A hydration pack is the best way to ensure you always stay hydrated during long festivals. Not only are they ideal for keeping you hydrated, but they can also help keep your stuff secure and organized. 

What kind of hydration pack should you get?

Our guide on how to get the perfect hydration pack for you:

• Water Capacity: Choosing a pack with enough water capacity is important. Over the years a 2-liter capacity has never failed to provide enough hydration for 2-3 people for several hours and is probably enough for one person to last all night. There are packs with larger and smaller water capacities. Smaller capacities could have you needing to fill up more often, so we would not suggest anything under 1 liter for 1 person.  Bigger here, isn’t always better though either, the larger the capacity, the heavier it will be when fully, which can make it very uncomfortable! That said, you don’t have to fill them all the way if it is too heavy. 
• Comfort: Hydration packs come in many shapes and sizes, you can even get them as arm slings, chest rigs, and fanny packs! When choosing one, find one that matches your style that you think would be comfortable to wear for long periods. Try it on at home and make sure it feels comfortable. If necessary, you can buy backpack padding for extra comfort. 
• Size: First and foremost, make sure the pack you’re looking at the festival's bag size policies. Next, think about what you’re planning on bringing and who you are going to attend with. Review the rest of this packing list and decide what you may bring. Are you getting a hydration backpack and wearing a fanny pack? Are you bringing a hydration pack, and a friend is bringing an empty backpack to carry stuff? These are all things to consider when thinking about the size of your hydration pack. Pro Tip: Once you have your hydration pack, fill it with water at home and then try and fit everything inside. Many packs lose a lot of space when the reservoir is full of water which can make it difficult to access things.
• Security: Depending on what you plan on storing in your pack, security can be a big issue. Choosing a pack with zipper clips can be a big help! If you get a pack without zipper clips, you can buy some and add them yourself. This can help protect pockets that hold valuable items. 

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Pro Tip: Even if it is brand new, make sure to fill the hydration pack and allow it to sit full of water for several hours at home to make sure it has no holes or leaks.

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A hydration pack is always a high recommendation, however, they don’t work for everyone, and they can be pricy when you consider everything else, you’re going to need. Still, staying hydrated is a MUST, so bringing something you can fill with water is necessary! I mean who wants to leave their spot just to get some water when it took you HOURS to get to the front of the stage? 

What kind of bottle should you bring? 

Here are a few considerations to consider when choosing a bottle:

How are you going to be carrying it? 

• If you are going to be carrying it in any kind of pack (shoulder bag, backpack, etc.), make sure that it fits! If you’re going to be carrying it by hand (which isn't don’t recommended, but you do you) make sure it is comfortable and easy to carry, even when filled with water. 

How much water will you need?

• Is this just for you or are you also providing water for a friend? How hot will it be at the festival that day? Are you someone who prefers to be in the middle of the crowd, or are you more a stand-in-the-back kind of person? I can’t tell you exactly how much water you will need or what size bottle to get, but my advice on this is just getting the biggest bottle that you’re going to be comfortable carrying for a long time that you believe will hold enough so you don’t need to constantly go to the water refill station, or get dehydrated. 

Should it be insulated?

• The water you get from the water refill stations is more than likely not going to be cold, and the insulation of the bottle takes up more spacing, meaning you get less water for the same size. Most of the time, I would say no, the bottle does not need to be insulated. That, however, does not mean that having an insulated bottle is a bad idea. Using an insulated bottle can keep the water from getting warmer in your hands, especially on a hot day. And if you are willing to shell out the extra money you can buy cold water bottles from vendors and add that to the bottle for some cooler more refreshing water. Sometimes they also have ice for sale, which could also benefit from an insulated bottle. 

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Final thoughts: 

• Get a bottle with a wide mouth and a straw or sipper, the bigger the opening the easier it is going to be to fill at water refill stations, and the straw is going to make it way easier and faster to get a drink in the crowd. 
• Many festivals don’t allow glass bottles, before you buy or pack anything, make sure to check the allowed items list for the specific event you are going to, to make sure that they will let you in with it!

Electrolytes are very often overlooked by people going to raves and festivals which is a shame! Especially when drinking and sweating your body is losing a lot of the necessary minerals it needs to keep your cells hydrated. As you lose these, it becomes easier and easier for you to become dehydrated even if you have been drinking a lot of water. Having an electrolyte packet to add to a bottle of water or even directly to your hydration pack can help keep you moving and keep you from passing out! 

Health Note: Most electrolyte packets do not contain enough of any ingredient to cause any negative side effects for most people, however, please make sure to read the labels and package instructions before consuming. Always consult a healthcare professional for any questions.