The Ultimate Festival Packing List for Summer 2025

Getting ready for summer festival fun can be a little overwhelming and often last minute: you spend weeks gearing up for the line up and browsing Vinted for fun festival finds and suddenly you’re a week out and realise you’ve got to get some camping kit together.

Fret not, for I’ve compiled the ultimate festival packing list for you! Whether you’re off to Glasto, Reading, Leeds, Boomtown, Download, Latitude or another incredible festival this summer, I’ve got you sorted.

Ultimate Festival Packing List Contents:

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CAMPING STUFF

Perhaps the most overwhelming part of any festival packing list is the camping stuff, especially if you’ve not ever camped at a festival before. Don’t worry, I’ve got you.

BACKPACK: Firstly, you’ll need a backpack for all your stuff. I do NOT recommend risking a wheely bag – any amount of rain and mud is going to make it impossible to use. This backpack is a good budget option. BUY HERE

If you want something you can also use for backpacking/travelling, or a bag that will last well, I would recommend investing in a more durable backpack. BUY HERE

DAY BAG BACKPACK: You’ll want a backpack for being out and about in the day to carry layers and all the festival essentials you need. BUY HERE

Again, if you want to invest in something durable that will last years for festivals, travel and commuting, I highly recommend this backpack that I have. BUY HERE

TENT: I favour a 3 man tent all to myself, I have no desire to share my sleeping space with anyone else at a festival and it has plenty of space for all my stuff. The design of this tent keeps it cool and darkened, a must to get some extra hours sleep on a hot, sunny morning after a late one on. BUY HERE

If you’re after something bigger including a living area you can stand up in, my friends have this tent and it’s excellent. BUY HERE.

MALLET: BUY HERE

TENT PEGS: BUY HERE

SLEEPING BAG: BUY HERE

PILLOW: Highly recommend bringing a proper pillow for comfort. Pack it in a bin liner and strap to your backpack.

AIR MATTRESS: I used this air mattress for years which is a great budget option, but now I’m upgrading to this self inflating number that also saves on vital backpack space. BUY HERE

MATTRESS PLUG: SO obvious, but I very nearly arrived at Glasto without it one year so this needs it’s own reminder!

RECHARGEABLE AIR PUMP: Compact and necessary for many air mattresses (I’d take it even for a self inflating one just in case). BUY HERE

COLLAPSIBLE WATER CONTAINERS: Fill up the day before so you’re ready to go for a tent shower and drinking water top ups, avoiding the mad queues at the taps in the morning. BUY HERE. This one has a handy tap, too: BUY HERE

SOLAR SHOWER BAG: If you want to go a step further than pouring cold water over yourself/your mates for a tent shower, this solar shower bag can be filled and left out in the sun to warm the water up for a more comfortable showering experience. BUY HERE

SHOWER TENT: My festival gang tend to shower out in the open in our swimwear but if you want a bit more privacy, this pop up shower tent is a popular choice. Good for getting dressed in too if you don’t have a tent big enough to stand up in. BUY HERE

LIGHTWEIGHT CAMPING CHAIR: Festival life in my late 30s has changed: I’ve now firmly swapped sitting on a sarong all day for a lightweight chair and I cannot express how much of a difference it has made to my general comfort physically and frankly, mentally, too. BUY HERE

2-IN-1 CAMPING STRING LIGHTS/TORCH: String lights aren’t just pretty, they’re legitimately very handy to hang up inside or outside your tent to help locate it. This 2-in-1 lights/torch serves as both the string light and a light/torch to hang up in the tent for extra light. BUY HERE

TROLLEY

Chances are you’ll be after a reliable, sturdy trolley that can help you get all your stuff onto site. This trolley is tried and tested through mud and it’s the best our festival gang have found – highly recommend. BUY HERE

BUNGEES: You’ll need some bungee cords to secure all your bits to the trolley on the journey in. BUY HERE

OTHER

All the other random bits that you need to include on your festival packing list – essentials for every day festival life and items to make your festival experience as comfortable as possible in any weather.

TICKET

ID

CARDS

WATER BOTTLE: Refill on site with free water. BUY HERE

LOOP EXPERIENCE EARPLUGS: These are fantastic for gigs and festivals, protecting your ears from extra noise whilst honing in on the music for a clearer and better listening experience. BUY HERE

LOOP EARPLUGS NECKLACE: If you’re worried about losing your loops out and about, this necklace is excellent to keep them safe, with a magnet keeping them around your neck. BUY HERE

TRAVEL TOWEL: For tent showers. BUY HERE

BUMBAG / UNIQLO CROSS BODY BAG: The cult Uniqlo bag is excellent, but if you’re after something more fun, this sequin bumbag is great. BUY HERE

BACK UP CHARGERS: I use the Anker power banks and I take 2 or 3 to be on the safe side. BUY HERE

PHONE CHARGER CABLE: I often take two in case one fails me.

PLASTIC BAGS: Good in a muddy year to put dirty clothes in.

