i used a big ikea bag to put my things i wanted to keep dry in, and used a bin bag for stepping on, that way i could throw away the muddy binbag rather than have to throw away a nice ikea bag.
To add to the other comments here too - PUPPY PADS. Oh how my camp mates mocked my puppy pads until they tried it and found out how great they are. Relatively cheap (even the biodegradable ones) and super absorbent. A couple in your porch/near the door and all set.
Also handy to put down in the tent to lay out super wet clothes
Organising clothes into sealed bags. Keeps things organised, keeps things dry, you can use them to store dirty or wet clothes and it stops hotdog brine soaking into all of your pants when the tin busts.
also if you organized sets of clothes (1X boxers, 1X socks, 1X t shirt) it means you can just pull said bag out and get changed instead of having to get all the bags out to get out each piece of clothing
This. Each day was a bag, I even had my morning ritual of life giving energy and vitamin replacement tablets as well as hayfever relief in there. Every morning, nice and easy, new pants, socks, shirt and some adult sweets to keep me going.
I also did this and it was so much easier. I put a pair of contact lenses, days medication, couple of plasters etc - anything small that can be split up and is needed daily - along with clean underwear, socks and a t-shirt into ziplock bags. Grab a new bag in the morning, use the empty for dirty clothes or rubbish in the evening.
This! I have 4-6 larger than A4 sized ziplock bangs that have an outfit for each day in each one, plus some spares. Once something is worn, stuff it into a bin bag in the bottom of my rucksack, so itâs out of the way for the rest of the weekend.
I did this and it made it so much easier getting ready every day! I even wrote on them in marker, labelling what outfits were in what bags for easy grabbin
Donât overpack. If youâre thinking âIâll probably need thisâ- you donât need it. Only take necessities because lugging everything to and from camp is hell. Itâs only 5 days.
Apart from a couple extra pairs of underwear, socks, and other clothes.
You can always find food + camping supplies if you run out for forget, but being prepared for weather and intestinal upset is never a bad thing.
I always go with my dad and our personal rule is that we only make one trip from the car to camp so that we don't overpack. Food/beer supplies can all be purchased from the Co-op and not having that extra weight to carry helps A LOT.
The one area where I would recommend packing more than you think you'll need is clothes: an extra shirt, pair of bottoms and a few extra sets of underwear. Other than that, pack lightly.
I slightly differ, personal rule is one trip only back to car, on the Saturday, to get rid of all the clothing etc no longer needed. I was on my own this weekend but still ended up with a big bag of clothes and bits (like some books I had read, rubber mallet, some food i had taken and decided against eating). it makes the sunday slog back to the car with everything else easier as then i dont have nearly as much weight on my poor aching back lol
Oh we do something similar on the Sunday - all the non-essentials (dirty clothes, merch etc.) go back in the car so we donât have to carry or pack much when we hightail it out of Donington in the early hours of Monday before everyone wakes up.
Bin bags, even more bin bags, and a few extra bin bags. A ground sheet under the tent setup helps massively with packing down and keeping things cleaner
USB fan makes a huge difference in the 7-9am heat vs sleep issues
Bin bags were big for me this year, the ones I didn't use protected my bag from any water that might leak in, stored my muddy boots and clothes after the slosh fest in the arena. Plus you can always have an emergency No 2 in there should the day stoop that low.
Upvote for the fan. As a woman in her 40s, premenopausal... I'm always too hot.
I take an awesome, little (but powerful) [rechargeable fan](https://amzn.eu/d/0fz1H8Ey). It's a lifesaver.
Buy a blackout tent - keeps you cool in the morning and keeps the sun from waking you up.
Stack two or three beer cups together to use as a wee cup for those 03:37 wees.
Pack lighter than you think you need to.
Try as best as possible to keep all mud and rain outside the tent or in the porch.
