Packing for Coachella: Everything You Need to Survive
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Coachella season!
Between the over-the-top fashion, foodie-scene, larger-than-life art, and iconic music; Coachella is so much more than a music festival.
Although most of my blog is geared towards digital nomads and world travel, Coachella is my absolute favorite, and I just have to share my tips and tricks with you all.
With four Coachella’s under my belt, I’m a self-proclaimed expert, and my friends always ask what to pack to survive Coachella.
Coachella is amazing and intense. It’s not just your average music festival and I’m excited to share the ultimate Coachella packing list with you here!
Also read: The Beginner’s Guide to Coachella
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What to Bring to Coachella
Bandana or Face Mask
Coachella goer’s have been wearing face masks long before it was cool. Lol… too soon?
As you can imagine, there is a lot of dust, dirt, and sand flying around in the desert. Not only does this get annoying after a while, but by the end of the night I’m so congested I can barely breathe through my nose. It is so important to protect your nose and mouth from breathing it all that debris.
You’ll still end up blowing brown sludge out of your nose at the end of the night as you lay in the bottom of the steaming shower, but it would much worse without any protection!
Bandanas work great for this, and a variety pack let’s you select the perfect color for your outfit or share with friends. Gator-style face coverings protect your nose and mouth as well and come in all kinds of cool patterns, colors, and designs.
Face coverings and sunglasses should be at the top of your Coachella packing list.
Sunglasses & Tinted Glasses
As mentioned above, the desert conditions are no joke. Along with wearing some face covering to protect you from breathing in dirt, it’s important to have glasses to protect your eyes from flying debris.
During the day, sunglasses are a perfect 2-for-1 combo, shielding you from the blinding sun while keeping dust out of your eyes. At night, I like to wear clear or slightly tinted glasses to keep dust from getting in my eyes.
The blowing dirt seems to intensify as the day goes on so if at first you don’t think you’ll need them, trust me, you will by the end of the night. The theme of weekend: dust everywhere.
Large retro sunglasses make for surprisingly good eye protection. And they come in a variety of tinted lenses so you can even wear them during the night.
These heart-shaped glasses are super fun and also transition well from day to night. I actually have worn both of these to Coachella and they have my seal of approval for both fashion and practicality.
Comfortable Shoes
I’m not your mom, you can wear whatever shoes you want. But keep this in mind when weighing your shoe choices. Every day you are essentially embarking on an 9-hour trek through the desert, easily clocking 25,000+ steps (that’s like 12 miles). One day last year I had 42,000+ steps which is more than 17 miles!
I’ve worn comfortable sandals in the past like Birkenstocks or Tevas. It worked out fine and I had no real issues besides extremely dirty feet.
But I much prefer wearing tennis shoes or combat boots to protect my feet from getting stepped on when I’m packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the fifth row of Odesza at the Main Stage.
The combat boots that are on the top of my Coachella packing list, I just got from Amazon, similar to this Doc Marten dupe. They are super comfortable and perfect for stomping around the desert all day long.
Camelback or Fanny Pack
Hydration is KEY, which is why I like bringing a hydration pack; I can put all my stuff in it, plus have water on me at all times. A word of warning though, the lines for the water filling stations can get very crowded.
@Coachella – please add more water filling stations!
If you’re not feeling a Camelback, I recommend a fanny pack simply because its more secure than a regular backpack or purse. I’ve never had an issue personally, but theft at the festival is real.
It’s pretty easy to unzip someone’s backpack and steal their phone without them noticing, especially in the crowd during a performance. It’s a lot more difficult for a stranger to get into when its strapped to your front.
If you do prefer to bring a backpack, get a little lock for your important zipper pockets. Better safe than sorry. Max size for a bag is 20″ x 15″ x 9″.
Coachella Tip: The environmentalist in me hates this, but sometimes it is just easier to go for the single-use water bottles (its the only thing inside that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg). If you go this route, at least try to keep the bottle and refill it a few more times at the hydration stations.
