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What Plants Crave
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier (16-Pack)
A Spot to Rest
Stoic Basecamp Bivy Quilt Double Outdoor Blanket
A Getting-Ready Companion
Caboodles
A Tiny Stove
MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove
Dialing in what to bring with you when attending any festival takes a lot of trial and error. Reader, I’ve made a lot of errors, from improper footwear to feeling dehydrated. After years of attending concerts, raves, and other live events, I’ve managed to fine-tune the best festival accessories for any situation. Whether you’re camping, glamping, or crashing at a hotel, whether you’re a bass-head or a mosh pit enthusiast, this gear will help you avoid the mistakes I’ve made. Go forth and festival! (If you see me out there, let’s trade kandi.)
Be sure to check out our other buying guides, like the Best Tents, Best Camping Cookware, and Best Camping Stoves.
Updated October 2023: We’ve added new picks for electrolyte drinks and outdoor blankets.
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Photograph: Amazon
What Plants Crave
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier (16-Pack)
Some festivals don’t allow you to bring in outside drinks, and paying for beverages like Gatorade can get really pricey—but usually water refills are cheap, if not free. These powder beverage mixes are packed with electrolytes to help you hydrate more efficiently. They don’t taste overwhelmingly sweet, and the powder dissolves quickly. If I’m planning on dancing and sweating (or I just wake up hungover), I pack a couple in my fanny pack.
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Photograph: Backcountry
A Spot to Rest
Stoic Basecamp Bivy Quilt Double Outdoor Blanket
This insulated outdoor blanket is the biggest I’ve ever tested—it measures 84 x 84 inches—but it packs down into a stuff sack that’s about the size of other outdoor blankets. The fabric is soft and water-resistant, and the patterns are eye-catching. The sheer size is why I love this blanket so much. I brought it stargazing, and five grown adults stretched out—and there was still room for my friend’s chocolate Lab. And in the case of spilled wine or muddy paw prints, pop the quilt in the washing machine and nobody will ever know.
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Photograph: Caboodles
A Getting-Ready Companion
Caboodles
If you aren’t staying in a hotel (or your room is cramped), a mirror is invaluable when you’re getting ready. I pack all my makeup and toiletries inside a Caboodle. Having a base station helps a lot with elaborate makeup looks or braided hairstyles, and smaller cases make walking back and forth to camp showers a breeze. The model I have is currently out of stock, but the company makes a ton of configurations and styles, so you should be able to find one that works for you, even if you’re a chronic overpacker like I am.
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Photograph: MSR
A Tiny Stove
MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove
There are a ton of great camp stoves out there. This one is my favorite for festivals, because we aren’t always making full-size meals (though we’ve successfully used it to heat up a skillet and make an entire steak dinner). Often we’re just boiling water for pour-over coffee (speaking of, we have a guide for rugged French presses right here) or warming up food we prepared at home. The PocketRocket 2 twists onto fuel canisters and heats up everything lightning-fast. When my group was stranded at a raceway in Ohio, we whipped this stove out and made coffee on top of our car trunk. It’s extremely compact and lightweight—so much so that my only gripe is that I have a hard time finding it between festival trips.
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Photograph: Chillbo
A Place to Rest
Chillbo Shwaggins Inflatable Couch
These inflatable couches are genius. They collapse down into a small carry bag, but fully inflated they can support three or more people (provided everyone’s alright with getting cozy). When there’s limited seating, or you’re on day three with two more days to go, an inflatable couch can provide respite with little effort. I also like that they come in a ton of fun colors.
Pro tip: A folding hand fan makes inflation super easy if you don’t want to run around and fill the couch with air (yes, that’s really how you inflate it).
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Photograph: Amazon
Hydration Is Key
Klean Kanteen Classic
Drink. All. The. Water. Even with some festivals making water more affordable, buying new bottles throughout the day can add up (and isn’t great for the environment). If you’re allowed to bring in an empty reusable bottle and take advantage of refill stations, the classic Klean Kanteen is a great option. It’s easy to carry around and pass between group members. Just make sure to check the venue’s policies regarding water bottles—you may be limited to certain capacities or opacities. Be sure to read our Best Reusable Water Bottles guide, which has plenty of other recommendations.
★ Alternative: I also tried and liked Soujourner’s Hydration Packs ($40), but I don’t love wearing something on my back all day. Go with whatever works best for you.
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Photograph: Anker
Staying Alive
Anker PowerCore Slim
I’m not sure what it is about festivals that seems to make my phone die twice as fast, but it’s practically a law of the universe at this point. (It’s likely that the lack of cell service means my phone is constantly searching for a signal; read our tips on how to save battery life here!) Or maybe it’s just overheating in my backpack. In any case, a slim power bank with a large capacity is really handy. This Anker model doesn’t take up much space, but it can charge most phones multiple times. Added bonus: You won’t be overpaying for the luxury of a charging locker.
Read our Best Portable Chargers guide for more of our favorites.
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Photograph: Kelty
An Added Layer
Kelty Galactic Down Blanket
Due to an overabundance of stir crazies, I attended a drive-in rave during the peak of the Covid-19 quarantine. On Halloween. In northern Wisconsin. Subzero wind chills and short skirts don’t mix well. My pod pals and I passed this blanket around and managed to stave off the worst of the chill. Since then, it’s been a convenient way to stay a bit warmer while camping, and it works well for outdoor seating too. It stuffs down into a tiny sack when you’re done. I keep it in my trunk and take it with me everywhere. It’s thin but warm, making it perfect for days when you’re on the move.
