With some of the best summer festivals right around the corner, it’s time to stock up on the gear you need to make sure you have a great experience. Staying safe and healthy is the best place to start. If you’re sunburned, covered in bug bites or plagued by blisters, it’s tough to have fun dancing all night.
You’ll also need important tools like a well-ventilated tent, sun shades for relaxing at your campsite and comfortable bags for carrying water bottles, sunglasses, and other festival accessories. Investing in the right gear to protect yourself from the elements is important to make the best of your time in the sun.
Banana Boat SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
Nothing makes a festival more painful than a severe second-day sunburn. Banana Boat sunblock lotion is long-lasting, effective and affordable enough to share with your friends.
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Hawaiian Tropic Matte Effect Sunscreen Lotion
If other sunscreens are too greasy or sticky for you, consider this premium formula that is soft to the touch and doesn’t leave a thick, glossy layer.
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Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Bug Spray
Its active ingredient, called PMD, is made from plant-based materials, doesn’t leave an uncomfortable, pore-clogging film and smells great. It’s the most festival-friendly way to keep mosquitoes from feasting on you and your fellow campers.
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Sawyer Products Picaridin Insect Repellent
Evidence suggests that picaridin is even more effective than DEET at repelling common mosquito breeds. It is also less harmful to synthetic fibers and doesn’t smell as harshly or feel as uncomfortable.
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Just about every single festival stage reaches an unsafe volume level at some point during the event. Protect yourself from hearing loss and tinnitus in the long term by using these discreet, reusable earplugs.
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Etymotic Research ER20 Earplugs
It’s impossible to overstate how important hearing protection is. If you’re worried you’ll miss out on any of the most subtle tones from your favorite artists, consider this premium pair that many professional musicians swear by.
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You might go all weekend without getting a blister, but somebody around you will likely get one. Be the hero by bringing along these soft gel blister relief pads.
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While there’s always competent emergency staff members at any well-managed festival, you may encounter minor injuries that don’t need a trip to the medical tent. This affordable yet comprehensive first-aid kit lets you deal with cuts and scrapes without leaving your campsite.
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Forget airborne viruses — at many festivals, you’ll be cursing the dust that’s caught in your nose and throat before the first day is up. A light neck gaiter can keep you from breathing in fine debris while also adding flair to your outfit.
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When you walk to and from your car, you’ll encounter other festivalgoers kicking up dust. These masks will minimize the damage that dust does to your airways after you spend days partying outdoors.
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Alps Mountaineering Camp Creek Tent
While it claims to fit six campers, it’s ideal for two to four festival attendees with room for comfortable sleep and costume changing. It’s remarkably affordable for something so big, reliable and easy to set up.
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If you are attending a festival with a group and don’t want to make a huge investment, it’s hard to beat this spacious option. Built-in room dividers help provide campers with a measure of privacy.
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This tent comes in two- and four-person versions. Both are remarkably affordable and well-ventilated to allow for a reasonable amount of sleep on hot, sunny mornings. The four-person model is great for couples. The two-person option is perfect if you plan on camping by yourself.
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Countless tents fall prey to heavy winds every summer. Keep your sleeping space and belongings reliably attached to the ground with a sturdy tent that doesn’t have any sharp corners or wide panels to act as sails.
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To make your campsite more than just a dull place to sleep, consider a stylish and effective conical dome tent like this one. It comes at a surprisingly reasonable price and has enough space for two or three people to sleep comfortably.
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This is about as simple and affordable as inflatable mattresses get. Some options come with electric or integrated foot pumps, but your best bet is to pick up a stand-alone air bed pump — partly because at least one of your neighbors will need to use it.
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Sierra Designs Camping Air Bed
It’s not quite as tall as most typical air beds, which helps maximize space in small tents and minimize movement across the mattress. It’s also engineered to last considerably longer than most other options.
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Measuring 13 feet by 13 feet, this canopy offers plenty of shade in addition to passable protection from light rain. Make sure to stake it down securely, though, in case of heavy winds.
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It’s sturdy, roomy and built to keep bugs, sunshine and moderate rain from spoiling your relaxation time at camp. It comes with plenty of stakes, can withstand a surprising amount of rain and doesn’t cost all that much compared to some instant canopies.
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Liluo Glow in the Dark, Reflective Guy Line
No matter how many years you’ve been attending festivals, it’s still easy to trip on tent guy lines and ruin your night with a sprained ankle. This 60-foot length lets you replace the hard-to-see cords on several tents.
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Coleman Xtreme Portable Cooler
It’s as durable as a cooler gets without making a huge investment, and it comes in 70- and 120-quart versions. Its reliable design and premium construction mean it will minimize the number of times you have to shell out for overpriced bags of festival ice.
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Advanced Elements Summer Solar Shower
Pack this high-capacity solar shower to avoid the lines and hassle of community showers. During summer, you probably won’t even want to wait around for it to get hot, as a cold shower at a festival can be highly refreshing.
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The most efficient way to carry drinking water at a festival is on your back. This hydration pack holds up to a half gallon in a leak-resistant water bladder. The durable stitching and decent size of the backpack itself are ideal for carrying the things you need for a fun time with friends.
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Dehydration is one of the biggest hazards at outdoor festivals, and losing your phone, wallet or keys is a close second. Make sure you keep all your most important belongings close with this rugged utility belt and water bottle holder.
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If you want to look stylish while keeping track of your stuff, strap on this bohemian-style fanny pack. Made from eco-friendly hemp cotton, it has just enough space to store all the goodies you’ll need for the day.
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Anker PowerCore Essential 20K Power Bank
Given the incredible quality of smartphone cameras these days, it’s understandable if you run your battery down by the end of the first night out. To make sure you and your friends’ devices stay juiced up, consider this high-capacity, low-cost power bank.
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Boom Boom Aromatherapy Nasal Sticks
Congestion is just a part of life for many dedicated festival fans. This variety pack of fun aromatherapy sticks provides soothing sensations and helps relieve nasal distress.
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Bliss Lemon and Sage Body Wipes
While many festivals do offer showers, they can be far away, crowded, expensive or buried behind huge lines. These body wipes use natural essential oils to combat the filth and odors that go hand-in-hand with dancing all night in the summer.
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Hi-fidelity earplugs are meant to keep your hearing safe, but these are meant to keep you sleeping soundly throughout the festival night. They stay in a little more reliably than reusable types, and your friends will love you for handing them out.
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Chris Thomas writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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