Jacket or Scarf
The desert is extreme, and the pendulum swings both ways. This means not only is it blazing hot during the day, it gets quite chilly at night too. Last year was the coldest I’d ever experienced; like it was actually super cold, not just me being dramatic cold.
I like to wear as little as possible during the day to keep cool (and hot, if you know what I mean lol), and then carry a packable jacket or scarf that I can wear as a shawl at night.
By the point in the night where it starts getting cold, everyone looks like a hot mess anyway, so I don’t care about how I look as long as I’m warm.
Pashmina scarves are a popular way to add layers when it gets chilly, and they can fold up decently small when you aren’t using it. Space blankets are also a super popular and convenient way to stay warm. They weigh practically nothing and can easily go in any purse or even a pocket.
A packable jacket or windbreaker that fits in your bag can be a life saver come 2am waiting on an Uber. Read more about transportation options in this guide for Coachella first-timers.
Folding Fan
This is one item I always forget to add to my Coachella packing list until I’m in the middle of the Sahara tent with beads of sweat rolling down my back, desperately gasping for air. I will not forget this year!
The small folding fans are very compact and can easily be stored in your bag. If you do forget or can’t decide if you really need one, you can actually purchase them at the little Coachella convenience stores that are sprinkled throughout the venue.
The years I didn’t have a folding fan, I was always so jealous of the people that did, creating a nice breeze and making that cool noise when you dramatically slap it closed.
Last year I went for something cheap and basic like this fan that could fold up small and fit in my fanny pack. It was absolutely perfect.
Skin Care
After spending all day in the elements, exposed to the fiery sun, blistering heat, and whipping dust, nothing feels better than taking a nice, steamy shower, and moisturizing your skin.
You did her dirty all day, the least you could do is lather up with all the cremes and lotions before bed so you can do it all over again tomorrow. Even you gentlemen.
And don’t forget sunscreen, aloe vera, and Chapstick! You can bring sunscreen into the festival, as long as it’s not aerosol.
Charging Pack
There are charging stations throughout the venue and campgrounds, just BYOC (bring your own cord). But the pro-move is to bring an external battery and charge on the go – just remember to charge the external battery!
You don’t wanna be that person who got lost during Coachella with a dead phone.
Coachella Tip: Speaking of phones, I think its best practice to share your location with your group in case anyone does get separated. And be sure to plan a meeting location ahead of time as phone service can be spotty. Coachella is like getting lost in the supermarket as a kid x1000.
Snacks
You cant bring food and drink into the festival “officially”… however I highly recommend having some healthy snacks waiting for you at home. Coachella is not for the faint of heart, so prepare before and after like you’re running a marathon.
That may sound dramatic, but replenishing your body is KEY to surviving the weekend. Not only that, but food and drink inside the festival is expensive, not very healthy, and can be a long wait, so snacking at home before you arrive will help curb your hunger.
Your body is carrying you through the desert, exposed to the hot sun, and lord knows what else you plan to put inside your body, so give it the nourishment it deserves.
My favorite Coachella snacks are fresh fruit (berries, bananas, watermelon), dates with peanut butter, coconut water for electrolytes, and hard-boiled eggs for extra protein and nutrients.
Here are some other nutritious snack options:
Comfy Clothes
When you’re not at the festival – get comfy! You deserve it. Don’t forget to pack before and after Coachella outfits… aka sweatpants and pajamas.
Ultimate Coachella Packing List
As a general rule of thumb, try not to bring anything valuable into the festival. There’s a high probability it will get lost, stolen, or ruined. For a full list of everything you can or cannot bring into the festival, check out Coachella’s official rules.
What to pack for Coachella [to bring inside the festival]
What to pack for Coachella [to leave at home]
With these packing essentials, you are sure to survive and thrive at Coachella.
What is your must-pack survival item? Comment below if you are going, I hope to see you there!
