What Not to Pack For Festival Season (And What You Definitely Should)

You’ve got the tickets. You’ve found your mates. You’ve even convinced someone to drive. All that’s left? Packing. And not just any packing, strategic, smugly-prepared, I’m-not-carrying-your-stuff packing.

But before you cram your bag with glitter, tinnies and questionable outfit choices, take a beat. Every UK festival has its own list of banned bits, and trust us, they mean it.

To help, we’ve pulled together the most common festival no-gos, what you can bring, and one underrated essential you’ll wish you hadn’t left behind...

What’s (Almost Always) Banned

Whether you’re heading to Glasto, Creamfields, Wireless or somewhere in between, here’s a quickfire list of items that’ll get binned at the gate:

• Glass of any kind – bottles, jars, perfume, even mirrors. If it smashes, it’s staying home.
  

• Aerosols – that includes deodorant. Stick to solids or roll-ons if you're camping.
  

• Disposable vapes – refillables only, and check your flavour of choice isn’t on the naughty list.
  

• Nitrous oxide – and yes, they’ll spot the balloons too.
  

• Professional cameras – unless you’re on the press list, leave the lens at home.
  

• Portable speakers / sound systems – the DJ doesn’t need competition.
  

• Drones – no, you are not Glastonbury’s aerial photographer.

• Generators, gas canisters & campfires – safety first, vibes second.
  

• Anything inflatable that isn’t a mattress – sorry, no loungers or novelty pool toys.
  
  

Each festival varies slightly (e.g. Parklife is stricter on bags, Reading & Leeds clamp down on disposable barbecues), but the above are pretty universal. When in doubt? Check the festival’s website before you start stuffing your backpack.

But What About...

Food and drink?
Most festivals allow you to bring your own food if you’re camping, just steer clear of glass and excessive alcohol. Day ticket holders are usually allowed to bring only sealed water bottles. Always check.

Medication?
Yes, but keep it in its original packaging and bring a doctor’s note if it’s a prescription. Trust us, arguing with security about your mystery blister pack isn’t the one.

Chairs, stools and umbrellas?

Fine for camping. Not for the arena. Sit on your mate's poncho like the rest of us.

The Stuff Worth Packing (That Everyone Forgets)

Beyond your bog roll, baby wipes and questionable bucket hat, here’s a shortlist of unsung festival heroes:

• Reusable water bottle – empty when you arrive, full once you’re through.
  

• Roll-on deodorant – smells like good decisions.
  

• Battery pack – otherwise, your phone’s dying halfway through your “one bar signal” tent rave.
  

• Suncream & a poncho – because British weather loves chaos.
  

• Humans Against – our sachets are the ultimate secret weapon for festivals.
  
  

Let’s be real. Late nights, long days, fried food and portaloos don’t exactly scream optimal recovery conditions. Humans Against is a vegan-friendly food supplement, packed with 24 vitamins, minerals and plant extracts designed to support hydration, energy and bounce-back-ability when your body needs a nudge in the right direction.

Pocket-sized. Plant-powered. Festival-friendly. Stick a few sachets in your bum bag, your future self will thank you.

Festival Finesse: What’s Your Confiscation Cost?

Think you’re a savvy packer? Time to put it to the test. We’ve built a quick calculator to show just how much your banned bits could cost you if security gets involved. From £6 vapes to £800 cameras -those “harmless extras” add up fast. If someone packed every banned item on the list, they’d be waving goodbye to £1,341 worth of gear at the festival gate.

Not exactly the kind of donation you want to make.

Give it a go below and see how expensive getting it wrong could be (spoiler: very).

Final Tips from a Festival Veteran

• Pack light – you’ll regret every single ‘just in case’ item 15 minutes into the walk from the car park.
  

• Label everything – tents, bags, even mates.
  

• Screenshot your ticket – signal is a myth.

• Don’t be that person – follow the rules, respect the space, and keep your glitter off other people’s sleeping bags.

TL;DR?

Pack smart. Skip the banned list. Bring your good vibes and a sachet (or three) of Humans Against.
Because you’ve got better things to do than feel rubbish in a field.