The next few months are going to be packed with outdoor music festivals. If you’re one of the lucky fans who managed to snag passes to see your favorite artists and join the screaming crowds, you’re going to want to pack smart. Check out this brief list of essentials that you need to bring to the upcoming festival:
Comfortable Clothes
While festivals like Burning Man and Coachella always have people putting on their wildest outfits, you might want to consider comfort over fashion. That romper and set of strappy sandals will look cute in photos, but it won’t feel great when you’re trying to go to the bathroom in a cramped porta-potty or walking through the mud.
Comfy sneakers are music festival essentials because they are supportive and protective — not only will they keep your toes safe, but they will protect everyone dancing around you. Pick a pair that can get a little dirty. Once you get home, you’ll probably find them covered in mud. Don’t forget to wear a graphic tee as well. It is both fashionable and appealing, and, most importantly, it matches a wide variety of outfits. So, why not pair your concert outfit with a graphic tee? Additionally, you can pick up a pair of the newest sneakers to match. You can order matching apparel from online retailers like Sneaker Release Tees if you want to complement your entire outfit.
As for clothes, pick practical clothing that will let you move around freely. You want to be able to jump around and dance your heart out. Look for fabrics that breathe like cotton, linen and chambray.
Sun Protection
Want to know what could ruin a perfectly-good festival for you? A bad sunburn. Don’t just apply a layer of sunscreen when you get dressed in the morning — bring the bottle with you and reapply every few hours, especially if you get wet. Choose sunscreens that are dermatologist-approved and that have high SPF like Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Day-Touch SPF 110 or Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 70.
Raingear
Okay, maybe the weather won’t be bright and sunny. If the weather reports call for rain, you should stick a folded-up rain-poncho in your bag to protect you from getting drenched. You don’t even have to buy one! You can make a DIY rain poncho out of a standard garbage bag using a pair of kitchen scissors.
Don’t put an umbrella in your bag. Most venues will confiscate umbrellas because they will get in everyone’s personal space, block their views and cause accidental injury. Leave it at home and stick with the poncho.
Your iPhone
Of course, you can’t go without your iPhone. It can help you store your tickets, meet up with your friends at the right spot, find the venue and take killer pictures.
It’s understandable that you’d consider leaving it at home. You don’t want it to get stolen or damaged. You also don’t want it to run out of battery half-way through the day and become a useless brick to carry around. Before you head out to the festival, you need to get your phone a few accessories.
The first thing you need is a bag to store your phone safely. The pocket of your jean shorts isn’t good enough. It can fall out if you’re dancing or crowd-surfing, and someone can easily snag it when you’re not paying attention. A small cross-body bag can do the trick, but it can still swing around too much for your liking. Your best bet is to get a fanny pack and put your valuables inside. They’re back in style, anyway.
You should also deck out your iPhone this summer with a durable screen protector and a high-quality vinyl skin to guarantee that it’s safe from damage. The right screen protector will keep your touchscreen from smashing or cracking. The skin will guard against cosmetic damage like scuff marks and scratches. Pick a design that makes your device stand out like green carbon fiber, red dragon scale or gold.
You don’t want to pull out your phone to snap a pic of the stage and then notice your battery is almost at zero. Put a portable charger into your fanny pack so that you can keep your iPhone alive for the entire festival.
Backup Toiletries
One of the things that you shouldn’t forget to pack for a music festival is a roll of toilet paper and a bottle of hand sanitizer or wet wipes to clean your hands. No matter how many porta-potties the venue puts up, there will not be enough for the attendees. In a flash, supplies like toilet paper and hand soap will be gone. Don’t take a chance. Bring your own backup, just in case.
You want to come home with sore feet because you were dancing for hours on end, not because you brought the wrong shoes. You want to hold up your iPhone and see incredible photos, not cracks and scratches. Packing all of the right things will make sure that the festival is memorable for all of the right reasons.