Crewbeam

Festival packing list: the camping checklist to tick off and print

This festival packing list is sorted by category: documents and money, tent and sleeping, clothes, tech, toiletries, food and drink. Go through it from top to bottom the evening before you set off and nothing gets left behind. Tap a box to tick it off. At the bottom you can add your own items.

What can you take to a festival?

Every festival’s website lists what you may bring onto the site and the campsite. Often restricted or banned: glass bottles, open fires, barbecues and gas stoves, large gazebos, drones and larger amounts of alcohol. Read the rules before you pack, otherwise security at the entrance will take things off you.

Documents, money and essentials

  • Ticket or wristband confirmation, ideally also as a screenshot
  • ID or passport
  • A copy of your ID, kept separately from the original
  • Health insurance card (for festivals abroad, a GHIC or EHIC if you have one)
  • Debit or credit card and some cash. Many festivals are card only or use cashless wristbands, but a little cash still helps.
  • Bum bag or small cross-body bag for your ticket, card and phone
  • Your own medication, enough for the whole weekend
  • Car keys if you’re driving. Remember where you parked or save the location.

Festival camping: tent and sleeping

  • Tent, pitched once at home beforehand to check nothing is missing
  • Tent pegs, a mallet and spare guy ropes
  • Groundsheet and a sleeping mat or airbed with a pump
  • Sleeping bag and pillow. Nights get cold even in summer, so take a sleeping bag with the right temperature rating.
  • An extra blanket for chilly nights
  • Bin bags, gaffer tape and a few cable ties for repairs
  • Safety pins for small repairs to your tent and clothes
  • Camping chair
  • A flag, fairy lights or bunting so you can find your tent again. More in the guide find your tent at a festival.

Clothes and shoes

  • Waterproof jacket or poncho
  • Wellies or sturdy shoes, plus a comfortable pair to change into
  • Jumper or hoodie for the evenings
  • Spare clothes: underwear and socks for every day, T-shirts for every other day
  • Cap or hat and sunglasses
  • A bag for wet and dirty clothes

Tech

  • Power bank, ideally one per person, plus charging cables
  • Head torch, better than a torch because your hands stay free
  • Waterproof phone case or a freezer bag
  • Offline map of the site, if your festival offers one
  • Crewbeam installed on your iPhone and your crew set up before you reach the campsite

Toiletries and health

  • Sun cream
  • Lip balm with SPF
  • Earplugs or ear protection
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, a small shower gel and a towel
  • Wet wipes for hands and body when the showers are far away
  • Tissues and your own loo roll
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Plasters and blister plasters
  • Painkillers (for example paracetamol or ibuprofen for headaches). If in doubt, ask a pharmacist or doctor.
  • Insect repellent
  • Hair ties
  • Tampons or pads
  • Condoms

Food and drink

  • Refillable water bottle. Most campsites have water points.
  • Water container for the tent, so you don’t have to walk to the tap for every sip
  • Electrolyte sachets or tablets
  • Snacks that keep, such as cereal bars, nuts or bread
  • Cup and cutlery, plus a roll of kitchen roll
  • Cool bag or cool box if you’re staying longer and bringing food

For your crew

  • Agree on a fixed meeting point and time in case the network goes down
  • Camp next to each other
  • Choose one spot where the crew charges its power banks
  • Share your crew’s location and test it beforehand. How that works with WhatsApp, Apple and Google is in the guide find friends at a festival.

Rule of thumb: everything you need on the first evening in the dark goes at the top of your rucksack: head torch, jumper, water bottle and power bank.

Tent and crew at a glance with Crewbeam

Crewbeam, the free festival app, takes two items off your list: you save your tent’s location with one tap, and the whole crew sees with an arrow where the others are. Your festival’s own app shows the line-up and site map, Crewbeam is the app for your crew. It’s for iPhone first and is coming soon to the App Store.

Festival packing list: frequently asked questions

What are the essentials on a festival packing list?

Ticket, ID, money, a weatherproof tent with a sleeping bag and mat, a waterproof jacket, sturdy shoes, a power bank, a head torch, sun cream and earplugs. Everything else is comfort.

How many clothes do I need for a festival?

As a rule of thumb: underwear and socks for every day, T-shirts for every other day, plus a jumper, a waterproof jacket and a second pair of shoes. Wet things go in a separate bag.

What are you usually not allowed to take to a festival?

Glass bottles, open fires, barbecues, gas stoves, large gazebos and drones are often banned or restricted. The exact rules are on your festival’s website.

Do I need a power bank at a festival?

Yes. There are often few sockets on the campsite, and location sharing and photos drain your phone quickly. One power bank per person makes sense.

Save your tent, keep your crew in viewCrewbeam: the free festival app for friends, tents and meeting points.
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