Festival Must-Haves, Field-Tested at Lost Lands and Electric Forest Leave a comment

The perfect pageant gear, in fact, will depend on which pageant you’re attending, the climate, your sleeping preparations, and a ton of different elements. However as a longtime pageant veteran, I’ve field-tested sufficient gear (and made sufficient errors) to have strong suggestions for stopping blisters, dehydration, a lifeless cellphone, and different widespread pitfalls in most conditions. You will discover my high picks beneath.

Remember to take a look at our different associated shopping for guides, together with the Finest Tents, the Finest Sleeping Baggage, and the Finest Bluetooth Audio system.

Up to date July 2026: I’ve reformatted this information with refreshed picks and a brand new look. I’ve additionally checked costs and accuracy all through.

Finest Electrolytes

These electrolytes are my favourite typically, and I particularly like them for festivals as a result of the ingredient concentrations are excessive sufficient that they really assist with environment friendly hydration once you’re scorching and sweaty. And the flavors are tasty, too, so I can go them out to my crew and know they’ll really drink them. Hydration is of utmost significance with regards to stopping hangovers and “wook flu,” and this combination might help. Plus, the packets don’t take up a lot house in your bag or pocket.

Finest Out of doors Blanket

I’ve but to attempt a blanket from Rumpl that I dislike. They pack up and unfurl simply, and most of them have sufficient house for seating a number of folks. In addition they have little hooks to transform the blanket right into a cape, which is sweet if it will get chilly at camp however you aren’t able to go to mattress but. They’re additionally straightforward to scrub, whether or not they’re lined in mud or grass blades or spilled White Claw.

For only one or two folks, this smaller blanket is ideal. It’s skinny, so it’s greatest for summer time or as an added layer.

My Favourite Energy Financial institution

I’m unsure what it’s about festivals that appears to make my cellphone die twice as quick, however it’s virtually a regulation of the universe at this level. (It’s doubtless that the shortage of cell service means my cellphone is consistently trying to find a sign; learn our tips about learn how to save battery life right here.) Or perhaps it is simply overheating in my backpack. In any case, a power-bank cellphone charger with a big capability is actually useful. This Anker energy financial institution isn’t the slimmest or the lightest, however it prices up rapidly and may quickly high off a number of gadgets per cost. Added bonus: You received’t be overpaying for the luxurious of a charging locker. I convey two of those to four-day festivals they usually preserve my cellphone, speaker, Apple Watch, and different necessities charged the entire time. You may also need a MagSafe energy financial institution round as a backup, although I choose the effectivity of a bigger brick.

A Devoted Pal Finder

The Totem Compass was designed with festivals in thoughts. It makes use of satellites and its personal proprietary mesh community to allow you to discover your pals with none cell service or Wi-Fi. No extra manually time-stamping your textual content messages or waving your cellphone round within the air attempting to get a sign. As soon as these trackers are arrange, you’ll navigate to your good friend group with ease, simply by wanting down and strolling towards their corresponding mild colour. Setup is somewhat difficult, and the battery life could possibly be longer. You will additionally want a option to cost them in a single day for a multiday tenting pageant (the ability financial institution I really helpful above is an possibility). However they labored reliably for my buddies and I to hunt one another down, and I felt safer going to levels on my own with one other layer of safety. And sure, they appear cool whilst you’re dancing, which actually isn’t a detractor.

My Go-To Earplugs

The Loop Expertise 2 are my favourite earplugs total. They’re a part of my each day carry, which is made simpler by the handy case. They shield your listening to with out muffling the sound, they usually look visually putting which additionally helps my mates know I’m sporting them so they do not try speaking to me on the dance flooring. I like how the case flips open, so I am not jostling to unscrew a steel case in a crowd.

A Lighted Mirror

In case you aren’t staying in a resort (or in case you are however your room is cramped), a lighted make-up mirror is invaluable for preparing. I take the Fancii Abigail with me to each pageant. Having a base station helps rather a lot with elaborate make-up seems to be or braided hairstyles, and the sunshine is brilliant sufficient that you’ll see what you are doing, even should you’re preparing in a tent. It is giant sufficient to provide the full image, however sufficiently small that it’ll slot in your backpack or duffel bag, even should you’re a power overpacker like I’m. Simply be sure to’re not breaking any guidelines about glass on the venue. I additionally like that it offers me a spot to place all of the random stickers I’m gifted.

A Tenting Range

There are a ton of nice camp stoves, however this MSR range is my favourite for festivals, as a result of I’m not often making full-size meals (although I’ve efficiently used it to warmth up a skillet and make a complete steak dinner). Typically my web site is simply boiling water for pour-over espresso (talking of espresso, we have now a information for rugged French presses proper right here) or warming up meals we ready at dwelling. The PocketRocket 2 twists onto gas canisters and heats up every part lightning-fast. When my group was stranded at a raceway in Ohio, we whipped this range out and made espresso on high of our automobile trunk. It’s extraordinarily compact and light-weight—a lot in order that my solely gripe is that I’ve a tough time discovering it between pageant journeys.

An Inflatable Sofa

This inflatable sofa is clutch should you don’t thoughts toting round a carrying case. As of late, I preserve my on-person carry fairly minimal, so I choose to solely use one if I’ve a wagon the place I can chuck it when not in use. Absolutely inflated, it may help one to a few folks (offered everybody’s alright with getting cozy). When there’s restricted seating, otherwise you’re on day three with two extra days to go, an inflatable sofa can present respite with little effort. I additionally like that it is available in a ton of enjoyable colours. Simply be sure to’re conscious of your environment—should you’re at a music pageant, it’s unhealthy manners to arrange a sofa in the midst of the gang. Think about chilling again by the sound cubicles as an alternative.

Professional tip: A folding hand fan makes inflation tremendous straightforward should you don’t need to run round to fill the sofa with air (sure, that’s actually the way you inflate it). It’s additionally cheaper to purchase certainly one of these forward of time than from a vendor on the pageant.

Solar Safety

This delicate solar hat is straightforward to pack and produce alongside, because it folds up, however it nonetheless retains its form to guard your head. It is a good giant measurement to maintain your scalp, brow, and neck protected with out feeling too suffocating or offering an excessive amount of protection to be cute. It’s reversible, too; I like flipping between brown and beige relying on how sunny it’s outdoors and which one matches my outfit higher. —Nena Farrell

In case you choose lotion sunscreen, I like every part I’ve tried from Trip, and this massive jug is the proper measurement to maintain at camp. It incorporates sufficient product for me and my mates, and it absorbs rapidly with out feeling greasy or sticky.

Extra Competition Gear I Suggest

Enjoyable, however Not Needed

{Photograph}: Louryn Strampe

Kandi-making kits: Buying and selling beaded bracelets is a trademark of the digital music scene, however because of the Taylor Swift Eras tour, followers of extra music genres are becoming a member of in. Any beads will work, however I extremely suggest Stretch Magic elastic—a budget stuff falls aside manner too simply.