The camping essentials - I've found a bargain which you all need to know about thread...

[scaryclaireyfairy]

42 minutes ago, prestonmike said:

not sure what the quality of the goods are but Lidl have a camping sale on next week, including a cheap 4 man tent

 

https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/Non-Food-Offers.htm?id=169&week=2

Ta.  I might try the solar charger. I have an Anker power thingy but my phone is losing the will and draining battery like nobody's business these days.

[ghostdancer1]

I think that was the same tent I bought from Lidl a few years ago, and it was perfect, survived several wet festivals. would recommend it. mine was definitely a Crivit with that same style/shape anyway.

[zico martin]

2 hours ago, scaryclaireyfairy said:

Ta.  I might try the solar charger. I have an Anker power thingy but my phone is losing the will and draining battery like nobody's business these days.

Read some stinking reviews for that charger on amazon so beware!

[frostypaw]

I don't imagine that charger will be much cop. That solar cell is pitifully small and it'd need to be constantly in full sun 

You can buy good sized powerpacks for £20 on amazon, just stay away from anker and look at easyacc/swees/etc and look out for crazy high capacity claims. anything much over 23000mAh is almost certainly nonsense if it's not very dear

[scaryclaireyfairy]

19 hours ago, zico martin said:

Read some stinking reviews for that charger on amazon so beware!

Tenner saved.  Thanks!

[frostypaw]

 They're fine but vastly overpriced. Why pay double just cos?

I mean you can but.... 

[grumpyhack]

On 15/04/2017 at 0:54 PM, scaryclaireyfairy said:

Ta.  I might try the solar charger. I have an Anker power thingy but my phone is losing the will and draining battery like nobody's business these days.

Why not just get a second battery for your phone and take that fully charged to swap?

[FestiZebra]

Hi all, looking for some help if poss...

Does anyone have any recommendations for a 4 man tent (standing height if possible) below £100? I've never bought a tent before, does cheap = bad quality?

Also any good "self-inflating" mats under £30? Or should I stick to the airbed

[Curlygirl]

16 minutes ago, FestiZebra said:

Hi all, looking for some help if poss...

Does anyone have any recommendations for a 4 man tent (standing height if possible) below £100? I've never bought a tent before, does cheap = bad quality?

Also any good "self-inflating" mats under £30? Or should I stick to the airbed

Decathalon have the aspenez 4.1 for about £80. Everyone I've spoken to that has one say it's good. 

[carlosj]

On 15/04/2017 at 0:54 PM, scaryclaireyfairy said:

Ta.  I might try the solar charger. I have an Anker power thingy but my phone is losing the will and draining battery like nobody's business these days.

Does it improve if you turn off WiFi, updates, app updates and everything other than phone and text? Additional nature should help too.

[FestiZebra]

12 minutes ago, Curlygirl said:

Decathalon have the aspenez 4.1 for about £80. Everyone I've spoken to that has one say it's good. 

I had been looking at that one!  thankyou

[stuartbert two hats]

14 hours ago, frostypaw said:

I don't imagine that charger will be much cop. That solar cell is pitifully small and it'd need to be constantly in full sun 

You can buy good sized powerpacks for £20 on amazon, just stay away from anker and look at easyacc/swees/etc and look out for crazy high capacity claims. anything much over 23000mAh is almost certainly nonsense if it's not very dear

Anker are great! Not necessarily the best value for money, but excellent weight/power ratio.

[Lycra]

On 14/04/2017 at 5:08 PM, MetaKate said:

Used the discount at blacks and ordered this tent https://m.blacks.co.uk/product/green-eurohike-pop-400-ds-tent/165217/

Was £51 plus shipping... also *almost* has standing height for me which seems giant for a pop-up.  Hopefully it holds up! 

Looks a good choice. Have done many festivals and nights out in my 3 man Euro hike pop up and it's withstood all the elements. The only issue I have is head height and overall space so this year thinking of getting the Arpenza 4.1 for the 2 of us. Should provide plenty of storage space and room to stand up (bliss).....Also been offered loan of Vango SC550.....excellent tent but 14kg...too heavy for me even though I have a sack truck

[Zoo Music Girl]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but does anyone know if you can buy tent bags for pre existing tents anywhere online? My tent is in good condition but the bag has split and I just want something to carry it in without it getting wet etc. Cheers in advance!

[GMF]

24 minutes ago, Zoo Music Girl said:

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but does anyone know if you can buy tent bags for pre existing tents anywhere online? My tent is in good condition but the bag has split and I just want something to carry it in without it getting wet etc. Cheers in advance!

