Eco conscious, free thinking, free spirited, politcally aware/ active, vegetarian/ vegan, new age traveller, painted buses, huge sound systems. Related to the Crust/Anarcho-Punk culture that emerged in the 80s, though being "Punk" in the hardcore sense wasn't a prerequisite, but was retained in the purest DIY ethos. In some ways a combination of punk and "hippy" thinking, and a counterpart to the original Rave culture. Bands associated with this scene could play more folk-based music; some such as the Levellers achieved a degree of mainstream success.

The term pre-dates crust punk and can be used independently to refer to street punks or squatters. The trend was most widespread in the UK in the late 1980s and early 1990s but there are also international subsets. Members are noted for their unkempt appearance and are associated with raves, road protests, beggars, squatters, train-hoppers, street entertainers and the young homeless. The term may now be more notable for its associations to Crust Punk.

Typical dress styles involve dirty unkempt clothing, body piercing, matted messy hair (dreads) and sub-decent hygiene. Crusties are seen as being typically young, homeless and unemployed. This association is such that the term crusty can often be because of their matted, dirty style of dress.