If you’re a chronic overpacker, the most challenging aspect of any festival packing is stashing everything into just one transportable bag.
Plonked in the middle of a field for a days, the ‘to-pack’ list is far longer than a traditional weekend break. Not even counting the tent, camping chair and wellies that have no chance of going into a holdall, you have to be able to fit your curated outfits, waterproofs for when the weather inevitably plays up, and all the booze you have diligently decanted into plastic bottles as per the festival guidelines.
It’s a lot of stuff - and that’s without considering the luxury extras that we may need or want.
That is all to say, your festival checklist begins with a capacious camping backpack. As veteran festival goers, the ES Best team has tried many vessels to transport treasured possessions from A to B. And with uncertain terrain, mud taking wheeled suitcases out of the running, and blue IKEA bags lacking any real security, the humble backpack emerges victorious.
Aside from a decent backpack, you will also need a day bag. This is a smaller accessory that you will cart from stage to stage and will house necessities like biodegradable wipes, hand sanitiser, tissues and a power bank - and a few tinnies, of course. The size of your day bag is down to personal choice.
Minimalists will be content with a bum bag alone, while those who have pitched their tent further afield may want enough storage for the day’s alcohol supply - just remember that your back will pay the price.
Fashion and function combine with these styles. Choose a see-through option to keep attention on your carefully planned outfit, or a fun and furry design that will become the centrepiece that ties the playful ensemble together. If you’re concerned about your valuables, drawstring bags can help prevent pickpocketers.
Shop all the bags you will possibly need this festival season below
Rains Rolltop Rucksack
Best for: Scandi design
For something unique, take a look at Danish company Rains. Touted as a great option for cycling, the Rolltop Rucksack is classically Scandinavian: simple, striking and uniquely cool.
Rains is known for its splashproof designs so if you’re heading somewhere currently going through a wet season, this is a great option. As the name suggests, it comes with a roll top, so you can adjust the amount of space you need depending on how much stuff you’re carrying but will have to forgo more sophisticated fastening and compartment options available on other bags.
Ultimately, this one is a no-frills option but is practical enough to be worth consideration - it comes with both a front and laptop pocket, back padding and adjustable shoulder and chest straps.
Plus, with its unique design and four earthy colourways to choose from, it’s stylish as well, meaning you’re more likely to get decent use out of it even whilst not travelling. Great for commuters.
Buy now £105.00, Rains
Uniqlo Marimekko Round Mini Shoulder Bag
This Uniqlo shoulder bag fits everything but the kitchen sink. We’ve long waxed lyrical over at ES Best on the miraculous powers of this accessory that really does fit everything you need for a day fest and beyond. It comes in an endless array of colourways, but the latest rendition is part of a collaboration with Marimekko that’s suitably fun and playful for a festival.
Buy now £14.90, Uniqlo
adidas by Stella McCartney recycled-polyester backpack
There’s a lot to love about this drawstring bag that comes as part of Stella McCartney’s ongoing collaboration with the sportswear giant. It has a secure closure so no opportunists can stick their hands inside but there are also exterior zipped pockets for those items that are notoriously challenging to find when you need them, namely tissues and hand sani.
Buy now £102.00, Farfetch
Amazon Basics 24L Transparent School Backpack with Heavy-Duty Shoulder Straps, Water-Resistant
Go for a see-through bag if you’re looking for something that won’t interfere with your carefully curated festival ensemble. It’s sturdy and waterproof too, but - and it almost goes without saying - the contents will be on display.
Now, there’s pros and cons to this: the former being that it will be easy to find what you’re looking for and the latter, well, everything will be on show. You will want to get smaller individual pouches for valuable items to make them easier to organise and deter light fingers.
Buy now £21.05, Amazon
WANDF Drawstring Backpack
For an inexpensive but hard-working drawstring, look to this option on Amazon. It is worth opting for a bag of this type that is more than just material and string as these have been known to fall apart mid festival. The WANDF bag has a large capacity, and even a separate compartment for shoes or dirty items. The wider straps encourage the weight to spread out to reduce stress on your shoulders.
Buy now £15.99, Amazon
Helly Hansen Transistor Backpack
This Tardis-like backpack, which has a 30L capacity, is a joy to wear, thanks largely to its straps, which have generous amounts of padding and are extra-wide. The bag itself is packed full of handy features we didn’t know we needed until now - who knew a key clip could prove so useful? There’s also the more standard stuff such as attachments for trekking poles and ice axes (which can be used for other items, including tent poles).
