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You’ve plotted out your festival itinerary, and now it’s time to get packing. Whether you’re headed to Coachella, a spring road trip or a quick adventure with just your carry-on, even some of the most seasoned festgoers might forget a thing or two. That’s why we’ve assembled festival packing list for your last-minute shopping — including many items from Amazon that’ll arrive by or before Thursday with speedy Prime shipping.
Related: What to Pack for a Day at Disneyland
Sunscreen, hats and sunglasses are the most obvious items to check off your list — but there are plenty of other items (such as a first aid kit or a powerful phone charger) that might come in handy as you’re traversing football field-length grounds and dusty or muddy terrain.
Related: The Best Spring and Summer Music Festivals of 2024
One must-have that won’t take up any space in your bag? Frequent festgoers can make their event-hopping experience easier with services such as FestivalPass, which allows members to save up to 30 percent on up to 80,000 festivals, concerts, sporting events and more. memberships are $19 to $99 per month (or $210 to $1,080 per year) and include early access, no ticketing fees, bonus tickets and more perks. Resale sites such as SeatGeek, StubHub, Ticketmaster and VividSeats also offer tickets to sold-out events.
On that note, we’ve rounded up some of the best music festival essentials to pack, from hands-free fanny packs that are fashionable and functional to practical outdoor-friendly supplies and sun care staples. Don’t forget to check each festival’s rules for prohibited items: think metal water bottles, advanced first aid kits with sharp objects, selfie sticks and other gear.
Anker 525 PowerCore 20K Power Bank
Spotty reception and snapping photos all day can drain your smartphone’s battery, but Anker’s portable USB-C charger ensures that you stay powered up for the weekend. The 20,000mAh cell capacity can charge an iPhone 12 to 50 percent in as little as 30 minutes, and it’s compatible with Samsung and most other brands.
Loops Experience Plus Pro Ear Plugs
When the bass and drums get louder, protect your precious eardrums for future music fests with Loops’ Experience Plus ear plugs. You can reduce the noise by up to 23 decibels with the included Loop Mute accessories, and the four ear tip sizes let you customize the fit. We love the chic gold design that makes them feel more like a stylish accessory than a (very necessary) piece of protective gear. They’re also great for anyone with sensitivities to sound.
JISULIFE Handheld 3-in-1 Mini Fan
When the weather’s hot, navigating a Disney park can feel like Survivor Island. Mitigate the intensity of the heat with a handheld mini fan. This three-in-one device by Jisulife is less than five inches high and weighs four ounces. It cools for 21 hours on a single charge, so you’re good to go for the whole day. Recharge it by way of USB — and even use it as an external backup power bank to charge your phone in a pinch.
YUNI Beauty Large Body Wipes
When you’re too focused on catching the first band and the last performer each day, we get that a shower might be the last thing on your schedule. This 12-pack of super-soft deodorizing body wipes from Yuni let you wipe away sweat and dirt when you’re on the go.
Supergoop! Play Everday Lotion
Shade may not always be easy to come by at a festival — and Supergoop!’s Play everyday lotion (available in a travel-friendly 2.4-oz. size) has SPF 50 to shield you from UVA and UVB rays for up to 80 minutes, sunflower extract to protect from the elements and rosemary leaf extract to calm and soothe the skin. The sweat- and water-resistant formula is also reef-friendly.
General Medi Mini First Aid Kit
For the ultra-prepared festgoer who’s dealing with minor scrapes or a tiny tumble, this all-purpose mini first aid kit might just save you a trip across the field to the first aid tent (and keep you from missing the show you’ve been waiting for). Just be sure to remove any prohibited items, such as scissors, tourniquets and safety pins.
Free People Shoreline Bucket Hat
Packed the cutest hat, only to be burdened with a bulky accessory once the sun goes down? Yeah, we’ve been there too — which is why this Free People packable bucket hat is worth throwing into your kit.
Dr. Frederick’s Original Better Blister Bandages, 12-Count
If you plan to be on your feet all weekend, this variety pack of blister bandages will keep your steppers comfortable.
Hollywood Fashion Secrets Style Emergency Kit, 14-Pc. Set
As Hollywood stylists (and Oscar winner Emma Stone) can attest, wardrobe malfunctions can strike anytime. Hollywood Fashion Secrets’ Style Emergency Kit contains double-sided tape, a deodorant remover sponge, a mini sewing set, safety pins and more essentials to save the day.
Transparent Multicolor Fanny Pack
For those stadium festivals where clear carryalls are required, this top-rated transparent fanny pack — available in a variety of see-through designs — from Amazon is a must for breezing through security.
Foldies Polarized Folding Sunglasses
Minimalism and convenience are clearly our mantra when it comes to festival packing — which is why we love Foldies’ polarized sunglasses. These perfectly portable frames feature UV400 scratch-resistant lenses and a cool folding design that makes them easy to stow away in your bag or pocket at sunset. Other frame colors and lens styles are available.
Caraa Travel Waistpack
We’re fans of Caraa’s adventure-ready Travel Waistpack for its plethora of compartments and storage space, such as the two water bottle pockets, zippered pockets and detachable straps that make it easy to organize your stuff (but don’t blame us if you end up the most prepared pack mule of your group).
Coola Organic Liplux Lip Balm and Sunscreen with SPF 30
Sensing a sun theme here? You can never protect your skin enough, which is why Coola’s Liplux sunscreen with SPF 30 is a must-have in your festival kit. The water-resistant formula is vegan, gluten-free and 70 percent organic.
Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea
Whether you’re facing dry or humid air, a good face mist can help cool you down. Mario Badescu’s refreshing facial spray contains aloe, cucumber and green tea works great as a toner, makeup setting spray or mid-fest skin energizer.
Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer Spray, 3-Pack
Touchland’s moisturizing hand sanitizer comes in a travel-friendly, easy-to-pack misting bottle filled with a cruelty-free, vegan formula that won’t leave your fingers sticky. It comes in a range of scents, such as this trio that includes mint, citrus and lemon-lime. (More three-packs available.)
Vibes High Fidelity Ear Plugs
If you prefer more discrete hearing protection, stay connected to the music with Vibes’ nearly-invisible High Fidelity earplugs. They come with different sizes of silicone tips so you can customize your noise-canceling levels.
Sun Bum Cool Down Aloe Vera Gel
If you’re not too careful, you’re bound to get a little burnt when you’re out and about beneath the sun for days. Sun Bum’s Cool Down aloe vera gel is infused with cocoa butter, vitamin E and tea tree oil to soothe and nourish irritated skin and prevent peeling. It can also be used to preserve your tan.
Polaroid Go Generation 2 Instant Camera
What would a music festival be without memories to bring home? One of our favorite instant film cameras is the pocket-sized Polaroid Go, which lets you take double exposures, control the flash and add color filter attachments. Don’t forget to stock up on extra film, too.
Hydrapak Stow 32-Oz. Collapsible Water Bottle
Most festivals don’t allow insulated stainless steel water bottles (yup, the kind that keeps your aqua ice-cold on hot days) — but the next best option for avoiding single-use plastics is this collapsible flip-top option. It has a 32-oz. capacity and weighs under two ounces.
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