I’ve been to a bunch of music festivals, and this is the one thing I never leave home without

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LollapaloozaBeginning April 14, thousands will overtake the deserts of Indio, California for the Coachella Music and Arts Festival. I was lucky enough to attend Coachella in 2014, and it was by far the most positive festival experience I’ve ever had.

For those attending Coachella, or any other music festival this year, there’s one thing above all others I'm going to stress you shouldn’t leave home without: a CamelBak hydration pack.

Of course bringing a tent is key to camping and, yes, it’s a good idea to have a portable charger, because your phone will die very quickly, but no item is more essential to your comfort throughout the festival than your CamelBak.

In the desert sun, hydration becomes even more important than it already is. You’ll be hanging outside for stretches of 10 hours or more sometimes, and having a continuous supply of fluids will help ensure you stay standing. If you’re just working with water bottles, chances are you’ll have to stand in line at refill stations four or five times a day. But with a CamelBak, one trip will probably be all that is necessary. Most importantly, if you are camping out by the stage to be front row for a headliner, you never want to have to choose between dying of thirst and giving up the spot you’ve held your ground on for six hours.

LollapaloozaCamelBak’s also have enough regular storage space for you to fit whatever essentials you might need to bring in the festival gates with you. Depending on your needs, you can pick which size makes the most sense for you — but speaking from experience, going with whichever one in your price range that can hold the most water is a safe bet.

To all festival attendees, I’m super jealous of you. Have a great time and just stay hydrated — and have a look at a few recommendations below. 

CamelBak Rim Runner 22 Hydration Pack, $67.95.
CamelBak Rogue Hydration Pack, $68.99.
CamelBak M.U.L.E. Hydration Pack, $103.99.