Festival packing list: what actually belongs in the bag

A good packing list is minimal, not maximal. Arriving with half an empty car beats showing up with three large bags of backup plans by day three. This list covers a three-day camping festival; for a day-only festival, skip the camping and sleeping items.

What belongs in the must-have pack?

Without these, it gets hard:

• Ticket backup. E-ticket as a PDF on the phone and in Apple/Google Wallet. To be really safe, print it too.
• ID card or passport. Required for personalised tickets.
• Cash (50–100 €). Festival stands often have mobile signal trouble; going purely cashless is risky.
• Power bank (10,000 mAh). One bank covers three full phone charges.
• Sunscreen (SPF 50) and sunglasses. Heatstroke is a regular festival occurrence.
• Rain poncho. Three-day forecasts are rarely reliable.
• Toilet paper or wet wipes. Festival toilets typically run out by day two.
• Earplugs. Sleeping 200 metres from a stage only works with them.
• Regular medication plus a reserve supply.

Sensible camping gear

• Tent. A three-person tent for two people — for the bag space. A quick-pitch pop-up saves time but is less robust.
• Sleeping bag. Comfort rating 8–10 °C suffices for German summer festivals; in Schleswig-Holstein closer to 5 °C.
• Sleeping mat. Inflatable is comfier; foam is more robust and cheaper.
• Camping chair. Sounds excessive, becomes your best companion by the second evening.
• Headlamp. Using the phone as a torch after 22:00 is a bad idea — battery gone.
• Bin bags and gaffer tape. Both have at least three uses daily.

What clothing works?

Six outfits for three days is too much. Three sets are enough, plus a thicker sweater or light jacket for the evenings. Essentials: closed shoes (Birkenstocks and flip-flops sink in mud), a hat or cap against the sun. Anyone dancing at the main stage will want one extra warm layer by day three — visitors consistently underestimate the nightly cool-down.

What's better left at home?

• Glass bottles. Banned at almost all festivals; confiscated at entry.
• Professional cameras. DSLRs over 35 mm focal length are often on the banned list; a smartphone is enough for memories.
• Drones. Generally forbidden.
• Bluetooth speakers with subwoofer. Often confiscated at camping; also socially unwelcome.
• High-value jewellery or watches. Theft risk is real.
• Hair dryer, iron, kettle. Camping electricity is usually unavailable.

If you're heading out without a plan, run through the festival checklist for preparation and entry — this packing list only covers what goes in the bag.