Jake Shane's Festival Packing List
Jake Shane's Festival Packing List Is Surprisingly Practical
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We have a lot to unpack. As festival season takes off in cities across the country, we're left with mixed emotions. Along with all the memories made and to come, festival newbies might be recounting the lessons learned so far (those heeled boots are seriously not worth the pain). Venue veterans, on the other hand, are likely relishing in the tips and tricks they've picked up along the way. Regardless of your experience, a multi-day music festival is no small feat. Thankfully, there are some ways to make it easier — and it starts with what's in your suitcase.
What you bring to a festival can make a big difference in your overall experience. Maybe you remembered a back-up outfit, but left the SPF at home. Or perhaps you ditched your comfortable heel protectors to make room for another bedazzled cowboy hat. Whatever the case may be, we know that packing for a festival is a learned skill . . . so we asked our resident Therapuss, Jake Shane, to give us a quick masterclass.
Ahead, Shane unpacks his own festival season essentials, including content creation must haves, a few favorite brands, and several surprisingly practical product recs. Read on to see everything Shane packed for Breakaway Music Festival and a surprise pop-up on Celsius's Essential Vibes Tour.
SPF Body Spray
Rio Radiance™ SPF 50 Body Spray ($32)
Shane's best tips for surviving festival season? "Wear sunscreen and hydrate," he says. "You are going to be out in the sun all day and the last thing you want is to become dehydrated and have something bad happen." (And honestly, we needed to hear that.) This one from Sol de Janeiro is made with coconut water for an extra cooling effect. Not to mention, it's infused with the brand's classic Cheirosa 87 scent, so it smells amazing.
Mineral Sunscreen
The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50 ($64)
Festival season is known for hot weather (and the shady areas are few and far between). Avoid a sunburn with a reliable mineral sunscreen — Shane likes this lightweight pick from Tatcha with SPF 50. It's called "the silk sunscreen" for a reason.
Portable Charger
Anker Nano Power Bank with Built-in USB-C Connector ($30)
If you're spending all day at a music festival, odds are your phone battery won't last the entire time. Set yourself up for success by bringing up a portable charger to the festival grounds. "I'd never go to a festival without a portable charger," Shane tells PS. "Ninety percent of the festival is desperately trying to find your friends, and it becomes a lot more of a challenge once your phone is dead."
Camcorder
Kimire Video Camera Camcorder ($66, originally $90)
For Breakaway Music Festival, Shane packed a digital camera for pictures and a camcorder for videos. These are a few of his favorite recommendations for capturing the best candid content. This specific video camera comes with two batteries and allows you to keep recording around 60 to 90 minutes when it's fully charged. That makes it perfect for getting great clips of your favorite artists.
Digital Camera
Camkory Digital Camera, Pink ($40, originally $54)
Taking selfies on your phone is totally fine, but a digital camera can make your photos look even better. Shane recommends this digital camera, which is both super affordable and available in several cute colorways (we love this pink one). Plus, it's easy to use, and will help improve the quality of your pictures, preserving all the memories you make during festival season.
Celsius Energy Drink
Celsius Sparkling Retro Vibe Functional Energy Drink ($3)
The days are long during festival season, so Shane turns to Celsius to keep the energy high. "We're running around all day and these help give me the energy I need to keep going throughout the festival," he says. Each can has 200 milligrams of caffeine, plus seven essential vitamins and zero sugar. His current flavor of choice is retro vibe (a mix of raspberry, orange, and lime).
Chandler Plante (she/her) is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group.
