Best products from r/festivals

FUCK YES to making festivals a larger part of your life. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made :) I don’t know about the best shoes for dancing, but I always wear Vans to shows and festivals and I’ve never had an issue with my feet hurting. I think they’re a great option :) As for things to take the night of or after partying I would recommend a multivitamin, tylenol and a smoothie. The best thing you can really do to help yourself out is to eat lots of fruits and veggies in the days leading up to an event (or all the time!). Also constantly drinking water. I’ve tried a lot of extra supplements and misc. vitamins but they all are kinda extra and not needed to me. Also I constantly eating Cliff bars at festivals even when I’m not hungry. I feel better usually when I really really load up on calories. Healthier ones though!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07LCBRQK5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Just bought this air mattress this year so haven’t tested it longterm, only used it for one festival so far. It stayed inflated well for the first 2 days and then we just topped it off with some more air for the remaining days and it worked great for us. Super comfy and it’s nice being higher off the ground. We put the air mattress in the tent before we inflate it, way easier. No air pump needed we use a car plug adapter and an extension cord. Its super easy to run your car for 5 minutes to inflate it. Make sure you pay attention to the number of prongs on your plug so you don’t buy the wrong adapter or extension cord too! For camping without a car nearby this method won’t work obviously but we always have the car by us.

https://www.amazon.com/Foval-Power-Inverter-Converter-Charger/dp/B01H2XD2DY/ref=sr_1_3?crid=QOQ31WLDSSM1&keywords=outlet+car+adapter&qid=1562429828&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rnid=2470954011&rps=1&s=gateway&sprefix=outlet+car+a%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Sundome-4-Person-Tent-Green/dp/B004J2GUOU/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=coleman%2Btent%2B4%2Bperson&qid=1562429920&s=gateway&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1

My boyfriend and I purchased this tent 2 years ago and its made it though a decent amount of festivals. No signs of wear or damage. I know you mentioned a black out tent. I’m assuming to help sleep once the suns up? The heat usually gets me out of the tent before the light, it gets so unbearably hot once the suns up. You said you’re not new at this though so I’m sure you already knew that! :)

For staying cool I would recommend a cooling towel. Get it wet in your cooler ice water and it’s great to keep around your neck. Also small hand fans are a GAME CHANGER for guys and girls. It’s shocking how much they help honestly. Sitting with your feet in a small pool, bucket, or cooler when you’re hanging out at the campsite is super nice too. Just fill with water and some ice cubes and it really helps cool your body down!

https://www.amazon.com/Amajiji-Chinease-Japanese-Nylon-Cloth-Festival/dp/B07FMCF4G1/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=hand+fan&qid=1562431437&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Cooling-Instant-Chill-Athletes-Workout/dp/B00XKLYWFU/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=cooling+towel&qid=1562431333&s=gateway&sr=8-6

Hope this info helped you out!

Hi!! I went through the same struggle before going to my first festival last year. I really, REALLY wanted to buy one of the super cute Vibedration packs because they're.... cute, lol, and all my girl friends had them. I ended up going through a lot of Amazon reviews on packs and ended up with this one (in black):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C1TQ7DD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ju-3BbDBF1Q8Z

I love it! It easily survived the 3 festivals I went to this year. My favorite thing about it is how small it is, but it still has a zippered pocket. I pretty much always carry a fanny pack because it's the safest and easier way for me to keep track of my important stuff, so therefore I didn't need a hydration pack that doubled as a backpack. Going through security with it is a breeze because it's so small. It feels like it weighs practically nothing. I'm so glad I purchased this. The cute packs I was looking at cost over $50 and served the same purpose. Plus the black doesn't clash with any of my outfits lol

I hope you enjoy every second of EDCO!!

1. My pod poi, I have them in hand for a solid chunk of the time I'm at festivals.
   
2. Cooling towel. If you can get a good one these things are lifesavers when it's hot out. And they feel amazing when you're in altered states. Full discretion I sell a pretty great version of them, but we had them made because we used them first and wanted to make them better. Check them out here
   
3. Mint tins like these. Usually I'll have one with mints in it for flavor and another that's empty. Maybe the best container for party favors, joints, etc that I've found for festivals. It's unassuming and looks normal to have, it's rigid so even if you sit on it you won't crush what's inside, and the stuff inside will stay happy.
   
4. If you need to keep stuff in the cooler but don't want it to get wet (chocolate, makeup, party favors, wax/hash, whatever else) go for one of these boxes. They're for boating so they're watertight, come in a bunch of different sizes, I've got a medium/small one and a huge one that I ordered thinking it was smaller.

