If you’re a festival virgin then we’re here to help with some advice on how to survive your festival experience for the first time, below you’ll find a range of advice on what should be in your festival essential kit, how to select your spot and staying safe.

Festival Camping Tips

  1. Choose a bigger tent then you need
    This is probably the biggest mistake people make, a 2-man tent is for 2 people lying side by side in sleeping bags it does not account for the mountains of stuff you will be bringing along with you! Always go 1 bigger as a minimum after all you can never have enough room and it means you can give a space to the random you’ll meet along the way.
  2. Choose your spot carefully
    Arrive early for the best choice of pitches. Try and choose a spot that is within site of landmarks you’ll remember and will be visible when you wake up to a field full of tents as far as the eye can see. Whatever you do stay clear of the toilets and anything down hill of the toilets unless you like the smell! Also steer clear of the security towers and lights unless you like the constant noise of a generator and bright light shinning through your tent all night.
  3. Claim you spot
    Do whatever you can to mark out your territory if you don’t want to wake up to the side of someone’s tent in the morning. Remember this is festival camping so the usual rules don’t apply people will pitch anywhere and everywhere in desperation.
  4. Form a circle
    If you go as a group then the “circle” is a good approach it worked for the cowboys so it will work for you. Make sure all your openings face inwards that way if it does chuck it down you can sit in your tents with the flaps open chatting to each other. I would also suggest using windbreaks or tape in between the gaps to try and deter people strolling through your “camp”.
  5. Identify your tent
    It might seem stupid after all you know what your tent looks like right? Wrong! After a day of cider they will all look the same so try adding a flag or a spinner on a pole or anything you can do to make your tent stand out. Writing “free sex, see inside” will do the trick but you might not like the people who come knocking, then again maybe you will (let me know how that works for you).
  6. Make friends with you neighbours
    Getting to know the people who have pitched their tents near yours it will add to your festival experience and also to the amount of eyes that will watch over your camp when your not there.
  7. Don’t lock you tent
    Don’t be tempted to put a lock on your tent whilst it might seem like a good idea it simply highlights to any would be thieves that you have something worth stealing inside. Lets face it a knife will cut through the side of any tent so your also wasting your time. To be safe don’t take anything with you that you are not prepared to lose.
  8. Hide your valuables when asleep
    Don’t make it easy for thieves by stuffing your wallet/money or valuables in your boots by the front of the tent put them inside you sleeping bag or by your head so they are the furthest away from the entrance.
  9. Plan for disaster
    Drunk people tend to fall over and tents don’t offer a lot of support so when the 2 meet poles tend to get broken so take some Gaffa tape with you to try and patch up any broken poles.
  10. Enjoy yourself
    Lets remember your there to enjoy yourself so do just that, drink lots, meet new friends and party your arse off!

Festival Essential Kit

Despite the obvious of your tent, money and tickets, I would say these are my top 10 tips for gear you should consider taking.

  1. Ear Plugs
    Might sound silly but trust me when your trying to get to sleep with people snoring, talking and playing music you’ll be glad you’ve got them.
  2. TravelJohn pee bags
    These fantastic bags will mean you don’t have to leave your tent in the middle of the night in the dark, cold & wet weather for some stinking toilets.
  3. Head Torch
    You might look like a miner but trust me you’ll be glad you’ve got your hands free when your scrabbling around trying to find things.
  4. Poncho
    The good old British summer time always likes to throw in a shower or 2 so be prepared.
  5. Good Quality Sleeping Bag
    It might be summer time but it will get cold at night so spend an extra few quid and invest it in a decent sleeping bag.
  6. Bin bags
    You will need somewhere to put your dirty clothes and they are great for keeping your clean clothes dry should your tent leak.
  7. Body Wipes/Wet Wipes
    You don’t have the luxury of a shower so you’ll need something to freshen you up and these are the best solution.
  8. Antibactirial Hand Gel
    If you do use the Toilets then the free Hand Gel in them will run out in hours so don’t forget to take your own.
  9. Folding Chair
    Trust me you will want one to sit in first thing in the morning and last thing at night as you all sit around chatting about the day.
  10. Arm Wallet
    Don’t be a victim of crime. Sadly some people go to festivals to rob you and not to enjoy themselves so don’t take anything your not prepared to lose and protect anything you do.
  11. Portable Phone Charger
    The only way of getting hold of your mates is you phone so ensure you have something to recharge your phone while your there.