Glastonbury is on the horizon. For five blissful days, around 200,000 people will be descending on Worthy Farm in the rolling Somerset hills to party, dance and listen to some of the best music in the world.
Of course, five days is a long old time, so knowing what to pack is key. We all know about wellies and a good raincoat. But what else do you need to bring? There’s plenty of stuff that might escape the packing list, but could be all the difference between having a good festival and a great one.
Here’s our list: get the shopping bags ready.
Loop earplugs
There’s a reason everybody’s talking about them. Loop earplugs hit that sweet spot between fashionable (they come in a range of shades) and protective – they shield the delicate eardrums from the shattering frequencies that come with being in musical festivals. Or gigs. Or clubs. Having a pair at Glasto feels like a no-brainer: opt for the Experience 2, which reduces sound by 17db, or the Switch, which lets you switch between various modes: Quiet (good for sleeping), Experience and Engage.
Even better, Loop have partnered with Glastonbury this year to donate packs of earplugs to staff, as well as curate sensory safe spaces for people who need them at this year’s festival. Which means you can dance the night away at San Remo, guilt free.
Battery packs
We cannot say this enough: Glasto is a charge free zone. Yes, there are a few places where you can plug in your phone and give it a bit of juice, but those spaces are usually few and far between.
In addition to popping down to the Vodafone Connect & Charge tent in the centre of the festival for some WiFi, power and a rentable battery pack, we’d recommend loading up on as many battery packs as possible. Charge them at home before bringing them down, and you’ll never have to worry about power. Bliss.
Suncream
Yes, the British summer is unreliable, but still – it’s a foolish person who doesn’t pack some good sun protection for their trip down. In terms of brands, good old Nivea does the job, but Dussl is a nice option for those who want their suncream to come with a little extra: their face suncream doubles up as moisturiser.
Crossbody bag
A must-have for anybody wanting to travel around the festival hassle-free. Rucksacks fit more, but can be cumbersome – especially if you’re in the middle of a large crowd. A cross-body bag provides space for the essentials (a phone, a charger, purse etc) without weighing you down. And if you pick the right brand, they can also prove surprisingly roomy. In this vein, expect to see a lot of Uniqlo bags decorating shoulders around the festival this year; Adidas also do a rather fetching bag in electric blue that’s slightly bigger.
Blister plasters
All that walking means a lot of strain on the feet – and whether you’re wearing walking boots, trainers or some unwise heels, one thing’s for sure: blisters are a very distinct possibility. Apart from packing some good, thick socks (Sock Sisters specialise in pairs that are trendy, colourful and very comfortable), the other thing to bring is blister plasters. Trust me, it’ll save you a lot of pain later.
Electrolytes
Time to hack your water intake. Being outside in the elements - especially when it’s sunny - means you’ll be sweating. A lot. And short of staying hydrated, the best way to make sure you’re maximising your fluids is by getting on the electrolyte train. Brands like Humantra sell their packs (which contain sodium, potassium and chloride, as well as stuff like magnesium and zinc) in little sachets of powder that can be added to water: easy peasy. But they also come in tablets.
Otherwise, opt for coconut water as a good alternative – which comes with the added bonus of being a) natural and b) tasty as heck.
