Checklist · 13 picks · 5 categories
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Your first festival is a long day of loud music, sun and walking, so pack for all three. Concert earplugs come first: high-fidelity ones turn the volume down evenly, so the music still sounds like music.
Next, a clear bag, since lots of venues only let clear ones through the gate (check your festival's bag rules before you buy). A power bank keeps your phone alive for photos and finding your friends, a sunscreen stick reapplies in seconds, and a cooling towel saves you when the afternoon heat hits. Picks come from Popular Science, Pack Hacker, OutdoorGearLab, Tom's Guide, NBC Select and Shop TODAY, from budget to splurge, and each card shows the drawback the reviewers called out.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you're sleeping at the festival in a tent: the camping checklist covers the campsite gear.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 30, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs | mid | $25-50 | hearing the music clearly while protecting your ears | 1 outlet |
| Etymotic ER20XS High-Fidelity Earplugs | budget | $15-25 | a first pair of concert earplugs | 1 outlet |
| Loop Experience Pro Earplugs | splurge | $25-50 | earplugs that look like an accessory | 1 outlet |
Best earplugsmid pick · Pocket-size
Best for hearing the music clearly while protecting your ears
Popular Science's best overall concert earplugs: affordable silicone earplugs with balanced sound reduction.
Heads up. The blue shell visibly sticks out of your ear canal
1 outlet. Popular Science best overall concert earplugs.
$25-50
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budget pick · Pocket-size
Best for a first pair of concert earplugs
Popular Science's best budget concert earplugs: simple silicone earplugs with balanced sound reduction at an entry-level price.
Heads up. No extra eartips come in the box
1 outlet. Popular Science best budget concert earplugs.
$15-25
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splurge pick · Pocket-size
Best for earplugs that look like an accessory
Popular Science's best aesthetic concert earplugs: adjustable sound reduction in a jewelry-inspired design you'll actually want to wear.
Heads up. The case doesn't have a keychain attachment
1 outlet. Popular Science best aesthetic concert earplugs.
$25-50
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Best clear bagbudget pick · 7.5 x 10 x 1.5 in
Best for phone, wallet and keys through bag check
Pack Hacker's best budget clear stadium bag: it does exactly what it's designed to do at a budget-friendly price.
Heads up. Organization is minimal, so small items can end up loose inside
2 outlets agree. Pack Hacker best Budget clear stadium bag. Shop TODAY editor's pick clear stadium bag.
under $15
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mid pick · Sling
Best for carrying more than the basics all day
Pack Hacker's best value clear stadium bag: as roomy as a backpack without technically being one.
Heads up. Gear in the bottom corner can be hard to reach, and the bottle pocket can't fit larger bottles
1 outlet. Pack Hacker best Value clear stadium bag.
$25-50
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Best hydration packbudget pick · 2 L
Best for sipping water hands-free between sets
OutdoorGearLab's Best Buy for minimalists: a light pack with a well-liked water system that still fits a layer and the basics.
Heads up. Limited storage, and the shoulder straps feel snug on some people
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Buy hydration pack (minimalists).
$50-100
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splurge pick · 6 L
Best for long days with water and a few extras on your back
OutdoorGearLab's Top Pick for drinking hose design: a sleek, lightweight pack with an innovative hose setup.
Heads up. Limited overall storage, and the reservoir hanger is tedious
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab top Pick hydration pack (drinking hose design).
$100-150
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Best portable chargermid pick · 10,000 mAh
Best for concerts and days without a backpack
Tom's Guide's most pocketable portable charger: a 10,000 mAh power bank barely bigger than an AirPods Pro 2 case.
Heads up. Lower charging power than other power banks
1 outlet. Tom's Guide most pocketable portable charger.
$25-50
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budget pick · 12,000 mAh
Best for a small power bank for daily bag carry
Tom's Guide's best budget portable charger: small enough for a day-trip bag, with 100W power delivery for a phone, tablet or even a laptop.
Heads up. Only 10W output if both charging ports are used at once, and heavy for its size
1 outlet. Tom's Guide best budget portable charger.
$25-50
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 | budget | $15-25 | quick reapplying on sensitive skin | 1 outlet |
| Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+ | splurge | $25-50 | reapplying over festival makeup | 1 outlet |
| Sukeen Cooling Towels (4 Pack) | budget | $15-25 | sharing with your festival crew | 1 outlet |
| Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Cooling Towel | budget | under $15 | long, hot afternoons in the sun | 1 outlet |
Best sunscreenbudget pick · Stick
Best for quick reapplying on sensitive skin
NBC Select's best budget sunscreen stick: dermatologist Dr. Ellen Marmur recommends it for dry or sensitive skin because of its hypoallergenic ingredients.
Heads up. Can leave a slight white cast, though blending with your fingertips helps
1 outlet. NBC Select best budget sunscreen stick.
$15-25
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splurge pick · Stick
Best for reapplying over festival makeup
NBC Select's best overall sunscreen stick: dermatologist Dr. Morgan Rabach says it's easy to apply, glides over makeup and feels light without residue.
Heads up. Has added fragrance
1 outlet. NBC Select best overall sunscreen stick.
$25-50
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Best cooling towelbudget pick · 40 x 12 in
Best for sharing with your festival crew
Shop TODAY's best overall cooling towel: it won their heat-wave reviews for its high breathability and slow drying time.
Heads up. Feels slightly wet on your skin
1 outlet. Shop TODAY best overall cooling towel.
$15-25
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budget pick · 33 x 13 in
Best for long, hot afternoons in the sun
Shop TODAY's best cooling towel for sun protection: a great pick if you want to cool down instantly after a long run.
Heads up. Gets wrinkled after drying
1 outlet. Shop TODAY best cooling towel for sun protection.
under $15
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
Yes. Festival speakers are loud for hours at a time. High-fidelity concert earplugs lower the volume evenly, so you can still hear the music and your friends.
It depends on the festival. Many only allow clear bags, and some limit the size of bags and hydration packs, so check your festival's bag rules before you buy.
The basics: concert earplugs, a bag that meets the bag rules, a charged power bank, sunscreen and a way to stay cool and hydrated.