Depends on the size but lots available,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_8?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tent+bag&sprefix=tent+bag%2Caps%2C682&crid=3HUH9F5LQXM85&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Atent+bag

 

or if you want to support the smaller retailer, although they are probably part of some multinational

https://www.bagsandcoversdirect.co.uk/view-product/tent-bag?gclid=cm3cj56uq9mcfqcq0wodgd4gaw

You could also check the efestivals shop

 

[Waapster]

Tent bags

[Zoo Music Girl]

11 minutes ago, GMF said:

Depends on the size but lots available,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_8?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tent+bag&sprefix=tent+bag%2Caps%2C682&crid=3HUH9F5LQXM85&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Atent+bag

 

or if you want to support the smaller retailer, although they are probably part of some multinational

https://www.bagsandcoversdirect.co.uk/view-product/tent-bag?gclid=cm3cj56uq9mcfqcq0wodgd4gaw

You could also check the efestivals shop

 

 

11 minutes ago, Waapster said:

Tent bags

Ah you absolute stars. Didn't even know if it was a thing! Thanks both. I appreciate I could have googled it myself...

[semmtexx]

56 minutes ago, Zoo Music Girl said:

[small snip]

Thanks both. I appreciate I could have googled it myself...

But - do you know what - this is precisely why this forum is so nice! Everyone wants to help out! 

:-) 

Big Glastonbury love to all!

Edited April 17, 2017 by semmtexx

[Gnomicide]

I know the EE Power Bars are overpriced but they are dead handy. Just walk up to the tent, hand it in and walk away with a fully charged one. They've done away with the wristbands which meant you could only swap once a day so you can share them and swap a few times each day.

[Zoo Music Girl]

14 minutes ago, semmtexx said:

But - do you know what - this is precisely why this forum is so nice! Everyone wants to help out! 

:-) 

Big Glastonbury love to all!

This is very true

Not much to get this year: tent bags and a portable phone charger are about it I think. Oh and booze/supplies obvs.

[somecoolusername]

On 14/04/2017 at 9:16 AM, Sasperella said:

What's the best footwear to take if we have an absolute scorcher? Whenever I'm been its been a 100% wellie based operation, so this is unchartered territory. My friend swears by jelly shoes, but i reckon thats asking for some savage blisters. Has anyone tried any of these? 

https://www.google.com.pe/amp/www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/outdoor-activity/10-best-womens-walking-sandals-10242108.html%3Famp

Other suggestions welcome! Too add to the stress I only have a week and half to break them in :-/

I just wore Converse for the whole 2010 festival (the last properly 'hot one'). Flip flops etc. are fine but aren't really meant for doing a lot of walking. You could go sandals, but I'd be worried about my feet getting trampled in a crowd.

So some kind of light trainers would be my tip 

[Zoo Music Girl]

31 minutes ago, somecoolusername said:

I just wore Converse for the whole 2010 festival (the last properly 'hot one'). Flip flops etc. are fine but aren't really meant for doing a lot of walking. You could go sandals, but I'd be worried about my feet getting trampled in a crowd.

So some kind of light trainers would be my tip 

I stuck to Converse in 2010 too. Bit too hot for trainers then really but I tended to take them off and be barefoot if staying somewhere for a bit. And it was cold at night so needed closed toes then.

My friend wore flip flops that year and cut her toe open on a rock. Nasty cut that needed dressing daily. The ground's  not ideal for them.

[Nduja]

22 hours ago, FestiZebra said:

I had been looking at that one!  thankyou

Another +1 for the Arpenaz here. By the time Glasto comes around it will be making it's 3rd visit to Glasto and 8th camping trip.

Great tent and great value 

[Madyaker]

I'm not sure flip flops are a good call. Even if the ground is dry it's going to be hard and uneven. I could probably do day 1 and 2 in flip flops but after that id say the feet would be sore and id have to swap to trainers or something.

Something like this would probabaly be good if it looks like its going to be a scorcher, plenty of grip and proper support http://www.mandmdirect.ie/01/details/KM401?gclid=CIH-rp7Jq9MCFSuT7Qodv4IDkA&gclsrc=aw.ds too soon to tell at the moment though haha!

Edited April 17, 2017 by Madyaker

[Sasperella]

1 hour ago, Zoo Music Girl said:

I stuck to Converse in 2010 too. Bit too hot for trainers then really but I tended to take them off and be barefoot if staying somewhere for a bit. And it was cold at night so needed closed toes then.

My friend wore flip flops that year and cut her toe open on a rock. Nasty cut that needed dressing daily. The ground's  not ideal for them.

Yeh good point....converse are probs the way forward! And then maybe take a pair of flip flops in the bag for when out and about