Life Hack: Festival hacks you need to know, from packing tips to sleeping through the noise
Tips and tricks to remember when going to a festival
Festival season is in full swing, with major Irish events such as Electric Picnic on the horizon. For seasoned festival-goers, there are some tried and tested tricks to make the time spent in a tent nice and easy but novice attendees may need to be aware of a few hacks to elevate their experience.
Even if the forecast looks promising, pack like it will rain. Ponchos can be used to sit on even in dry weather as the ground can still be a bit wet on a fine day, especially during this unsettled summer. If you can’t get your hands on a poncho, a roll of rubbish bags from the supermarket will serve the same purpose.
Your cowboy boots are gorgeous — but probably not waterproof. Even the cheapest pair of wellies will keep your feet drier in a mucky downpour, just remember to pack more socks than you expect to need. No one wants soggy socks putting a dampener on festivities.
Spending the night in a tent with paper-thin walls? If you struggle to sleep in a noisy environment then earplugs will be your best friend here. You could invest in a noise-cancelling pair but a multipack of cheap and cheerful wax or silicone earplugs from the chemist will do the same job and you won’t be too bothered if you lose one as there are plenty of backups in the box.
The earplugs could be useful too if you’re standing near the stage or beside a speaker to filter through the noise and enjoy the music, so keep a pair on you while out and about.
A portable power bank is practically a non-negotiable for events at this stage and they can be bought at a reasonable price in shops like Penneys. However, you should have a Plan C in place too for when your phone battery dies, namely a small torch you can either attach as a keyring or keep in your pocket. If your phone’s power goes before you get back to your tent at night it will help you find your way in the dark without getting lost.
As you will be spending a lot of time using portaloos, you probably know to pack things like hand sanitiser and wipes for a basic shower substitute. However, one thing many people forget about is their festival wristband and particularly the wrist it sits on all weekend. Excess paper hanging off the end of a wristband can be snipped off to prevent it from dipping into any dirt. It is best placed on your non-dominant hand too so it is less likely to dip into anything unsavoury during your time there.