Lots of good suggestions here. The best suggestions I could add would be things that help you get a good sleep. Being well-rested makes for an awesome festival experience. Bring a big battery operated fan (something like this is worth its weight in gold), an eye mask or blindfold, and some ear plugs, and you can sleep 'til noon even on the hottest days.

As you probably know, the stuff you buy for UK festivals will need to be waterproof, and preferably lightweight as you carry all your stuff from the coach/ train to the campsite, and can often stand in the long entry queues.


For a camping chair I brought this last year, it was godsend from the previous cheap and heavy camping chairs. I was able to pack in my rucksack it folds that small, and weighs so little. The price is a little steep, but I use it a lot outside of festivals, and it still intact, which I can’t say for the cheaper camping chairs I’ve brought.


I brought this tent last year, it was on sale, and the price seems to have increased. It’s pretty big, and provides good cover from the rain, and your camp can join you in the porch area inside during a downpour. A few people seem to be raving about this tent as it a larger pop-up, and keeps the sunlight out, allowing a couple more hours kip in the morning.

I will add that I've had both Camelbak and Osprey, my camelbak was stolen but I loved the bag, but they don't seem to make it anymore. The only real difference I noticed with the Osprey is the magnet that holds the mouthpiece in place, which is pretty nice. I would recommend something like this while your getting it because the water in the tube will get really hot when your standing in the sun all day.

So basically you want to look for backpacking equipment. REI (US) / MEC (Canada) are really good starts but are on the pricey side. Mountain warehouse is really cheap and decent.

You want a basic 4 person dome tent like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Sundome-4-Person-Tent-Green/dp/B004J2GUOU/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=4+person+dome+tent&qid=1575132084&sr=8-3

Get a small thin air mattress like this. Skip the pump, you can either blow it up with your mouth (as a backup, takes 5 min) or just ask people around you and chances are someone will lend you a pump

https://www.amazon.com/Outbound-Mattress-Portable-Air-Bed-Inflatable/dp/B07QMTN59C/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=single+air+mattress&qid=1575132122&sr=8-8

Bring a minimal sleeping bag, it'll be warmer than a blanket:

https://www.amazon.com/oaskys-Camping-Sleeping-Bag-Lightweight/dp/B07MFTD2YS/ref=sxin_2_ac_d_rm?ac_md=0-0-c2xlZXBpbmcgYmFn-ac_d_rm&keywords=sleeping+bag&pd_rd_i=B07MFTD2YS&pd_rd_r=6c66e499-5eb2-40e1-87b7-6d4437e76964&pd_rd_w=vX8o4&pd_rd_wg=Zyh0M&pf_rd_p=e2f20af2-9651-42af-9a45-89425d5bae34&pf_rd_r=SZ36790VW0SSX7V8MB9V&psc=1&qid=1575132166

For a pillow you can actually just stuff some of your clothes or a hoodie into the sleeping bag case and then use that as pillow. Maybe bring a pillow case so its softer against your face.

Thats about it, I usually skip the cooler and just accept I'll spent more $ on food that weekend but you can pickup a lot of food that doesn't need to stay cold. Pop tarts, nuts, PB&J sandwiches, fruits, etc can all be picked up when you land and get you through the weekend.

I usually skip the chair, just bring a nice little blanket and sit on the ground (though if its gonna rain thats not so much of an option)

If going custom, check out where you can find these off the Westone site. An audiologist visit is required. There are other options for custom than these, but I’m not sure what would be better.

https://www.westone.com/store/music/index.php/es49-custom

For regular earplugs, this article goes through a bunch of options. Eargasm ranked high.

https://www.howtobecomearockstarphotographer.com/concert-photography-earplugs/

I always liked the etymotic er-20’s for my ears. Good quality, but minimal reduction in noise. They work better for smaller canals. The er-20xs is shorter, but is for bigger ears.

https://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-High-Fidelity-Earplugs-Standard/dp/B0044DEESS

Searching amazon for hi-fi earplugs will land you a bunch of options.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_9?k=hi-fi+ear+plugs&sprefix=hi-fi+ear&crid=2U56V5PDPPQIG

I've been consistently using earplugs for about a year now. I've been exposing myself to loud music since 2007, and honestly I wish I was smart enough to wear ear plugs then because I was younger. And not to mention when I was playing drums. Sigh

Better late than never though. I have smaller ears so most earplugs tend to be hard to fit in and/or become super uncomfortable and itchy after some time of having them in. I've tried the higher priced "musician's ear plugs" that you can get on Amazon, however they always seem to be uncomfortable for me. I found these Mack's Dream girl Earplugs at a Rite Aid and have always gone back to these.