The ventilation on the rear did a great job of keeping us cool, and we loved the roomy interior, which had two internal pockets, one of which is made with transparent mesh.
In summary? This is a brilliant daypack with the technical features of a much larger bag. They have been incorporated into a lightweight backpack which makes it ideal for everything from short hikes to city breaks.
Buy now £140.00, Helly Hansen
Osprey Transporter Carry-On Bag Unisex Duffel Bag
We’ve always been a fan of Osprey bags – they’re tough, lightweight and wonderfully comfortable, no matter how much stuff we’ve crammed into them.
The Transporter Carry-On is no exception – a compact, stylish bag which maximises the capacity dictated by airlines, but still doubles as a brilliant hiking backpack. The design of the interior is refreshingly simple, with an easily accessible padded sleeve for laptops, and we were amazed by the size of the breathable mesh panel on the back – it covers almost the entire rear of the bag.
This panel also doubles as a pocket for the straps, which can be tucked away – a godsend for those times when you’re manhandling backpacks into spaces like overhead lockers, or checking backpacks into airplane holds.
Buy now £145.65, Amazon
OEX Vallo 70 Rucksack
This design is made for long-haul backpacking adventures with up to 70L of precious space to make use of. The lightweight pack splits its capacity with a 10L pocket at the top and the rest in the main compartment, safe under a durable and water-resistant shell that can handle short showers (for serious downpours, reach for the integrated rain cover).
This blue whale has all the bells and whistles that you could hope for in a serious backpack, from spongey straps and an adjustable harness system to u-shaped zip pullers that are easy to use even if you’re wearing gloves.
Buy now £85.00, Go Outdoors
AWAY The Sling Bag by Ashish
Better known for smart, hard-wearing travel luggage, AWAY has three styles of bumbag to swoon over. Our pick is the graphic floral one made in collaboration with lauded fashion designer Ashish. Printed on 100 per cent recycled polyester, it also has plenty of pockets and clips to keep your most precious things close. A limited edition, this design won’t stick around for long, so if you want one - well, you know what to do.
Buy now £135.00, AWAY
Eastpak Bumbag Double
A bumper bumbag with a separate compartment not only makes organisation a breeze but means it has space for practically anything you might need for a full day out and about. Eastpak's design is available in a range of colours to coordinate with your style and is made from hard-wearing, easy-clean polyester.
Buy now £35.00, Eastpak
Adidas By Stella McCartney Bum Bag
As part of Adidas’ enduring collaboration with fashion designer Stella McCartney, this bum bag is available in a neutral black hue, however, the unmissable orange shade has caught our attention so you will always be able to locate it.
Buy now £70.00, Adidas
AllSaints Ezra Quilted Leather Crossbody Bag
With a thick strap, your neck and shoulders will be safe wearing AllSaints' crossbody all day. Available in black, white and mustard yellow, there is a zip pocket inside the main compartment to keep essentials safe, while the padding will double up as a passable pillow to use between festival acts.
Buy now £169.00, AllSaints
Raeburn x Chillys Raft Bag
Hydration is key for festivals - and no, cider doesn't count. Keep a personal supply of water to hand in style thanks to Chillys tie-up with luxe sustainable brand RÆBURN.
The fashion label has transformed ex-RAF liferafts into nifty water bottle bags. Each comes armed with zipped pockets, compartments and even an additional sling bag to stuff essentials, so you're not bogged down by bags at the main stage.
The raft bag comes complete with a matching Chillys water bottle finished with a laser print shark design. Find limited edition bundles (£199) or go for a chic black option (£82) for a bag that goes with everything.
Buy now £82.00, Chillys
Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack
While the brand is typically devoted to performance wear for hikers, we think this bum bag will look equally at home on the festival field with its vibrant clash of colours. It’s a lightweight hip pack, made from a hard-wearing and weather-repellent fabric so it should see you through all your adventures no matter the time of year.
Buy now, END
TINYAT Insulated Fanny Pack Cooler
Whether you're off on a hike, having a picnic or want to keep chilled bevs to hand without lugging around a great big cooler, this genius bumbag raises the stakes for a must-have summer accessory. The larger of the two compartments is insulated, which means you can sneak in a few cans for drinks on the go.
Buy now £28.67, Amazon
