EDC for EDC [Everyday Carry for Electric Daisy Carnival]

It’s that time of year again, and the Electric Daisy Carnival is just around the bend! Although there are many festivals happening year-round, those of us that either live in Las Vegas or visit during this time of year will want to check it out!

It’s truly an awesome experience. However, if large crowds and tight spaces are not your thing, you may want to reconsider. In 2018, there were a total of over 400,000! attendees across the three day period. About 134,000 each day! With that said, there’s normally plenty of room outside of the stage areas and you can even step back into the bleachers to take in the sights and everything happening around you. It actually looks like a small city of lights.

Going to EDC, especially as a non-local, will require some preparation. Minus the obvious, like booking your hotel and flights, you’ll want to have a solid arsenal of items with you at the festival, otherwise known as your Everyday Carry or EDC. So, here are a few EDC items you’ll definitely want to have with you at EDC!

1. Portable Battery / Charger

Let’s be real... We are nothing without our phones. In this day and age, almost all of the information we access is via our phones. So, you’ll want to have a portable battery and a charger to go with it!

This portable battery on Amazon has more than enough power to last you through the night, and it’s affordable:

Anker PowerCore 10000 [$31.99] via Amazon

If you want something with MORE POWER (cue Emperor Palpatine),

then there are other options with a higher mAh (milliamp hour) rating. Here are some to consider:

Anker PowerCore 20100 [$49.99] via Amazon

RLERON PowerBank 25000 [$32.99] via Amazon

Do keep in mind that these larger power banks can get pretty heavy and are kind of unnecessary, but to each their own!

For the charger cable, Keyport has an ultra-portable tiny cable in a magnetic dock, A.K.A. the WeeLink Module, which is part of the new Anywhere Tools line. It can be attached to an Anywhere Pocket Clip so you can just clip it to your bag, pocket, tutu, etc. Or, you can attach it to your Keyport Pivot, or Keyport Slide 3.0.

WeeLink Module (Micro USB) [$16.99 - $18.99] via Keyport

Here are some standalone cables:

BrexLink USB-A to USB-C cable [$9.99] via Amazon

Anker USB-A to Lightning cable [8.99] via Amazon

JSAUX USB-A to Micro-USB cable [$8.99] via Amazon

2. Hydration Backpack

Staying hydrated is important and your life depends on it!

If you’re going to EDC, then you are probably going to be there for more than six hours and carrying a water bottle around is going to be quite cumbersome. You could get a traditional brand name CamelBak, but personally, I thinkthey are a bit too pricey. Here’s my personal favorite:

MIRACOL Hydration Backpack with 2L Water Bladder via Amazon - I actually bought this one about three or four years ago. I use it more as a bag than a hydration pack most of the time, but I always keep the bladder clean and dry, stored in my kitchen for when I do need it. I ride my bicycle a lot and use this as a bag to carry around smaller items and snacks. It works very well as a hydration pack and the quality of the material used to build the bag is fantastic. Though mine is a little dirty after years of almost everyday use, it has withstood the test of time and I’ve had no problems with it whatsoever. I highly recommend it! In conjunction with your backpack/hydration pack, if you are keeping valuables inside, you may want a lock of some sort to prevent people from opening your bag behind you and swiping your things. For this, I found that an s-biner with a locking mechanism is perfect. It’s simple, doesn’t need a key, and it’s enough to deter someone from taking your precious belongings! Simply loop each end into both zippers, lock, and you’re good to go.

Polycarbonate S-Biner w/ Microlock [$1.99] via Keyport - This polycarbonate material is quite strong and very lightweight.

Stainless Steel S-Biner w/ Microlock [$4.98] via Amazon - If you prefer a stronger material, this is the right one for you! Note that the locking mechanism is still made from polycarbonate.All in all, there are plenty of options when it comes to hydration packs, however, for EDC you must remember that you cannot have too many compartments or they may not let you in with the bag. Specifically... no more than two main compartments and one smaller compartment. In my experience, this rule seems to be enforced quite loosely, but better to be safe than sorry!

