocket to stash things like wallets and ear plugs. The wide straps distribute weight evenly, reducing stress on your back and shoulders.
It comes in a huge variety of colours including fun ombre palettes.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
Toiletries
Who Gives A Crap glow-in-the-dark roll
Braving a festival loo is bad at the best of times, even worse in the middle of the night. Make that necessary toilet trip easier with this limited edition glow-in-the-dark bamboo roll from Who Gives A Crap. The fun wrapping should make it easier to find in a dark tent.
What's more, 50 per cent of profits will go to charities creating equal access to clean water and toilets for billions worldwide.
£30 for 24 rolls.
Buy now £30.00, Who Gives A Crap
Cuticura Original Anti Bacterial Hand Gel 50ml – Floral & Fruity
When faced with a row of portaloos, hand sanitiser is essential. They rarely include a working tap, which is why you’ll want a hand sani on hand for peace of mind and hygiene. Turn the unpleasant experience into a (slightly) more enjoyable thing with Cuticura’s floral and fruity-infused formulation.
Buy now £1.00, Boots
Tissues: Boots Balsam Tissues Multi Pack 4ply
If there’s not a working tap, there’s unlikely to be any loo roll either. Keep a pack of tissues in your bum bag to be prepared for any eventuality.
Buy now £1.10, Boots
Boots Baby Fragranced Biodegradable soft baby wipes
Same, same but different. These wet wipes double up as loo support and a makeshift shower. Plus, they’re biodegradable and there’s enough in this four-pack for your whole group.
Buy now £2.90, Boots
Isoskin Hypochlorous Acid Spray
Gentle, effective and formulated to help enhance your skin’s natural glow, this hypochlorous acid spray by Isoskin helps defeat the bacteria and fungi which is said to cause acne in approximately 85 per cent of cases. Not only does this soothing spray help reduce your skin’s bacterial load, but it soothes inflammation and promotes healing.
Buy now £12.00, Amazon
Batiste Dry Shampoo Clean and Classic Original
No shower means no way to wash your hair, unless you’re one of the brave festivalgoers trying their luck at the water taps. British festivals and Batiste go hand in hand; by day three, you’ll be glad to have one of the brand’s shampoos stuffed in your rucksack.
Buy now £2.50, Amazon
Mitchum Men Triple Odor Defense Ice Fresh 48HR Protection Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant Aerosol
This one may be self-explanatory based on the above but stay cool, collected and odour-free as you hit the festival field with a mini deo always on hand.
Buy now £1.90, Boots
Otrivine Nasal Spray
Partying in a field is heaven for some, a nightmare for others thanks to high pollen counts.
When you need to relieve stuffy sinuses fast, reach for Otrivine Adult 0.1% Nasal Spray, which works super-fast to clear your nose in minutes. The formula is long-lasting too, working for up to 10 hours in some cases.
Buy now £4.46, Amazon
Medicine: Boots Paracetamol 500mg Tablets 16 Tablets
As well as your routine medicine, you may want to stock up on the likes of paracetamol or better yet, Anadin for the extra caffeine boost on the mornings when you wake up with a sore head.
Buy now £0.49, Boots
Tiger balm
Stash one of these little pots in your bag to help soothe tired and achy muscles after nights of dancing and walking across the festival ground. It's also great for swiping under your nose before heading to the loos.
Buy now £8.20, Amazon
Compeed Blister Hydrocolloid - Medium
With elevated step counts and fashion shoes not designed for such levels of walking and dancing, keep your tootsies in good nick with the best on the market. It is also helpful to have ordinary plasters in different sizes as well as a travel-ready first aid kit.
Buy now £4.70, Amazon
Listerine oral care
You may be sacrificing your traditional shower routine, but keep your oral care up to scratch with a toothbrush, toothpaste and travel-sized mouthwash to stay minty fresh throughout. When running water is challenging to secure, fill up a spare water bottle for an easy supply.
Buy now £1.48, Amazon
Simple biodegradable Exfoliating Face Wipes
Keep that beautiful face clean and smiling with a helping hand from Simple. The brand’s wipes not only exfoliate grime and waterproof makeup off your complexion, but they’re biodegradable too, made from 100 per cent plant-based fibres that break down in just 42 days under home and industrial composting conditions.
Safe for sensitive skin and free of chemicals, this hardworking hero is a must for any festivalgoer.
Buy now £3.31, Amazon
Greener Glitter 100% Plant not Plastic
It’s a festival rite of passage. Embellish your ensemble with glitzy sequins to bring the sparkle to the farm.
Greener Glitter is made from plants, is ocean-safe and much softer on the skin than the plastic sort. It comes in totally plastic-free packaging too. Add a pot of Vaseline and adorn your face and limbs with glittery goodness (they’re a great way to hide undereye dark circles).
Buy now £12.95, Amazon
Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50 with Sunflower Extract
Best for: a beautifully scented, lightweight cream
From the herbaceous aroma to the lightweight texture, this high-factor suncream from Supergoop! turns traditional formulations on its head. Never has the creaming-up process been so easy with the quickly absorbed, seemingly invisible nature of this product.
It’s almost gel-like in its consistency but much thinner and yet still boasts a hard-working shielding effect from UVA, UVB and infrared rays. The scent comes from the infusion of rosemary, while there are also sunflower and rice antioxidants to reinforce the protection against pollution and the sun’s rays.
Buy now £23.00, Amazon
Clothing
For all your festival fits, we have put together an edit of the best playful pieces. But for everything else, see below.
Merrell Women's Moab Speed 2 Mid GORE-TEX
Made for moderate hikes, Merrell's Moab Speed 2 boots rewrite everything you previously knew about hiking boots.
They're sturdy yet impossibly light (at 34g a shoe), armed with high-performance features like a padded ankle collar and feather-like midsole that make walking around in them straight from the box a total dream.
Vibram technology increases traction so you’ll always feel grounded, even in wet weather, and even on steep inclines. Speaking of wet weather, these boots benefit from a Gore-Tex finish, meaning they’re waterproof - no trenchfoot in the offing for you.
It doesn't hurt that they look super cute with a peach and white colourway that won’t fail to put a smile on your face and inject some colour into your outdoor gear (and there’s a lilac option available at Amazon). The Moab Speed 2’s will shine in any kind of outdoor activity, from weekend wanderings clutching an OS map and taking the dog for their daily constitutional, to a solid but fun footwear option for festivals.
If you value your feet, buy them now.
Buy now £160.00, Merrell
AllSaints Half Moon Studded Crossbody Bag
Amid the cagoules and fleeces, bring some festival style to the fore. AllSaints does it right with this half-moon crossbody that has two interior pockets to keep all your bits and pieces. It's big enough to fit the largest size iPhone, so it should fare well with pocket tissues, hand sani and lippy.
Buy now £134.00, AllSaints
Hunter Women's Original Tall Gloss Wellington Boots
If you’ve not yet owned a pair of Hunter boots, you will have no doubt spotted them on street-style snaps from festivals around the country. The brand is a beloved celebrity favourite - worn by everyone from Meghan Markle to Sarah Jessica Parker and Gigi Hadid. The ubiquitous wellies have earned cult status, no doubt due to their premium construction. Buy now, and you’ll own them forever.
They’re made to withstand whatever the British summertime has to throw at them as well as throughout the winter thanks to their entirely waterproof exterior and signature Hunter Original tread pattern that’s suitable for all floor types.
Buy now £75.94, Amazon
