Don’t want to be that person at the festival?
The one forgetting things they need on the trip. Running around camp frantically searching while everyone else is relaxing at the stage enjoying the show.
There’s a clear difference between stressed-out festival rookies and carefree festival pros…
They packed smarter.
Instead of bringing more stuff, they brought the right stuff.
Let’s dive into exactly what festival pros prioritize when they pack.
You’ll learn:
- Essentials that every festival-goer should bring
- Portable dab rigs for discreet camping sessions
- Shelter and sleep – getting comfortable
- Powering devices at festivals
- What not to bring
Essentials That Every Festival-Goer Should Bring
Let’s start with the boring stuff. Don’t worry. It’ll help you later.
Festival tickets and ID. You’d be surprised how many people forget these things. Not once, but twice. Have a digital copy on your phone and actual copies just in case. Service can be hit or miss at festivals, which is why having a backup is helpful.
Money is king at festivals. Yeah, you can often pay with card but vendors prefer cash and ATMs charge exorbitant fees with mile-long lines. Have enough cash on hand to cover food, drinks, water, and impulse buys.
Speaking of water….
Invest in a quality water bottle. Not only will you stay hydrated in the summer heat (avoiding a host of issues), but a good insulated water bottle will keep your water cold all day.
Sunscreen is your new best friend. You know this. We all know this. But if you don’t pack it and slather it on before day one you’re asking to get burned. Seriously ruins your whole weekend.
Portable Dab Rigs for Discreet Camping Sessions
Alright. Now that we got that out of the way. Let’s talk about the good stuff.
Portable dab rigs are pretty standard issue for festival camps these days. Dab rigs used to be bulky, fragile glass you definitely did NOT want to bring to a festival. But times have changed.
Pros realized they wanted the highest quality vaporization possible while on the road. Solution? Lightweight and travel friendly portable dab rigs.
Portable dab rigs are so popular at festivals because:
- They’re compact and portable
- Durable, so they don’t break easy
- Setup is fast so less hassle
- Better flavor than other options
The cannabis concentrate market grew massively in recent years and consumption methods are now evenly split between vaping and smoking. 52.7% of concentrate consumers prefer vaporization.
Makes sense. Smoking concentrates usually produces pungent odors and can leave you smelling like weed all day. Not ideal if you’re hanging out in the same spot for multiple days like at a festival.
Glass pieces don’t travel well. Drop your pipe at a festival and there’s a good chance it will crack or completely break. That’s hundreds of dollars gone in the blink of an eye.
A quality mini dab rig offers sturdy travel designs to eliminate that issue.
Pro tip: Bring a little case to keep your dab rig accessories together. Nobody wants to dig through their bag during prime sessioning time.
Shelter & Sleep – Getting Comfortable
Did you know sleep is important at festivals?
Sure you do. But listen up.
If you don’t sleep then day three becomes hell on Earth. Avoid the desperate trek through muddy campinggrounds to your car by sleeping.
Tents matter. Don’t cheap out here. Cheap tents leak, fall over in the wind, and cook you alive by morning. Spend a little more on a nice tent with ventilation that can handle bad weather.
Tents with room for four but only two people allow for plenty of packing/storage space and room to move around.
An air mattress or sleeping pad is the difference between sleeping on a cloud and sleeping on rocks. Don’t be that dude. Get a self-inflating pad they can roll up small and store easily.
Bring earplugs and an eye mask. Parties at festivals are always going and people come back to camp late. You will want sleep, and these two things will help greatly.
A headlamp is another game changer. Leaving your flashlight in your bag sounds smart until 3AM and you need to go to the bathroom. Trust us. Don’t be that guy.
Powering Devices At Festivals
Dead phones are no joke at festivals.
You need your phone to coordinate with friends, check the lineup, take pictures, contact rideshares. If your phone dies your weekend suffers.
There’s a limited infrastructure at festivals to support the ever growing number of people attending. In 2024 there were over 2,100 music festivals worldwide. With attendance increasing each year, festivals simply cannot provide enough power for every attendee.
Bring a portable charger. And not just any portable charger. One with at least 20,000mAh capacity. That allows you multiple full charges throughout the weekend.
Solar chargers are great as a backup but don’t solely rely on them. Some festival vets will bring small portable solar panels they setup at camp. Let it soak up sunlight all day while you’re at the festival, and your devices will be juiced by the time you return.
Bring protection for your electronics. Sand, dust, and moisture are the enemies of devices with charging capabilities. Pack your phone and portable charger in waterproof pouches or zip-lock bags to prevent destruction from inclement weather or dusty surroundings that can wreak havoc on charging ports.
What NOT To Bring
Here’s a secret. Packing less = packing smart.
Leave the glass at home. Aside from most festivals banning glass bottles and containers, there’s no reason to bring glass. Glass is heavy, breakable, and when full of beer, slippery.
Don’t bring valuable jewelry. Camping at festivals is dirty and crowded. Bring things you’re willing to throw away if lost.
Full outfits for every day are unnecessary. You really only need three or four changes of clothes plus one warm layer to get you through most weekend festivals. That “just in case” outfit bag will be dead weight on your back.
Bring travel sized toiletries. They come in smaller containers that meet festival guidelines and take up less space.
Your attitude. Leave your problems at home. You’ll have a better festival experience if you go in with an open mind and don’t sweat the small stuff.
Pulling Your Festival Packing List Together
Remember how we said less is more when packing?
Experienced festival-goers understand this concept quite well. They spend more time researching the best versions of each thing they do bring. They ask questions, read reviews. Every item in their festival pack has a purpose.
Quick checklist:
- Tickets, ID, cash
- Quality shelter / sleep accessories
- Portable charger (or two)
- Portable dab rig
- Sunscreen and water
- Keep your head clear
Take your time. Prepare accordingly. And most importantly….HAVE FUN!