Festival Must-Haves, Field-Tested at Lost Lands and Electric Forest

The best festival gear, of course, depends on which festival you’re attending, the weather, your sleeping arrangements, and a ton of other factors. But as a longtime festival veteran, I’ve field-tested enough gear (and made enough mistakes) to have solid recommendations for preventing blisters, dehydration, a dead phone, and other common pitfalls in most situations. You'll find my top picks below. Be sure to check out our other related buying guides, including the Best Tents, the Best Sleeping Bags, and the Best Bluetooth Speakers. Updated July 2026: I've reformatted this guide with refreshed ...