First timer

[Randomly]

heh,so buy cheap chairs, you will lose them by the end of the weekend

[chappiepunk]

heh,so buy cheap chairs, you will lose them by the end of the weekend

[Randomly]

ah well it's all part of the experience right

[Clemo]

Most stuff has already been covered but I'll chip in with a bit more.

Make sure you take a torch/electric lantern thing, as it can be a bit of a pisstake fumbling around in your tent for stuff is near total darkness without some sort of light.

Take some layers (I sound like a grandparent now) cos it can get pretty nippy at night & if it does happen to be reasonably warm you can always use a hoodie or whatever as a pillow.

If there is any chance of it raining make sure you've got a decent amount of waterproofs, try to avoid things like jeans as if its hot they can get uncomfortable if you're wearing them all day & if it rains they'll be wet for about 3 years.

Wear some sort of sensible footwear on the way into the festival, I made the mistake last year (my first time) of wearing trainers on the way to the festival and as it had rained pretty much all week in the lead up to the festival the queue on the way in was an absolute mud bath, so go in your wellies/old boots if it's has been or will be any rain.

Hope this is helpful

Edited March 23, 2011 by Clemo

[chappiepunk]

Most stuff has already been covered but I'll chip in with a bit more.

Make sure you take a torch/electric lantern thing, as it can be a bit of a pisstake fumbling around in your tent for stuff is near total darkness without some sort of light.

Take some layers (I sound like a grandparent now) cos it can get pretty nippy at night & if it does happen to be reasonably warm you can always use a hoodie or whatever as a pillow.

If there is any chance of it raining make sure you've got a decent amount of waterproofs, try to avoid things like jeans as if its hot they can get uncomfortable if you're wearing them all day & if it rains they'll be wet for about 3 years.

On wear some sort of sensible footwear on the way into the festival, I made the mistake last year (my first time) of wearing trainers on the way to the festival and as it had rained pretty much all week in the lead up to the festival the queue on the way in was an absolute mud bath, so go in your wellies/old boots if it's has been or will be any rain.

Hope this is helpful

[Randomly]

"Take some layers"

i completely misread that at first and thought you said lawyers O.o

but thank you,now that i read it properly it makes sense and sounds smart

[Clemo]

It's probably advisable to take a lawyer or two if you're into having an entourage travel with you.

If you just take on board what people say on here you'll be far more prepared than the majority of first timers.

We camp in orange it's, pretty quiet, everyone seemed nice last year, towards the back so there's not a lot of people walking through so you're tent doesn't get f**ked around with, its close to a Tesco to pick up extra alcohol & it's generally pretty chilled out. You'll have a good time wherever you camp, its just as people have been saying, the closer you camp to the arena the more 'lively' it is throught the night, partly because of people walking through to get places and because it's where people seem to congregate to lark about after hours.

[Calzum]

i'll feel so young there being only 18 then

Edited March 24, 2011 by Calzum

[Randomly]

how far a walk are the campsites-mainly red/purple/orange?

[chappiepunk]

how far a walk are the campsites-mainly red/purple/orange?

[Randomly]

from the arena

and from the train station actually

[Clemo]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2759891470_a2975b5f95.jpg

It's a little small, but you should be able to make out the different colours,

Orange and Purple are about the same distance away & Red is a little bit further, but they're all only about 5/10 minute walks.

Yellow & Green are the louder two but are closer & brown and white are quiet ones and a pretty sizeable walk to the arena, more for if you want to relax & keep out the way.

[chappiepunk]

from the arena

and from the train station actually

[Randomly]

thanks! I think i'm prepared.now,just 5 months to go

[chappiepunk]

thanks! I think i'm prepared.now,just 5 months to go

[Clemo]

And if you don't find anyone to go with there's a group of us (about 8/9 by the looks of it) lads & girls who're pretty laid back and you're welcome to chill with us if you like if you don't have anyone else to go with.

[Randomly]

Can always ask my parents-they went to glastonbury a lot(a couple of times a vaguely remember) and leeds(my dads advice is to make sure i stay away from anyone that looks like him because they'll rob me, make sure i dont put stuff in the bottom of my sleeping bag and if i still remember it afterwards i havent drunk enough:P), it just happens that im away at uni and besides they havent been in a long time so they wouldnt know the details and such.

What im saying makes sense to me right now but im faintly sleep deprived so probably doesnt really make sense O.o sorry

[Randomly]

awwww you're all so friendly and nice thank you

[Mega Ross]

I never bother with layers, i find if you've got a decent amount of insulation from the ground it's fine no matter how cold it is outside. I sleep bollock naked, and in a sleeping bag from tescos would you believe it (better than any other bag I've had).

Don't think boots are waterproof enough for reading. Last year I took doc martins (my 3 year old work pair) seeing as they were comfy bastards, before I ditched them, they just got flooded with mud and water. Wellies in big sizes were scarce. Had to buy size 10's and swap with my mate for size 11's (he's size 11, I'm size 12). If you do bring wellies, bring trainers for back at camp, nothing worse than getting up in the middle of the night for a piss and going barefoot. Or waking up in the morning and putting your freezing cold wellies on.

[Bisque]

I wore my Adidas Stan Smiths last year & there was no problem. Not very grippy on the Thursday evening around the stalls outside the Arena entrance but never leaked etc. They sucked up all that mud anyway with the toilet vacuum.

