- Words Notion Staff
Here's everything you need to prepare yourself for the 2025 festival season...
Load up your rucksacks, stick on your wellies and don’t forget to bring sun cream – fingers crossed, the weather will be decent – because festival season is in full swing. Can you believe it’s that time already? As we begin the annual pilgrimages to our favourite music weekenders, we wanted to round up the essentials we won’t be leaving the house without this year.
No matter who you are and what type of experience you crave, packing for a festival can be overwhelming – unless you’re one of those people who forgets everything other than the allocated alcohol allowance and a poncho. If that isn’t you, then we hope this guide fills some of the gaps on your packing list before you head off for one of the best weekends of your life (!?).
For the people who are…
Down the front for the Gram:
For the people who live for capturing the moment, here’s all the gear you need to keep yourself (and your posts) looking picture perfect. Whether you’re in the market for a camera upgrade – goodbye iPhone, hello Polaroid – crave an effortless airbrushed glow with the Three Warriors tanning brush, or hide your sins in sunglasses, there will be no post-pic reality checks on our watch.
Always in the wellness area:
No, we don’t mean that person who always takes it too far and ends up in the medical tent. We’re talking to the people who wake up, head out for some morning yoga and don’t return until the evening, splitting their time between wild swimming, tarot readings and all the other holistic fun most people daren’t touch at a festival.
Still in the rave at 5 am
Whilst you’re tucked up in bed with your fluffy eye mask on, there’s a clientele of festival revellers who never sleep. They stay out until the DJ wheels up his last tune, fuelled with techno-induced adrenaline and the anxiety of a pending comedown. Heading back to camp? No chance, they’re up for a cheeky afters with someone they’ve been making plans with all night that will never actually happen.
Chained to the pints:
“So, what you’re trying to tell me is, there’s actually music at a music festival?” Yeah, believe it or not, there is mate! Some of us just love the camp too much, cracking open a lukewarm Stella – other canned lager options are available – and kicking back in a camping chair with little regard for the music being played around them. They’d happily stay there all day, if you didn’t tell them colder pints are available near the stages.
Love camping:
We all have that gorp-loving guy or girlie in our group who brings the latest camping gear and likes to tell you about how good it is. Thing is, normally it is actually very useful, and if you’re looking to close the gap with them this year, this list is for you. From top-of-the-range Gore-Tex jackets to the best trail caps and the LED light you never knew you needed, tap in below.
The festival mum/dad:
Snacks, water and sun cream, we all need a guardian angel watching over us while getting loose at a festival. They suss out the issue before it’s even there, making sure everyone is having a good time at their own expense. Hungry? Here’s a Tangfastic. Thirsty? I just filled up your water bottle. A bit sunburnt? No need to worry, I’m already rubbing the cream into your back. They’re the real MVPS of the weekend, and their actions shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Always down for a good time:
Everyone has that one mate they can’t go to a festival without: the person who brings the vibes, wears the whackiest gear and completely gets away with it. Not only do they have a sneaky hip flask for when you run out of alcohol, they remember to bring a speaker and have the sickest hat to borrow when you’re knee-deep in the dance.
