Introduction
If you’re heading out to an amazing rock festival like Download Festival or Bloodstock Open Air. Then making sure you pack smart is essential! Rock festivals are intense, loud guitars, weather that typically is awful, mosh pits and non stop night time atmosphere.
This is what you need to pack for a rock festival weekend. So you can rock out in comfort and safety! Nobody wants to be the friend who forgot their tent in the mud. This is your rock festival survival checklist.
- Introduction
- Festival Essentials: What To Pack For A Rock Festival
- Rock Festival Camping Gear & Tips
- Rock Festival Outfit Ideas & What To Wear
- Personal Hygiene
- Food & Drinks
- What Not To Take
- Final Tips
- Conclusion
Festival Essentials: What To Pack For A Rock Festival
These are the things that you should not even consider leaving the house without…
Festival Ticket – You can’t even get into the festival without this, so if nothing else pack this! Even if you forget everything else this needs to be accessible. These days most tickets are done on your phone, but if you also have the option for a paper ticket we recommend doubling down so you have multiple ways to prove you should be allowed in!
ID – This goes hand in hand with the festival ticket, you need to first of all prove who you are. But after that to enjoy the festival to the fullest, you’re going to want to prove you are 18!
Money – Festivals these days are moving towards cashless systems, and for good reason. Nobody wants to lose all their money on day 1 because they left their bag on a table! However on top of a bank card, I’d have maybe one or two bank notes just in case of an emergency escape is needed.
Phone – So you’re going to want to take photos of the amazing time you have with your friends, maybe even record some of the bands set. But most importantly at 2am you’re going to want to call a friend to find out where they are. Also commonly festivals have apps which tell you the next band on stage!
Charger – This goes hand in hand with the item above, there is nothing worse than a phone that is as useful as a brick because it is out of juice. Personally I think powerbanks work the best for this because you can get multiple charges out of the bigger ones.
Waterproof Bag– There is nothing worse than your essentials getting wet and ruined. So why even risk it. Take a waterproof bag and pop all your important items in. No risk of water, mud or dust then is there?
Rock Festival Camping Gear & Tips
Festivals are now more commonly over several days, if your camp is organised it means less running around and more energy to headbang! These are the best camping gear for Download Festival.
Tent ( Freshly Waterproofed) – This one might seem obvious but you are going to need a tent to camp. The important bit here is that it is big enough for the amount of people sleeping in it. I then think it is best to get one which can cope with two more people. The reason for this is you never know when a friends tent might break, and more importantly you want room for your belongings. Also the freshly waterproofed part is really important you do not want what happened to us in Germany to happen to you!
Sleeping Bag – The chances are you’re going to sleeping on the hard ground. A sleeping bag not only protects you a little from that but also from the cold. I always remain amazed how cold a rock festival can get in the middle of the night even on a warm weekend!
Camping Chair – There is debate about if these should be taken into the arena when watching your favourite bands. But there is one thing that is not debatable, these make life so much better when sitting around as a group at your camp. Everyone should take one and then maybe have one or two spare.
Torch – It is night time, and the moon is not a suitable light source to avoid falling over people’s tent poles. Pack a torch and make your way to the toilet without the risk of breaking your ankle.
Duct Tape – Sometimes tents and other items get broken. Duct tape is a remarkably cheap way of repairing something until the end of the rock festival. Pack a roll.
Water Bottle – Sure you might want to drink alcohol all weekend, but honestly a refillable water bottle is amazing when you’re in a pinch at the campsite.
Dry Bag & Wet Bag – You’re going to get wet and muddy. Keep used and filthy clothes in a separate bag so that your clean clothes stay clean!
Eye Mask & Ear Plugs – If you struggle with sleep at the best of times, an eye mask can be really useful. It’s a festival people are going to be shining a torch at your tent to find their own. The same goes for ear plugs, it’s not going to be quiet so why not block out as much noise as you can. On the ear plug suggestion for sleep, why not try Loop Quiet for sleeping?
Bin Bags – For keeping your area of the campsite tidy having a roll of bin bags really does make things much easier.
Rock Festival Outfit Ideas & What To Wear
You want to look your best in your festival or rock outfits right? Here are the essentials especially if you are heading to Bloodstock Open Air!
Band T-Shirt – These are so breathable, and obviously it has your favourite band on it. What else could you ask for. You can also wear festival t-shirts too.
