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    The Ten Essentials: Festival Camping Packing List

    The Ten Essentials: Festival Camping Packing List | ActionHub

    Two of the most amazing things about the summer months are festivals and camping. Combine the two and you’re a winner in our eyes. Tickets purchased, eyes on your favorite acts and excitement building for moments worth remembering – as long as you bring everything you need for successful festival camping.

    We’ve covered the topic of camping and packing lists before, however, festival camping is a different ball game. Festival camping is unlike your typical wilderness camping. You’re going to have your tent practically propped up against your neighbor’s and the element of survival is, well, different.

    The Ten Essentials Adapted for Festival Camping

    The Ten Essentials is a system-based list which is designed to cover absolutely everything you could need for outdoor activities, like camping. Typically, it is used for hikers, backpackers, and campers. In this guide, we’re going to run our own slant on it and gear it up more specifically for festivals.

    Navigation

    Ditch the GPS tracker and compass; you definitely won’t be needing those. Here’s what you should bring:

    • Directions to and from the festival venue
    • A map of the festival grounds
    • A schedule of events so that you don’t miss your favorite acts
    • A marker to easily identify your tent, such as a balloon, flag or light

    Sun Protection

    Festivals mean that you are outside for hours on end and when alcohol is involved, it is far too easy to not care about sun protection.

    • Sunscreen (long lasting to save frequent reapplication)
    • Sunglasses
    • Cap or hat
    • Long-sleeved clothing
    • Umbrella or another form of shelter from the sun if you’re sitting around your camp

    Insulation

    It doesn’t matter how much beer you consume, it can still get pretty chilly at night, or worse, it could rain. Conversely, it can get warm and sweaty on a nice day, so we’re also going cover both scenarios with this list.

    • Waterproof jacket (with hood)
    • Poncho
    • Rain pants
    • Rain boots
    • Moisture-wicking clothing

    Illumination

    Handy for when you can’t find what you want in the dark or simply want to set the atmosphere.

    • Fairy lights are great for hanging up in a tent
    • A torch for looking for your lost objects (or friends)
    • A lighter/phone light for waving in the air during a slow song
    • Glow sticks
    • Lantern

    First Aid

    You should never solely rely on medical staff when something goes wrong. It is useful to have even the most basic of first aid kits for simple cuts and bruises.

    • Bandaids
    • Headache tablets (for the hangovers)
    • Bandages
    • Anesthetic wipes

    Fire

    Fine, you might not be able to get the typical campfire set up at a festival but these could come in handy.

    • Lighter (for either waving around or for when someone asks to borrow one!)
    • Portable BBQ

    Repair Kit and Tools

    From tents to clothing, this is what you might need for pesky repairs.

    • Tent repair kit to patch any holes
    • Multi-purpose knife
    • Duct tape
    • Scissors
    • Extra batteries
    • Bungee cords

    Nutrition

    You can’t (well, you could but really shouldn’t) go the festival without eating properly. Here are some convenient snacks which are easy enough to take, as well as utensils.

    • Dried fruit
    • Protein bars
    • Energy gels
    • Bread or rolls
    • Seasoning
    • Breakfast food like oats or cereal bars
    • Prepared meals in boxes
    • Cool box

    Hydration

    There is only so much liquid you can take with you…

    • Bottled water
    • Empty container to fill up
    • Coffee for the morning
    • Camping kettle
    • Hydration tablet which will also help in the mornings

    Emergency Shelter

    This is probably the only fairly irrelevant section for festival camping, however, the following items are useful in the event of a mishap.

    • Spare blankets or sleeping bag
    • Additional shelter from wind, rain or sun
    • Roll mat or air bed

    Misc.

    Finally, here are some items which don’t necessarily fit into the above categories.

    • Games (card games or board games)
    • Toilet roll
    • Balls
    • Hand sanitizer
    • Mirror
    • Toiletries
    • Event tickets
    • Lock for your tent
    • Portable charger
    • Earphones or speakers
    • Camera
    • Chairs
    • Cooking and kitchen equipment
    • Towels