Camp Bestival Packing List For First Timers!

If you are heading to Camp Bestival this year for the first time and don’t know where to start with camping and festival supplies, my Camp Bestival Packing List is definitely what you need!

Camp Bestival Packing List

We went to Camp Bestival way back in 2015, and we had SO much fun!

It was something new for us as a family – we had never been to a festival before, nor had we been camping before…

…I stressed so much, trying to figure out what we would need to take for a weekend of camping in a field, as well as for long days and nights at a festival!

But I pulled together this Camp Bestival packing list which I think will help you when it comes to planning what supplies and provisions you will need to take with you.

At the time, I partnered with some brands who provided us with camping gear, so I’ve included those below, as well as other affiliate links to camping and festival supplies

I’ve broken my Camp Bestival Packing List into sections to make it a bit easier to organise, and for you to tick off against if you are not sure what you should be taking to Camp Bestival – or indeed, any sort of festival or camping weekend.

Camping Gear

Tent

• We have a Vango Airbeam Capri 400*, but newer models of Airbeams are now available. They are pricier (our one was around the £450 mark if I remember correctly) than regular pole tents, but so easy to put up and dismantle.
• You can get a 4-person tent for as little as £39, but it will all depend on how big you need your tent to be (this 4-family tent is £99), how comfortable you want it, and of course, your budget.
• Don’t forget:
  • Rubber Mallet – for hammering the tent pegs into the ground.
  • Extra Tent Pegs – optional extra, handy though if you accidentally buckle any that came with your tent.
  • Peg Extractor – makes pulling the pegs out of the ground a lot easier and quicker!
  • Tent Repair Kit – another optional extra, but again, very handy.
• *Vango revolutionised tent design and camping by using inflatable AirBeams® in place of traditional poles for rapid pitching in any environment. Vango AirBeams® enable extremely quick and easy pitching to maximise your relaxation time whilst enjoying the great outdoors. Pitching time takes only 5 to 10 minutes depending on the size and number of AirBeams® to be inflated. Vango AirBeam® tents are so quick and easy to pitch; one person can pitch an AirBeam tent within minutes. Whether you’re camping solo with the kids or simply want to get your holiday off on the right foot; an AirBeam tent will make pitching and dismantling a breeze.

Airbeds

• We couldn’t believe how comfortable the Vango Double Airbed* was! It didn’t deflate during the night, and it was some of the best sleep I’ve ever had when lying on it.
• Again, there are more budget-friendly options like this double airbed for just £20.
• For the kids, a single airbed is under a tenner at Go Outdoors!
• Some blow-up beds will come with an air pump, but if they don’t, you can use an electric air pump or you might want to also consider a foot pump as backup, just in case!
• Also, consider insulating foam camping mats to add extra warmth and protect from the elements.
• *A great night’s sleep is always guaranteed with the Hi-Rise Double Airbed thanks to the luxurious flocked surface, solid structure, and higher height making rising in the morning easier. Inflated in minutes and packed down into a small pack size makes this bed the ideal accessory for all camping trips.

Sleeping Bags & Bedding

• Depending on your sleeping situation you may need a single sleeping bag
• We have the Vango Serenity Double which is so warm and cozy thanks to the double layer of insulation.
• A more budget-friendly double sleeping bag might be what you are looking for.
• And for the kiddos, kids’ sleeping bags are designed specifically for smaller campers. And they come with fun patterns too!
• I personally can’t sleep without my pillows, so we just brought our pillows from home! Why not add an outdoor-themed or boho-patterned pillowcase?
• We also took a duvet (with a duvet cover) with us to use as a sheet on the airbed and added another layer of insulation. You’ll be surprised how cold the nights can be, even on the hottest of days.
• Extra blankets are also handy – not just for sleeping under, but also for wrapping around yourself when sitting outside.

Bags & Trolleys

You will need something to pack away and transport all of your camping gear and other stuff.

