Festival Essentials: What to Pack for a Weekend Festival (Nakied Edition)

You've got the tickets. You've got the group chat going absolutely feral with excitement. And if you’re leaving the kiddos behind, you’ve got the babysitter locked and loaded. But no amount of good vibes will save you when it's 2am, the ground is damp, your phone is dead, and the only thing standing between you and a complete meltdown is whether or not you packed the right gear. 

We've all seen the aftermath. Festival camping gear abandoned in paddocks across Australia, left behind by broken-spirited souls who underestimated what a weekend in a field actually requires. Don't be them. Pack smart, pack light, and pack with intention, and you'll have a weekend that lives rent-free in your head for the next decade.

Here's your Nakie-approved festival essentials packing list. 

The Shelter Situation

Let's start with the big one: where you're sleeping. A two-person tent that weighs as much as a small child is not the move. Lightweight and easy to set up should be your non-negotiables, because you will be setting it up in the dark, possibly after a few drinks, definitely while your mates are zero help.

Once camp is sorted, here's where your festival setup really comes alive: a camping hammock. If there are trees nearby (and at most Aussie festivals, there are), a hammock is one of the best investments you'll make for your festival weekend. Nakie's hammocks are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, so you're literally lounging in something that used to be ocean-bound rubbish. They pack down small, set up in minutes, and give you a prime spot to sit between sets, nap between acts, or just smugly watch everyone else sitting on wet grass.

Sleeping Gear That Won't Ruin Your Weekend 

Underestimating how cold Australian nights get is a rite of passage that absolutely no one needs to go through twice. You're in a tent. The ground is cold. The festival field is doing nothing to help you.

A quality picnic rug or puffy blanket is one of those festival essentials that earns its weight a hundred times over. Use it as an extra layer in your sleeping bag, wrap it around yourself at the late-night stage, spread it on the ground during daytime sessions, or lend it to your friend who 'didn't think it would be that cold.' (It's always that cold.)

The Festival Packing List (The Real One)

Alright, let's get practical. Beyond the big-ticket camping gear, here's what separates the festival veterans from the first-timers.

The Absolute Must-Haves

• Portable charger. Get one with enough juice to charge your phone at least twice. Your phone is your ticket, your torch, your camera, and your lifeline.

• Cash. Not every food truck has great signal. Don't let a pulled pork roll get away from you because your tap-to-pay failed.

• Reusable water bottle. Most festivals have refill stations. Single-use plastic at outdoor festivals is a hard no.

• Sunscreen and a hat. We know you know this. Set a reminder. Put them at the top of your bag. Actually do it.

• Wet weather gear. Even if the forecast looks perfect. Australian weather loves a festival.

• A headlamp or clip-on torch. Your phone torch is fine until it's not.

• Earplugs (two kinds). High-fidelity for near the stage, foam ones for sleeping when your neighbours decide 4am is a great time to replay their greatest hits.

• Dry shampoo and basic toiletries in travel sizes. Festival showers are a luxury, not a guarantee.

When it comes to getting around during the day, ditch the big backpack at camp and go light with a backpack or tote bag. Both are perfect for packing your festival essentials without hauling your entire life through a crowd. 

Post-Swim & Freshening Up

If your festival is near water – or you're the type who'll brave a festival shower regardless – you'll want a quick-drying towel situation. Our beach towels and hooded towels are perfect in this situation. Quick-dry, lightweight, and surprisingly great for wrapping up in on a chilly festival morning.  

Festival Fuel

Festival food is great but expensive. There will come a moment – usually around 3pm on day two – when you'd genuinely trade anything for a filling snack from your own bag. Be ready for that moment with Nakie protein bars (lean, high in protein, and made from real, natural ingredients you can actually pronounce). Pack a few in your day bag so you're not at the mercy of $23 loaded fries (delicious, but not sustainable at three meals a day).

Pack it Right, Travel Light, and Get Out There!

The weekend is waiting, and it's going to be a good one. Shop the full Nakie range at nakie.co – gear that's good for you and good for the planet.

FAQs

Are hammocks allowed at festivals? I thought they weren’t!

The good news is, yes, hammocks are by and large allowed! The "they're banned" rumour comes from a handful of international events that had issues with irresponsible rigging. The things that actually get hammocks banned are rope that damages tree bark, rigging too high, or blocking pathways.

The fix is simple: use wide tree-friendly straps (included with every Nakie Hammock), keep it low, and pick a spot out of the way. Most Aussie festival guidelines don't even mention hammocks – which is generally a green light. Just do a quick check of your specific event's rules before you go.

What not to bring to a festival?

• Glass bottles – most festivals ban these outright for safety reasons.

• New or untested footwear – broken in festival shoes only. Blisters are no joke after three days.

• Excessive luggage – you don’t need seven outfit changes. You will be carrying everything yourself.

• Anything irreplaceable – phones get lost, wallets get pinched, jewellery disappears in the mud.

• A bad attitude about the unexpected – something will go sideways. The people who have the best time are the ones who roll with it.
  
  

What shoes should I wear to a festival? 

Comfort over everything. Closed-toe shoes you've already broken in – trainers, boots, or trail runners depending on the terrain. White sneakers are a festival rite of passage that ends in grief. If rain is remotely possible, waterproof boots are worth their weight in gold. Never wear new shoes for the first time at a festival. Your future self will thank you.

How do I stay warm at a festival at night?

Layers on layers. A thermal base layer, a fleece jacket, and something wind/waterproof on top. Inside the tent: a sleeping bag rated lower than you think you'll need it, a sleeping mat so the cold ground doesn't drain your warmth, and a Nakie puffy blanket as your extra insurance. Hot tip – wear a beanie to bed. You lose a ridiculous amount of heat through your head.