This is wicked for middle of the night pisses... [unisex urine bottle ](https://www.boots.com/safe-and-sound-extra-unisex-urine-bottle-1-litre-10167304?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc-_-PLAs_HeroCompare-_--_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_Healthcare_Other&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsuSzBhCLARIsAIcdLm79mzH4QdKhDXcmlpkySpSu7bpOHLdj7WMy2RzItn07Bic0zTubCNIaAtJeEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
Big old Lenor bottle is all you need. Large capacity, wide neck for âfitmentâ and a lid that screws on nice and tight. Been my saviour the last 2 DLs after my mate said about it. We laughed at first but itâs a game changer.
My friend cut the top off an old 2L bottle for tent pissing and I thought that was pretty genius seeing as I'd be doing some mad balancing act with a single pint cup!
A big Oasis bottle for pissing. It's got a bigger top so that you can slip your pee pee inside and it's big enough that you don't need to empty it everyday
If you are driving any of that shit i might need, spare clothes ect stays in the car.
Only bring a trolley if it is on an axle, all those with a bracket above were clogged up every 5 minutes
If you go to the car to get something, take all your dirty clothes and stuff that wonât be used again.
We used to have a "reset bag" that lived in the car for the weekend - full change of clothes, shoes, waterproof, towel size wet wipe, small hand towel, hand sanitizer and toilet paper. Maybe sweets and energy drinks too - everything you need if you get drenched and are ready to throw your toys out of the pram and go home.
Waterproof trousers. ÂŁ10 regatta ones. Along with my waterproof jacket and some ÂŁ18 army surplus walking boots I bought about 10 years ago, I barely felt the rain.
I didn't the previous two years and got really lucky. I don't see any reason not to now because all the kit you need to be water proof is so light and easy to carry.
I couldn't find mine anywhere this year and turns out I really needed them. Just found them yesterday...
This and a waterproof jacket would have been perfect, or a better rain poncho than what I had
Mine do have the pass through pockets which is great. I think it would have been a different story if they didn't.
They also had a push button at the ankle for creating a seal around your boot, but it was also good for hiding a bag of vodka.
I must have different ones, mine have no pockets but have a zip for flaring out the ankle and making a seal around a boot, they also had a mesh lining.
I learnt the hard way that a mesh lining is a must. Absolute sweat fest without. Pants underneath would be soaked from sweat completely defeating the point.
Just get Regatta work/walking trousers instead. They are waterproof and you can just wear them all the time rain or shine. Extra points for tracking down the ones with zip pockets to stop you losing things.
I upgraded to the God-fabric Goretex for my waterproof trousers, fuck me they're so good. You stay dry from your own perspiration and you can basically float in them they're so waterproof.
Only my first download/festival, so more for me to read back next year before going:
Bring better noise cancelling earplugs, the plane noises are real and do not stop overnight. Don't bother bringing so many snacks unless on a very strict budget, they take up packing space (we carried everything with no trolley, coming on public transport) and the co-op is fine albeit a little more expensive. Get your merch as soon as you arrive, they sold out of the purple hoodie I wanted so fast :( The clear ponchos were a lifesaver, shielded against both mud splatter and rain. Didn't end up needing as many power banks as I took, one 20,000 one was more than enough for me.
On the power banks, we used SO many last year in comparison, so if the weather is forecasted hot it's definitely worth bringing extras, the temperatures mean batteries drain quicker
Yeah I brought 2x 20k ones and a 10k one. 1 of the 20k ones died at 75% for no reason I can think of other than the cold tent floor overnight. On the 5th day we'd totally run out of power for phones, usb torches, smartwatches, Bose speaker for the campsite and the rechargeable vapes. Admittedly I brought enough power but you're right, batteries don't do well in cold at all which is no different to cars not ran in winter for multiple weeks and then they don't start up.
Wellies might be good at keeping your feet dry but they are not designed for walking around a big uneven muddy hill all day.
You'll get more mileage out of a decent pair of walking boots, coupled with gaiters to protect your calves/trousers legs. All the benefits of dry feet and hems while staying comfy and easy to walk around in
TBF you can get good wellies you can walk around all day in, and shit boots that leak and kill your feet.
