If you’ve finally decided to take the plunge and attend your first rave or outdoor music festival, then you’re about to have the experience of a lifetime! You’ve probably spent months now planning your cute rave outfit but have you thought about the essential items you’ll need to bring to ensure you have the happiest and safest time possible?

Choosing the right gear can make all the difference between a fun weekend jamming with your friends or an awful time spent wishing you had remembered to bring that one essential item! Whether you’re heading out to a one day rave or you’ll be camping under the stars at a multi-night music festival, these 5 essential rave items will make sure that your first festival or rave is a blast!

No matter which rave or festival you decide to attend, one thing is for certain, you’re going to be spending a lot of time on your feet! Walking, exploring, dancing all night…. if you don’t want to be held back by sore feet it’s important to bring a comfortable pair of sneakers! Don’t worry, you don’t have to sacrifice that cool rave aesthetic you’ve been working on for weeks on some old pair of New Balance trainers your dad might wear! You can find some amazing kicks in bright neon colors and bold patterns like retro inspired shapes or animal print that will fit right in even with the craziest rave outfit. Adidas has great rave-appropriate styles available like platform sneakers or strappy cushioned sandals. Just make sure whatever you pick has lots of support and cushioning. With this adidas promo code, you can score a discounted pair of Adidas sneakers comfy enough to dance the whole night in! 

It’s unfortunate but many people have their valuables stolen during raves. It’s easy to become distracted while dancing in a large crowd and that makes you a prime target for thieves. Keeping your goods protected in a bag or purse that stays close to your body like a bum bag is essential! A bum bag is great because it’s hands-free so it doesn’t inhibit your dancing! Just make sure to keep your bum bag in front of you and not on your back - it’s the best way to ensure your valuables stay safe. Some small items to consider bringing with you include lip balm, sunscreen, sunglasses, hand sanitizer, gum and hair ties! 

Water may be the last thing on your mind at a rave but it’s extremely important to stay hydrated! Water isn’t always easy to come by at a rave, and water bottles can be very expensive, so think ahead and be prepared with your own hydration pack. The number one reason people collapse at music festivals is due to dehydration. Don’t become a statistic and make sure you drink lots of water, especially if you’re consuming any alcohol! Using a hydration pack is also the environmentally-friendly choice as it allows you to avoid consuming plastic water bottles! 

If you don’t feel like fighting your way through dozens of people to use one of the only charging ports available, you’re going to want to bring a portable charger with you. Keeping your phone charged isn’t just essential for filming Tik Tok videos and taking selfies with your friends - it can be an important tool if you get lost or separated from your group. Many portable chargers are thin, lightweight and as small as the palm of your hand, making them easy to stash in the bum bag we previously mentioned. 

Our last essential isn’t the most glamorous but it is one of the most important. Be sure to carry with you a waterproof & sweatproof sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Nothing will spoil your weekend or ruin your cute rave outfit faster than a nasty sunburn. Most major brands of sunscreen come in small, travel sizes making them easy and convenient to slip into your bag. If you need a little more motivation to throw sunscreen in your bag just remember: having 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma! As scary as that sounds, you can easily protect yourself by applying a healthy dose of sunscreen and reapplying it often!