2025 Festival Essentials Checklist: Electrolytes & Hydration

The buzz of the summer festival season is in the air as Glastombury kicks off, and Parklife, Wireless and dozens of other events are looming large on the horizon. Packing for a festival can be a complicated business: you don’t want to be burdened with a load of heavy bags, but pack too light and you could be in for an uncomfortable time.

There’s plenty of advice flying around the internet about what you should and shouldn’t bring to a festival: some of it is even sensible stuff written by seasoned festival goers. However, these lists often overlook a really fundamental point: hydration. It’s not just about bringing a reusable water bottle (although this is an excellent idea).

 

Why electrolytes matter at festivals

 

Electrolytes are essential minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, which help your body retain fluid, maintain energy levels, regulate muscle function, and support nerve signals. When we sweat (or lose other bodily fluids through vomiting and so on), we also lose electrolytes. 

Festivals can be tough on the body, especially if it’s a scorcher as this year is shaping up to be. You’ll be on your feet all day under the sun, dancing and singing along to your favourites. Combined with alcohol, less frequent access to water, and processed snacks instead of wholesome meals, this can soon make you dehydrated. 

This means more than being thirsty: as electrolyte levels drop, it can cause fatigue, dizzy spells, confusion, headaches and nausea: not a recipe for enjoying live music in a huge buzzing crowd. 

 

Electrolyte tablets: the portable festival hydration heroes

 

Fortunately, there is a really easy and affordable solution to festival hydration challenges: simply pop an electrolyte tablet into your water bottle once or twice a day. 

The tablets dissolve quickly, and are even available in three natural fruity flavours: lemon, strawberry and blackcurrant, which is really helpful to encourage you to drink more. O.R.S Hydration Tablets are formulated to follow World Health Organisation oral rehydration solution guidelines, so you can be confident they will really make a difference. 

The tablets contain a mixture of sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride, and are gluten-free and lactose-free. At just 17 calories a tablet, you don’t have to worry about excess sugar intake, unlike many sports rehydration drinks, which often contain high levels of glucose. 

 

Other festival hydration essentials

 

A reusable water bottle 

Most large festivals have free water refill stations, so it makes perfect sense to bring a reusable water bottle. It saves you the hassle and expense of queuing at a drinks vendor every time you run out of fluids, and is also an eco-friendly and sustainable choice. Look for an insulated version to keep your water nice and chilled. 

Take a few sips of water every 20 or 30 minutes rather than waiting until you are really thirsty to stay on top of your hydration. Thirst is a sign that your body is already dehydrated, and you might be battling off fatigue and a headache by this point. 

The body also handles small frequent fluid intake better: downing a whole bottle of water at once can overwhelm the kidneys and it will be converted into urine, so you’ll just end up in the dreaded queue for the loo. 

 

Sun protection

Being sensible about sun protection will manage excessive sweating and keep you cooler, as well as stop you from looking like a boiled lobster and being unable to sleep due to frazzled skin. Bring a peaked or wide brimmed hat, UV grade sunglasses and high SPF suncream (reapply it every two hours, or more if you are really sweaty). 

 

Health & first aid kit

Bring painkillers in case a headache kicks in, and obviously any regular meds that you need. Set reminders on your phone to take routine medications, because it’s easy to forget in the  festival whirlwind. Plasters or blister patches are also handy, and antihistamines if you get hay fever. 

Here’s another great tip: electrolyte tablets can also help you recover much quicker from a hangover. If you’ve had one too many beers the night before, they can release you from a horrible thumping headache and general muzziness, and ensure that you don’t miss out on the action the next day. Much more effective than coffee, trust us!

 

Comfortable clothing

The weather can be unpredictable, so pack for rain and shine no matter what the forecast says. Wear light removable layers in breathable fabrics, and bring a poncho or light waterproof jacket.