• Backpacks are great for camping, because, of course, you carry them on your back – keeping your hands free for other things, like holding kids’ hands or pulling along a trolley.
• You may need one or two backpacks, depending on your needs. We had a large 90L backpack and a smaller 45L too.
• You will also want a day bag for all the bits and bobs you will need throughout the day when at the festival.
• A camping trolley is really handy to have, as it may make the difference between one trip back and forth from your pitch to the car or several! You can sometimes hire them, but if you plan on attending more festivals or going camping, they are worth the investment.
• Storage boxes are something I saw a lot of festival goers with but wasn’t something we bothered to use on our first trip. That said, the type of plastic storage tower with pullout drawers was a genius idea that I saw, as you just have to unload the unit and put it straight in your tent! It will all depend on the space you have in your car.

Setting Up Camp

Your pitch is going to be your home away from home when at Camp Bestival, and on our visit we saw some great setups (definitely more experience campers than us at the time!).

Here are items that we took along with us to set up our camp for the weekend, and a few extras that you might want to consider.

• Windbreaker – we didn’t take our one (ran out of room in the car!) but handy for fencing around the front of your tent, or creating an outdoor kitchen/sitting area.
• Folding table – available in a variety of sizes and heights. Some even come with seats included.
• We took both inflatable chairs with us, as well as folding chairs. These are especially handy if the ground is too soggy to sit on!
• Flag Pole – don’t let your campsite get lost in a sea of tents! Hoist a flag, windsock, spinner, or kite up on a flag pole and spot your setup from a distance!
• You’re going to need to see in the dark, so torches and lanterns are a must-have.
  • Head torches are a handsfree option.
  • Lanterns are great for lighting up a larger area.
  • Small hanging lights to attach to your backpack or hang up inside the tent for some less obnoxious lighting.
  • Light sticks – these make great nightlights for those that are scared of the dark. For festive frolicking, get some cheap glowsticks!
  • Solar String Lights – to decorate your pitch or tent with. Great for lighting up guylines too so you don’t trip over them.
• And speaking of decorating your tent, why not take or make some bunting to pretty things up?
• Cable ties – for securing bunting and fairy lights!
• Duct tape – is good for all sorts of repairs.
• Scissors – you never know when they might come in handy.
• Picnic Blanket – with a plastic backing in case the ground is damp.
• Bucket – handy for washing hands, washing feet, washing dishes, washing clothes…

Cooking & Food

Festival food can be expensive, so you are probably going to want to cook some meals yourself. You will need something to cook on (if you want hot food), something to cook in, and something to eat off!

Cooking Euqipment

• We had a couple of this type of cooking stove which was perfect for the 3 of us, but you may want to consider a bigger stove if there are more of you. Don’t forget the gas canisters!
• Before buying your cooking equipment, check the rules of the campsite. You might want to take a barbecue with you, but they might not allow an open flame.
• A stacking cooking set with pots and pans is not only handy but also packs away neatly.
• Don’t forget utensils to cook with, and cutlery to eat with.
• And this camping dinnerwear set has everything a person needs (bowl, cup, plate, and cutlery) in one convenient and lightweight set. This camp set is a little more budget friendly.
• A picnic set is also a great way to have everything you need for outdoor dining in one place.
• Small knife – when we went to Camp Bestival, we could only take a knife with a blade of up to 3 inches long (eg. table knife, small paring knife), so check before you travel to the site.
• These flexible tubs make great washing-up bowls, as well as storage for fresh fruits and veggies.
• To keep your food as fresh as possible during the weekend, you will need a cool bag – either a soft-case type like this one on wheels or this one with a hard outer shell, as well as some ice packs/freezer blocks. I was surprised at how cold everything stayed during our camping trip.
• You’ll probably also need some food storage boxes and Ziploc bags. Buy huge 1 or 2-gallon bags and they are handy for all sorts of things! (Wet clothes come to mind!).
• You could splash out on a portable fridge too – especially if you plan on taking more camping and road trips!
• And talking about splashing out, I did see some campers with kitchen stands which makes setting up your kitchen area easy and keeping it organised too.
• A thermal water container is invaluable for keeping water cold (or hot). We take ours on road trips all the time.
• Or how about making a hot meal before you leave and keeping it in a thermal food jar?
• Most Brits love a cuppa in the morning, so a kettle needs to go in your camping kit!
• You’ll also need some other sundries for clearing tasks:
  • Paper towels
  • Rubbish bags
  • Washing-up liquid and sponge
  • Tea towel

