The $7 Amazon Product That Saved My Feet at Coachella — Plus 13 Other Items to Bring

Band-Aid Hydrocolloid Gel Heel Bandages ($6)

When you're walking 15,000 steps or more a day, blisters are kind of inevitable. I like to tape my feet or apply blister bandaids to any "hot spots" I know I'll have issues with by the end of the weekend prior to heading for the festival on day one. Typically I apply them to my pinky toes, the backs of my heels, and if I'm wearing knee-high boots, wherever the highest part of the boot hits on the sides of my legs just to avoid any rubbing or chaffing. I've been doing this for seven years and it always makes a huge difference.

Amazon Wonderwin Gel Heel Cups ($7)

This was a new addition to my packing list that I brought for the first time this year, and I was shocked at what a difference they made. Most of my boots are too small to fit an entire shoe insert inside them without causing chaffing, but I saw a bunch of people talking about heel cups on TikTok and I decided to test them out. Not only did they prevent me from getting blisters on the backs of my feet, but the extra padding at the heels meant I felt like I was walking on a cloud all day long. These thing absolutely saved my feet this weekend, and they've landed a permanent spot on my Coachella packing list.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Water Resistant and Non-Greasy Sunscreen Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 70 ($9)

If you don't already have sunscreen in your festival bag, stop whatever you're doing and go pack it. We all know the sun is hot, but when you're in the desert, trust me when I say it feels like it's ten times hotter. There isn't a ton of shade at the festival, so you'll want to bring sunscreen with you in your bag so you can reapply throughout the day. I'm obsessed with this Neutrogena formula because it doesn't feel greasy when you apply it, and it has SPF 70 which is highly necessary.

Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer ($10)

Although there are actual bathrooms on festival grounds, most of the time you'll be using port-o-pottys, and they are almost always out of hand sanitizer. This year there was always toilet paper (thank god), but I was happy to have my own personal hand sanitizer so I could spritz my hands after I went to the bathroom. I like the Touchland brand because you just have to press a button rather than opening any packaging and squeezing it into your hand. Plus, it never leaves my skin feeling dry or dehydrated.

LMNT Zero Sugar Electrolyes ($15)

Gearing up for the weekend I always try to pack in the vitamins and hydrate as much as possible. This year I even visited Dripology to get an IV before heading down to the desert because I wasn't feeling well the day before I was set to leave. However, if it isn't feasible to get an IV, at the very least add some electrolytes into your bag to bring with you. I drink an LMNT every day, and it was great being able to stash a pack or two in my backpack to add to my water while I was at the festival. You'll be sweating all day long, so you'll want to get as much hydration as possible.

Full Tilt Floral Print Satin Scarf ($15)

A bandana is always a must at Coachella for a few reasons. You can tie it around your neck to keep the sun off of it during the day, you can use it at night to cover your nose and mouth to protect you from the dust, and you can also use it as a cute accessory. Tons of people were using them to tie around their heads as headscarves under or over baseball caps. This one from Full Tilt is perfect because it's cute but also functional.

Zyrtec 24 Hour Allergy Relief Chewable Tablets ($20)

This is not a sexy packing item, but it's absolutely necessary. This year in the desert my allergies were in overdrive. Not only did I have a cold while I was there, but the dust and the dirt and the pollen flying everywhere didn't help whatsoever. If you suffer from allergies, make sure you pack some type of medication that will help with symptoms. I like these Zyrtec chewable because I don't need water and I can take them whenever (like when we're 2 hours into the festival and I realized I forgot to take one before I left the hotel — whoops).

Anker Magnetic Portable Charger ($40)

My phone didn't die once this year at the festival which was surprising, but just in case I need a charge I always bring a portable charger with me. They have charging stations at the festival, but if you don't want to stand in the hot sun and potentially miss your favorite artist while your phone juices up, you'll want to bring your own. I like something lightweight, like this Anker charger, that I can just stick on the back of my phone — no cords necessary.

Kulani Kinis Slide Bralette Bikini Top in Apple Blossom ($62)

While you might not necessarily want to wear a swimsuit to the festival (although some people do), you'll definitely want to pack one. Wherever you're staying will most likely have a pool, and even if it doesn't, if you're up you might want to catch a tan outside before you have to head into the festival for the day. I've gone on many trips and forgotten to pack a swimsuit (and one time my underwear — whoops), but I always make sure I bring one with me whenever I head down to the desert for Coachella. I've been obsessing over Kulani Kinis lately because they're super affordable and well-made. Plus, all of their tops could double as a Coachella outfit if needed!

Aelfric Eden Letter-Embroidered Racing Jacket ($80)

While it's usually close to 100 degrees on the polo fields during the day, the temperature drops drastically at night. Although it can be a little cumbersome, you'll want to bring a jacket with you. If you don't have a locker, I'd opt for something lightweight that you don't mind carrying — or even better, something you can fold up and toss into your bag or backpack and bring out later at night. Racing jackets are everywhere, and I saw a ton of them at the festival this past weekend. This one from Aelfric Eden is lightweight and affordable, but looks expensive and kept me warm at night.

Status Anxiety Levity Sunglasses ($100)

Sunglasses are necessary for Coachella no matter what time of day it is. Yes, they'll help protect your eyes from the sun, but they also come in handy at night once it starts getting windy and the dust is flying everywhere. If you're worried about not being able to see at night, opt for a pair that have lighter lenses, like this pair from Status Anxiety, which got me through my entire weekend at the festival this year.

Free People x We the Free Convertible Bag ($128)

As annoying as it is to carry a bag around in the hot weather all day, it's necessary, so I usually opt for a backpack that's on the smaller size. This Free People bag is perfect because it's not too big, but it's large enough that it can house all the important things — like a portable charger, sunscreen, lip balm, and your credit card and ID. Plus, it has three different pockets so you can divide everything up and you won't need to spend precious minutes digging around searching for your items when you could be watching Missy Elliott.

Stetson Powder River 4x Buffalo Fur Felt Hat ($160)

A hat is another must when it comes to the festival, no matter the style — baseball, trucker, or full on sun hat. This year, cowboy hats were quite literally everywhere, and I was one of the many people wearing one. I picked up this cute Stetson hat from Boot Barn, and not only did it look super chic (hello, chocolate brown), but it was perfect for day three when my hair was surviving on dry shampoo and prayers. I was able to hide my greasy roots, protect my face from the sun, and look cute and put together all at the same time.

Tecovas The Annie ($345)

My first year at Coachella I made the mistake of wearing sandals, and I learned my lesson the hard way — sneakers or boots, only. I got my first pair of Tecovas on a trip to Austin two years ago, and I now own five different pairs of the same boot — the Annie. I've worn them to three different festivals: Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, Innings Festival in Arizona, and Coachella. I do typically tape my feet prior to heading out for the day, but I've never run into a single issue while wearing these boots. They're comfortable, stylish, and easy to walk around in for extended periods of time.

Cowboy boots are usually my go-to when it comes to festivals, but this year is shaping up to be the year of the Moto boot. If you're not a cowboy boot person, the Alohas Sajan Leather Boots ($330). They're comfortable, chic, and they're easy to walk around in for hours at a time.

Renee Rodriguez (she/her) is a staff writer and social producer for PS. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts.