Festival advice

I can do this

You will definitely need:
A tent
A sleeping bag
A torch (for trying to get places at night)
A ticket (very useful!)
Money. Enough for the weekend. Don't assume there'll be a cash point. And even if there is know that the queue will be forever long
Bin bags. To put rubbish in, sit on, and protect yourself from rain.
Clothes. Enough for the weekend, and to suit all weather. You don't know what it'll do! Have a clean set for going home in (nobody wants to sit next to you if you smell and are all muddy)
Food and drink. Prices will be high, and it's cheaper/healthier to cook your own. And something to eat it with
Stove to cook said food. With gas.
Suncream. The burnt look is not good. Mosquito stuff as well if you're likely to get bitten.
Medicines that you usually take. Make sure it is in it's original box to prove it's prescription. I've had hassle before.
Condoms. In case.
A towel
Mobile phone. Fully charged and topped up. You will get lost at some point!
Toilet roll
Wet wipes. To keep clean. Moist toilet tissue covers the last two nicely
Deodorant. To not smell.
Toothbrush and toothpaste.
Hairbrush
Other toiletries you may want
A hammer. For tent pegs. Sometimes ground is hard
For smokers, enough cigarettes. Prices inside are high
A camera. Not expensive, a disposable will do.
If you don't want to be fuzzy, a razor. Electric ones mean less faffing
A hat. Protects your face from sun/rain
Wellies. Very useful if the place turns to mud

If you want to you can take the following
Sleeping mat
Gaffer tape
Freezer bags
Swiss Army Knife
Water carrier
Folding chair
Stereo (although I don't see why)

The big nos
Fireworks
Glass
Firewood
Weapons
Blowtorches
Gazebos
Laser pens
Unnecessary valuables
Stuff you would be upset if it was lost

This is a summary of what was said last year, so I think it covers all.

Much appreciated Gemma.

One more thing. I find it a good idea to put clothing and other things that would be ruined by rain in plastic bags before putting them in my rucksack, just in case. You can never be too careful.

Just realised I forgot wellies! Shame on me. Will add it to the list.

booze: make sure everything that is in glass bottles is put into plastic bottles. same goes for anything like jam etc as i know some people who forgot to do them too. dont take a sterio to download. they are really wierd and tend to like banning them (and then confiscating them) a reason that non of the stuards would divulge.

take a water carrier too. they stop you having to go to the water point a silly number of times.

best foods to take are dried things like super noodles (not pot noodles) etc as they take up small amounts of room and are light. dont do the mistake I made a few years back of taking canned goods as they are heavy and bulky. If you get long life bread, edam cheese and jam, they tend to survive without refrigeration in your tent just long enough to be edible all weekend, remember to re-package the jam though.

another piece of advice is to remember you may have to carry EVERYTHING you take for up to 2 hours if there is a long queue at the gate (which still annoyingly moves at a pace that means it doesnt make sence to put anything down). Pack according to what you are happy to carry* for that length of time.

* note i said happy. It is not reccommended to do what I do and take everything including kitchen sink. I take so much because I have been to more festivals than almost everyone on this forum and I know how to carry silly amounts of stuff (even if i do moan at the time that its heavy). the photo of me going to download 2004 isnt on church of pohawk, but im sure charles will post it.

DO NOT DO what I did at Leeds last year and forget to take anything with sleeves. Silly silly Kenny.

I'd argue back but I don't really have a case :rotfwl: ;p

It just never occured to specifically pack something with sleeves. I have been known to walk around in a tshirt in December mind.

1) Travel as light as you can. You will need to walk for miles with your kit.
2) A foam roll-mat is INDESPENSIBLE. air beds are heavy and get punctured.
3) Keep travel clothes in someting approaching a waterproof bag. get changed just before you get on the coach.
4) Take a lightweight wind and waterproof top. Donnington gets very windy and cold and the weather changes really quick.
5) You need a HAT, the sillier the better. They provide all round protection from both sun and rain. If anyone wants to borrow the chrome hard hat they are welcome to. It's also good for carrying water, and if you're really desperate you can use it as a bowl. Also a silly hat can help you be found in a crowd.
6) Make sure you can carry all your alcohol. 50 cans is about enough
7) FInd the photo of tim from 2004 as an example of too much kit.
If you can, pick me up as many un-wanted roll-mats from the campsite before you leave. Everyone forgets to take theirs home and they make great filling for flak jackets etc.
9) Do not forget what you're supposes to shout at passing aircraft. If you don't know why this is, donnington park is at the end of a runway, and used to be an airfield. There is a big spitfire down by the old hairpin.
10) Don't take anything with you that you would be mortified if you lost. This includes ipods, expensive cameras, your life savings and your significant other.
11) If you need to transport more than 100 cans, i suggest finding a wheelchair, J, or filling lemonade bottles with vodka.
12) And don't take too much kit, if you are not dirty, smelly, in need of a bath and still drunk when you get back, you have done something wrong.
13) Take a shit before you go. Wait till you are so drunk you have no sense of smell before trying to take another.
14) Make sure you have a torch and enough batteries to power if for most of the festival.
15) One stove is enough ofr about 5 people as long as you take enough fuel.
16) Avoid carrying water. it's heavy. Super noodles are much lighter than a tin of beans. 30 Packs of super noodles way naff all and will mean you probly wont need to worry too much about point 13

iostream wrote:

booze: make sure everything that is in glass bottles is put into plastic bottles. same goes for anything like jam etc as i know some people who forgot to do them too.

It´s true. I saw a large amount of coffee jars lining the entrance to Leeds. Everyone remembers to put their alcohol in plastic bottles, but not such things as coffee. We didn´t. We completely forgot that our pasta sauce was in glass. Nobody noticed though, but we were lucky.

Me and grandparrot are gonna try and meet up at Earthshaker by holding up signs with each other's names on!

Last year at Leeds one of my Strongbow tins leaked in my cooler bag and made the whole thing stink!

I can't be arsed cooking food at festivals, so I just take dry food like crisps, biscuits and Nutrigrain bars! I also took super noodles because I knew one of me mates would take a gas cooker.

I'm gonna need plenty of food for Earthshaker. Half of my time away will be on the damn coach!

Miffy wrote:

We completely forgot that our pasta sauce was in glass. Nobody noticed though, but we were lucky.

We did that too at Leeds last year and had to pour it into freezer bags that someone had luckily wrapped various other things in lol. It was slightly messy but we were able to take it inside so all was well

UpTheIrons6587 wrote:

Me and grandparrot are gonna try and meet up at Earthshaker by holding up signs with each other's names on!

This is where owning a Miffy is oh so useful

don't forget lots of clean socks and if you've got space and can be arsed to carry them a spare pair of trainers. Also remember to take plenty of warm clothes- last year I was freezing without wearing everything I'd taken. I also found a smaller water bottle in addition to my big one useful cos it's easier to carry around/take into pits etc.

UpTheIrons6587 wrote:

I just take dry food like crisps, biscuits and Nutrigrain bars!

I'm not planning on taking any food that requires cooking, or much preparation at all.

darkish_angel87 wrote:

UpTheIrons6587 wrote:

I just take dry food like crisps, biscuits and Nutrigrain bars!

I'm not planning on taking any food that requires cooking, or much preparation at all.

Good, I don't see the point in anything that requires cooking.

I somehow managed to achieve not eating or pissing on the Friday at last year's Leeds fest. I stayed at the main stage all day for Maiden, and never left, I never felt hungry or the need for the toilet, and my feet never ached, what's that about?

Adrenaline.

Chocolate spread and bread seemed good last year. Get one in a plastic jar.

Kitty wrote:

Adrenaline.

Chocolate spread and bread seemed good last year. Get one in a plastic jar.

Hmm, that don't sound like a bad idea. I'll need some long lasting bread though

Take more than one pair of shoes. Luckily I did last year, so when my converses got torn apart during Iron Maiden I was alright

Also make sure any shoes you take you don't mind getting muddy/ruined/are washing machine friendly.

We also found blankets quite useful last year. And camping chairs/stools if you've got them.

Kitty wrote:

Chocolate spread and bread seemed good last year. Get one in a plastic jar.

That's the sort of thing I had in mind. And can somebody tell me whether or not fruit and yoghurts are acceptable?

Wouldn´t yoghurt go nasty outside of a fridge?

I'd say so. Fruit should be alright though

Also if you take yoghurt it could split in your bag, cos yoghurt pots arent very sturdy, and then you'd have yoghurt on everything.

It depends on how good you are at going for long lengths without food, but whatever you do don't go for too long without drinking (so get a water carrier, like a platypus), otherwise you could end up nearly passing out (like me during HBTN at Leeds) or actually fainting. Also be careful of how much alcohol and other dehydrating drinks like coke you consume to avoid missing stuff.

Read up on what you can and can't take before buying anything so you're safe (not having been to download, I don't know what you're allowed). I'd take a clean t-shirt for everyday, including the day you head back on.
Indian style snacks last well (I have found).
Don't expect to get much sleep either, however comfy you make your tent. Practice setting up your tent before going to make sure everything is there.