Foods To Take Camping

What food you take, and how much you need will of course depend on your circumstances, but here is a list of basic essentials as a starting point.

• Coffee, tea bags, hot chocolate powder
• Powdered milk, sweetener (or sugar)
• Snacks – crisps, dried fruit, nuts, pretzels, trail mix, breakfast bars, biscuits, cookies
• Cereal, granola, porridge
• Apples, oranges, bananas, pears – sturdy fruit will travel well.
• Carrots, cucumber, tomatoes – veggies that can be snacked on raw
• Bagels – sturdier than bread!
• Butter – doesn’t need to be refrigerated, just kept cool.
• Eggs – again, no refrigeration required.
• Bacon – keep in your cool box with ice packs and it’ll be fine for 2-3 days
• Baked beans – or other tinned foods.
• Jar (or can) of hot dogs – no refrigeration required.
• Squash’d – a super concentrated fruit squash with no added sugar. Comes in a bottle so small it’ll fit in your pocket or handbag. Makes 20 drinks.
• Frozen cocktails – double up as cooling packs!
• Beer – in cans as glass bottles not allowed on site.
• Vodka and mixer – or your tipple of choice!

Toiletries

Again, what you take will depend on your circumstances, but here are some of the things we took along with us.

• Toothbrushes/toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Baby wipes – will be taking several packs!
• Toilet paper/tissues
• Eye Mask – to blot out outside lights at night.
• Ear Plugs – to block out the sound at night.
• Hairbrush/clips/bands
• Prescription meds
• First aid kit – plasters, headache tablets
• Hand sanitizer
• Suncream/aftersun
• Towels – flannel/hand/body
• Shower scrunchie/sponge/loofah
• Shower gel/shampoo/conditioner
• Dry shampoo – because I can manage for a few days without washing my hair!
• Muc-Off dry shower – in case we really can’t be bothered to line up for a shower!
• Mirror
• Makeup – minimal; some foundation and lip gloss is about all I’m bothering with!
• Cleanser, moisturiser, and hand cream
• Washbag – to carry and hang toiletries in the showers.

Misc Extras

• Penknife – hubs wanted one, so I bought him one!
• Notepad + pen – for me to make notes for when I blog about it all!
• Book/magazine – for those early mornings, we’re not taking iPads and tablets
• Bubbles

Clothing

• Ponchos – am praying for no rain though!
• Wellies/boots
• Flip flops – for use in the showers.
• PJs or onesie
• Gloves – I get cold hands!
• Woolly hat – for the nighttime in case it gets really cold!
• Thick socks – I get cold feet!
• Underwear – plus a few extra sets.
• Shorts
• Jeans
• Leggings
• Tops/t-shirts
• Dresses
• Cardigan/jacket/jumpers
• Sun hat
• Hair accessories
• Sunglasses
• Umbrella

Gadgets

• Camera + batteries and SD card
• Phones + chargers
• Charging packs
• Solar charging packs
• Waterproof phone cases

Essentials

• Camp Bestival tickets – MUST NOT forget these!
• Cash – lines for the ATM can get long.
• Photo ID – Camp Bestival enforces Challenge 25 when serving alcohol.

Check out all of my Camp Bestival posts.

Disclosure: I received family Camp Bestival 2015 tickets in return for previews and reviews of the festival. As always, my views and opinions are my own. Items marked with * have been sent to us to review.

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