Festival camping is a lot different to normal camping. When you’re going camping then that is the prime objective, so you will need everything to accomplish it. You will need food and a way to prepare and cook it, water and ways to entertain yourself through the day. And that’s just for starters. I have a complete list of practical things to take with you on a normal camp here.
Festival camping is nearly the complete opposite. The prime objective here is to enjoy the festival as much as possible. The tent is just somewhere to keep your stuff and to sleep in. Food and drink can normally be easily bought already cooked and ready to eat. Nevertheless, there will be times when you will want some down time and to just sit around and relax. More on that below.
Maybe you have never camped before and you have no intention on doing it again. All you want to know is what you need to get through the festival and the most affordable price. The list below will tell you exactly what you need.
With the above in mind, the checklist below is somewhat different than the regular checklist.
Make a plan
The first part of any camping trip is to make a plan. Have a get together with the other people that are going with you. From the list below, see what you already have between you. You might find that between you all, a lot of the items can be loaned from other friends or parents.
Decide what type of camp you want. This will depend on the duration of the festival and how many is in your gang. For example, If there will be a lot of you then plan on having your tents in a big circle with all of your doors facing the center. Then pitch a gazebo in the middle where you can have a table and chairs. This will be the hub for the entire duration of the festival and you can retire to your tent whenever you need to call it a day.
Tent
The first thing you need is shelter. Tents are the obvious choice and I suggest using a pop up tent because of the ease of setting up. You just take it out of the storage bag and throw it in the air. The tent will pop up before it hits the ground. Just don’t forget to peg it in place.
The next best thing is a dome tent. They take a little more work to set up but its still pretty easy to do.
And remember to take a tent that’s bigger than you need so that you have enough room to store your stuff. If your in a big group then consider taking an extra tent just for supplies, such as food and drink. It will reduce the amount of times you have to go in and out of your persinal tent, meaning it will stay cleaner. I have already made a post to help you pick the right tent here.
Sleeping bag
There are all sorts of sleeping bags out there and if your just going to be using it for festivals then I wouldn’t spent too much on it. It’s liking that the festival will be on during the summer so you won’t need a heavy sleeping bag. Read my post on helping you pick the right post here.
Sleeping mattress/pad
Sleeping on the hard ground can be a real pain in the back. Not ideal if you want to spend your day dancing. A blow up matters is ideal but a foam mat will also do the job.
Pump
If you’re taking a blow up mattress then you will need something to blow it up. Blowing it up with your mouth will take ages.
Lantern or torch
It can get pretty dark inside your tent at night so make sure you have something to light it up. I use a head torch.
Water
Don’t forget water. It can be very easy to get dehydrated during a festival. A mixture of exposure to the elements, dancing and drinking alcohol and/or soft drinks can leave you feeling rough. Have a few bottles in your tent so you can sip on it in the morning and don’t forget to top up during the day.
Vitamin tablets
Most fast foods that are sold at festivals aren’t all that good for you so take vitamins with you to keep you feeling good right up until the end of the festival.
Foldable chair
This is an essential piece of festival kit. Yeah, you could sit on the ground but having a comfy chair with you can make it even better. Get one that can hold you beer in the armrest.
Foldable table
This is not essential but I would recommend one if you’re in a big group and/or the festival is multiple days. It gives somewhere that everyone can come together and swap stories of their day.
Inflatable couch/ air bag
If you have a little extra cash to spare then an inflatable couch will give you a lot more comfort. They can puncture easily so take a bicycle tube repair kit to patch the holes when it happens. And no cigarettes allowed.
Air bags are great becouse you can inflate them in seconds. Just scoop up the air like you would when opening a binbag and then seal it.
Boots
It’s important to have good footwear as you will be spending a lot of time on your feet. However, if the weather turns bad and it rains for even a few hours the ground will turn to mush. Having a pair of Wellington boots will mean you can walk straight through the mud while others have to tiptoe on the least muddy parts so check the weather before you go.
Spare clothing
You’re going to need spare clothing. On normal camping trips I wouldn’t care too much about taking extra clothing but because of the social nature of festival camping I would suggest a spare set of clothing for each day and also some waterproof gear, just in case.
Poncho
These are great for keeping you dry during a downpour. They wrap up really small and they can be put on and taken off in seconds.
They can be bought for cheap online but if you don’t have one there will probably be someone at the festival selling them for an extortionate rate.
Earplugs
Festivals are noisy places. Between music being played in people’s camps and drunk people singing at the top of their voices it can be hard to get some sleep. Make sure you take earplugs if you’re a light sleeper.
