The time has come. Those long, long winter months are finally in the rear-view mirror, things are warming up and spring is well underway. That could only mean one thing; festival season is at last upon us. Over the pond the likes of Coachella has already been and gone, with the big ones over here still very much marked on the calendar. Along with the obvious essentials – rechargeable battery packs, breakfast bars, extra loo roll – we’ve compiled a list of some must-haves for when you’re camping, heading into the main arena, and weatherproofing your getup for those inevitable downpours. Because festivals are fun, but sometimes planning for them isn’t.

Camping

Even the rookies should know that a decent camping chair is a must for when you’re camping out. Blinking into the light of a new day and re-hashing over yesterday’s events whilst finding the inner strength to crack open that next lukewarm tinny – you don’t want to be doing that whilst perched on a muddy floor. Trust us. Luckily, you can sit in the lap of luxury with Carhartt WIP’s Lumen Folding Chair. The next best thing to your comfy sofa at home, this foldaway chair is easy to put up, crafted with water-repellent materials, and is nice and lightweight for carrying to and from your camping spot. Ideal.

An aspect of festivals that is inevitable – a rite of passage in a sense – is the festival toilets. Even the nicest ones are well below the national average of acceptable loos, and so when you’re making that journey to and from in the dead of night, you most certainly need a decent pair of shoes to protect your feet. Nike ACG’s Air Moc silhouette is ideal not only for the campsite and traversing through these less favourable festival environments, but it’s also functional and comfortable enough to wear in the main event itself too. All-rounder wearing that is easy to slip on and off – a no-hassle, festival staple.

Clothing

As synonymous with the UK’s festivals as strawberries are with cream, there’s a high chance you’re gonna encounter some downpours at one point or another. There’s not much worse than trying to fight your way into an over-packed tent with all the other wet-weather escapees, only to find that you’d have more chance of breaking into Fort Knox itself – leaving you cold, wet, and wishing you had something other than that flimsy plastic poncho to fend off the weather. Well, fear not – Berghaus’ Deluge Pro 2.0 Jacket has you covered. It’s lightweight enough to wear whilst breaking out your finest moves without overheating and is super effective against wind and rain too thanks to a Hydroshell construction. This watertight fit is a must.

Picture the scene. It’s night-time, freezing, you’re soaked to the bone, and you pull on a cosy, comfortable hoodie and crawl into your sleeping bag. It’s the little creature comforts that get you through sometimes; that’s why a decent hoodie is non-negotiable. They can be worn outside of the confines of your tent too of course, and this Nike NRG Premium Essentials Hoodie is about as staple as they come. Keeping it simple with minimal branding and a soft cotton-poly composition, it also comes in plenty of colours too.

When you’re spending your time covering more steps in one day than you usually would in the average week, in weathers that might range from the blistering to the torrential – you’re gonna need a super-comfy, functional pair of shorts. If you’ve ever battled through mud caked, soaking wet trousers at a festival, we salute you – but shorts are the way to go. These Doverwood Crinkle Shorts from Columbia tick all the boxes with a lightweight composition, zip pockets for added security, and a built-in belt for a comfy fit.

Accessories

The unofficial uniform of festivals, the crowning glory of your 4-day-old fit; it is of course a bucket hat. Not only will it hide a multitude of debris, unwashed hair, and sins underneath it, it will add a layer of protection from the sun, the rain, the wind, and any flying cups of mystery liquids. This Brimmer one from The North Face does a pretty stellar job, with a wide brim, chin strap and sweat-wicking FlashDry technology to keep you cool and comfy from morning ‘til night.

The Carhartt WIP Essential Side Bag. Pretty much goes without saying. Phone, keys, cards, festival programme, chewing gum – everything you wanna keep close by and handy, you put in this bag. It’s easy to transport – simply fling it across your body – has dual compartments to keep things organised, and is even made with recycled polyester to keep the planet happy too.

Now, this is one you don’t even realise you need – until you do. Kavu’s Beer Buddy will have you the envy of the festival, with admirers looking on and pondering ‘why don’t I have one of those?’. With its six compartments which are just the right size for you to carry beer – or cider, or anything in fact – handsfree, you’ll be able to move around and enjoy yourself in full effect. Plus, your prized stash of drinks won’t end up going walkabout, either.

Rounding off the list is an item as old as festivals themselves (probably). The humble waist pack, bum bag, whatever you want to call it, has been a reliable companion for festival goers for decades and the functional appeal still holds today. The adidas Originals Adventure Waist Bag is ripstop-made, adjustable, and can be worn around your waist, across your body, or any other way you prefer to keep your valuables close.

Find all these and plenty more festival essentials here.