They're geared towards people with smaller ears. My boyfriend even prefers these than his expensive musician's earplugs.


So if you experience discomfort with most earplugs, your ear size may be on the smaller size and I highly recommend giving these a shot. You can find the smaller packs as well.

I bring a folding table like this one. I have a 2-burner Coleman stove that runs off propane and a single-burner butane stove. I'll bring one or the other depending on how many fuel canisters I find while packing. I always bring gear for cooking (pan/pot, spatula, tongs, ladle, hot pads, seasonings, etc.) but the most common stove use is boiling water in a kettle (for making coffee in an Aeropress or french press). I'm one of those "it's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it" people who brings EVERYTHING!

I usually camp with a large group. We try to plan so that everyone (or every couple) brings one meal to share to reduce the overall prep work and expense. Sometimes we have electric available at camp and I will do a slow-cooker recipe on site. Other times I make a dish at home, freeze it so it will keep in the cooler, then re-heat it on the stove. A 'one pot' dish like soup or jambalaya is easy to re-heat and serve and doesn't generate a huge mess to clean. Tip: add dish soap to a small scrubby sponge (or cut a larger sponge into a more manageable size) and keep it in a ziploc. The reduces the chances of a soap spill/disaster and it can be thrown away if no longer usable at the end of the fest.

I bring a few snacks and something to eat in the mornings (plus coffee - never go without a reliable caffeine source!) in addition to my group meal contribution. I rely on the vendors for everything else.

First Name: Ashton

Occupation: Accountant

Age Range: 24-30

Gender: Female

Race: Caucasian / white

Have you ever used a portable charging system? yes

What do you use it for? I keep a portable power bank in my purse at all times.

In what environment/settings do you use it in? Literally anywhere I am

How often do you use it? At least once a week

Brand/Model? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LC3L03E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Have you owned more than one? yes

Did you ever switch brands? Why? I've bought several cheap ones and they just don't hold up.

What issues have you had with past products? see above

Do you have any critiques/suggestion from past products? For the most part, you get what you pay for. Cheap stuff doesn't hold up over time. Also be careful with power cords, Apple always pushes updates to get rid of using aftermarket power cords.

In a perfect world what would you like to see in a product? I actually really like the linked power bank above, recently went on a road trip with six girls and it charged 5 phones from like 20% to full and still had some juice when I got home! (I like to get several charges out of one power bank)

Can you describe a situation where a battery powered device died and you wished you had the ability to charge it? Before I started bringing my power bank to festivals/road trips. Videos and pictures.

I second the cots. We bought two coleman cots this year and it's freaking amazing. I feel like I slept in a regular bed each night. plus when you push them together and make it up, it kind of looks like a little bed in your tent. It's one of the greatest camping/fest purchases I've made. I won't go without them anymore.

Here's a link to the ones we have. The "deluxe" model is worth the extra 10 bucks or whatever since it's about 6'2" instead of 5'7"
Coleman Deluxe Cot-Amazon

Earplugs are essential if you go to shows or festivals often at all. I've used many different kinds over the years and I've kind of settled on Alpine Ear Plugs right now. Decent sound, comfortable, washable, and come with useful carrying case.

Seconding bringing a bunch of foam plugs to give away. I also use foam plugs at really loud shows.

For music plugs I use these. They’re relatively cheap and — most importantly for me — they’re a good fit for my tiny ears.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0032BYCWG/ref=oh_aui_i_d_old_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've had these for almost 3 years and they are the best 13$ I've ever spent. I forget I have them in, and they have never fallen out. Highly recommend.

This is what I use and I love it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0073WJACW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494648474&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=coleman+cot&dpPl=1&dpID=41INCjwqwGL&ref=plSrch

I've tried about 4 or 5 brands, and this is the best. I usually buy a new pair every year because I use them so much.

https://www.amazon.ca/Etymotic-Research-High-Fidelity-Earplugs-Standard/dp/B0044DEESS

I'll plug the battery pack I bought and have been happy with.

UK link

USA link

I use these: http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-ETY-Plugs-Protection-Earplugs/dp/B0044DEESS/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=19RCKR1SYHQ8TT38DCB6