Earphones
Earplugs don’t really do it for me in noisy places. I can still hear a lot so I use earphones and play some soft music to help me sleep.
Cash
Some food vans are now equipped with card readers but most still aren’t. Cash is king so make sure you have enough of it to last the duration of the festival. And remember you will probably need more than you think as prices at festivals are normally inflated.
Toilet roll
For you know what. Take your own to the toilet as there is often none left. Picking a clean toilet is a skill in itself that I have far from mastered but I have noticed the tendency for people to que up for the same toilets.
For example, there could be 20 toilets in a row and there could be ques for 15 of them. You can clearly see the other toilets are vacant but no one is going to them. This could (normally does) mean that someone has missed the toilet and shit all over the place. However, sometimes it’s that people are just doing what everyone else is doing. I have come across this situation lots of times and when I check the vacant toilets they weren’t used much at all.
Flag
Festival campsite often has thousands of tents all pitched right next to each other and not in orderly fashion. I remember arriving and pitching early at a festival once. When we left for food there was only a few other tents around so we didn’t bother taking note of our surroundings. When we decided to make our way back to camp there was a sea of tents and it took us a long time to find our camp among the mayhem. After that we decided to make a flag and fly it as high as possible over our camp. It’s a great was to find you way back.
Sun cream
Use a high factor sun cream. You’re not here for a sun tan and it’s easy to forget to top up when your having fun.
Hat
Being exposed to the sun all day long can cause sun stroke. So keep hydrated and keep your sun hat on.
Baby wipes
Festivals aren’t really known for their shower facilities. Baby wipes are a great way to freshen up in the morning without the need for running water.
Deodorant
You know, because you will stink if you don’t have any.
Mini speakers
Having a set of mini speakers is great for bringing the festival back to the campsite. Just be mindful of your neighbours and don’t have it on too loud or too late.
Cooler box
This is essential if you want to keep your drinks cool and food fresh. Here’s a post I made to help you pick a good cooler.
Power banks
Phones, Cameras and lights all need charging and power banks are the best way to do it. There are other ways to keep your stuff charged. I’ve made a post of ways you can keep you stuff charged here.
Hand sanitizer
When you have to use the toilets you will want to sanitize your hands as quick as possible. I always have a small tube in my pocket. I’ll probably use it again before I go for something to eat.
Toothpaste and brush
You know why..
Hair brush
To keep your hair under control.
Mirror
You could also use the selfie camera on your phone. Not just to make sure you don’t have food on your face but to make sure no one drew on your face while you slept.
Bin bags
Always clean up after you. Have a bin bag open and ready in the middle of your camp. They are also good for when it starts raining. Put all of your dry cloths in a bin bags to keep dry. If you don’t have a poncho then a large bin bags can be the next best thing. Just cut open holes for your head and arms and slip it on like a sweater.
Alcohol
I’m not suggesting that you must take alcohol but if you are then take your own as it’s often over priced at festivals. And don’t take too much. Remember, you are there to have a good time and to create memories. I’ve learned this the hard way but too much alcohol will ruin your time. You will get lost, lose your money and not remember a thing. Does that sound like fun. Don’t get me wrong. I find alcohol great for enhancing the fun but don’t over do it. Set a limit before you start and stick to it. Don’t try to keep up with your friends and always look out for one another.
Condoms
Just have one in your pocket. You never know who you’re going to meet and it’s always better to be prepared.
Picking a place to pitch
Arrive early so will have a good choice of camping spots. Pick somewhere in between the food stands and the toilets if you can. Never camp too close to the toilets. It might seem like a good idea on the first day but by the third day the smell will be unbearable. And never ever camp downhill from the male urinals. I once seen a river of urine flowing out from under the urinal wall and down towards the tents.
If you want to meet lots of new people the set up camp next to the walkway where thousands of people will pass your camp every day. You are sure to meet lots of interesting people. If your a more private group then camping further into the campsite will limit the traffic that passes your tent.
If you’re in a big group make sure you pitch your tent close together. If there’s room for someone to squeeze in between you then they will.
Take your stuff home with you
When it’s time to pack up make sure you pack up all your stuff and take it home with you. You will see many people leaving their rubbish, blow-up sofas and even their tents behind. You may not feel like packing up on the last day of a festival but you will be glad you did when the next festival comes around. The amount of waste at the end of each festival is horrible so don’t contribute to it. Just because others are too lazy to take their stuff home doesn’t give you a licence to do the same.
Enjoy!
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