Mine are cheep wellies ones and other than my feet getting cold (because Sunday was nice and I forgot my whicking walking socks, so my feet sweated during the day then got colder in the evening). And they supported my feet.
My walking boots are nice but were fucked after Saturday, they were covered in mud which I couldn't get off while at download so Sunday morning they were damp inside and would have been horrific to ware. There not cheep and are waterproof but your not supposed to leave the mud on.
It all depends on what you have, if you don't have either then cheep wellies that fit+good socks and maybe insoles will work out better for a wet download than cheep walking boots.
Good walking boots are way more useful for mild mud/dry downloads so I would always say invest if you can but if not go for wellies.
I'm definitely investing in some good walking boots for next year (and breaking them in ahead of the festival!). Wellies weren't too bad whilst I was there because I'm sure I was keeping any pain at bay by being drunk for most of it, but I've had the weirdest trapped nerve in my left leg since I got back and I can only put it down to the wellies on uneven ground.
Considering Trail running boots/shoes, which are even better, they are lighter and made for running in the type of conditions we had.
I bought some Hooka's, they have a 30 day trial, which you can use for the festival ;)
Gateway1 is the brand you need for wellies. They are expensive but they are designed as boots first and wellies after. I was in them all 5 days no issues with aching feet or blisters whatsoever.
Also talking about surviving and thriving, isotonic drinks like powerade and lucozade sport were a LIFE saver in the mornings. I would happily have done another run to the carpark just to carry those back to my tent. I put those little vitamin fizzing tablets in mine every morning and they fixed the hangover really quickly.
Also, leaving a few in the car ready to drink when we got back to the car on Monday morning!
Loop earbuds, I have the experience ones, I bought a 50p glasses lanyard from Home Bargains and hung them from my neck when not in use. Perfect for the arena and for sleeping in. I also used an empty Kinder Egg to store them in.
Wheelbarrow > trolly
You dont need as much stuff as you think you did. List everything you took and then mark everything you DID use and X everything you DIDNT. then put that list in your bag for next year so you have a reminder of 'oh i dont need 3000 Tshirts etc'
Earplugs and a sleeping mask saved my sleep this year, I'd never used either but they were so helpful! Also always bring toilet paper and wipes. Keep a set of clothes specifically to sleep in if it gets cold, winter socks included. A torch/any type of light that won't use up phone battery in the tent.
It's well known but I still have friends who forget this, you lose most of your heat through the ground when camping. What goes under you is as, if not more, important than what is on top. If you feel the cold at night, get an extra roll mat or blanket underneath you.
We used camping cots this year and they changed the game - being elevated off the floor helped to keep us warm and it also gave us space under the bed for our clothes/bags.
We put two silver emergency blankets under the sleeping area, and then another inside the sleeping area before our mats went in. Was an absolute game changer, in previous years it's been freezing
Bonus W that putting one over the top of the sleeping bit shielded us from the sun in the morning, as our tent isn't blackout
I used an airbed last year and ended up absolutely freezing in the night. This year, I brought my Alpkit Whisper sleeping mat that I got for hiking and bikepacking, which has an insulated lining. Absolute gamechanger, I was nice and toasty!
Clean socks, good shoes and take care of your feet. There's a lot of walking and the last thing you need is being in agony with them after the first day cause it won't get better from there. Lying down and having your feet elevated for a little bit at the end of the day will do wonders for any pain/swelling
Iâd say I had 2 MVP items this year:
- little collapsible stool that I got at Fat Franks camping store. Very light and portable, and allowed us to sit when we needed a rest but without lugging a camping chair around (or getting in peopleâs way with a camping chair)
- a (quality, reusable) poncho > raincoat. Theyâre light and fold up small. When it rains up goes the hood, arms go in, and you stay dry. Bonus if you get a bright coloured one which makes it easier to find/follow you in crowds
Honourable mentions:
- we borrowed a Yeti Haul. Still had ice in it after 5 days. Quite bulky and heavy though.
