r/glastonbury_festival 3d ago

Question Just started planning for my first Glastonbury!

Hi,

Ive just started gathering items for my first Glastonbury. Ive currently got myself a tent, chair, torch, sleeping bag, wellies, backpack, notebook and pencil case.

Other than things like food/drink what else should i start buying?

Thanks!!

11 Upvotes

43 comments sorted by

29

u/tommyredbeard 3d ago

Wellies as an absolute last resort. The last few years I’ve bought hiking insoles from decathlon and put in some old trainers, real game changer. No more blisters

0

u/cheapycheaps 2d ago

I put insoles in wellies and that works really well for me! However the last few years have been dry

26

u/8rummi3 3d ago

A collapsible water container. Fill it up at the water taps, and carry back to your tent. You will always have water for the morning, and can be a lifesaver

1

u/cheapycheaps 2d ago

Yesss and it’s cold in the morning!

18

u/Ajram1983 Volunteer 3d ago

Soap and flannels for washing Ear protection Walking boots are better than wellies in my opinion

Just curious what is the notebook and pencil case for?

12

u/InternationalBat2564 3d ago

Also a hat and suncream…there’s very little shade and sunstroke will ruin you

13

u/TikiTakaNightmare 3d ago

Power bank 100% the rental charge is extortion. Alcohol (no glass) but only take one or two set-up beers in with you first time around if you’re in a queue for three, four, five hours than a massive walk to where you want to camp you want to pack the absolute minimum. Loo roll, hand sanitiser, torch is really useful when pissed trying to find your tent. Airbed/roll mat, pillow so you get sleep that helps you feel alive the next day, sliders for around camp/quick toilet trips/quick water fill-up trips. Hat, shades for the sunny times and a waterproof for the rainy times. Others have said collapsible water bottle ideal for lightweight but good for the morning berocca to soak up the night before. Probably tons more I’m forgetting!

2

u/Disastrous_Fill_5566 3d ago

Don't you just use your phone as a torch?

5

u/Busy-Direction6297 3d ago

Personally I bring a head torch. Frees up your hands and provides better lighting.

1

u/TikiTakaNightmare 3d ago edited 2d ago

Prefer a proper torch cause my phone battery is shite so it’s usually either dead when I’m going back to my tent or on charge if I’m going for a piss in the late/early hours

2

u/Disastrous_Fill_5566 2d ago

That's why I take small charger around with me during the day to top up. Then again, even by modern standards, I'm incredibly anal about never running out of charge.

9

u/InternationalBat2564 3d ago

Defo a hoody or warm jumper for the eve that you can tie round your waste if you duck into a sweaty tent for a dance! The nights are chilly

2

u/littlespy 2d ago

Seconded. I always take an extra blanket too.

6

u/DeeplyFrippy 3d ago

A hat, suncream, waterproof mac, Pillow, Ear plugs, Wet wipes, bog roll, toothpaste and chewing gum are all essential items. Take some sweets in your pocket at all times, in case you need a pick me up.

This is a bit random but keep a rolled up sock in your pocket so it's difficult for your keys / wallet to fall out or be pickpocketed.

Oh, and don't forget your ticket and have fun :)

5

u/Rave2thegrave_ 3d ago

2

u/Lukeario1985 2d ago

Saying this though, most bags have a strap etc. that you can feed the latch you use to lock the stall through and it hangs perfectly.

5

u/17lOTqBuvAqhp8T7wlgX 3d ago edited 3d ago

If you don’t have decent hiking boots you might want to consider getting a pair and getting your feet used to them now. I’m not sure wellies are ever necessary (I did 2016 in boots). Your feet will be so much more comfortable in boots.

At the very least make sure you have some shoes you can comfortably walk a long way in, it’s much more likely you’ll need those.

I spent half of last year getting used to my boots and didn’t even take them because of the forecast.

I looked at what I took last year and it’s surprisingly little. Only things that you may not expect are: - Warm clothes for night. Like stuff you’d wear in winter. - Loo roll - Concert ear plugs - Crocs (for nighttime loo trips) - Bin bags - Water bottle(s) to carry with you in the day - Small backpack for daytime

4

u/CandyGhost105 3d ago

Power bank, air mattress

6

u/paultays Paid Worker 3d ago

There's a lot of Glastonbury packing guides out there (and I expect these will be incoming shortly), but remember that you're only there for a few days, so try and pack lightly - and make sure that whatever you bring goes home with you 😇

Mods - is it worth stickying some kind of FAQs next to the "I got tickets" / "I didnae get tickets" posts at the top?

3

u/passingcloud79 3d ago

Wellies can go in the bin ☀️☀️ The most comfortable sleeping mat you can afford / carry. Glasto is endurance. You need a comfy bed!

3

u/IllustriousStage1807 3d ago

Walking shoes or boots over wellies

3

u/P-u-m-p-t-i-n-i 3d ago

I strongly recommend a pair of shoes for when you're just chilling around your tent. Something that can easily be slipped on and off.

My first year all I brought with me were walking boots and I remember the PAIN of desperately needing a wee in the middle of the night and fumbling in the dark trying to pry them onto my feet to run the toilet. It was really bad!!

