Festival essentials - What to take with you...
With this summer's festival season now in full swing, we've picked out all the essential items that you need to take with you!
From wet wipes and wellies to ponchos and playing cards, it's all here. Just click on the blue text to head over to Amazon.co.uk and do your festival shopping the easy way...
Pop-up tent
These are ridiculously easy to set up and very useful for late-comers who need to quickly reserve the last space in the field. (Just remember to keep the instructions as they can be a right bitch to fold up again afterwards.)
Sleeping bag
As anyone who's woken up at 5AM shivering will tell you, this really is an essential.
Camping mat
Similarly, your chance of getting at least some decent sleep will be greatly increased if you can't feel all the stones and twigs that are underneath your tent.
Padlock
Whether it's for your bag or the front of your tent, if you're taking any valuables then a padlock's a good idea. Thieves at festivals may be plentiful sadly, but they're also pretty lazy.
Torch
Definitely a good idea if you want to avoid stumbling into someone else's tent by mistake.
Baby wipes
Simple and cheap, these surely must have been invented for festival use.
Travel toothbrush
Nothing makes a hangover worse than still being able to taste the previous night's alcohol in your mouth. Answer: get one of these cute fold-out toothbrushes.
Ear plugs
It's recommended to wear ear plugs if you're standing anywhere remotely near the giant ear-frying festival-sized speakers, but even if that doesn't sound appealing, ear plugs can still come in handy when you need to block out the twat warbling 'Wonderwall' outside your tent at night.
Dry shampoo
"How did that get in my hair last night?" - problem solved, without having to spend an hour queueing for the freezing cold showers.
Condoms
Better safe than sorry.
Pro Plus
Actually wanting to catch the early afternoon bands? A caffeine fix could be just what you need.
Sun lotion
If you were spending three days standing in the sun anywhere else, you wouldn't think twice about lotioning up, so a festival really shouldn't be any different.
Insect repellant
Particularly vital if you're at somewhere like Benicassim, this is still not a bad idea even for UK fests.
Playing cards
Too drunk for conversation? Who cares, when there's poker to be played!
Hayfever medicine
If you're ever prone to getting hayfever, three days in a field probably won't do you any favours, so it's best to come prepared.
Face paints
Immature? Probably. Entertaining? Definitely!
Glowsticks
Okay, so it's a bit 2007, but they're useful for marking your tent to find it in the dark if nothing else.
Wellies
Yes, it's a cliché, but if you bring them then you won't need them, and if you don't bring them you'll inevitably end up knee-deep in mud before you've even put up your tent.
Poncho
Sexy? No. Useful? Absolutely, especially if you're not planning on taking a spare set of clothes with you.
Bin bags
Somehow you'll be surrounded by rubbish by the end of the first day - where does it all come from exactly? Anyway, it's nicer for everyone if you don't have to go to sleep in it.
Balloons
Another way to make your tent easier to find, during the daytime at least, is to tie baloons to it.
> Plan your summer with our 2009 Music Festivals Guide.