PACKING CUBES: I swear by compression packing cubes to maximise space and divide outfits by day. BUY HERE

SUNGLASSES: You will inevitably break and/or lose a pair! Get some fun ones. BUY HERE

SUNGLASSES CLEANER: These wipes are great for getting rid of suncream smears. BUY HERE

TRAVEL MIRROR: Handy for getting ready at the tent. BUY HERE

RECHARGEABLE FAN: An absolute must in a remotely hot year. BUY HERE

UV UMBRELLA: A game changer. There is minimal shade on the farm, so creating your own is the ultimate reprieve from the sun. BUY HERE. If you want a bigger version, BUY HERE

LANYARD: I have a reusable lanyard I take to keep my ticket, cards, ID and polaroids in. BUY HERE

CARABINER: Useful to have one of these on your backpack to help carry extra bits into the festival with or hang your water bottle from. BUY HERE

COLLAPSIBLE CUPS: Friends of mine love these collapsible cups for drinks around site. BUY HERE

REUSABLE CUPS: I prefer a bigger reusable cup that I can comfortably fit ice into. BUY HERE

REUSABLE BOTTLES: These collapsible bottles are perfect for decanting your spirits into to bring into the festival, and the carabiner feature makes them easy to hook onto your bag to save space. BUY HERE

DRINKS POUCHES: These drinks pouches are another great option for decanting drinks into. BUY HERE

EYE MASK: An eye mask that fully blocks any light is ideal when you’re camping. BUY HERE

EAR PLUGS FOR SLEEP: I’m a Loop convert, and their Dream ear plugs were so good this year I couldn’t hear any music at all as the festival went on until 6am. God tier. BUY HERE

SMALL PADDLING POOL FOR CANS: Honestly one of my most genius moves ever. Fill with ice and water from on site and voila, overnight you’ve got cold cans for the day on a scorching year. BUY HERE

COOL BAG: The convenience stores onsite sell ice, so this is really handy for making it last so you can enjoy cold drinks. BUY HERE

A larger backpack version is also a great shout if there are a few of you. BUY HERE

SOAP SHEETS: These foaming soap sheets are a welcome alternative to constant anti bac gel. BUY HERE

TOILETRIES

No festival packing list is complete without a toiletries list. You may not use all of these but I always pack them when I go to Glastonbury.

SUNCREAM: Don’t be an idiot! Any festival is mostly outside and the sun can be brutal. BUY HERE

SPF LIP BALM: Don’t make the mistake so many of us have made in using Vaseline – your lips will just cook in the sun. SPF lip balm all the way, and reapply regularly. BUY HERE

BIODEGRADABLE CLEANSING WIPES: You’ll need these for the general accumulative dirt and baby wipe freshen up ‘showers’. BUY HERE

SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER: Some of us aren’t blessed with hair you can wash once or twice a week! I’m only doing this once in a hot year (never in a wet one), then it’s up in a bun and/or plait until the mammoth holy grail shower when home.

DRY SHAMPOO

BODY WASH

DEODERANT

SHOWER PUFF: This sounds a bit princess-y but this legit helps achieve an improved tent shower experience. BUY HERE

FLANNEL: BUY HERE

MICELLAR WATER

EYE MAKE UP REMOVER

BIG COTTON WOOL PADS

TOOTHBRUSH

TOOTHPASTE

MAKE UP

SETTING SPRAY: I swear by this one. BUY HERE

HAIR BANDS & GRIPS

HAIR BRUSH

HAND SANITIZER

TOILET PAPER: Don’t get caught out.

REHYDRATION SACHETS: For hangovers and when you’ve caught too much sun. BUY HERE

ANTI BLISTER BALM: Try to prevent blisters before they occur. BUY HERE

BLISTER PLASTERS: BUY HERE

PLASTERS: BUY HERE

TAMPONS

RENNIES: Festivals in your 30s and older? You’ll need some Rennies. BUY HERE

CONTRACEPTIVES

ANY REGULAR MEDICINE YOU TAKE

MEDICAL ALERT WRISTBAND: If you have a medical condition, it’s worth getting a medical wristband with your details and emergency contact on. Not everyone knows how to access a Medical ID on your phone, and signal and battery life may not be on your side. BUY HERE

ANTIHISTAMINES: If you’re as unlucky as me to have a pretty severe grass allergy that peaks when you’ll be camping in a field for the better part of a week, you’ll need some decent antihistamines. BUY HERE

EYE DROPS: More relief from hay fever. BUY HERE

PAIN KILLERS

DIARRHOEA RELIEF: You don’t want to be dealing with an upset stomach all day in the long drops. BUY HERE

TIP: Take your toothbrush and toothpaste out with you in your day bag. That way you can freshen up if you want to after lots of ciders, but moreover you can start getting ready for bed by brushing your teeth at the sinks before you get actually get back to your tent late at night.

FUN BITS

The boring bits out of the way and whilst you don’t want to overpack, you’ve got to have some fun bits on your festival packing list!

POLAROID INSTAX CAMERA: I never regret taking my Instax with me. BUY HERE

POLAROID FILM: BUY HERE

FACE JEWELS: Easy way to get glammed up without the mess of glitter, and more environmentally friendly. BUY HERE

SPARE BATTERIES FOR POLAROID

TIP: don’t put suncream on before face jewels; they won’t stick on well.

FOOD AND DRINK

Some festivals don’t allow you to take booze onto site, but if they do, or you can pre-drink at your tent, here are my favoured recommendations.

SPIRITS: Rum is my favoured spirit of late for festivals.

CIDER: nothing hits like the first can of cider once you’ve set up your tent. BUY HERE

COCKTAIL CANS: cocktails in a can are excellent now and mixes up the booze offering. BUY HERE and HERE

HARD SELTZERS: The current drink of choice in our festival gang. BUY HERE and HERE

ICED COFFEE CANS: Kick start your morning without leaving your tent. BUY HERE

GINGER SHOTS: Yes I’m in my 30s and these are transformative. BUY HERE

PROTEIN BARS

PACKETS OF CRISPS

FOUND THIS FESTIVAL PACKING LIST USEFUL? PIN FOR LATER!

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