Definitely wear loads before you hit the arena in the evening, when the sun goes down it gets cold quickly & can be quite a surprise when walking out from a big crowd & after dancing. I just put loads of cheap/old t-shirts on underneath so that I can take them off & I won't be bothered if I lose them.

Instead of taking a a sleeping mattress/lilo I use a double sleeping bag which I wrap myself up in. Pretty comfy & warm.

I've got something a bit like this. It fits down the front of my trousers so doesn't get in the way & can fit my phone, camera, spare battery, ID & cash. My friends said I was a bit of a loser for wearing it but after they had lost all their s**t one year they all have one. Not really neccessary but if you like dancing around or moshing it's nice to know you won't lose your essentials out of your pocket.

Drink loads of water, even when your not thirsty, it keeps your energy levels up. Easier for a bloke as we can go wee anywhere though.

If there is a popular band on in the NME that you want to see, get there 30 mins early, get a drink & you won't have to rush getting in & be barged about by yoofs well up for a rumble.

The long drops aren't that bad, better than a mountain of poo in a portaloo that won't get cleaned until Saturday evening. The toilets in the arena are best & flush. The ones by the right of the NME are usually clean & have the shortest queue (correct me if there are better ones).

Take some of this. Antibac hand gel. Only £1 & will last a couple of festivals. That's my favourite one as it smells nice & always goes down well with the girls.

Find the Swap Shop in the Alternative stage after the bands have finished, it's awesome! It's a disco btw.

Also...

Go to the two silent discos, they are good fun.

Take a cheap Dunlop/golf umbrella that you can get from Sportsworld. Handy for shade & drizzle if you want to carry on socialising at camp.

All my female friends take bags of wine out of the wine boxes. Cheapest way to get drunk & you can smuggle it into the arena. If you like cider, I take Westons Organic 7.3%, £6 for a 3ltr bag from Tesco!

If I go this year I'm not taking any cans of alcohol as there are loads of vendors selling crates outside the gate on the main road which aren't unreasonably priced considering you won't be weighed down. Remember to take ID though as they are really strict, I was 20 & they refused to serve me even though the guy knew I was over 18 & I showed him my tattoos(I was drunk & his boss was watching!) so I had to get someone else to buy a crate for me.

I've got one of these that charges my Sony Ericsson & iPod. Just remember to pre-charge it before you go. They are about £10 off eBay.

Depending on camera... by a few cheap batteries for your camera beforehand off eBay. Some come from China & take ages to turn up but they cost about £3. Otherwise take decent Alkaline AA batteries like Duracell or Energiser. The ones they sell at the fest are sometimes fake Zinc ones & are rubbish & more expensive.

A torch can be handy, I've got a mini Maglite. Alternatively I just use the flash on my phone or Indian Jones style flaming torch off the bonfire (please don't ever do this).

If I feel particularly rough in the morning I scrub my mouth with Colgate Advanced White & throw myself under one of the water taps using a bit of 2-in-1 hair/shower gel & get the nearest girl/boy to give me a rub down.

Take loads of money. I don't want to miss anything because I was stuck in a 2 hour queue for an ATM. If your worrying about money at a festival it will put a downer on it a bit.

Take plenty of bog roll. It's known as white gold & by Sunday you'll know why.

Don't buy drugs off strangers as it will probably be those cheap Tesco's Pro Plus tabs that look like beans or caffeine powder.

These are all essentials for me but I'm sure some people on this forum will think it's a bit excessive. We usually take the ghetto blaster so your all invited for a drink in purple one night.

[Randomly]

how much money is plenty of money-and are the lockers safe enough that i can leave what i dont need in there or is it safer to keep it on me?apart from that thanks for the advice and i'll be along for that drink if i remember

Edited March 24, 2011 by Randomly

[mrtourette]

From the official site:

We have teamed up with Lockerhouse to make sure you can keep your belongings safe at Reading Festival. You get to keep a souvenir branded padlock after the event too! Book now, and be sure to keep your stuff safe all weekend. The lockers also have mobile phone charging facilities, which require you to bring a 12v Car adapter/charger. They are available in the Village 24 hours.

IMPORTANT! - PLEASE NOTE: the locker sizes are 25cm wide x 15.5cm deep x 10cm high - so they are the right size for small valuables (mobiles, wallets, cameras). The Locker is used at Hirers own Risk.

Lockers are only available to Weekend Camping ticket holders.

[Mega Ross]

I see lockers as totally pointless, especially if you have pockets which zip up. Just keep everything on you.

If you are worried about your house key, put it through your belt loop or clip the keys onto your belt with a caribiner clip.

Might come and find your lot Couchy, nothing like some good old ghettoblaster campsite raving

[Randomly]

already got a locker-my pockets are completely nonsafe and im forever losing stuff so its just easier for me for things i wont need

[Mega Ross]

What would you bring that you won't need on your though. Bar keys maybe.

Phones - Extremely useful to keep in contact with people you are looking for, trying to find someone in a crowd is f**king impossible, unless they are wearing a banana suit then you have about a 1 in 10 chance as I found out last year.

Wallet - How else are you gonna buy beer?

What other valuables could you possibly bring. It's up to you I guess but I just never saw the appeal of a locker.