Easy Camp Comet 200
Dome tent, 1.70 kg, 2 pers.
10 tips to survive camping at a festival
10/6/2023
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Camping at an open-air festival is an art. I'm a die-hard festival-goer, so I’ve learned what it takes to get through four days in a state of emergency. Brace yourself for the ten most vital tips for camping at festivals.
These days, my presence drastically raises the average age at festival camp sites. But with roughly ten years of experience under my belt, I do know a thing or two about surviving several days in the extreme conditions of an open-air festival.
First up, you need to pack basics to protect you from the elements. These include sunscreen, a rain jacket, warm clothes and rubber boots. Other essentials include a powerbank, sleeping bag and a boombox – along with all the other stuff you can’t live without if when you're away from home for a few days. Then there are some more hacks I wish I'd known in the early days of my festival career. I’d like to share those with you here.
1. Pack a tent you know
Obviously, you’re going to need a tent if you’re camping. Make sure to bring along one you’ve set up before. If you have to set up a complicated tent after you’ve had a few, erm, refreshing beverages, you're off to a rough start.
Also, make sure you to pop a few spare pegs and tent cords in your bag before you leave.
2. Don’t forget your inflatable mattress
For years, I tried sleeping on all kinds of camping mats – including the expensive kind. But no joy. The only solution? An inflatable mattress. Since using one, I’ve never woken up with a sore back at a festival again. Sure, this entails lugging extra weight on the trip there and back, but it's worth it to me.
3. Leave the pump at home
What about a pump to inflate the mattress? I never bother bringing one. There are always friendly folk at the site who'll have one with them and be happy to lend it to you. Top tip: they’re usually owned by people who bring paddling pools to cool their drinks in.
4. Only pack a gazebo if you’re five or more
Having a gazebo to sit under is worth its weight in gold if there are several of you. When you crawl out of your tent in the morning, you'll appreciate the protection it provides from the sun and rain. However, gazebos are a pain to transport. Over the years, my circle of friends has established the rule that a gazebo will only be brought along if there are five people to help carry and set it up.
As a group, it’s worth investing in a slightly more expensive model. Your standard white gazebos tend to fall over at the first gust of wind and are usually left behind to chuck. We’ve been taking the gazebo pictured below to festivals for three years now, and we’ve put it through its paces.
5. Bring a camping chair
If you haven’t brought a camping chair to the festival, you’re doomed. Sure, you can sit on the ground, but your whole body will ache after four days of doing this. There’s only one thing for it: a camping chair. Even though it’s cumbersome to carry, it’s totally worth bringing. You’ll also be welcome to join any group if you bring your own chair, as you’re not hogging anyone’s seat.
6. Pack earplugs and an eye mask
Trying to get some sleep without earplugs at an open-air festival makes about as much sense as drinking warm beer. A good pair of earplugs will give you the gift of sleep and save your festival experience. Remember, there’s always that one neighbouring tent who thinks it’s a great idea to start a 5 a.m. rave. And believe me, someone’s going to start shouting some random stuff come six in the morning. It’s an unwritten rule.
An eye mask will also help you catch some z's after the sun starts pouring into your tent at the crack of dawn.
7. Keep your water cool with a thermos
The key to getting through a festival is to drink plenty of water.
For this purpose, I pack a bottle that keeps drinks cool. It’s been my saviour for two years now. After a night of heavy drinking, I’m not craving stale, lukewarm water. My body needs the cool and fresh kind! A thermos bottle will keep water cool, even if it’s been sitting in a hot tent for a while.
8. Pack freezer bags, a microfibre cloth and wet wipes
Now we’ve got the main things sorted, it’s time for the smaller stuff. I always store my mobile in a waterproof freezer bag. I learned my lesson after getting so wet at a concert once it damaged my phone. The bag will also serve as protection against dust flying about when the sun’s been out for days and the grounds starts getting Saharan vibes.
If you plan on showering at the festival, remember to pack a microfibre towel. They dry way faster than regular ones and take up less space.
I also always bring wet wipes. After all, I might spill a sticky drink all over myself, only to be confronted with a queue for the showers that beats the one at the entrance.
9. Strap on a bag
Before you head out with your packed rucksack, don’t forget to strap on your belt bag.
With a belt bag – which I sling over my shoulder to look fashionable – you’ll have everything at hand all the time. And unlike a standard bag or rucksack, there’s no need to take it off when you sit down on the train or when lounging in your camping chair. It also minimises the risk of losing something in the festival frenzy.
10. Leave the wheelie suitcase behind
It goes without saying that you should put all your things in a rucksack or sports bag. Wheeling your suitcase to a festival will be fine until you set foot on festival grounds. Fields and gravel just don’t make for smooth rolling. You’ll be in everyone’s way and the one holding up the whole group. In other words, suitcases aren’t a good match for festivals.
You could opt for a suitcase if you’re spending the night in a hotel instead of the festival campsite. It’s an alternative many start to appreciate as they get older. However, staying at a hotel does mean you're missing out on roughly half of the festival. Not to mention the campsite nostalgia. Now that would be a pity, wouldn’t it?
Header image: Livia Gamper
Testing devices and gadgets is my thing. Some experiments lead to interesting insights, others to demolished phones. I’m hooked on series and can’t imagine life without Netflix. In summer, you’ll find me soaking up the sun by the lake or at a music festival.