Festival Packing List Essentials

Indie Locale
Jul 23, 2017 · 6 min read

I speak for all nomads and travellers when I say, only take what you really need. Sure you can go a bit ‘out there’ with some of your decisions, because fortunately we’re not having to lug around giant cassette players anymore. (Yes, people really did that)

Some of the funniest things I’ve witnessed brought to campsites are Drumkits, (You’re not touring with Dave Grohl are you?) Fireworks, A Trampoline and what looked like a Buckingham Palace Gazebo. Not that I’m being a camping dictator here, but the average Joe, Luke, John, Stella, Marlene… are not going to require these things.

I recently came back from Silverstone GP (More on that in another post) and as you can see I was relatively conservative in my packing:

I remembered other things to include after I took this photo and packed everything away by then, so rather than annotating the whole thing or making you decipher the matrix. Here are our packing essentials for camping in no particular order:

  1. Baggage Security Tags — Security is tightening up these days, but pretend you’re on holiday and it’s your luggage. It would be useful to have your name, contact number and address on there in case it gets lost.
  2. Padlocks — These are more useful than you think. I’ve heard the whole “If someone wanted to steal from your tent, they could rip it from the ground or cut it open with scissors” routine, but firstly it’s more of a deterrent than none at all if the bigger tent next to you has no padlocks. But secondly, you can use them on toilet cubicles or even backpacks while you’re in busy crowds
  3. Ear Plugs — If you have sensitive ears during a concert/event or can’t get to sleep because of the noisy sex near you, these are pretty useful. Depending on the event or where you are camping, they are worth taking. Especially when they’re so small and weigh nothing.
  4. Plastic Cups — For a drink in the tent, or to use while brushing your teeth
  5. Bottle Opener — Ideally, you want the screw-top lids or cans, but in case your pal Gerald forgot he was camping, then a one of these for the campsite or at the festival/event would be needed
  6. Rain Jacket — Make it really lightweight and waterproof. If you’re worried about it being cold, just wear several layers rather than taking a big raincoat that takes over too much space
  7. Backpack — You don’t want to be carrying your suitcase everywhere do you? You only need a small one for light provisions and useful bits and bobs
  8. Sun Cream — It’s up there with things people forget along with Umbrellas!
  9. Portable Radio — Literally the size of three fingers, that’s all you need aslong as it’s a powerful enough output. Make sure there’s a jack input for your earphones too
  10. Camera — I used my phone, but a GoPro or sharp shooting camera is great
  11. Memory Cards — If you’re going to take the camera, don’t forget the memory card… That’s been one I’ve forgotten before
  12. Shoes — Just some pumps or lightweight shoes for chilling around your tent… Probably best if you wear those on the way to the event
  13. Event App — Ok you don’t pack this, but easier to download at home before you go
  14. Toilet Paper — We’ve all heard of the dumping ground at festivals, just take a roll for every eventuality. It’ll come in handy if Dylan spills his beer in the tent too
  15. Toiletries — Deodorant, Tooth brush, Tooth Paste, Perfume, Tampons… All the usual stuff, although I wouldn’t bother with a shaver, just go full on Tormund from GOT
  16. Wellies/Boots — Footwear you don’t mind getting muddy and can withstand rain… You’ll be wearing these most of the time so make sure they are comfortable
  17. Bin Bags — Because a Garbage mountain isn’t much fun. Plus, you can use some to separate your dirty washing
  18. Allergy / Headache Tablets — More than 50% of the people at campsites can definitely do with one of these at some point on the trip
  19. Hand Sanitiser — This can go in your backpack to whip out before eating anything
  20. Portable Phone Charger — Fully charges your phone overnight which is a godsend these days, Just be sure to fully charge the phone charger itself before you set off
  21. Towel — In case you do have a shower, but it will also be useful to dry yourself back in the tent if it’s been raining. You could even get creative and use it to support your pillow at night (Whoa, let’s not get excited here!)
  22. Bed sheet — To either sleep on top of or underneath, just adds a little bit of comfort between you and the mat or air bed
  23. Pillows — You could use a decent blow-up travel pillow, but being the luxurious natured bloke I am sometimes, I took two ACTUAL pillows… such an ASBO!
  24. Binoculars — These came in use for the F1 race, but even for bands or to scan the area while on a mates shoulders, they are nice to have
  25. Air Bed/Mat — For all the comfort you need! Word of advice though, test the airbed a week before because mine had a hole in
  26. Watch — Can you believe this saves all of 0.01% of your battery by not checking your phone for the time, but your wrist watch!?
  27. Air Pump — Aldi have a really small electric one for £4.99 which you can power with your cigarette holder in your car. Or just be even more of a cheapskate like me and get a manual one like the rest of us peasants
  28. Hammer/Mallet — No, this isn’t for hitting annoying crowd members over the head. A mallet would be better for the tent pegs to stop them bending as easily as you hit them in the ground
  29. Sunglasses — For that natural light you can’t be dealing with
  30. Torch — For that natural darkness you can’t be dealing with
  31. Ear Phones/Head Phones — I strongly recommend noise reduction headphones because I made the mistake of earphones and couldn’t hear a thing on the radio during the race. If you’re only using them in the tent however, earphones are fine
  32. Tent — Yeah, don’t forget that, along with with your poles and pegs
  33. Books — If you have time for reading, what the hell are you doing!? But if you do, go nuts
  34. Water Bottle — Take some water and re-use the bottle at drinking water hubs onsite
  35. T-shirts — Clive looks great in his old t-shirt that just speaks out “Single”
  36. Phone charger — Imagine taking your portable phone charger, only not to take the phone charger cable itself!? I absolutely, 100% did not do that once >.> <.<
  37. Umbrella — For the campsites rendition of Singing in the Rain ofcourse
  38. Shorts — Who wears Short Shorts?
  39. Underwear — Take spares, you’ll thank me
  40. Hat — A Nacho hat would be cool, but a cap or summer hat will do nicely
  41. Jeans — For an evening activity perhaps
  42. Camping trousers — Ideally waterproof, but just lose and light trousers you can get dirty
  43. Cash — Campsites are starting to have cash points now, but just in case, take some of that ready dough with you
  44. Event tickets — I witnessed a couple getting turned away for not having their tickets. You’d think common sense would prevail here and a simple name would do, but not on every campsite you go to
  45. Sleeping bag — Because sleeping in a rubbish bag is no fun
  46. Pyjamas — Or whatever you like to sleep in… no you can’t take your 4-poster bed
  47. Hoodie — For the colder weather you might experience
  48. Cooking gear — I put this all into one category because at the event I went to, I didn’t do any cooking and just paid extortionate festival prices. However, if you’re on a camping holiday you’ll want your stove, utensils, can opener, folding table, lighter, pans, knives and forks etc…
  49. Camping Chair — In case Phil is feeling lazy
  50. Tissues — Pocket ones will do
  51. Bug Repellant — Only important if you taste nice to bugs, especially people named Stephanie
  52. Cards/Small Games — Perfect for a bit of a laugh at night time
  53. Plasters — If you somehow manage to slice your thumb on a can of beer, you’ll want these
  54. Identification — It’s amazing how a driving licence or passport can get you out of a pickle!

You’ll always think of something after you leave, however you can’t go wrong with this stuff above.

You’ve probably heard things like “Along as we can get in the event, pay for stuff, sleep somewhere and be half dressed, we’ll be alright” and that is to some extent true if we’re talking about the fundamentals of survival. So don’t worry too much.

Enjoy yourself!

Til next time

Jay
Indie Locale

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