top tips for festivals

[cejx]

I personally take small packs of tissues but if you prefer taking a toilet roll collect a a few half rolls rather than just taking one full roll. This way it fits into a pocket etc easier and you don't run of toilet roll if it gets wet/dropped/lost.

[mario man]

leave a spare set of dry clean clothes in the car

take loads of binbags

take a mallet, its a nightmare getting tentpegs into hard ground without one

take spare batteries for your camera, and your phone if you want to keep in touch with people (i'm pretty happy once mine have gone!)

take your rucksack off & wear it on your front when in the big crowds in the evening - you avoid bumping into everyone and their drinks

plenty of layers in the evening ensures you keep warm, chuck an extra t-shirt or jumper in your rucksack for later at night

take a hat. essential to keep the sun off your barnet and to stay cool

great thread

[ukslim]

You should wax!

[HurrahBrother]

Emergency kit.

Bin liners (take the end of a roll, say 3-6 bags, useful at end of festival anyway)

String/chord.

Small roll or an end roll of gaffa tape.

Knife or reasonable scissors (to cut string/gaffa tape).

Look, if you can't fix it with those, its truely beyond repair/too much effort!

Mallet, yes, though if your camped near me, just ask!

Yes, space blankets do work, use bulldog/foldback clips to secure them.

Anticeptic hand gel, use after toilets and before meals. But no just before lighting up a fag (almost pure alcohol, goes up like meths!)

Baby wipes, not just for babies bottoms!

A small tube of talc powder (your feet will appriciate it).

You will get a lanyard with a small programme, GUYS! get a small torch with a slider switch that stays on that you can clip onto it, helps you see where you are aiming in the dark!

Wide necked bottle, about 1 to 1.5 lt capacity for avoiding the midnight toilet trip! (fabric conditoner bottles are good as ready fragrenced).

There are showers on site, a towel, swimming costume and some soap may be worth packing.

Suncream, Hat, sunglasses. Will be needed.

Jumper/fleece/warm top, will be needed (night gets cold).

[kyjenni]

Is there somewhere in the healing field that'll do my legs, back, sack 'n' crack?

[mouth]

i take an instant bbq for the weds lunch. also take ready made kebabs for it. everyones happy, nice food and no cooking untensils

[mynameisearl]

leave a spare set of dry clean clothes in the car

Edited May 18, 2009 by mynameisearl

[Gems_GV09]

If your taking your kids write your mobile number on there arm in that Henna dye along with a message 'ring this number is you find me lost' !!, or something like that.

Can also be used if you have friends who get completely wasted and get lost all the time

Its great stuff because it wont wash off.

[mouth]

It's never nice to leave but getting changed into clean, comfortable clothes when you get back to the car is an amazing feeling. The thought of putting on a fresh cotton t-shirt and a comfy pair of clean trainers helps me on that long walk back to the car.

Also have some snacks to boost your energy in the car as well. Stuff like Jelly Babies and Jaffa Cakes are good for this. Perks you up for the drive home and if you're stuck in queues to get out at least you have something to keep you going. And water/juice etc too.

[daveofholloway]

i thought id start a threat for people to add there festival tips on

for instance all my time at festivals have taught me these things that help the festival go along nicely..

* take a pack of anti bac toilet wipes just incase you need to sit down (keep in handbag/backpack)

*a scented tissue is a handy thing to have in a bag (hold to nose when going to loos)

* anti bac hand gel is a festival must

* take you own bottle for filling with tap water when your about the site.

* if your not going back to the tent to dark have a mini torch in your pocket (helps you not trip over the guide lines of tents.. also you can help others not trip which often leads to being invited to go sit with them and have drinks)

*take some food bags and put money phone etc in it on a night and tie it up tight.. this way if your tent floods your important stuff stays dry

*put your moeny etc in the bottom of your sleeping bag when your sleeping .. stops them being taken if your to wasted to ehar someone else coming into your tent

*duck tape fixes everything

* take an empty pillowcase - then stuff loads of clothes in it - saves you taking a pillow.

[chuckley]

Better to take small packets of tissues, they're already wrapped in plastic and can fit in a pocket easily.

[chuckley]

Berocca is a bit of a waste of money (my pharmacist informed me btw). As it is water soluble you actually piss most of the goodness out...ever noticed the colour of the pee eh? You are better off sticking to freshly squeezed OJ to get a better hit of Vitamin C and if you want the other multivits just take multivits you swallow and dont dissolve in water.

[chuckley]

a hat for nightime

tights/leggings so u dont get cold. that was the biggest prob for me last year!

spare phone batteries if u plan on recording/taking pics.

neck strap (with loop end) for your phone, so u dont have to put it in your bag (and keep checking u have it throughout the day). also good for nightime as it'l be under ur clothes.

[Laura_Babs]

I'm lucky in that I've never laid in my tent freezing cold, I get cold during the early hours but stick a hoodie on and I'm alright again. Last year my friends insisted on sleeping in tracksuit bottoms with shorts underneath, about 3 teeshirts, 4 hoodies, 2 hats and patridge in a pear tree, but I find sleeping in a pair of shorts and a teeshirt always sorts me out. It's cold to begin with, but I warm up after lying there for a couple of minutes.

Never, ever take jeans either. I have a pair that I leave in the car to drive home in if my clothes are all dirty/wet, but they're a pain in the arse when they get wet. They take ages to get dry again and they weigh so much more to carry home wet.