Ultimate Festival Packing Checklist: 12 Tips and Hacks To Keep Comfortable When Camping
Ultimate Festival Packing Checklist: 12 Tips and Hacks To Keep Comfortable When Camping
Festival season is upon us, and whether you’re heading to Glastonbury, Bestival, or Latitude, you’ve most likely been zoning out of work conversations all month to make a mental list of what you are going to need to survive (even better, thrive) this time around. That’s why our ultimate festival packing list is the perfect way to make sure you don’t end up caught short in the wrong field in the English countryside (unless that’s your kind of thing).
It goes without saying that festivals and camping bring about some less-than-ideal living conditions. That’s why our festival checklist focuses on comfort and survival. Even though festivals can often make us want to put ourselves in the wellies of our younger selves, we’re probably over rolling around in the mud - and keeping clean and comfortable is essential for an enjoyable experience.
So, let’s jump right into the mosh pit of everything you need to make the most of festival season!
Festivals: First Things First
Before deciding what your essentials are, there are a few things we should point out first.
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Only bring what you need
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You’ll have to carry everything in and out of the festival (no cutting corners)
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Don’t leave any equipment or tents at the festival
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Trolleys are useful to move bigger items, but can be awkward on mud
Okay, now that’s out the way, let’s get into it.
Festival Essentials
If there’s anything you take away from this, DO NOT FORGET THESE THINGS. Honestly, it’s really not worth even going if you forget these, so perk those sunburnt ears up!
Your ticket
This should go without saying, but no ticket, no entry. Double, triple, quadruple check that you and the entre group/family has their tickets.
ID
Festivals require your ID to serve alcohol. If you want to drink, you don’t want to forget this.
Money and cards
Queues for cash machines can be lengthy unless you plan to go at quiet times. Some festivals provide free ‘lock ups’ where you can lock up your valuables. This service can be used to store your wallet, car keys and cash so you don’t lose them.
Festivals and Wet Wipes: Are they banned?
Most of the UK’s major festivals like Glastonbury advise against bringing wet wipes, even flushable ones which can cause major issues when it comes to littering and using portaloos. Although wipes can be handy when it comes to cleaning up, especially after toilet time where the situation is less than ideal, there’s a better solution.
By using a gentle yet effective cleansing gel, you’re able to avoid using the wipes that festivals advise against, while keeping clean, confident and comfortable all festival long. When applied to toilet paper, Wype’s cleansing gel creates a soothing and moisturising wet wipe alternative that breaks down along with your toilet paper. Keep fresh and guilt free this summer, no matter the occasion.
Festival Hacks and Must Haves
Take a bum bag to keep your valuables safe
Luckily these useful little items are making a major fashion comeback, that fastening clip could be the only thing holding you together on a long festival day! Bum bags are the key to keeping your valuables safe, and the things you’ll need throughout the day handy. Go creative with this one, the more obnoxious and loud the bum bag, the less likely people are to steal it! Now that’s a hack.
Bring a yoga mat to put under your sleeping bag
Believe it or not, the floor is as hard and cold as it looks, so be sure to bring something to soften it up a bit before you sleep on it. A yoga mat is easier to transport than a blow-up mattress, so to save space, go for this option. Believe us, your back will be messed up after 4 days of camping anyway, it’s better to soften the blow, even just a little.
Pack an empty pillowcase and fill it with your clothes
Nobody should have to give up the comfort of a big soft pillow, but they’re clunky and take up space. Simply take an empty pillowcase and fill it with your clothes when you’re at the festival to make a comfy place to rest your head. Sure, if you’re rocking short-shorts and crop tops, they might not fill the entire pillow, but if you happen to like thick socks, it all evens out in the end!
Bring dry shampoo to keep your hair fresh (ish)
We've all been there, at the end of a festival with top bun so tight and greasy that we look like a seagull escaping an oil spill (no good!). We always say take some dry shampoo and use it before the dirt sets in. It won’t make your hair any cleaner, but what others don’t know won’t hurt them. Be sure to pack some dry shampoo to get an extra day of flawless selfies, shower-free.
