We’ve all seen those TV news shots of people covered head to toe in mud at a rain-drenched festival and although you just have to accept that it might happen when you’re at a festival sleeping under canvas, it doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared for the possibility next time you pack up your car, tent and backpack.

Camping in the rain needn’t be really miserable – and as long as the atmosphere’s good, the weather always takes on less importance.

As well as having everything you need for your camping spot, you’ll also need a daypack for when you’re listening to the bands – the camping areas can be quite a way from the main stages and events. It’s best to have a small bag that has your daytime essentials in it, rather than needing to trek back to the tent all the time.

What to bring

Of course, you’ll need a tent – that has enough space for whoever’s with you. If there are more than two of you, you might be better off taking a family tent, which gives you all a bit of privacy with separate places to sleep, but also provides a communal area so you can sit and eat together – and have some shelter if it rains.

Sleeping bags are another essential. You can get really good lightweight ones that are suitable for different seasons. You might also want to think carefully about the clothing you take with you. Although you might be hoping for a hot and sunny time, the nights can still get really cold in midsummer sometimes, so it’s best to have a base layer to keep your core body warmth in. Of course, you’ll also need a waterproof layer on top for the times you’re out of your tent. Don’t forget waterproof footwear or boots, so you don’t have to spend time squeezing out soggy socks!

Travelling backpacks are a good idea if you have a lot of stuff to bring with you and a long way to walk when you get to the festival site. If not, you might be better off bringing a smaller backpack and the tent in its own bag. That way, you don’t have to find room inside the tent to store the big pack. Space is generally at a premium at festivals, so regarding the stuff you bring, less is usually more!

Of course, the other thing to bear in mind is that festivals can attract dishonest people, who can sometimes spend more time snooping around tents seeing what has been left lying around rather than being there for the music. Don’t bring anything really valuable unless you are going to keep it with you at all times, as it’s pretty difficult to make your tent totally secure when you’re away from it.