Festival camping - what will we need?

jojobb78 · 18 March 2007 at 11:32AM

Managed to get some T in the park tickets for my dh and myself for July. As neither of us has been to a music festival before, we would like some tips on what sort of stuff we will need to take for the weekend camping as we are complete camping novices. I'd like to start buying a few bits and pieces each week rather than buying it all in one go. How much money will we need for food or is it worth taking a camping stove? any tips greatfully recieved.

saxy1 · 18 March 2007 at 11:52AM

Have a look at this older thread for ideas - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=356472&highlight=camping

jojobb78 · 18 March 2007 at 12:20PM

Hi, thanks for that, any festival tips?

Simon_B_2 · 18 March 2007 at 12:23PM

I'm a bit of a regular festival goer Glastonbury, Reading, Big Chill............

Me and my partner, normally take :

Decent Tent - we take a 4 person with 2 sleeping compartments and a "living area" one for sleeping in the other for our stuff.

Sleeping Bags obviously though some of our friends do take blow up mattresses and duvets which we might be doing this year.
If you taking sleeping bags bring a sleeping mate as sleeping on a rock can be really uncomfortable.

At night make sure you put all your important things cash, wallet, id, phone and camera at the bottom of your bag before going to sleep or inside you pillow case if you've got a mattress and duvet.
One friend of ours woke up to found he had his trousers stolen in the night with all his belongings in, we tend to keep everything in a little belt bag around my waist during the day.

Bring a couple of pairs of shorts, t-shirts, sandals etc. as well as a set of wellies and a decent waterproof so your set for both good and bad weather.

Wet-wipes bring a lot of these you will need them! Also face wipes are a good idea the Big Chill had awesome showers so we showered everyday but Glastonbury and Reading didn't so we had to use the wet wipes for the entire weekend, but that's all part of it. Also some antibacterial hand wash that doesn't require water is a good idea as the festival toilets often run out (tescos sell it now), wet wipes are also handy if they run out of loo roll as well.

Camping chairs for sitting around your camp-site are good and for listening to bands in the afternoon sun if you don't want to stand, I've seen them for about £4 these days, gazebo's are awful though we have taken two to two different festivals and they didn't last the weekend.

As for food we've taken a stove before and found it to much hassle, also your pretty limited for food options bacon doesn't keep for 3 days in the festival sun for example!
We normally budget about £15-20 a day for food and don't buy from the main arena as it is often twice the price around there.

Bring beer and Spirits never underestimate just how much you can drink in one weekend also this depends on T in the park policies you can wander freely around Glastonbury with your own booze but Reading staff will take it off you before going into the main arena and then charge you £3.50 for a pint of carling!!

I'm sure i can think of some more stuff too!

Oh and bin bags to collect your empty rubbish up in around your campsite

PandaPants_2 · 18 March 2007 at 10:43PM

And dont have sex with your other half in the tent with the light on.

I learned this the hard way! lol

T in the Park is a great festival, arena and capsite are well set out, not too much walking and the weather was great the year we went.
Be careful of the guys who jump over the fence to sell drugs, we witnessed guys who had been chucked out paying the security to let them back in and they were obviously off their heads on something. One of them stabbed the other later on that night by our tent! Moral of the story: dont camp ANYWHERE near the fences, get as far up as you can...

And have a great time!!!

jojobb78 · 18 March 2007 at 10:59PM

Thanks for the above tip. Definately one to 'bare' in mind !

:rotfl:

Lusignan · 18 March 2007 at 11:04PM

Been to a few camps in my time - I like my comfort so a blow-up airbed is paramount. And earplugs and bottled water if you're unsure of the drinking water situation.

jaymac_2 · 18 March 2007 at 11:43PM

Asda had some tents and bits of camping equipment,,,you could pick it up with the weekly shop.

PandaPants_2 · 19 March 2007 at 12:46PM

There are taps around the campsite for drinking water, just need an empty bottle/beer can/etc...

Also baby wips are not only handy for keeping clean, you can put them over your nose and mouth so you dont smell the portaloos, they geet pretty mingy after a few hours....lol

urbancookie1 · 19 March 2007 at 10:35PM

Ill 2nd or 3rd the baby/wet wipes for definate, they have a multitude of uses.
also insect repelent

skystar · 20 March 2007 at 9:48AM

I camped at T in The Park in 1996 - a moment of madness shall we say. This was when it was at Strathclyde Park and I only lived 10 mins away :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Forget the camping stove - I took one and it was never used - too much hassle. Food is expensive though so bear that in mind.

Do remember a little first aid kit - those tents can cause injuries when getting put up :eek:

I got some of those little cheap li-lo thingys that you take to the beach and used them for beds.

A camp lamp is a good thing too. I had one like this: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0196323.htm.

Don't buy one of these:
http://www.camping-online.co.uk/WATER-CONTAINERS/HI_GEAR-FOLD-A-CARRIER-15-LITRES.html
I did as I didn't realise how heavy 15 litres of water was (c'mon I was only young). I filled this to the top and then me and my friend had to recruit some fellow campers to move the blooming thing.

Unless you have a strong bladder I suggest leaving the beer at home (can't believe I just said that :eek: :eek: :eek: ). I dragged 48 cans of Stella there and came home with about 42 as by drinking them meant I had to use the minging toilets. (Hope my mum doesn't read this as I was only 16

)

Remember a woolly hat, thick socks and a fleece. A clear night in the summer can get very chilly. You may end up going to bed with more clothes on than during the day. Not very attractive but you won't have been washed in 2 days so who is gonna care

Take a flag or such like to put on your tent so you can find it easily. I had a Lion Rampant Flag

Finally, ENJOY! I am sure you will have a great time.

Festival camping - what will we need?

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