Before You Even Leave for the Park
The battle for battery life begins at home. Start by giving your phone a full, complete charge. While you're at it, charge up a portable power bank. These are lifesavers and are permitted at Outside Lands, so long as they fit within the approved bag size.
Before you head out, optimize your phone's settings. Turn on Low Power Mode, which reduces background activity like downloads and mail fetch. Turn down your screen brightness, turn off automatic app updates, and disable background app refresh for apps you won't be using. Finally, download anything you might need—the festival map, set times, and your ticket—to your phone so you don't waste battery trying to access them with spotty festival Wi-Fi.
Pacing Yourself During the Day
A music festival is a marathon, not a sprint, and the same goes for your phone usage. One of the biggest battery killers is your phone constantly searching for a weak cell signal. When you’re in a dense crowd or watching a set where you don't need to be online, switch your phone to Airplane Mode. You can still take photos and videos, and you’ll save a huge amount of power. Another pro-tip is to arrange meetup spots with your friends at specific times, rather than sending a constant stream of “where are you?” texts. Time-stamping your messages (e.g., “Meet at the windmill at 4:30pm - sending this at 4:10”) helps avoid confusion and unnecessary back-and-forth communication that drains power.
Beware the San Francisco Chill
Outside Lands has a unique battery-draining feature: the cold. As Karl the Fog rolls in, the temperature drops, and so does your phone's battery efficiency. Lithium-ion batteries struggle in the cold; the chemical reactions that power your phone slow down, reducing the battery's capacity. A phone that reads 40% in the warmth might suddenly die after a few minutes in the chilly night air. To combat this, keep your phone warm. Store it in an inside pocket of your jacket or close to your body instead of in an outer bag. This simple trick can make a significant difference as the final sets begin and the night gets colder.
Leverage On-Site Festival Resources
If you find your battery dwindling despite your best efforts, don't panic. Outside Lands typically offers resources for a quick power boost. Look for official charging stations on the festival map. In recent years, companies have offered rentable power banks that you can take with you, so you don't have to leave your phone behind. Another option is renting a locker for the day, many of which come equipped with a universal phone charger inside. This gives you a secure place to store your belongings and a dedicated spot to juice up your device between sets. Be sure to check the festival app or map for locker and charging station locations.
The Final Hour: Emergency Mode
The last headliner is on, and you’re down to your last 10%. It’s time for emergency measures. First, close all your apps and turn your screen brightness to the absolute minimum. If you're not actively using it, put your phone in Airplane Mode until you absolutely need it. If you need to find your friends or check the time, turn the phone on for that specific task and then immediately put it back to sleep. Resist the urge to record long videos of the performance; a few great photos will use far less power. This isn't about thriving; it's about surviving long enough to take that one last photo and, more importantly, call your ride home.
