I'm going to V-festival this year, and I have complied an extensive list of things you will need to survive a festival!
Essentials
Rucksack- A good rucksack, perhaps a DofE style rucksack, is perfect for festivals as you don't want to take anything impractical for walking along potentially wet muddy fields- which rules out a suitcase altogether!
Roll mat- Sleeping on the cold hard ground is NOT comfortable at all. Try and find an insulated one, similar to the ones in Wilko. These will keep you warm and comfortable after a hard day of dancing and walking around!
Sleeping bag- A 2-3 season sleeping bag is essential, as duvets and blankets are impractical and take up so much room in your backpack. It gets very cold in England, as you know, and even in the hottest weather, it can get very cold at night- and as most festivals are far away from civilisation, it is not easy to get a B&B.
Tent - Tents are the most important thing to take with you on a festival trip. If a large group are going try and use the "cowboy method". Place the tents in a circle, with all the doors facing in. This will create a safe area to sleep, and if its raining you can all sit in your tents and chat without getting wet! Also, as the rucksacks are large and you have a lot of stuff with you, it would be an idea to get a larger tent than you need, for example if there are two people in a tent get a three person tent so there is enough room for your things.
Waterproof jacket- This is England. Enough said.
Torch- In the campsites, they are often lit but it is helpful to have a torch to navigate the guy ropes and pathways in the dead of night when you need to make the three mile round trip to use the toilet. I would suggest getting a wind up torch, you can buy them here.
ID- If you are over 18 and planning on buying alcohol there, take a form of ID as most places operate Challenge 21 or Challenge 25, meaning if you look under the age of 21 or 25 you will be asked for ID.
Duct tape- Imagine this. It is chucking it down with rain, your tent has a hole in and you and your stuff are getting wet. What can we do about this hole? Stick it together with duct tape. It can be used to patch up your tent, you can use it to stick your wellies to your legs to stop rain and mud from getting in the tops, it can be used for everything!
Phone- If you are going with your friends, it would be a good idea to take your phone. I am taking an old one so I won't be upset if it gets lost or stolen. This is because if someone gets lost, you will be able to arrange a meeting point.
Camera- This is optional if you have a camera phone, however you may want to take a camera incase you want to take some photos. However, don't take too many fancy electronics as they are a target for thieves and can be easily lost or damaged.
Portable charger- As 99% of the teenage population cannot live without facebook/instagram/twitter/tumblr for more than three hours, you may want to take a solar powered phone charger. Don't tell anyone apart from your friends you have one though, it may become a target for thieves!
Ear plugs- Although we are there to see the music acts, the music is so loud it may damage your ears. Many DJs use earplugs to protect their ears but they can still hear the music. Also, you may want to sleep at some point, and the music may still be on or people nearby may be loud, so earplugs may be a good idea...
Water bottle- Hydration is key! Most festivals have free water points, so take advantage and use them- especially in this weather we are having!
Plastic carrier bags- These are useful for many things. You can keep your wet and dry clothes separate from each other, which is useful if you are away for a few days. You can also use them to put your rubbish in, as it is always helpful to take away any rubbish you make so the cleanup is a lot easier.
Towel- If you dare to take a shower, it may be a good idea to take a microfibre towel, such as these ones. They dry super quick and are very compact, so will fit into your backpack a lot easier!
Clothing
Thick socks- Thick socks are the most comfortable thing to wear with wellies, as they keep your feet warm and the boots won't rub. Also, aren't they the most comfy things ever?
Thick hoody- It will get cold in the night, so if you are a cold sleeper it may be a good idea to take a thick hoody to sleep in. Even if you aren't particularly that worried about the cold, take one anyway as you may need an extra layer!
As many sets of clothes as you need- You want to look nice, right? Take the "festival essentials"- shorts, crop top, floral headband, lacey items, you know the score? Have a look at the ASOS lookbooks for Festival Fashion 2014.
Spare clothes- As I said earlier, it is England, it will probably rain, and you will probably get wet and muddy. So take spare clothes.
PJs- Unless you want to sleep in your cute denim shorts and laced crop top, take jammies. Do NOT take a onesie, festival loos are disgusting as it is, do you want to be in there for longer than you need to be, as you need to climb out your onesie? Nah I didn't think so either!
Sunglasses- As it will be sunny, protect them peepers! Get some cute sunnies that will match your looks for the whole festival. But don't take expensive ones, you will more than likely forget they are in your back pocket and sit on them! Get some from Primark, you won't be upset if they break!
Wellies- Mud. Wet. Cold. You will need wellies. Don't bother with the jelly shoes that are embracing our high street, as they will more than likely make your feet sore and are not waterproof. They don't have to be boring though, they can have loads of nice patterns on them, just have a look around!
Spare shoes- I personally do not want to travel in my wellies, so I will be taking some old pumps to travel in, and I will probably put them on when I'm sat near my tent or whatever. Like I said, they are old so I won't be upset if they get ruined!
Toiletries
Toilet roll- You've waited an hour for a wee, and you find there is no loo roll. This is a common problem at festivals, so be prepared!
Suncream- We don't want to be sore and burnt on our festival trip, as it ruins the experience and is unhealthy for your skin. Take a high SPF and make sure you apply it every so often.
Makeup- Just the bare essentials, making sure any base products have an SPF in them!
Toothbrush and toothpaste- Kind of standard, right?
Hairbrush and a spare bobble
Deodorant- Need I say more? Don't be that person who has the massive sweat patches and smells bad....
Cooling spray- This is a blessing in disguise. It keeps you feeling cool and isn't that expensive. Just a couple of sprays and you're good to go.
Hand sanitiser- I know we aren't in the most hygienic situation here, but no belly bugs please! Quick tip- wash your hands with a wet wipe or water before using hand sanitiser as you get all the dirt off before the bacteria!
Wet wipes- The showers are grim, so if you're going for a couple of days just use wet wipes to have a wash. If you're going to a longer festival, good luck with the showers...
Dry shampoo- Similarly, dry shampoo will be less bulky than normal shampoo and conditioner, gives volume and is cheap!
