Best products from r/Lollapalooza

Hijacking this to give actual festival safety advice:

1. Stay hydrated. Yes this is the most important thing you can do. Lollapalooza has free water stations set up all over Grant park (they're marked on the map by a little water drop), make sure to bring a water bottle or a camel bak into the park (it has to be empty) and fill up, drink lots of water throughout the day (even if you're not thirsty).
   
   
2. Sunscreen: It's hot, it's sunny, you will get burned if you don't use it. Don't use spray on sunscreen, and use a kind that has broad range protection, use spf30 or higher, use a kind that's water/sweat resistant, and REAPPLY OFTEN and ALL OVER YOUR BODY.
   
   
3. Ear plugs: get a nice pair and you'll avoid tinnitus and other damage to your ears. The cheap ones from the dollar store will work fine for protecting your hearing but will make music sound like shit. Pick up a nice pair that will let you enjoy your music but also save your hearing. Believe me, when you can actually hear and your friends are all shouting WHAT and complaining about the ringing in their ears the day after the festival you'll be happy you have them.
   
   
4. Condoms: lol just kidding, this is reddit.
   
   
5. Drugs: sneak them in stuffed down your pants, or somewhere else that won't be searched. Don't buy drugs from the random people in lolla. If you plan on doing anything besides weed buy it from someone you trust or have a test kit so that you can make sure you're actually getting what you want. Consult www.erowid.org in order to know the effects, what dose to take, prices, legality, etc. Don't flash your drugs like a moron, just smoke in a big crowd or take em quickly, their are occasionally asshole undercover cops in lolla trying to bust people.
   
   
6. Alcohol: Be careful drinking during the hot summer day, it's quite easy to overdo it and get dehydrated and pass out. Save it for once it cools off.
   
   
7. Misc: Sunglasses are nice, but make sure you get a pair that is actually 100% polarized. Cheapo sunglasses are often not polarized, and when you wear dark shades with no polarization your pupils actually open wider and allow more sun in which can damage your vision. Bandanas are a good way to stay cool and keep dust out of your mouth. They can be wet and wrapped around the head/neck to make them even cooler. Make sure to eat, the food in the park is okay but can be overpriced, I usually just hit up the subway near by and then buy something when I'm headed home afterwords.
   
   Other then that stuff just relax, you're here to have fun so just enjoy the time you have in the park.
   
   Edit: I want to also add to bring plastic bags with you, it's not really a safety tip for you but if it starts to rain put your phone or wallet or money or camera or whatever in them and save their life! Instant waterproofing and you can even use the touch screen of some phones through the bag.

Will work for sure! I bought an osprey one from REI for sale, ~$60-80 or so. Yeah, the price is steep but I have used it for 2 EDCs, 2 Moonrises, and about to be it's first time seeing lolla! I've gone camping,hiking, and biking with it too and its great. For me, I saw it as an investment since I knew I would use it heavily since I love being outdoors. I do recommend buying a cleaning kit from amazon, this is the one I bought recently:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BJ74DPH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hope that helps! Also, if you hang with molly, or have friends who do, when you share water with them, tell them to make sure they dont bite too hard on the valve. Some of my friends and or strangers who I have given water to have bitten through the rubber valve (easily replaced <$10). So yeah just something to keep in mind!

This...

Open your stuff up before and be friendly. If you act like you've got nothing to hide and you're friendly they don't care too much. Look/act sketch and they'll search harder (but don't act overly friendly either)

Also don't just jump into the shortest line (not always the fastest). Stop and look at who's doing the searches in each line. If somebody is going through everything don't go in that line. Try and find somebody that looks like they don't care and is probably thinking I don't get paid enough for this.

Pro Tips

1: Get a locker and then you only need to sneak in booze/drugs once. Plus then at the end of the night I put my bag in there so I can use the fast entry the next day (Or if I leave and come back).

2: Buy some "Factory Seal Water Bottle Caps" And then you can sneak in booze (I'd hand the water bottle to security and they'd give it right back)

3: Have your friends sneak in their favorite clear booze and put it in the locker. You'll have a fully stocked bar/locker and you'll only need to swing by to re-up and not have to carry all of it the whole time.

Worked great last year. Had a ton of booze and still went through the quick entry everyday (you can enter through the fast entry with a "Water Bottle"). Never paid for anything besides beer all weekend, had a place to keep my stuff and made getting into the fest a lot easier.

I got these shoe covers: https://www.amazon.com/ArunnersTM-Waterproof-Reusable-Overshoes-Transparent/dp/B06X92J67P/ref=sr_1_1?m=A30VB8JDBJ3J2G&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1501201291&sr=1-1&th=1

I purchased an older version of these for my boyfriend and they ended up leaking but worked well against mud. The seller actually sent me these newer versions for free since the old ones got soaked from rain at Tomorrowland. Hopefully these new ones will do better. I already got the replacement and they fit better over my shoes. However, they probably won't work for you if your shoe size is bigger than 11. The XXXL fits very snugly on his size 11 shoes.

Even if they haven't yet (I honestly forget for last year), they very well may this year (HoB, other venues have moved to metal detectors in the past year, security is getting tighter).

So as other people have said, get plastic flasks. I mostly made the switch because a lot of the cheaper metal ones welding will weaken at the bottom and leak after only a month or two of use.

I use these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01693QKCI/ref=twister_B00K9UA2V8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 Some of the amazon reviews mention them setting off metal detectors, but I've bought them repeatedly since those reviews and have NEVER had that problem.

