Checklist · 10 picks · 5 categories
Links to Amazon are affiliate links. I earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you, and it never decides a pick. How I make money
Affiliate link.
Festival people need small gear they can carry all day, so the best gifts fit in a pocket or a clear bag.
Concert earplugs come first: the Etymotic ER20XS is Popular Science's best budget pick, and the Loop Experience Pro has a jewelry-inspired design. A clear stadium bag gets them through bag check, and the INIU Pocket Rocket is a power bank barely bigger than an AirPods Pro 2 case. Cooling towels and a sunscreen stick help on hot afternoons, and a JBL Go 5 or Nothing Ear (a) earbuds keep the music going on the trip there. The Thule Vital hydration pack is the splurge. Every pick is already on my festival kit or headphones list, each a named pick from Popular Science, Pack Hacker, Tom's Guide, NBC Select, Shop TODAY, What Hi-Fi?, TechRadar or OutdoorGearLab.
Who this is not for. Skip this if they need camping gear for the weekend; these picks stick to small things they can carry all day.
Best earplugsbudget 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
Search AmazonAffiliate link. I may earn a commission at no cost to you.
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
Search AmazonAffiliate link.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bagenius Clear Stadium-Approved Bag | budget | under $15 | phone, wallet and keys through bag check | 2 outlets agree |
| INIU Pocket Rocket | mid | $25-50 | concerts and days without a backpack | 1 outlet |
| HULISEN Clear Sling Bag | mid | $25-50 | carrying more than the basics all day | 1 outlet |
Top pickbudget 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
Search AmazonAffiliate link.
mid 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
Search AmazonAffiliate link.
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
Search AmazonAffiliate link.
Top pickbudget pick · 40 x 12 in
Best for sharing with the 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
Search AmazonAffiliate link.
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
Search AmazonAffiliate link.
Top pickbudget pick · Ultra-portable
Best for a tiny speaker on a budget
What Hi-Fi?'s best budget Bluetooth speaker: very few speakers are capable of such an impressive performance-to-size ratio.
Heads up. Limited customisation for on-unit lighting, and no supplied USB-C cable
1 outlet. What Hi-Fi? best budget Bluetooth speaker.
$25-50
Search AmazonAffiliate link.
budget pick · Earbuds
Best for wireless earbuds on a budget
TechRadar's best budget wireless earbuds: a small case, energetic sound and good-quality active noise cancellation.
Heads up. No wireless charging, and middling battery life
1 outlet. TechRadar best budget wireless earbuds.
$50-100
Search AmazonAffiliate link.
Best hydration packsplurge pick · 6 L
Best for long days with water and a few extras on their 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
Search AmazonAffiliate link.
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
Concert earplugs, a clear bag and a small power bank. All three are easy to carry and get used all day.
Yes. The Etymotic ER20XS is Popular Science's best budget concert earplugs, and the Loop Experience Pro is its best aesthetic pick for someone who wants earplugs that look like an accessory.
Bag rules vary by festival and venue, so check the size limit on the festival's website before you buy.
USPS's recommended last send dates for December 25 in the contiguous US are December 17 for Ground Advantage, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express. Retailers set their own order-by dates, so check at checkout.