Thanks to our sister music blog, we are lucky enough to go to a lot of music festivals throughout the year, where we get to see dozens of upcoming bands under in a field in the middle of nowhere. While we might try and plan everything in advance, in reality we all still rely on a smartphones to meet up with friends between sets and organise how we’re going to party into the early morning – and this means we need our phones working for three days.
Today’s smartphones only last a day or two at most – so eking out the most juice is very important when you find yourself in a muddy field in Somerset. With the help of our friends at Menkind, here we run through a few tips and gadgets for any music festival.
Turn on Battery Stamina/Low Power mode
Nokias of yesteryear would last for a week between charges, but all the added functionality and HD screens of modern smartphones come at a price – battery life. However, when you know you are not going to be able to charge your phone for a few days, both iOS and Android let you turn off various features to make your battery last longer.
Android >> Settings >> Battery >> STAMINA mode >> Activate
iPhone >> Settings >> Battery >> Low Power Mode >> Activate
Exactly how these modes work varies between smartphones, but in general they will switch off GPS, vibration, image enhancement, WiFi, and sometimes 4G. If your smartphone doesn’t offer this mode, than look into how to switch these features off manually.
If you’re lucky enough to have one of the more modern Sony smartphones then you will also find an Ultra Stamina mode which switches off pretty much everything but text messages and phone calls.
Bring a travel power bank
Find a travel powerbank that fits on your pocket (or your rucksack), so that you can charge your phone when you’re not using it. This travel power bank will give your phone about 2/3 charge and fits easily in your pocket – so it’s great for emergencies or giving your phone a boost overnight when you’re asleep.
Find a robust cable
You can buy USB charging cables for about 50p these days, but they have a habit of falling apart just when you need them the most. So, it is worth spending a little bit more to find one that will last and is tangle free. If you want to get a few extra Brownie points in your group, then bringing along a cable that has both MicroUSB and Apple lightning connectors like this “cool cable” is the way to go. This way you can make sure that you’re not the only one with a bit of juice left in your battery by day three.
What are you tech-based festival survival tips?
Photograph by Rachel Docherty