Am all in a tizz about what to take to a festival in a couple of weeks, any ideas?!
Have a Wynnster Merlin 3 tunnel tent which is small and easy to put up, with a porch big enough to cook and sit in (only if you are on a 3 leg stool).. or my lovely new Outwell Carolina S which is fairly quick to put up, could hold a party in the porch and is the perfect place to sit and do a thumbs-up to the rain, but weighs a ton and is a nightmare to dry out if it gets wet due to its size [the drying room is my bedsit, car, or allotment shed, so any normal tent is a pain!]
In my drunken panic I have just ordered a Quechua seconds IIII popup tent and an Outwell Tarp, thinking it will be the answer to my problems - popup tent easier to dry out afterwards, and the tarp can double as a moveable porch / sunshade [being optimistic here!]. But having just read the small print the popup tent has no porch and might be a little short on headroom.
All my friends have abandoned the idea of cooking or sleeping.. should I just go with the flow and stop being so fussy about tents?
Hiya
I've done a fair few festivals and if its just me (or friends taking their own) I take a Quechua 1man pop up (big enough for me and my rucksack)..usually hang it to the outside of my 65l rucksack, my theory for festivals is that if it doesn't go on my back, it doesn't go at all!
Headroom not an issue, you'll only be sleeping in it. I'd take the pop up and the tarp which you could rig up if it rains for somewhere for you all to sit.
If this is your first festie don't try and take too much (ask me how I know this..lol)..honestly depending on the festie it could be miles from the carpark.
Food, up to you if you want to cook, but its more luggage taking a cooker and pans not to mention the food..however, if like me you're on a budget , I take a HEXI stove and as many pot noodles as I can fit in my rucksack and the odd tin of ravioli, plus a kettle and hot choc sachets (no milk needed)..and a spork!
Which festie is it btw? I'm off to Vfestival for the fourth time next month :D and did a small festie called 2000Trees last weekend.
Many Festival sites will not allow gas/petrol cookers so check first!
As said earlier, you may lose stuff for good or end up with a damaged/ruined tent.
Keep it simple & buy food & drink from the vendors.
Also, keep your valuables IN your sleeping bag at night! .... My son went to one festival last year & tenst were being slashed open during the night whilst people slept & had valuables taken. Dozens of tents were damaged. Many were set fire on the final day too!
Well, we have the same problem. We are off to the Rewind 1980's festival which to be honest is a festival for big softies of a certain age like us! Went last year and had a great time. This year we are thinking of taking our heavy but lovely Cabanon mainly because I love it but a bit worried about it getting damaged. There are trollies to help get everything from car to pitch so I am thinking that a few trips backwards and forwards to car may mean that we have a more comfortable weekend. Maybe it depends which festival you are going to? We could take our Outwell Hartford or smaller slightly lighter Cabanon, but it just won't be the same. What do we all think??
hi Sprocket - good advice. The fest is Endorset in Dorset, do recommend it! Have done a few festies before, from over-the-fence at glasto with nothing but a sleeping bag [thank god for illegal substances] to the last one I went to where all the paraphernalia took up the whole car.. just for me.
Helen - equally good advice, I still feel guilty about the old ridge tent I dumped at Glasto in 2000.. came from a charity shop and I could put it up in 10 minutes in the dark even when inebriated. was rather heavy though! Do think people should be fined for dumping tents at festies..
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Lightweight(ish) festival camping?
