What to Pack for a Festival

Festival packing is a mud-and-weather problem. Everything you bring should be things you would not mind ruining.

Packing1 min readAugust 12, 2026The Wardrobe Editors

In short

Boots, not trainers. A single wet day turns a field into mud that ruins trainers and soaks feet.
Layers for a 20-degree swing. Festival days run hot and nights run cold.
Nothing you would mourn. Everything will get muddy, spilled on or slept in.

Festival packing is a mud-and-weather problem. Everything you bring should be things you would not mind ruining.

A single wet day turns a field into mud that ruins trainers and soaks feet. Wellingtons or waterproof boots are the one non-negotiable.

Festival days run hot and nights run cold. The same day needs a t-shirt and a warm jacket.

Everything will get muddy, spilled on or slept in. Bring the clothes at the end of their life, not the start.

What shoes should I wear to a festival?

Wellingtons or waterproof boots you can walk in. Trainers are ruined by the first wet day and there is no drying them.

How many socks do I need?

Twice what you think — dry socks are the single biggest comfort improvement available at a wet festival.