So you've got your tickets, and you're raring to hit the fields for a summer of festivals. Now just the packing part.
With unpredictable weather, muddy grounds and lack of power to contend with, there's a lot to consider when packing for a festival. To help you tick off the essential items - think tent and waterproof gear - as well as a few luxuries, and truly kick back when you're there, we've put together a one-stop festival checklist guide.
Whatever is on your agenda this festival season - raving, comedy, woodland exploration or even face painting - our festival checklist has got you covered.
Festival checklist for 2024
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping mat
- Camping pillow
- Camping chair
- Camping table
- Waterproof jacket
- Wellies
- Backpack
- Camping stove
- Portable coffee maker
- Cookware and crockery
- Cool box
- Power bank
- Water bottle
- Toiletries
- Head torch
- Mirror
- Travel blanket
- Collapsible wagon
You can also head to our review of the best tents for festivals for more summer camping kit.
What to take to a festival
Coleman Galiano pop up tent
Buy from Decathlon (£68.58), Amazon (£65.31)
- Sleeps: 2 (4-person version also available)
- Waterproofing: 2,000mm HH rating and taped seams
- Weight: 2.6kg
- Packed: 77cm diameter
- Pitched: 230cm(L) x 135cm (W) x 90cm (H)
For faff-free assembly, many festival goers opt for a pop up tent. The Coleman Galiano impressed on test. There's a sewn-in groundsheet and taped seams for added waterproofing, as well as large mesh panels for added light and ventilation.
Pitching-up was very straightforward, as usually the case with a pop up model, but we'd recommend practising packing the tent down before leaving for your festival to avoid a frustrating departure!
If it's a family festival you're heading off to, check out the four-person Coleman Galiano.
Robens Chinook Ursa Tent
Buy from TrekkInn (£817.99)
- Sleeps: 6-8 person
- Weight: 21.7kg
- Material: Polycotton tipi tent
The Robens Chinook Ursa Tent works well as a family base for longer camping trips and festivals. It's quite an investment, but you've got a well-made, high-quality tent on your hands.
You'll need two people to carry the tent as it's a hefty model at just over 21kg, but if you're keen to create a dreamy glamping setup this festival season, this spacious model will likely work a treat.
Check out our group review of the best family tents for more options.
Rab Ascent 500 Down Sleeping Bag
Buy from Ellis Brigham (£300), Cotswold Outdoor (£300 £255)
As a two-season model, the Rab Ascent 500 Down Sleeping Bag is well-suited to a summer of festivals. We loved the soft, lofty feel of this sleeping bag, and the fact you can really curl up thanks to its spacious design. Expensive, yes, but expect great attention to detail and good sustainability credentials.
Not what you're looking for? You can also read our full guide to the best three-season sleeping bags.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT sleeping pad
Buy from Wildbounds (£178.50), Cotswold Outdoor (£210.00)
A lightweight sleeping mat is a useful investment to help with the lumps and bumps of a festival field.
A big name in the sleeping mats market, Therm-a-Rest offers a decent range of models. We tested the NeoAir XLite NXT sleeping pad and found it offered comfortable depth and three-season warmth, plus it packs up surprisingly small.
Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow
Buy from Ellis Brigham (£26.00), Cotswold Outdoor (£32.00)
If you don't fancy using a jumper as a makeshift pillow come evening, consider a camping pillow. This sweet design from Therm-a-Rest is both soft and lightweight, plus it's sure to come in handy on the car or bus ride home too.
Helinox Chair 2
Buy from Ellis Brigham (£130.00), Amazon (£129.99)
If you're looking to kick back away from the buzz of the festival, or enjoy a disco nap in the sun, a comfortable camping chair is a must. The Helinox Chair 2 is ultra lightweight at just 1185g making it easy to carry from car to campsite.
Regatta Matano Small Camping Table
Buy from Regatta (£40.00 £27.95), Winfields Outdoors (£35.00 £20.00)
A portable camping table, as well as being a practical item for group breakfasts and snacking, works well as a social gathering point. This model from Regatta folds downs and weighs just 1.2kg.
Patagonia Torrentshell
Buy from Cotswold Outdoor (£180 £144), Alpinetrek (£179.95)
When your whole weekend is spent in an open British field, a decent waterproof jacket is an absolute must. There are plenty of lightweight models to consider, so you can carry a waterproof jacket around all day without it weighing you down.
Offering a good-looking design so you can still look festival-chic in a downpour, Patagonia's Torrentshell is durable and spacious, and we particularly appreciated the excellent hood with three adjustment toggles on review.
For an even lighter option, browse the best waterproof ponchos.
For more wet weather gear reviews, take a look at our complete guide to the best lightweight waterproof jackets.
