Rebecca HaithcoatPacking for Coachella requires more thought than just tossing your wallet, keys and phone in your bag.
First, you need to prepare for two drastically different temperatures: During the day, you'll boil in a bikini; at night, any uncovered skin breaks out into chill bumps. A dead cellphone is almost as bad as losing a cellphone, so you should bring a charger. What happens when those cool new ankle booties you bought rub blisters on your feet? And how will you sneak in your snacks and drugs?
Read: More Coachella 2016 coverage
We found some Coachella experts and even a couple of 'Chella virgins and asked them to tell us the five essential items they pack (besides lighters and weed) to make this music marathon as painless as possible.
Credit: Photo by Rebecca Haithcoat
Name: Giselle
Age: 30
Where are you from? Coachella Valley. “I'm a pro.”
Lightweight long-sleeve flannel
“A farmer's fruit-picking shirt that rolls easy is essential for when the sun goes down. I have four, because I sit on one [in the grass]. I also have a sweater, leggings and socks if I'm wearing shorts.”
Cleansing wipes
“I bring them for the bathroom — not just to use as toilet paper. You want to stay fresh.”
Sunblock
“Self-explanatory.”
Business cards
“Here, take one.”
Selfie stick
“I'm short, so if I want to take a video. And it shoots beautifully.”
Credit: Photo by Rebecca Haithcoat
Name: Pamela
Age: “I'm a grandmother.”
Where are you from? Fort Worth, Texas
Driver's license
“We drove up to the gates last year because I have a house here, too. We said, 'Next year, we're going.' So I have my daughter and two granddaughters, who are ages 11 and 14, and their friend.”
Cash
[Self-explanatory, but this year, almost all of the vendors accept credit cards, so you don't need it.]
Empty water bottle
“We can refill it inside.”
Scarf
“When it gets cool in the evening, you wear it. During the day, you can use it to sit on the grass.”
Nuts
“I snuck these almonds in!”
Credit: Photo by Rebecca Haithcoat
Name: Paige
Age: 24
Where are you from? Orange County
Mints
“It's something to suck on instead of chewing gum. I don't want to look rude.”
Smashbox lipstick and EOS chapstick
“I love the strawberry flavor.”
Earbuds
“To protect my ears!”
Little bottle of sunscreen
“It's SPF 50 — I have fair skin.”
Phone
“The only con of a baby bag — this one is made completely out of wood by a designer named Timmy Woods — is that I can't get my phone in it!”
Credit: Photo by Rebecca Haithcoat
Name: Diane
Where are you from? New York City
Phone cable and battery
“I work for a company that books events, so I'm here to check out who might be good for my company.”
Wallet
“This bag is big enough to carry anything I need.”
Lipstick
“Doesn't matter if it's a field, lipstick is an essential.”
Cigarettes
“I smoke Marlboros.”
Credit: Photo by Rebecca Haithcoat
Name: Denise
Age: 23
Where are you from? Whittier
Headphones
“I'm a journalist, so I need to listen to my audio recordings of interviews and then music when I'm working.”
Lip balm
“It's brutal out here. I like Burt's Bees and it's tinted, so I feel like I'm wearing some sort of makeup. My lips look rosy.”
Portable charger
“For when my phone dies. My phone did die yesterday, so it came in handy.”
Sunscreen
“I raided my house because sunscreen is kinda expensive. This is what I had.”
Scarf
“That's my friend's scarf. I like it 'cause it's cute, but I wear it day and night. It's kinda annoying having it on, but it's necessary. I blew my nose on it and there was dust in my nose, even with my scarf on.”
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