Skip to main content

Gear Guide: Ultimate music festival packing list

Image used with permission by copyright holder

With Coachella getting underway today, it’s officially the season for throngs of music fans to crowd onto fields and concert grounds for weekends of bands, booze, and camping. Music festivals are one of spring and summer’s great joys, as long as you go with the right attitude and the necessary gear. Aside from your basic shorts, t-shirt, and tent, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite essentials that will help you get through a wild weekend without a hitch. Prepare to rock on.

Clockwise from top left.

Recommended Videos

Sunglasses
These are a must-have and should not be forgotten. Not only would you be blinded without them (unless it’s unexpectedly cloudy), but they always add to your cool factor. Shield yourself from bright rays with these new wood-framed shades from Shwood. Shwood The Oswald, $115.

GPS watch
One of the worst possible things about music festivals is the possibility of getting lost. People are everywhere, and if you are camping, cars are likely packed together like sardines. If you are prone to wandering in circles, a GPS watch will let you program landmarks (like your car) and guide you back to them if you need help. It will also help you make sure that you are 15 minutes early to your favorite bands’ sets. Timex Ironman Global Trainer GPS Sport Watch, $250.

Lightweight jacket
A common mistake that first-time festival-goers make is assuming that the weather will stay consistently hot and sunny. While a few festivals might stay warm into the night, most will be in areas where temperatures drop significantly after the sun goes down. Nothing is worse than shivering through a show, or god forbid, trekking back to camp alone to warm up. Pack a lightweight down or synthetic jacket that folds up small but will give you warmth. You’ll be glad you did when temperatures go from balmy to crisp at night. Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover, $149.

Durable sneakers
If you’re assuming you can just wear flip flops to a fest, think again. Not only will your feet be dust-or-dirt-covered within the first hour, but they will probably be stepped on a significant amount, which makes real shoes a better bet. Don’t wear expensive shoes either. Pick up an inexpensive, but comfortable, pair of dark sneakers or slip-ons that will hold-up with festival wear-and-tear. We like Native shoes for this because they will keep your feet dry and comfortable, and they can be washed clean with a hose when you’re done. Native Howard, $50.

Flask
This is a bit of a rogue pick, but we’re going with it anyway. All festivals that we know of prohibit bringing any sort of alcohol into the festival grounds. They want you to pay $15 for a frozen margarita instead. Be sneaky and cheap with a stealthy hidden flask, like this one that deceptively looks like binoculars. Tricky tricky. Binocular Flask, $12.

Backpack
While there are limitless bag options, a simple backpack is the best way to go if you need to carry more than just your wallet and camera. A backpack won’t slip off your shoulder while you are rocking out, and it’s generally just less awkward than your other choices. Be comfortable and hold all of your essentials in a simple style like this pack from Herschel Supply Co.. It has plenty of storage and the reinforced bottom will keep your stuff protected and dry. Herschel Heritage Backpack, $55.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Chargers
Unless you have an basic flip phone that lasts for days, chances are the battery on your smartphone will run out pretty quickly. This can be a major problem if you are trying to reconnect with friends after you’ve split up to attend different shows. Luckily, there are several devices available that use rechargeable lithium ion batteries, old-fashioned batteries, or solar power to give your phone or other electronics extra juice. Top left: Solio Classic Solar Charger, $70. Top middle: Callpod Fueltank DUO, $50.

Portable iPod dock
Like most festival veterans know, the party doesn’t stop when the official doors close. If you’re camping with a bunch of other music-lovers, that’s when the real fun starts. Keep the music going, or pump yourself up in the morning with festival tunes blasting from your iPod. Pick up a portable, battery-powered iPod dock to take the music with you wherever you are and avoid running down your car battery like your less-brilliant peers. This version from Altec Lansing will run for up to 24 hours on just four AA batteries. Altec Lansing Compact Speaker System, $50.

Pocket utility knife
You never know what you might need one of these for, but it’s never a bad idea to keep one on hand. This version from Buck is particularly festival-friendly with a knife, corkscrew, and bottle opener. It also easily attaches to a carabiner. Buck 760GRX Summit Knife, $45.

Camping stove or grill
Most festivals involve camping, at least for the hardcore folk, so be prepared and be able to cook some real food for your friends with a camping stove or grill. Trust us, eating cold baked beans out of the can sucks. Making eggs, hot dogs, mac ‘n’ cheese, quesadillas, and burgers on your stove-grill combo, however, does not. Try this propane-powered version from Coleman that has a grill and stove burner that can be used simultaneously. Coleman Signature InstaStart Grill Stove, $90.

Water bottle
It seems like a no-brainer, but considering most festivals won’t let you take water inside, it’s a good idea to bring along a bottle you can refill on the grounds to stay hydrated. No one wants to be pulled out of the crowd by security because they didn’t drink enough water. We like the tough and durable Sigg styles, which come in solid colors as well as artsy designs. Sigg Water Bottle, $22.

Kelly Montgomery
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelly Montgomery is a magazine journalism graduate from the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communications…
Get a Bella Pro touchscreen air fryer for only $70 at Best Buy
The Bella Pro touchscreen air fryer on a white background.

You may be tempted to invest in a high-end and expensive air fryer, but air fryer deals don’t actually have to be expensive. Instead, you can get a lot for under $100. Right now, you can buy the Bella Pro 8-quart touchscreen air fryer for $70 instead of $110 at Best Buy. It’s ideal if you’re new to air frying and don’t want to spend too much. Read on and we’ll tell you all about what it has to offer for this excellent price.

Why you should buy the Bella Pro 8-quart touchscreen air fryer
Bella isn’t a name you’ll see among the very best air fryers, but it’s a reliable budget brand for kitchen appliances. This particular model is intelligently designed. Besides the typical benefits of an air fryer, such as your food having 75% less fat and a crisper texture, the Bella Pro 8-quart touchscreen air fryer also knows what you need from it.

Read more
The 6 best smart displays for Alexa and Google Home in 2025
Nest Hub Max Hands-On Review

If you're looking for a way to control all your smart home devices, adding a smart display to your lineup is a great option. Not only do these gadgets make it easy to activate smart lights, smart thermostats, or smart cameras, but you can access a wide range of apps with them -- including Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, and other popular software.

Shopping for a smart display for Alexa or Google Home is a bit more challenging than you'd expect, as so many of the products share overlapping specs. And if you're entirely new to the world of smart homes, you'll have to choose between Google Home and Amazon Alexa as your central smart home platform. Once you've done that, things are a bit easier to manage.

Read more
Roborock Saros 10 vs. Roborock Saros 10R: which robot vacuum is better?
The Saros 10R dock

The Roborock Saros 10 and Roborock Saros 10R are two of the newest robot vacuums on the market. Featuring similar price tags but some strikingly different features, it could be difficult to figure out whether the Saros 10 or Saros 10R is a better fit for your home. Thankfully, you really can’t go wrong with either one, as they’re both premium robots designed to automate your floor cleaning needs.

However, there are a few key differences that could make one a slightly better match for your floors than the other. Here’s a closer look at both robot vacuums to help you decide.
Pricing and design
The Roborock Saros 10 costs $1,600, as does the Roborock Saros 10R. They look quite similar too, with a standard rectangular dock and circular robot body that’s sleek and slim. The Saros 10 uses a retractable LDS on the top of the unit (which looks a bit like a circular dial) while the Saros 10R doesn’t have this protrusion at all. There are also some big differences when it comes to the underside of the devices, as the 10R uses rotating mops, whereas the Saros 10 uses a vibrating mopping plate. But no matter how you cut it, both are great-looking devices.

Read more