Le Chameau Vierzonord Neo Wellington Boots
Buy from Le Chameau (£200.00), Outdoor and Country (£200.00)
The wellington boot: a true festival staple. Le Chameau's Vierzonord Neoprene lined boot offered a comfortable fit on review. The premium welly has a classic grass-green exterior and a chunky sole — perfect for trudging through a muddy field all weekend.
MSR Windburner Personal Stove System
Buy from Wildbounds (£200 £170), Cotswold Outdoor (£200.00)
The MSR Windburner Personal Stove System is a great backpacking option, so it won't weigh your festival pack down. We had boiling water in under five minutes on review, so we were impressed with the efficiency of the camping stove, plus it neatly packs away for easy transportation.
What's more, the kit doubles as a cafetière when paired with the brand's neat French Press Kit. The 1L stove was large enough to make four decent cups of coffee — ideal for fuelling a festival gang.
If you're on the lookout for campsite cuisine inspiration, check out our review of the best camping food brands.
AeroPress Go
Buy from Amazon (£40.21), Coffee Friend (£39.00 £35.10)
Why tackle a long coffee cart queue when you could rustle up a coffee at your campsite? AeroPress is a big player in the portable coffee making game, and for good reason. The AeroPress Go is the brand's most travel-friendly version making it a great choice for festival use.
On review, we found it was lightweight, easy to use and a breeze to clean. Plus it makes a delicious coffee.
Yeti Roadie 24
Buy from Selfridges (£200.00), Amazon (£189.00)
A huge name in the cool box game, Yeti offers an array of hardwearing, colourful outdoor equipment. The brand's 24L Roadie is tall enough to chill most bottles of wine, and should be slim enough to fit behind a driver's seat, so it's a well-designed festival accessory.
OtterBox Portable Power
Buy from Otterbox (£44.99), Amazon (£44.99)
Keep your electronics and devices fuelled up, and become everyone's best friend, with a portable power bank. We are fans of the OtterBox Fast Charge model thanks to its durability and high-quality construction. It's compatible with USB-A and USB-C, and allows for multi-device charging.
Nalgene Narrow Mouth 1L Water Bottle
Buy from Cotswold Outdoor (£18.00), Wildbounds (14.95)
The Nalgene Narrow Mouth 1L is lightweight, durable and affordable, making it a particularly festival-friendly choice. The narrow mouth makes for easy chugging, allowing for fast hydration when you're making your way through a busy crowd.
Deodorant (and all necessary toiletries!)
Buy from Amazon (£25.00)
Showering facilities can vary depending on your festival's setup, so it's best to be fully prepared when it comes to toiletries. Stock up on biodegradable wet wipes, hand sanitiser and dry shampoo for a fresh time.
A first aid kit is always a useful toiletry bag addition too, especially if you've got little ones scampering about the campsite.
Petzl Tikka Core rechargeable head torch
Buy from Alpinetrek (£51.95), Amazon (£49.00)
A head torch is a festival camping game changer. Keep everything hands-free as you rummage around your tent in the dark, and avoid tripping over a guy rope on your way to the toilet.
As well as being rechargeable, the Petzl Tikka Core head torch works with AAA batteries, so you've got a solid backup if you run out of charge. Plus, it's nice and compact so you can easily squeeze it into your pack.
Mirror
Buy from Amazon (£11.99)
When it comes to festival items, a portable folding mirror is incredibly useful, yet very easy to forget! Avoid long toilet queues and make your morning routine that little bit easier with this handy festival essential.
Measuring 18cm by 25cm, we'd say this folding mirror is a decent size — large enough that it's easy to use, whilst still compact for effortless travel.
Rumpl blanket
Buy from Rumpl (£90.00), Ellis Brigham (£80.00)
Rumpl's travel blanket rolls down to roughly the size of a one litre water bottle. Keep it in your bag, and enjoy a spontaneous picnic, or well-deserved seat, whenever you fancy. The weather and stain resistant design oozes both practicality and festival-ready style, plus it'll help keep little ones cosy in the evening when you're out late. There's even a nifty cape clip so you can go hands-free.
Reviewers are taken with its portable and cosy nature, with one stating: "It’s light, incredibly warm and comfortable, easy to wash and easy to take with you."
Wonderfold Double Stroller
Buy from Amazon (£577.04)
A family festival can be a tiring day for kids, so if you want to give them a little help along the way (and enjoy your evening for longer!) a collapsible stroller could work a treat. The Wonderfold Double Stroller is designed to hold two passengers, and thanks to an easy-access front zipper door, kids can hop in and out with ease.
For more of our packing guides, read our family camping checklist, and ensure you're ready for a summer of adventures with the kids.
