Groups looking to get the quantity right
You’re buying crisps for several festival-goers and want to take enough without being left with a large, opened bag. Compare the total weight with the number of people and the times you’ll be eating together.
Who are these pack formats suited to?
The size of your group, how many times you plan to snack and whether you need to check the labels for each variety will all help determine which pack format is most practical to take with you.
Campers who want to portion out snacks in advance
You’re taking crisps for different people or days. Individual packs make it easier to share them out without opening the same large pack each time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing opened crisps in a properly sealed pack.
Buyers checking portions and ingredients
You want to know the portion size and which ingredients or allergens are included before you buy. With a mixed snack box, you’ll need to check each variety separately; for nutritional values, refer to the pack you choose.
What should you look for in crisps for festival camping?
First, decide whether you’ll mainly be sharing one bag or dividing snacks between several occasions. Then check the weight, the individual packs and the labels for the varieties you want to take.
Large sharing bag
Best when: the group is eating together and you can seal an opened bag properly.
Bear in mind: an opened bag is less practical if people in the group will be snacking on different days.
Multipack of individual packs
Best when: you want to divide snacks between people or occasions in advance.
Bear in mind: a mixed box may contain different types of snacks and ingredients.
Multipack of tubes
Best when: individual packs that can be resealed after opening are important to you.
Bear in mind: check how much each tube contains; the Pringles Original 12-pack reviewed contains 40 g per tube, according to Albert Heijn.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Getting the quantity right | Check the total weight and, for a multipack, the weight of each individual pack. | When I’m buying for a group, I want to take enough without opening more than we can eat together. Around 36% of consumers prioritise getting the total quantity right. |
| Sharing and storage | Check how many individual packs there are and think about how you can seal an opened bag. | For different snack occasions, I don’t want to keep opening the same large bag. For around 29% of consumers, being able to divide and store snacks is the most important factor. |
| Ingredients and allergens | For a mixed box, read the current label for every relevant variety, including any potential allergen information. | If not everyone in my group can eat the same ingredients, I need to be able to check what’s in each variety. Around 21% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Portions and nutritional information | Compare the weight per portion and the nutritional values per portion and per 100 g for the exact product. | I want to know how big each individual pack is and what the nutritional information says. For around 14% of consumers, checking portion sizes comes first. |
Common mistakes when choosing
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Choosing a large pack without counting your snack occasions
A large sharing bag works best when the group is eating from it together. If you’ll be dipping into it at different times, you’ll need to be able to seal the opened bag properly in between.
Choose a total weight that suits your group and decide in advance whether individual packs would be more practical.
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Leaving an opened bag unsealed for several days
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, opened crisps generally stay in good condition for two to five days if stored in a cool, dry, dark place in a properly sealed pack. Without a good seal, they may lose their crunch.
Take a sealing clip or storage container with you, or choose individual packs if you’re dividing your supply over several days.
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Assuming every flavour in a mixed box has the same ingredients
A box containing different potato and corn snacks may have different ingredients in each variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label.
Before buying, read the information for all the varieties your group wants to eat, and check the packaging again when you use them.
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Confusing small individual packs with a judgement about nutritional value
Individual packs make sharing easier, but the pack format alone says nothing about the nutritional value of the crisps.
For the variety you choose, compare the portion weight and the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g.
Brands to help guide your choice
These brands show a range of pack formats and product types. Look at the contents and label of the specific product you’re considering, rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Lay's
Lay's offers boxes containing individual snacks, among other products. Albert Heijn describes a Mega Box containing 20 items and a Celebration Box containing 30.
- Individual packs can be handy for sharing snacks among a group in advance.
- For a mixed box, check which types of snacks and ingredients are included in the version you choose.
Pringles
The Pringles Original 12-pack described by Albert Heijn contains individual 40 g tubes.
- The tubes described can be resealed, which may be useful if you’ll be snacking at different times.
- Check the current label if ingredients or allergens are important for your group.
Smiths
Smiths Sticks are a different type of snack from a bag of potato crisps. Jumbo describes varieties including paprika and barbecue flavours.
- An option if your group specifically wants to take sticks.
- Check the pack size; a bag of sticks isn’t automatically a substitute for a multipack of individual portions.
Albert Heijn
AH Chips naturel, 250 g, is an example of a large own-brand sharing bag.
- A single sharing bag may suit you if the group is eating at the same time.
- The features of the naturel variety don’t necessarily apply to other flavours; always read the label on the bag you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers large own-brand bags including 250 g plain crisps and 335 g ridged crisps.
- The different bag sizes let you choose based on how much your group expects to eat.
- Ingredients and nutritional values may vary between varieties.
Lidl Snack Day
Lidl lists plain, paprika, bolognese and cheese and onion among the crisp and snack flavours available from Snack Day.
- You can choose a flavour and pack size to suit what your group wants to take.
- Check the weight, ingredients and information on the pack you choose in store.
Crisp pack formats for festival camping at Joybuy
These products are multipacks of individual tubes or snack packs. They’re best suited to sharing out in advance or taking along for several occasions; if you want to eat together from one large bag, choose a different pack format.
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Pringles Original Crisps 12 × 40 g
For anyone looking to share crisps between people or occasions, and who prefers tubes. According to the product name, this pack contains 12 units of 40 g; check the ingredients on the current label.
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Croky Sharing Mix 180 g
A snack mix for a group who want to share. The stated total weight is 180 g; check the pack for the contents of each variety and the ingredients.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Crisps 15-pack
A box for anyone looking to share snacks between several people or occasions. The product name lists 15 packs; for this mixed selection, check the ingredients of the varieties your group wants to eat.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 items
A multipack for sharing individual snacks among a group. The product name lists 20 items; check the ingredients and weight of each snack type if these are important to your choice.
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Takis Blue Heat corn chips, 18 × 100 g
For a group looking to take individual, larger bags of corn chips. The product name lists 18 bags of 100 g; bear in mind when sharing them out that these aren’t small individual snack packs.
Frequently asked questions
What’s more practical at a festival campsite: a large bag or individual packs?
A large bag works well if you’re eating together and can seal the rest properly; individual packs are more practical when people in the group snack at different times. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing opened crisps in a cool, dry, dark place in a properly sealed pack.
Can you take unopened crisps camping without a fridge?
For unopened crisps, follow the storage advice and use-by or best-before date on the packaging; refrigeration isn’t normally required. Store the pack in a cool, dry, dark place and protect it from damage.
How do I check the allergens in a mixed box of crisps?
Read the allergen information and ingredients for every variety you plan to share, not just the front of the box. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label.
Does a small individual pack tell you anything about its nutritional value?
No, the size of the pack alone says nothing about its nutritional value. For the variety you choose, check the weight per pack and the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g.