Seeing your favorite Kpop group for the first time in concert can be exciting. To make sure to get the most out of your first Kpop concert I have a list of what to bring to a Kpop concert that can fit inside your bag. I attend at least 3 concerts per year since the lockdown was lifted so these are based on my experience.
You don’t need to buy everything on this list because it still depends on the venue and weather. And they are not exclusive to Kpop concerts, you can also bring most of these to other non-Kpop concerts.
⚠️ SALE ALERT ⚠️
But first, there is a LAZADA 3.27 Bonggang BDAY Sale from March 20 to 27, 2024. All products mentioned in this list are available in Lazada. You can use LAZZIE500 to get a 15% discount (min. Spend: ₱750 and max. Cap: ₱500). And IAAFF500 to get a 10% discount (Min. Spend: P1,000 and Max. Cap: P500).
What to bring to a Kpop concert?
Bringing your phone, wallet (with cash because sometimes card readers don’t work), ticket, ID, and lightstick are the most basic stuff you should bring to a concert. Below is my list that many never knew they needed as first-timers.
1. Venue-Approved Bag
As mentioned in my previous post about the best bags for Kpop concerts, every venue has different regulations for bags that you’re allowed to bring inside, the general rule of thumb is a clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag. Or anything that does not exceed 12 inches x 6 inches x 12 inches.
2. Powerbank
Shooting in 4k can drain your phone fast. And before the concert starts we’re already snapping photos and videos going into the venue. It’ll be a shame if you don’t get some concert fancams for the memories because post-concert amnesia is real. Also, some people, need more phone battery post-concert to find their ride home.
I recommend Anker MagGo, it has 5000mAh, is lightweight, and is compatible with MagSafe phones, or you can use an Anker charger cord. If you want something with more battery like 20,000mAh, I recommend this Anker Portable Charger. It is fast charging and has a built-in charging cord and an LED indicating how much battery is left. The only downside, it is a bit heavy. Both can be used with rechargeable lightsticks too. I prefer these two because mini power banks like the Anker Nano, in my experience, are a bit too heavy and drop during the chaos at the standing section of the concert.
3. Extra Batteries
The majority of lightsticks today still run with 3 AAA batteries. A gold alkaline can last around 2-3 hours but some lightsicks can drain batteries faster than others. I highly suggest bringing extras. I already experienced running out of battery in the middle of a concert.
4. Handheld Fan
The line before entering the concert venue can be hot especially when it is in Bulacan. Out of all the handheld fans I’ve used, the brand Jisulife has the longest battery life and actual refreshing air comes out of it. I recommend the Jisulife Mini Bladeless Turbo Ultra-quiet Hand-held Fan because it’s light and small enough for a concert bag but has a long battery life. And the hair of the people around will not get caught with this fan.
5. Cooling Wipes
Because it is hot and humid, and lining up takes hours, especially for those in the standing sections, some people get sweaty or faint from the heat. The Gatsby Deodorant Cooling Body Wipes are one of the best things I bring to concerts. It is refreshing and can wipe off body odors from sweating.
I prefer this to cooling mist because liquids are usually not allowed in venues and the wipes’ cooling effect lasts way longer than mists.
6. Hygiene & First Aid Kit
I bring this rather than a makeup kit. Because I don’t have time to retouch my makeup in the venue. I just finished my makeup with a Charlotte Tilbury setting spray and a good oil-control loose powder to make it last from afternoon to night. I just bring an oil control and lipstick with me.
Another reason why I prefer this kit is because toilets at the concert venues are not usually clean or don’t even have enough tissues. And you never know when you need medicines. My kit contains:
- Pocket tissue
- Pocket wet wipes
- Alcohol
- Oil-Control Film
- Lip tint and lip balm
- Paracetamol
- Loperamide
- Non-drowsy allergy medicine (only for those with allergies)
- Inhaler (I prefer Poy Sian because it’s 2-in-1)
- Sunscreen (I have recommendations here under Php500)
7. Earplugs
Exposure to continuous loud noise causes hearing loss. Trust me on this. I started noticing last year my hearing is not as good as it used to be. Most of the time, it is temporary, though frequent exposure can cause permanent loss of hearing. Ear plugs do the important job of stopping excessive sound decibels from damaging the cochlea.
I use Loop Earplugs because they come in a lot of cute colors, it’s the only ones that work without ruining the music, and they fit perfectly on my ears. It doesn’t fall off.
8. Mints, gum, or cough drops
Going to a kpop concert means you’re going to be doing a lot of screaming, singing, and fan chants. I highly recommend bringing some mints, gum, or cough drops along to keep your throat from getting sore and temporarily losing your voice. I’ve seen this happen way too many times.
9. Foldable Water Bottle
Water bottles are not allowed inside the venue and the prices of water inside are a bit expensive. You can save money if you bring a foldable water bottle instead since venues have water refilling stations. The Tomshoo TPU Folding Water Bottle is easy to find and squeeze into your concert bag.
10. Sun and Rain protection
Filipino loves bringing umbrellas, but sometimes they’re not allowed inside the venue and security confiscates them. So for outdoor concerts, when it’s sunny I bring a bucket hat and for the rainy season, I bring a disposable raincoat because both can easily fit inside my bag.
OPTIONAL: Smartwatch
I like wearing my Smartwatch when I attend concerts. I can keep track of how many steps I take and monitor my heart to see how active I am in concerts.
I use Garmin because according to many reviews, they are the most accurate when it comes to tracking that’s why professional athletes use them. I use the new Garmin Lily 2 now because it is small enough for my wrist, very cute, and more affordable than most smartwatches but have a lot of useful features like period tracking.
BONUS: Storage
I’ve seen this many times with my friends and concertgoers online, they run out of phone storage in the middle of the concert. If you’re not using any cloud storage, I recommend the SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go. It comes in 128, 256, and 512 GB and has a lot of colors too. You can use this on your laptop and directly on your phone. They have an iOS and Android app for the smooth transfer of files.