Anyway, whatever plastic ones you get: Crotch one. That's almost always an auto in if you're a dude. Go in shirtless, with one wrapped in your shirt above your head with your wallet and phone in hand as if you removed them to make the pat down easier. This has never been checked in my experience, and is another auto in. If you feel you need more, bring in a bag with some out of the way pockets/areas. I've gotten good mileage with one wrapped in a towel inside my bag, or one at the bottom under sun screen and sunglasses and everything and trying to pick a lazier security guy.

Also, super important, if the security dude you're in line for is checking places your flask(s) are, BAIL. Fake a phone call from a friend who just got there, back out of line, and pick a different one. Repeat until you get someone lazy. This works fine even if you're next in line. I can't recommend this enough.

I’ve heard of people getting into fanny packs pretty easily. Flip belts are super awesome for festivals. They keep your things tight against you and there’s no way you wouldn’t notice someone reaching up your shirt or under your pants lol. they have them on amazon , and they also have different brands for a little cheaper

I have a kind of custom made operation that I've been using for the last two lollas. I have this bladder: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product//B005FVMUHU/ref=twister_dp_update?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This thing is simply amazing, first off, 3 liters and easy to fill while trying to get in and out of the water filling station line at the fest. Second, it's pressurized so that means no sucking through a hose the whole day, instead just bite on the valve and out comes some water. Pinch the valve and spray it on your face to cool off or clean something, it's awesome to have on a hot day. For the pack, it can be hard to find an economical solution to hold a behemoth 3L resevior, but this is what I've had: http://www.rei.com/product/870282/
Big enough to fit the bladder and a variety of other things throughout the day, yet tight enough to sneak in a flask or other nefarious things. Happy lolla-ing! 5th year in a row for me!

I’ve worked at Lolla since ‘14 in a few different roles (security, medical tent, bartender, etc.). I highly recommend getting ear plugs, even if they’re just the inexpensive disposable variety. The most common reason young kids came into the medical tent was for headaches due to the noise or the occasional popped ear drum.

I’d also say it’s pretty family friendly from the production side. Security is pretty good and fights rarely break out. Phone thefts are common though, unfortunately. Medical teams are super professional. The volunteers in the children’s areas are trained to look out for symptoms of dehydration and the more removed location keeps the volume level a little lower for their ears.

I'd recommend a pair of laced water shoes like this

I've worn them to festivals before and they're very comfortable just for walking around even if it doesn't rain. super breathable. and of course if it does rain they dry quick and are easy to clean

If you can sneak these in, they are AMAZING when you're fucked up, tired, and hungry. I always open the bag, take a handful, and pass the rest out to the people around me. To quote my favorite movie:

"I was the best because the crowd loved me. Win the crowd and you will win your freedom."

Jolly Rancher Gummies

It's my first year but I'm gonna try the new bottle caps so my bottle looks factory sealed. Pop in some rum or vodka and good to go! [Amazon link](Sneak Alcohol Caps Reseal Your Water Bottle Perfectly https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008AZJAVM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ZNVJxbTCPEVM3)

Security is meh for the most part. No metal detectors or drug dogs at the gates or anything like that. They do pat you down, but the severity of that depends on who's doing the patdown. They hire out a third party security to do it, not like the Chicago police, so the security is people who aren't getting paid enough to give a shit. Try to eye ahead and see which people are patting down the hardest and avoid those lines.

Keep an eye on this subreddit and people should post about security as the festival progresses.

As for a flask, that shouldn't be an issue. Last year, my friends and I bought collapsible plastic flasks, filled them up, and stuck em in the freezer the night before. Then just took some string and tied the flask around our inner thigh/gooch and walked right in. We then went to the bathroom, took it out, and put it in our camelbak packs.

Here's a link to those:

https://www.amazon.com/Original-Disposable-Flask-Black-Funnel/dp/B008DGGW3C

Order this and you'll be golden. Add some vodka or white rum to the bottle and you can get in scott free. 8 bucks for peace of mind is worth it IMO.

I got this the other day, tested it out and it seems like it'll work fine. The bladder is super high quality and has plenty of storage.

https://www.amazon.com/Seamand-Hydration-Backpack-Bladder-Climbing/dp/B016GVY45S/ref=sr_1_25?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1469223229&sr=1-25&keywords=hydration+pack

i’m also looking for recommendations but i think this is the one i’m going with. it comes in cool colors haha on amazon

These photos were all taken the awesome Canon PowerShot SX210 IS. It's got a 14x zoom so the lens extends out quite a bit and makes for some nice close up shots.

The Lolla faq makes a big deal about not bringing in pro equipment but in the last 5 years I've been going to Lolla I've always seen people with detachable lens dslrs in the crowd. I don't know if its because security is really lax about it or if people are able to sneak them in.

If you gotta buy inside, Wine is seriously the best bang for your buck. I was facing a bottle a day after a stiff pregame. Also - check the link below. You can get that pretty far up in the gooch. https://www.amazon.com/Collapsible-Reusable-Bottle-Carabiner-Activiva/dp/B01KP63N52/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1527111793&sr=1-5&keywords=plastic+bag+canteen

I bought drummer's ear plugs. Best fucking thing ever. They don't distort the sound all that much, and your ears don't ring when you go to bed at night. http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-ETY-Plugs-Protection-Earplugs/dp/B0044DEESS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375756070&sr=8-1&keywords=ear+plugs

I wear these. They're super comfortable and they come with a carrying pouch. You still hear ALL THE MUSIC, but it's as if someone turned it down to a tolerable level. Buy 'em.

In the years I've gone, they have never opened the water bottles, they just check to make sure they are sealed (so if you are able to keep the bottle caps sealed, or got those Camo Caps you should be good)

or buy these... as mention previously in this sub.

http://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Screw-Caps-Bottle-28mm/dp/B0064ODVLG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375119693&sr=8-1&keywords=plastic+bottle+cap