Jeans – Jeans are remarkably comfortable and durable, I recommend to pack multiple in different colours to look your best.
Hoodie – It might be 10pm and finally the sun goes down, unfortunately the heat that the sun was giving out has finally gone. It is freezing! Pack a hoodie and keep yourself warm and rocking.
Rain Poncho – The chances are it is going to rain while you are at the festival. In the case of a flash flood, stick on a rain poncho and let the water wash right off of you.
Boots – Walking boots are amazing for festivals, which tend to involve a lot of walking across the site to the next stage. Buy a pair a month or two before the festival and wear them in well! Protected against rain, mud and whatever else is in that puddle…
Hat – I fully recommend a baseball cap as it helps keep the sun out of your eyes and the UV from burning you to a crisp.
Sun Cream – As mentioned above nobody wants to go home looking like a lobster! Wear sun cream and lots of it.
Personal Hygiene
Festival hygiene is not the most glamorous for sure. But it will keep you healthy and comfortable throughout the time you’re in a field!
Toiletries
Toothbrush & Toothpaste – Nobody will admit it, but we have all been a couple of days before without brushing our teeth. It is gross! Don’t go through that, feel your best and take a brush and paste. It’ll make more people want to talk to you too!
Wet Wipes – Make sure these are biodegradable, but these are going to be your best friend in case showers are not available!
Hand Sanitizer – Everyone knows that festival toilets can be awful. There is nothing worse than leaving one without a way to wash your hands, combine the power of hand sanitizer and wet wipes for a powerful combination!
Deodorant – Rock festivals have the terrible reputation for people not wearing deodorant. Let’s help change that! Everyone pack one and actually use it.
Shampoo & Conditioner – You have a shower available! Thank the gods. But they are better if you actually use cleaning products in addition to the water.
Toilet Paper – Do not underestimate how important this one is. Take your own toilet paper into the arena and make sure there is some on your person at any point. Cubicles are notorious for having none.
First Aid Kit – I am thinking plasters, painkillers and blister pads at the very minimum. You will thank me if you need them.
Must Needed Technology
Earplugs – Festival music tends to be really loud! They have awesome earplugs these days that dont taint the actual sound either. Grab a pair! I have personally just started using Loop earplugs for going to gigs in and they have honestly blown my mind! They take down the sound level, but keep things crystal clear!
Solar Panel Charger – Apparently these days you can get small solar panel chargers that you can use to charge up your phone and other devices… Sounds like a cracking idea for the campsite to me!
Food & Drinks
Do you really want to be paying £20 for a burger at a festival? Pack your own food and you are laughing all the way to the bank. Or at least not crying when you see how much you have left on the monday morning.
Non-Perishable Snacks – Think protein bars, crisps, chocolate. Anything that you will actually want to eat that the festival do not say you cannot take in the arena with you.
Instant Noodles – This is just for the campsite but I swear by them in a pinch!
What Not To Take
Festivals all have their own rules, so please before you pack check what you can and cannot take!
Glass Bottles – This is just a terrible idea all around anyways, but mainly think about what happens if someone gets cut by one.
Weapons – Seriously there is not a reason on this planet to take something like this to a festival do not be an idiot.
Drones – You want to get the coolest shot of the festival? So does the festival themselves. But drones are both invasive of peoples privicy and expensive. Don’t lose yours to the police!
Excessive Valuables – If you feel like you would be heartbroken if it was stolen. Then do not take it with you.
Single Use Plastics – Come on now lets protect the planet so festivals are still a thing in twenty years time!
Final Tips
Download The Festivals App – These contain not only the stages where bands are performing but in the year they often have the latest announcements too!
Look At The Weather Forecast – Most of what you need to pack is common sense. If the weather is awful and the forecast says it is going to be, then don’t wear shorts and a t-shirt.
Known Your Schedule – There is nothing worse than missing a band you wanted to see! Don’t let it happen because you forgot when they were playing. Make a schedule.
Mosh Pit 101 – If someone falls down pick them up.
Conclusion
Going to a rock festival can be pretty daunting, especially knowing what to pack! I hope this guide has helped a little to show you how to survive a rock festival. While it might not be a full list, it will be the bones in which to base your final list on. Catch you in the moshpit at Download Festival! Don’t forget to bookmark this for your next festival!
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