★ Alternative: Several members of WIRED’s Gear team also like the Rumpl Original Puffy Recycled Blanket ($120). You can buy it in different sizes, but the one-person was plenty to cover even our tallest team member in Iceland when he slept in his rental car. It also packs down into a tiny sack you can tote around.
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Photograph: JBL
Keep the Party Going
JBL Clip 4
Getting ready isn’t the same without music in the background. This clip-on speaker is easy to use on the go. I use it to get pumped up while doing my makeup before heading out for the day, but it’s small enough to clip on anywhere. It’s nice to add some ambient noise while making coffee in the morning or to play some soothing white noise before trying to get to sleep. Thanks to the small footprint, you won’t have to worry about security snatching it up.
If you’re hunting for more options, we have tons of picks in our Best Bluetooth Speakers guide.
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Photograph: Amazon
Made for Walking
Dr. Martens 1460 Pascal Virginia Leather Boots
From the dirty streets of Los Angeles to the literally uphill-both-ways gravel obstacle courses of Legend Valley, Ohio, these boots have seen it all. And they’ve held up. I’ve put more than 1,000 miles into these bad boys, and the worst of the damage so far has been a frayed lace. The thin leather is supple and helps mitigate Docs’ notorious break-in period. It took less than a day for these to be comfortable to wear. And comfy they are. No blisters. No excruciating pain halfway through the day. They’re reliable, and they don’t clash with whatever I might be wearing. A good pair of shoes is nonnegotiable when it comes to festivals—that’s why I bring these every time.
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Photograph: Amazon
Hearing Protection
Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs
I used to be guilty of sacrificing my hearing health in favor of non-muffled sounds. But these affordable earplugs became a part of my festival essentials as soon as I first put them in. The silicone sleeve is comfortable, and there are different ear tip sizes in case your ears run small like mine do. The real magic is in the attenuator, which filters out the most damaging sounds without muffling them. I can still feel the bass in my pinky toes, but my ears aren’t ringing back at the campsite. I’d call that a win. I also like the reusable metal keychain case.
For more recommendations, read our Best Earplugs guide.
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Photograph: Sojourner
The Best (and Coolest-Looking) Day Bag
Sojourner Transparent Fanny Pack
We’ve got a lot of opinions about bags here on the Gear team, but this is my absolute favorite for festivals. Obviously, it looks dope as heck. I like the price. But importantly, despite how comfortable and durable the bag is, it’s also roomy. I have enough room for my phone, power brick, keys, hand sanitizer, too many tubes of lipstick, and tons of other bits and bobs. There’s a pocket on the back that rests against your body for critical items like credit cards and identification. Since the bag is transparent, it aligns with most venues’ security policies. Other patterns are available, but this is by far my favorite. I get compliments on it all the time (because I wear it all the time).
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Photograph: Amazon
A Portable Bath
Dude Wipes
These have a tragic name, but they’re big and durable. Sometimes festivals have showers. Sometimes they’re expensive. Sometimes the line is long. And sometimes they don’t exist at all. No matter what scenario you face, these wipes can help you freshen up throughout the day. They’re also handy to keep around in case of spills, general grime, or as emergency makeup removal after a very long day.
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Photograph: Amazon
Fixer-Upper
Welly First Aid Kit
It’s pretty easy to put together a first aid kit on your own, but I’m lazy. This tin from Welly has everything you need for minor injuries like blisters, cuts, or slivers. The company sells many different configurations, but I’ve found this one to be the most well rounded. Make sure you know where the nearest medical tent is at all times, just in case. The event staff are there to help!
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Photograph: The Bunk Police
On Harm Reduction
The Bunk Police FentKit
Regardless of your personal habits, drug use can be prevalent at festivals. It’s important to know the location of medical tents, to pay attention to your surroundings, and to look out for your fellow festival attendees the way you’d want them to look out for you.
I highly recommend getting trained in administering naloxone (Narcan). It prevents opioid overdose, and it’s easy to obtain training and the medicine itself for cheap. I took mine through EndOverdose online. It took half an hour and cost $5. I liken it to knowing CPR or choking rescue; you hope you never have to use it, but it’s really good to have the knowledge just in case.
I also recommend looking into drug testing kits. You can obtain these from The Bunk Police and DanceSafe. Fentanyl testing strips are affordable, and it takes little time to test any substances that may be around. Some festivals have vendor tents that will test substances with amnesty. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
Finally, I recommend signing up for alerts from BunkBot when applicable. It’s an emergency alert system that texts folks if dangerous substances are found. It adds another layer of harm reduction and helps you be extra alert when needed.
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Photograph: ERIKA GOLDRING/Getty Images
Stick Together
The Buddy System
Since phone service can be spotty at festivals, and not everybody has a smartwatch, the buddy system is invaluable. My group sticks together when possible, and if someone has to separate, they make sure someone in the system knows where they’re going. We also designate a meetup spot, both inside the festival grounds and outside of the gates, in case of emergencies. Pay attention to your surroundings, and don’t be afraid to contact festival volunteers or employees if you need assistance.
