8 Best Festival Bags 2023 UK: with waterproof and clear designs
IF YOU’RE lucky enough to be attending a festival this year, then packing correctly will be high on your list of priorities.
Whether it’s a full weekend affair, a day-long rave, or you’re headed abroad for a European fiesta, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to getting your kit festival ready.
One of the most important parts of your festival attire will be your day bag, as it’s often the only thing you’ll have with you when you leave your accommodation in the morning until you return at night. There are lots of options out there, and it’s safe to say, lots of price points too.
One important thing to think about and check for when you’re perusing for a festival bag is whether the event you’re attending has any restrictions on size, shape, or contents of what you’re allowed to take on-site. For example, some festivals now allow only clear or see-through bags to be taken, or some will have very specific measurements stipulated.
With all that in mind, we’ve rounded up the best festival bags, fit for any occasion.
Best festival bags at a glance:
- Best transparent bag: Clear Bag for Concert Stadium
- Best small festival bag: Carhartt WIP Bag Small
- Best festival bum bag: Adidas Original Bum Bag
- Best large festival bag: All Night Festival Bag
- Best statement bag: Geestock Holographic Fanny Pack
Clear Bag for Concert Stadium
- Clear bag for Concert Stadiums, £8.99 from Amazon – buy here
Festival entry mandates for transparent bags and backpacks are becoming more common, particularly in large stadiums. Failure to adhere to this can result in either having to dispose of your bag completely or a costly check-in at a cloakroom, inevitably involving a large queue. This stadium-approved cross-body festival bag is the perfect option to keep your belongings in plain view, and on the right side of the entry standards. Given this, when using a transparent bag, it’s important to think carefully about which valuables you take with you as they’ll be on full display.
The upside of a transparent or clear bag is that often they are waterproof, such as this Amazon option. Given the unpredictable British weather, that could turn out to be a serious advantage.
Geestock Holographic Fanny Pack
- Geestock Holographic Fanny Pack, £19.99 from Amazon – buy here
This holographic PVC bumbag is the perfect option if you’re looking to turn heads or are heading to an event that requires disco attire. The fully adjustable strap makes this bag super versatile, and the style comes in fourteen different colours, making it perfect for matching with any outfit.
There are two compartments, with plenty of room for all your belongings. We’re sure that the back pocket could fit a couple of glowsticks in too.
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Adidas Originals Bum Bag
- Adidas Originals Bum Bag, £23 from Adidas – buy here
Nothing says festival quite like a bum bag, and this Adidas Originals number serves in the style stakes as well as practicality. Bum bags, when worn across the shoulders with the bag compartment on the front, are a great way to keep your belongings safe in a crowd. Having the compartments within your eye line keeps prying hands away from your valuables, and everything handy to reach.
Adidas Originals have been a favourite with festival goers for generations, and this stylish bag is crying out for a matching bucket hat to be paired with.
Boohoo Suedette Fringed Bag
- Boohoo Suedette Fringed Cross Body Bag,
£22£18 from Boohoo – buy here
This suedette fringing bag is giving Kate at Glastonbury circa 2005, and we’re very much here for it. The cross-body design is perfect for a festival fit, and the zip top provides some much-needed security in a crowd. This option from Boohoo is available in Black or Tan and can be styled according to your genre of festival. We think this bag will go perfectly with a boho-inspired mini dress and a pair of Dr Martens.
Lululemon All Night Festival Bag
- All Night Festival Bag 5L, £68 from Lululemon – buy here
This bestseller from Lululemon is one of our most practical picks, with a huge 5l storage capacity and a zip-around opening meaning it’s quick and simple to locate your belongings and be on your way. Machine washable, this cult favourite is on the larger side for a festival day bag, so be sure to check your specific festival entry requirements for any stated permitted dimensions.
This athleisure option is dying to be paired with an oversized t-shirt and some statement cycling shorts.
Adidas Originals Cross-Body
- Adidas Originals Cross Body Bag, £18 from Amazon – buy here
Another Adidas Originals number made our lineup of the best festival bags and for good reason.
This unisex classic is cross-body style and features a secure zip with an inside pocket for valuable safekeeping. The nylon material is machine washable, making it a practical option.
This bag is also one of the smallest on our list, so should be well within any defined dimensions set by festival organisers. This classic bag deserves to be paired with an oversized short-sleeve shirt and a chunky pair of trainers.
Herschel Bum Bag
- Herschel Supply Fifteen Cross Body Bag, £30 from ASOS – buy here
This Herschel cross-body bum bag is another solid option for those looking to keep their valuables firmly within sight. The lilac and grey tones are the perfect summer colour palette, and the bag is machine washable, making it super practical for a day spent having fun in a field.
The bag has a checkerboard strap which is fully adjustable, meaning it can be worn cross-body as intended, or in a handbag style.
We’d pair this bum bag festival bag with an oversized white shirt and a pair of statement sunnies.
Carhartt WIP Cross Body
- Carhartt WIP Cross-Body Bag, £45 from ASOS – buy here
If practicality is the aim of your game, then this Carhartt WIP cross-body bag could be the perfect buy. Known for its hard-wearing street style, the brand has been crafting practical essentials since 1889 and is renowned for value for money.
This small cross-body bag is one for those looking to pack lightly for a wild day out, and at just 17 cm by 17 cm, should be on the right side of any festival size restrictions, whilst still being roomy enough for a phone, credit card and some other small essential items.