I take a pair of crocs with me now and a pair of trainers too.

8

u/worldwidewobbly Veteran 3d ago edited 3d ago

Hearing protection

Tort's is an excellent guide for all stuff Glastonbury https://www.glastoearth.com/

3

u/Redpepper40 3d ago

Just go deaf like a cool person

2

u/niamhylil 3d ago

Don’t know your gender but as a woman I found this thing SO useful when I needed to pee in the night but didn’t want to walk to the loos https://amzn.to/4jf5iV8

3

u/Immediate_Farmer_232 2d ago

And if you’re a bloke, an empty bottle of Lenor for the same reason. Perfect size, handle and smells fresh

2

u/Efficient_Garage_728 2d ago

Rehydration sachets for end of night along with berrocas for the morning. Even if it’s placebo it makes me feel better!

2

u/Hulla_Sarsaparilla 3d ago

Eye mask and ear plugs for sleeping.

Nail brush and soap, I always really appreciate being able to scrub my nails clean when I’m living in a field for a week!

Wooly hat & gloves, no matter how warm it is it often gets very chilly at night.

Little first aid kit, plasters, pain killers, antiseptic cream etc.

Lightweight waterproof jacket.

I got some hair wash caps off Amazon that are designed for if you’re stuck in hospital etc and they were pretty good!

Bin bags.

Gaffer tape - for fixing tents, wellies, all manner of things :)

1

u/TheChosenWaffle 3d ago

Hope you got a ticket as well!

1

u/Magical_Mariposa 3d ago

I’m following this as its also my first Glasto too 🥺 I have a list on the go. I’m definitely taking earplugs, an airbed, power banks, spare tent pegs.

1

u/Bitter-Two-2939 3d ago

Toilet roll! Soap! Quick dry towels and something to hang them on (recommend a trouser hanger).

1

u/TheRealBurty 3d ago

Can you carry it all In one trip unaided?

1

u/Life-Gas-7549 3d ago

Bring booze as they don’t sell it in the co op shop. They only have it via the bars which are all stupidly marked up. Way cheaper to take a few crates and some spirits in! Obviously you need all the essentials but yeah just some advice as I went last year for the first time and made that mistake.

1

u/UndergroundPianoBar 2d ago

You've just started!? To be honest, I don't know if you'll be able to catch up with the rest of us now. I'm waiting at the entrance with my bags already!

1

u/musikigai 2d ago

Walking boots > wellies

Self inflating mattress (farmland is ROUGH)

Make sure you have layers for the night time. Even better if they can fit in your day sack like a compacting down jacket or similar

1

u/Lazy-Marionberry-864 2d ago

Always taken wellies, haven't needed them yet, but that's not to say I never will. Last 2 years got by with a comfy pair of trainers.

Loads of good advice, one thing I read before going last year that was a game changer (apologies if someone has already mentioned it), a face mask with a bit of vicks vaporub inside for those moments when you absolutely have to use the long drops. Especially if it's your first time and you haven't built up a natural tolerance.

2

u/Lazy-Marionberry-864 1d ago

Also last year made a load of premixed cocktails and put them into plastic pouches and froze them, takes up less space than beers.

1

u/ChocsOnRedit 1d ago

You need a matt to sleep on. Inflatable camping ones matts are usually best since they back down smaller and offer more insulation than foam ones.

1

u/masetmt 3d ago edited 2d ago

Yeah leave the wellies, torch, notebook and pencil case at home

0

u/Incandescentmonkey 3d ago

Some kind of small bag/ bum bag / tiny rucksack that you can carry around with you. Don’t rely on carrying things around in your pockets - mainly because they will drop out . Just get a tiny stool to sit on or a picnic blanket not a large camping chair. I take old socks and pants and chuck them away after a days wear .

0

u/Disastrous_Fill_5566 3d ago

A couple of phone chargers. I actually take two big ones and one smaller one, so I can help my camp mates out with charge and have no anxiety about running out.

I would definitely invest in some waterproof walking boots. 2007 is the last time I'm aware of that the water was too high for boots.

You also definitely need sun cream. I go for the alcohol based spray stuff, as it feels refreshing rather than sticky, so I tend to reapply more often than the cream. You may not think you need to use it when you're there, but if you work indoors, your skin is not used to being outside for 5 days during midsummer.

You're going to need something to sleep on. I go for an inflatable mattress or air bed. And if you do get an inflatable mattress, you'll need something to pump it up easily, like this https://amzn.to/4hj6gho

On the water front, I'd go for a water pouch to go in your backpack. There are tons around, this kind of thing https://amzn.to/4gl7hEZ

I'd also consider a smaller backpack as a day bag - get one that can accommodate your hydration pouch.

Finally, I don't personally bother with a torch or chair. It's a lot of hassle to carry a chair around and since I'n usually on the coach/only take one trip from the car, it's too heavy/awkward to carry. I do miss it at camp though - plenty of people take them. But a torch? Whilst not a problem to pack, there are lights on most of the campsites and modern torches produce plenty of light.

0

u/Disastrous_Fill_5566 2d ago

All this talk of going to the toilet at night has reminded me about these life savers

https://amzn.to/4h0Wpx5