I think that's about everything I have to pass on, given my limited experience of camping one night at one festival!

And I'll try and stand out at Earthshaker, though I don't know how I'll manage seeing as I won't be the only long haired male with some sort of beard on his chin there!

We wore fairy wings last year. That got us noticed

I'm seriously tempted...

Oh yeah don't forget any antihistamines/pills/medicine etc if you so require

I wouldn't take yoghurt and I'd be wary of fruit cos some fruit is squishy and goes nasty and also it's a source of fibre and you really don't want to use the toilet any more than is strictly necessary. That means avoiding dried fruits such as apricots and dates as well.

If you have hayfever it's essential to take any antihistamines you need. I took my eyedrops last year and found that antibacterial handwipes were very useful cos I didn't want to put nasty grubby fingers that near my eyes. Also don't forget painkillers if you're likely to need them.

Taking enough cash is essential, but don't take more than you have and can spend. Remember it could get nicked. There are cashpoints at download but they have long queues and charge you to withdraw from.

I was at a cashpoint at Leeds for an hour last year. I watched the whole Arctic Monkeys set from the queue...

charles_elwood wrote:

5) You need a HAT, the sillier the better. They provide all round protection from both sun and rain. If anyone wants to borrow the chrome hard hat they are welcome to. It's also good for carrying water, and if you're really desperate you can use it as a bowl. Also a silly hat can help you be found in a crowd.

11) If you need to transport more than 100 cans, i suggest finding a wheelchair, J, or filling lemonade bottles with vodka.

yes, silly hats are good. however, me carrying beer isnt, so dont expect me to do it this year

charles_elwood wrote:

9) Do not forget what you're supposes to shout at passing aircraft. If you don't know why this is, donnington park is at the end of a runway, and used to be an airfield. There is a big spitfire down by the old hairpin.

i think only me, matt and leeney are going that were there previously with you shouting that, and i dont think i can be bothered shouted every time a plane goes over.

charles_elwood wrote:

10) Don't take anything with you that you would be mortified if you lost. This includes ipods, expensive cameras, your life savings and your significant other.

if people want to take cds with them, i MIGHT be taking my old ghetto blaster thing. its about 10 years old, will run off 8 d-size batteries, and since its on the verge of dying alltogether i can live without it if it gets nicked. depends how much other stuff i have to carry though.

psychoj wrote:

i think only me, matt and leeney are going that were there previously with you shouting that, and i dont think i can be bothered shouted every time a plane goes over.

Just to clear this up, i didn't do it last year and i'm not doing it this year. At the same time i will try my hardest to resist shouting bollocks across the camp site and setting fire to the portaloos

Aelfin wrote:

psychoj wrote:

i think only me, matt and leeney are going that were there previously with you shouting that, and i dont think i can be bothered shouted every time a plane goes over.

Just to clear this up, i didn't do it last year and i'm not doing it this year. At the same time i will try my hardest to resist shouting bollocks across the camp site and setting fire to the portaloos

sorry charles, looks like your tradition will have to wait until next year

Mainly because it's an old joke and is running a little thin.....

no. no it isnt. we had it spreading the campsite last year, so you may end up not having a choice.

crisps are a bad idea as they WILL get crushed no matter how you pack as the luggage tends to be packed like sardines in the coach.

bread is ok as i said if anyone actually read my post but will get squashed so be aware your sarnies are going to be falling appart.

Just remember, you will have to be able to carry EVERYTHING from the coach to where you're camping. And you DONT get to return to the coach.

I propose we break timmy's legs and get him a wheelchair with uber carrying facilities.

1) im not going
2) For efficiencies' sake, you are best disableing someone who cant carry much anyway, I would be a poor choice mainly because I carry silly amounts of stuff to every festival anyway.

We could get someone a wheelchair WITHOUT breaking their legs, too

that's far too sensible and logical kenny. you're going to break their heads...

Good sun protection and lots of money for icecream/drinks: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?id=1632, though personally i couldn't distrust the bbc weather reports any more if even if presented by the iraqi minister of information

"There is no sun at Download. The sun is 100, 200 miles from here. The sun is nowhere! DO NOT BELIEVE THEM!"[/img]

I hope it stays at that temperature the following week. I may not freeze then!

Bump.

A little late, but might be useful for some people this weekend

*Bump*

I thought some of the new people this year may appreciate this :) 

Wow, an thread that's more than a year old that hasn't been deleted by the history police