3. Earplugs

What? I CAN’T HEAR YOU!

That’s what you’ll be saying after you leave the festival if you don’t bring some earplugs. I know countless people who wish they’d brought earplugs to concerts and music festivals when they were younger. Now, unfortunate as it is, they have trouble hearing some things and several of them have to deal with a ringing noise in their ears. This ringing noise is known as tinnitus, and there is no cure for it. For the sake of your hearing and your sanity, buy some earplugs! Hear is my recommendation (pun intended):

Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs [$34.88] via Amazon) - I have not used these ones, but they seem to be popular among festival goers and I know several people who use these specific earplugs. They all have positive things to say about them. These earplugs, according to the product description, are for “normal to large size ears”.

If you have smaller ears, there is a smaller version which you can find here.

If you happen to forget your earplugs for the night, fret not, as there are usually earplugs available for sale at the general store inside of any music festival.

4. Weather Repellants

During EDC weekend this year, temperatures are going to average around 90 degrees, but it’ll probably feel hotter simply due to the sheer volume of people there. In general, music festivals tend to get pretty hot. When you’re in the crowd, in a tent or other enclosed area, you can expect some heat. For those situations, you’ll want to stay cool.

One thing you can get to help you during hot times is the classic hand fan. With the hand fan, you really can’t go wrong. It’s portable and it works. Many cool hand fans available on Amazon:

Amajiji Folding Fan [$14.99] via Amazon

Leopard Print Hand Fan [$6.99] via Amazon

Next item I want to talk about is the spray bottle; truly a godsend. Not just any spray bottle. You want the one that sprays like a mist! Trust me, when you’re hot and sweaty, there’s nothing like a refreshing mist to the face. On top of that, your friends and everyone around you will love it. I highly recommend this one:

Beautify Beauties Flairosol Spray Bottle [$9.99] via Amazon

Next up, let me tell you about the wind. Las Vegas, in particular, can be pretty windy during this time of year. Lots of wind means a nice breeze to cool you down, but it also means dust, especially in Vegas. In my experience, festivals can get pretty dusty, regardless of where you are. They might be located in a park or on a field or surrounded by desert. In these cases, it’s really nice to have something to cover your face. I recommend a bandana. Not only will you save yourself from nasty boogers, but your lungs will also thank you. Tie it around your neck each day and use it when the dust gets to be a bit much. The merch store at any festival should have specially themed bandanas available for sale, but here’s one from Amazon with a bunch of different design options:

22" x 22" 12 Pack 100% Cotton Bandanas [$12.98] via Amazon

Lastly, if you plan on arriving early or if you will be camping there, do yourself a favor and get some sunscreen! Especially if you’re going to be spending any of your time at one of Vegas’s many day clubs. Here’s a nice and easy spray on sunscreen:

Neutrogena Beach Defense Body Spray Sunscreen [$8.97] via Amazon

5. Wet Wipes

If you are at all accustomed to outdoor music festivals or festivals in general,you’ll know that most of the time you only have access to the porta potties and the hand washing stations with limited water supply. Some hand wipes or wet wipes will be excellent for cleaning up while you’re there.

Wet Wipes for Travel by Go on the Go [$17.99] via Amazon -These are perfect as each pack has 15 wipes and are sealed (remember, these must be sealed upon entry). Give them to your friends and take one for yourself. You’ll be set!

Ultimately, multiple-day music festivals are about having fun. If you arrive ill-prepared, you may be setting yourself up for a bad time. We see images and videos of people at festivalsand it looks awesome and fun, but beware, festivals are not all glitz and glamour. They can be quite challenging at times and you may run into some difficulties, it’s normal! With that said, I feel that the experience is totally worth it.

Anyhow, that about does it from me! Hope you found this list useful! If you have any questions about festival etiquette or preparation, feel free to reach out!