Music Festival Packing and Tips List

I've been to a couple of music festivals so far and every time again I'm thinking about what you should bring to a festival. Although I usually only bring my backpack and thus am quite limited there is a lot of stuff I came up with in the past or new ideas I had later. This list is far from complete and mostly a reminder for myself which I'll update over time. Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.

• Tent. Maybe you want to bring a tent that's big enough to accomodate two people. Better make it a cheap tent. Bottom should be connected to the body of the tent and water proof. Make sure your tent does stand properly even if you leave the strings away. Never set up strings. While we're at it, try to place your tent not in a valley or drain, just in case it rains. Also don't place your tent at the side of the camping site or next to trees and bushes. Those sites are preferred by thiefs. On the other hand, don't place it in 'crazy' areas where drunken people might shred it into pieces for fun or anything. On a hill in the middle of a medium busy camping site is best.


• Lock, preferably number lock. To close your tent. It's just ment to avoid mistakes by drunken poeople and theft by chance.


• Small flashlight, diode light. To open your number lock, find stuff in your tent, search for stuff you dropped somewhere, read the sitemap when you're lost, ... Maybe you can use your mobile but I wouldn't recommend that.


• Sleeping bag and sleeping mat. If you're the princess from Princess and the Pea you might want an inflatable mat instead


• Earplugs. Your ear specialist is gonna love you if you wear them during concerts, but I usually use them to sleep.


• Bottled water, lots of, large. Always enough reasons for that. Brushing teeth, sobering up, cooking, cleaning your dishes, washing yourself, ...


• Clothing. Usual stuff. Underwear, socks, t-shirts, but also get ready for all possible temperatures and maybe pack a warm sweater and warm pants. Only pack clothing you're ready to leave behind.


• Hiking shoes. I recommend running around in very comfortable, sturdy hiking shoes. All the time. Foot injuries are the most common ones on festivals. You won't complain anymore if people step or jump on your feet when in the pit, you won't care anymore if there is some broken glass all over the walkways, you can get close enough to the latrine to actually use it, etc.


• Flip flops. Only for the shower. You do never wanna touch the floor of public festival showers.


• Hygiene products. Shower gel, shampoo, maybe a combo of both. Tooth paste and tooth brush. Nail scissors, not clippers or pack seperate scissors then. Deodorant, condoms (Better pack them if in doubt. No matter how little your self esteem is, if you get lucky you might be really pissed about yourself), tissues, bandades, antispetic ointment.


• Towel. A real man always knows where his towel hangs.


• Mobile phone, plus charger. Often comes in handy. Even if you're in a foreign country. You might get a number you're supposed to call up later the night and it might be worth the couple of bucks. Or you can call the guys who wanted to give you a ride back home. Or to call police or ambulance.


• Walkie-talkies. Great if you're in a group and just want to meet up quickly or got some important message for your friends at the other end of the festival site.


• Tape. The stronger, the better. Duct tape will help you to fix just about anything. Can often also be used instead of strings.


• Pen and paper. Not just to write down important details like phone numbers but also good to plan the concerts you wanna see.


• Alarm clock. Too bad one of your favorite bands is playing at 10 am. Better make sure you'll wake up from your heavy alcohol poisoning. Who needs sleep anyway?


• Digital pocketcamera. Definitely don't bring your good camera.


• Gas stove. Can be very useful if you don't want to eat overpriced burgers and fries for the time of the festival.


• Pot. For cooking, obviously.


• Food. Stuff that doesn't need refrigeration, does not mold easily or is easily squished. And doesn't need anything but water for preparing.


• Cutlery. Most important is a spoon. Knife and fork can be easily replaced with a swiss army knife or whatever flies around.


• Lighter. Not just perfect for lighting nice girls' cigarettes, but also a great thing to turn on your gas stove or generally a tool to melt things or open beer bottles.
  

So, any other itmes or tips missing?

EDIT: Added lighter.