Don’t forget your toothbrush

Walking along Oxford Street one day last week, the sun was blazing and sunglasses of every imaginable shape, size, brand and colour were out in full force. With fellow Oxford Street pavementpounders excited at the prospect of the start of summer, an angry black cloud appeared from nowhere and proceeded to drown our hopes as well as our clothes with an out-of-date April shower. The savvy shoppers amongst us obviously knew better and quickly swapped their shades for umbrellas, whilst the rest of us run for cover.

This sudden wicked change in the weather stood to remind us all one thing….. festival season is just around the corner!! Yep, it’s that time of year when it’s essential to carry all-weather protection and pack your sunglasses and umbrella whatever the occason because it’s not yet quite summer and spring hasnt yet quite passed us by – causing the unpredictable weather that we’ve all come to associate with the likes of Glastonbury and V Festival!

For the unlucky soles on Oxford Street without an umbrella, we had the warmth of top class shelters such as Selfridges doorway to huddle under until the ran had stopped, but festival-goers just aren’t that lucky!

It’s a certainty that anyone who has ever been to a festival has experienced it… The sun is shining, you’re happily basking and applying suntan lotion and the next day you wake up to chaos and floods. You sprint to the stalls and find yourself in a 200 long person queue, in the pouring rain, praying that the shop doesn’t sell out of rain macs and wellies before you get to the front.

Packing for a festival is a complicated challenge – It’s the only occasion when you’ll need to pack your cropped levi shorts, bikini top, sundress and shades alongside wellington boots, an umbrella and a rain mac. And despite the wet weather style remains high on the agenda – every year we hear rave reviews about the outfits worn at festivals by the likes of Kate Moss and Sienna Miller but, god forbid, if ever a celeb gets it wrong we all hear about that too!

At the same time, practicality is of the essence. So to make sure you don’t get stuck in the mud (literally), we’ve put together a checklist covering everything you will ever need at a festival. Follow this list and you’ll never get caught short come rain or shine again!

ESSENTIALS

Travel & Festival Tickets
Identification
Directions / Maps
Cash & Cards
Keys

CLOTHING

Raincoat & Waterproofs
Wellies
Sunglasses
Hat
Clothes & Shoes for all weather

LUGGAGE

Camera
Phone
Torch
Umbrella
Tent
Sleeping Bag / Pillow / Mat
Chargers / Batteries
Books / Magazines
MP3 Player
Bin Liners & Laundry bag

TOILETRIES

Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Deodorant
Brush / Comb
Towel & Cloth
Soap • Shampoo / Conditioner
Toilet roll / Baby wipes/ Deodorant wipes
Mirror
Contraception

MEDICATION

Prescriptions
First aid kit
Paracetamol
Sunscreen
Insect Repellent
Glasses / Contacts & Solution

EXTRAS

Lighter / Matches
Gaffa Tape
Penknife
Bottle & Tin Openers
Cutlery
Cooking Equipment
Flag
Picnic Blanket
Food & Drink