Festival hack! This way you'll never lose your friends again
We all know it. You're just dancing away at your favorite DJ, have had four vodka-redbulls, and—BAM—you look around and see: no one. Yes, strangers. But your friends? Nowhere to be found. Uhmmm, okay… HELP. Sure, you can open the ‘Find My iPhone’ app or make a call, but what if your reception is terrible, your phone is on 2%, or—classic—you just can't hear anything because the music is so loud?
Enter: the Totem Compass. This viral chain (which you wear around your neck like a stylish techno talisman) ensures that you never lose your friends again. No more group chats full of “where are you??” or awkwardly asking strangers if they’ve seen “Kim in a silver sequin dress and cowboy boots.” But ehhm… how does that thing actually work? And why is it better than all the other gadgets on the market? Let’s dive in.
Finding friends in 3… 2… 1…
How does it work? Well, simple: You connect your Totem to your friends' by holding them together and pressing the crystal at the same time — then you both get your own color. If you lose someone, you lift your Totem up and the light around the crystal points exactly in the direction of your friend(s).
You can connect up to four people at once, and with a double tap on the crystal, you can scroll through your friends. If you just let it hang, it switches to vibe mode and happily blinks along with the music. And if you’re completely lost: press the SOS button and your friends get a blinking signal — how smart is that?
The Totem Compass works with GNSS (yes, that’s the fancy mother of GPS) and its own Unity Mesh Network. No wifi, no 4G, no bluetooth. In short: no hassle. How long does it last? In eco mode, the chain lasts about 24 hours (just enough for a festival) and it charges in 45 minutes.
Totem vs. Find My iPhone (spoiler: Totem wins)
Let’s be honest: Find My iPhone is easy and free, but not always practical. Why not? Here are the reasons why a Totem Compass is much handier than Find My iPhone:
- No reception needed – Totem works without a network. iPhone? Good luck if you have 0 bars.
- Longer battery – Totem lasts 4 days. Try doing that with your iPhone.
- Festival proof – No app, no unlocking hassle, just press the button and go.
- Safe – SOS without calling. And without everyone hearing it.
- More fun – LEDs, vibes, bonding… say goodbye to that bare Apple screen.
And: can you order it in the Netherlands? Yes, you can! The company has recently started shipping worldwide. The price? don’t be shocked: just as expensive as a festival ticket. It costs about $69 (around €63–€65), excluding shipping costs.
5 moments when the Totem saves you
- Your friends go “just to the bathroom” – and you never see them again.
- No one has mobile reception (thanks, festival grounds).
- You’re stuck in a porta-potty, so you quickly press the SOS.
- You suddenly have to find the campsite again. In the dark. Drunk.
- Something scary happens or you’re being harassed. And you only have your Totem with you.
Other ways: this is how you never lose your friends again
Okay, let’s say you find such a Totem really too expensive (this is how you experience the festival season cheaper than ever), you forgot it or—god forbid—it’s dead. No panic, because there are still some old-school and brilliant backup strategies to keep your friend group together. Like: the group outfit. Think neon, matching cowboy hats, or all wearing the same football shirt - I recently saw 10 blue-painted smurfs walking around Awakenings (it can really be anything). Are you missing someone from the group? Just ask a festival-goer if they’ve seen someone else of your kind and believe me: they have.
Or agree on fixed “meeting points.” For example: “if we’re lost for more than 10 minutes → to the right of the bar at Area 4, under the inflatable crocodile.” Works surprisingly well, as long as you don’t forget where Area 4 is and that inflatable crocodile hasn’t been taken off the wall.
Also brilliant: the flagpole or a crazy balloon on a stick (yes, really). You might think: ”won’t I look ridiculous,” but believe me, no one thinks anything weird of it - people actually want to take a picture with you as soon as possible (hilarious).
And then there’s of course the good old: fixed buddies. Thirsty? Need to pee? Going to get food? Need to cry at first aid because your toe has danced off? Always go in pairs. No friend left behind. Agree on fixed duos with the group and you’ll never be alone again.