Use an unscented deodorant to ward off bugs
Anyone who says a small change can’t make a big difference hasn’t tried sleeping in a tent with a mosquito. There’s a reason nobody calls creepy crawlies man’s best friend, so apply a natural, refillable deodorant to the exposed parts of your body to ward off mosquitos and other unwanted bugs.
Use a microfibre towel for quick cleaning and drying
Wet a microfibre towel and use it to freshen up quickly and easily. The best thing about these is that they dry quickly and are perfect for camping. Nobody wants a tent smelling like damp because their towel hasn’t dried from 2 days ago – although, this may be a good way to ward off people snooping around your tent. Silver linings.
Bring Imodium
This is one of those nice to haves when you don’t need it, ecstatic to have when you do need it. Trust us, you’ll never forget the food poisoning you might get from the fish and chip van. And to be fair, those porta potties are rather ghastly, but when nature calls and you just have to pick up, Wype’s Mini travel-size cleansing gel will have you feeling peachy keen (and clean) in no time! It may be small, but it keeps you well prepared for the muckiest of moments.
Always carry loo roll with you
Carrying loo roll with you at all times is truly the unsung hero of festival camping hacks. Whether you need an emergency toilet break, a bird poos on your friend, or someone spills a drink on you, it comes in handy more often than you think.
Take a Shewee
Instead of waiting for hours in the queue for the toilet, take a Shewee. This way, although you may feel like a dog when doing it, you can go whenever you please in a concealed area. Just remember, although you can GO anywhere with a Sheewee, it doesn’t mean you should. Let’s keep the urinating outside of the crowd.
Take some pocket-sized snacks
Whatever snacks you like, make sure you always keep one in your bum bag. Keeping your energy up is important, especially when you're dancing all day and night. Stay away from things with chocolate in them, you don’t want them to melt and leave a sticky mess when you go for your energy boosting snack, and for everyone to think you lost your way inside the portaloo.
Take some portable chargers (yes more than one)
You need your phone to keep in contact with your friends at the festival, or to just take some fire pics. Take multiple portable chargers and be sure that they're fully charged before you leave to keep in contact, keep safe, and take some bomb selfies when you need to. #blessed
Use What3Words to find your tent and friends
What3Words allows you to navigate to precise locations, perfect for when you need to find your tent at a festival! You really don't want to find yourself wading through a river, 2 miles away from your campsite in the middle of the night, so stay orientated as best you can.
What camping gear to take to a festival
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Tent
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Sleeping bag
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Roll mat/inflatable mattress
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Toilet roll
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Cleansing toilet paper gel
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Reusable water bottle
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Torch and lamp (don’t rely on your phone)
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Camping chair
What clothes to take to a festival
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Wellies
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Sturdy, comfortable shoes
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A warm Jumper
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Waterproof jacket
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Change of clothes for every day (and some extra)
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Hat
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Laundry bag
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Warm socks
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A day bag
What toiletries to take to a festival
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Sun cream
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Toothbrush and toothpaste
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Medication
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Deodorant
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Dry shampoo
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Hairbrush
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Lightweight towel
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Wet wipe alternative
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Soap
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Shampoo
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Handheld mirror
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Anti-bacterial gel
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First aid essentials
What food supplies to take to a festival
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Camping stove with gas or portable barbecue with coals
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Lighter
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Camping kettle
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Cups or mugs
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Cutlery
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Breakfast bars
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Sweets and treats
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Fruit – apples, pears oranges
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Tea and coffee
The Finishing Act
Now that we’ve run through our ultimate festival checklist and some helpful tips, tricks and hacks to help you make it through festival season, it’s time to do a test run. Make sure you can fit everything with you, and make sure you can carry your bag for quite some distance.
Whether you're a festival newbie or a seasoned pro. One thing everyone knows is how gruesome the festival toilets can truly be. Bodily fluids and bad aims, dodgy tummies and blocked loos, it’s never pretty. One thing we can all make sure is that we’re able to get properly clean when we need to, no matter how the festival is treating us below the waist.
The Wype Mini is the perfect way to keep clean, comfortable and confident all festival long. Portable and small enough to fit in your pocket but packs a punch that can clean up any mess. When you’re in a portaloo in the middle of nowhere, it’s best not to take any chances. Try our on-the-go bundle, your bottom will thank you.
