Glaston-buried by luggage: the ultimate packing checklist

How to pack the essentials, luxury and if you must items!

Dane Cobain - 16 June 2011

The Essentials

Tickets
The most important thing. If you’re a resourceful, hitch-hiking freegan, this is all you’ll need. This includes train/coach tickets, as well as the all-important festival pass (and don’t they look lovely this year with that purple panorama of the night sky?)

I.D.
Okay, we lied – you may also need photo I.D. to prove that you are who your ticket says you are, particularly if you’re more beautiful in person than your photograph suggests. 

Cash and cards
Even if you take everything you own (which we don’t recommend), you’re going to need to spend some money. There are plenty of cash machines dotted around the site, so make sure there’s money in your account and don’t carry too much on your person if you can avoid it. Use the cash machines relatively early in the morning to avoid long queues.

Tent and Sleeping Bag
Unless you’re planning on sleeping under the stars (not a good idea), don’t forget to take shelter and a sleeping bag. You can pick up a cheap tent from Argos for £12.74 (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9275647/Trail/searchtext%3ETENT.htm), but make sure you have a go at setting it up in your back garden before you leave.

Clothing
You’ll need a lot of this, here’s what we suggest:
One t-shirt per day
One pair of underwear per day
One jumper
One long-sleeved t-shirt
One pair of jogging bottoms
Two pairs of jeans/trousers
Two pairs of shorts
Three pairs of socks (2 thick, 1 thin)
One pair of comfortable shoes
One waterproof coat
One pair of wellies (wear them when you travel to save space)
One pair of sunglasses
One umbrella
One towel (can double as a blanket or a pillow)

Drugs
No, we don’t mean that. If you’re on regular medication, make sure you take enough to last you through the festival. If you’re planning on staying up late and getting up early, pick up a pack of Pro Plus.

Rucksack
You’re going to need a good one, don’t just drag your old schoolbag out of the loft. If necessary, you can buy a 65 litre camping rucksack for £17 from Tesco (http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.100-8250.aspx). Consider taking a smaller bag to carry around in the daytime, too.

Luxury Items

Hygiene and body products
You can beg, borrow and steal while you’re there, but you’re going to need a lot over the course of the weekend:
Loo roll/wet wipes
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Girl stuff (if appropriate)
Condoms (stay safe)
Soap/hand sanitizing gel
Deodorant
Hair brush
Make-up
Sun-tan lotion
Toothbrush and toothpaste

Camping accessories
Everything from torches and gas stoves to groundsheets and a collapsible camping chair – you’re going to spend a lot of time sitting on a field so make sure you’re prepared for it.

Camera and mobile phone
Or a camera phone. It’s a good idea to take a cheap mobile and put your sim card in to it, the battery will probably last longer and it won’t matter as much if you lose it. If you run out of battery and want a recharge then pop in to one of Orange’s Chill ‘n’ Charge tents.

First aid kit
We’re talking painkillers, antihistamines, antiseptic cream, plasters and bandages. Most of these will be available on site, but it’s better to take your own in case of an emergency.

Mates
This might be an obvious one, but don’t forget to take your friends with you. If you don’t have any friends, don’t worry – Glastonbury is the perfect place to make new ones.

If You Must

MP3 player
There’s going to be music all over the site, are you crazy? But if you must, you must.
Phone charger
Expect a shortage of plug sockets, but you can get hold of solar-powered and battery-powered mobile phone charges fairly cheaply online.

Trolley/wheelbarrow
If you’ve got a lot of gear, you’re going to need something to carry it with.

Booze
There are plenty of bars scattered across the farm, but you can take your own alcohol on to the site if you can carry it. Crates of beer can be difficult to drag around, but small bottles of spirits are always welcome. The site operates a ‘no glass’ policy though, so make sure it’s in a plastic container.

Musical instruments
We’re not suggesting you take a grand piano (although someone left one behind last year) – think harmonicas or smaller woodwind instruments. A guitar is always welcome around a campfire, but can you be bothered to carry it?

Checklist:

The Essentials
Tickets
I.D.
Cash and cards
Tent and Sleeping Bag
You’ll need a lot of this, here’s what we suggest:
One t-shirt per day
One pair of underwear per day
One jumper
One long-sleeved t-shirt
One pair of jogging bottoms
Two pairs of jeans/trousers
Two pairs of shorts
Three pairs of socks (2 thick, 1 thin)
One pair of comfortable shoes
One waterproof coat
One pair of wellies (wear them when you travel to save space)
One pair of sunglasses
One umbrella
One towel (can double as a blanket or a pillow)
Drugs
Rucksack

Luxury
Hygiene Products
Loo roll/wet wipes
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Girl stuff (if appropriate)
Condoms (stay safe)
Soap/hand sanitizing gel
Deodorant
Hair brush
Make-up
Sun-tan lotion
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Camping accessories
Camera and mobile phone
First aid kit
Mates

If You Must
MP3 player
Phone charger
Trolley/wheelbarrow
Booze
Musical instruments

Glastonbury Festival 2011 will take place at Worthy Farm in Somerset from 22-26 June.

U2, Coldplay and Beyonce are set to headline the festival, which will also see performances from Primal Scream, The Chemical Brothers and Queens Of The Stone Age.

Click here to view the full Glastonbury line-up.

Tickets for the festival sold out on release, with two further re-sales also selling out within hours.

Keep your browser on Virtual Festivals for full Glastonbury 2011 coverage.

Check out our Glastonbury preview pieces:
VF guide to hidden Glastonbury.
Things that only happen at Glastonbury.
Michael Eavis interview.
The great VF 'Special Guests' sweepstake.
My Festival Life… Greg Roberts from Dreadzone.
Long range Glastonbury 2011 weather forecast.
Photo blog: top 20 bands to see.
Photo blog: the mud.
Photo blog: the weird and wonderful of Worthy Farm.
Do Glastonbury 2011 as a scenester or a senior.
Glastonbury 2011 in numbers.
Glaston-buried by luggage: the ultimate packing checklist.
Glastonbury Festival Spotify playlists.
Video: top five acts to see on the Pyramid Stage.
Video: top five acts to see on the Other Stage.
Video: top five acts to see on the West Holts Stage.
Video: top five acts to see on the John Peel Stage.
Video: top five acts to see on the The Park.
Video: top five acts to see in the Dance Village.

Comments

Related Artists

Related Events

Related Articles