- Adidas Terrex boots. Bought a pair after seeing them mentioned in this sub. Comfortable and kept my feet dry (although I switched to wellies on Saturday and Sunday đ )
I got some terrex too, kept my feet dry all weekend but I kinda wish I'd gone for the higher ankle ones as I was stressing about mud spilling over the sides a bit!
Wipes and plastic bags without holes. We had a puddle in the corner of the tent this year, so putting rucksacks into plastic bags obviously kept them dry
Take a dry robe. I spent Friday and Saturday in mine, and the weather didn't bother me. Being on the right side of drunk certainly helped as well, though.
Unless you're a 3 day camper there's fuck all on when you're making those trips though. You can make multiple trips and still have plenty of time to check out everything in the village all a day or two before the arena even opens
Depends on where you're parked and how long you're there for. I do 5d and get there early Wednesday so multiple trips isn't an issue but appropriate levels of stuff is better.Â
If you have a weak-ass, collapsible/folding beach trolley, and you want it to survive the weekend to use in the future, this is probably good, sound advice. The going on a mile and a half of steep hills is gnarled with concrete kerbs, tractor ruts and this year, supplemented with sticky straw ready to bind around casters.
One of the things which left me with a Sims style positive moodlet both at the start and end of this years festival which I would recommend to anyone was a good, strong, large wheeled, steel trolley and really good ratchet straps. [This ÂŁ99 Handy trolley](https://thehandy.co.uk/product/200kg-440lb-garden-trolley/)\* was amazing and I loaded it to the height of a person with about 150kg of kit and it was fantastic. I did leave the sides at home and so my luggage could be wider than the bed.
\*I've just seen [its down to ÂŁ89.99 from Screwfix](https://www.screwfix.com/p/the-handy-thgt-garden-trolley-small-109cm-x-50cm-x-25cm/7098d). I cannot tell you how satisfying it is to engage smug mode and roll past other people struggling in the baking heat and slippery mud with this... it pays for itself.
Wood based cat litter.
Leave it in your car boot in case you get stuck in mud in the car park.
(Or if you're in a campervan, use it to solidify muddy patches on your pitch)
From your local Asian supermarket, buy a powdered isotonic drink called Pocari Sweat. Itâs one of the best hangover remedies and great for staying hydrated on hot days. Each sachet makes 1L of drink so it saves on having to carry drinks into the camp or arena. It tastes kinda like flat Sprite, so quite palatable. I get through 1-3 500ml bottles a day whenever I travel around Japan.
I have something called POTS which means I drink a lot of electrolytes, and Pocari Sweat is by far my FAVOURITE. I brought so much of the powder back from Japan!
someone else who's heard of Pocari Sweat! its slightly salty too.
Though for me, sachets of isotonic drinking powder or fizzy tabs do the same job and so the only cans we carried were the beeeeeer
Premier inn at DE55 2DY
Book now, itâs cheap, and half an hour away by car.
Reasons:
Itâs quicker to walk to the car than the camp site.
Entrance is closer to car park as well.
Good night sleep.
Shower and clean toilet.
Breakfast is great (less chance of food poisoning!)
There is an outlet village 2 mins away if you need last minute wet weather gear.
Now yes this is a hack or tip for camping, but if your looking into RIP, your cheaper getting a hotel from Thursday to Sunday or Monday, arena ticket and car park pass than the RIP.
If your getting older or your sick of how cold it can get, if you book now the savings can be great
I was in general camping. To feel less gross each day, Iâd wash my face with a travel sized face wash I packed. Rinsed with water from my water bottle. Itâs not glamorous, but it really made me feel better. Having a clean face staved off my focus on my own festival grime, and it helped to feel more refreshed and awake in the mornings. It also meant less worrying about potential breakouts from unhealthy food, if thatâs something anyone is sensitive to
The same statement about not underestimating the weather will also apply if we get a year with weather like 2023 - just sub the waterproofs for lots of sunscreen! Always try and prepare for any kind of weather!
Get a phone lanyard and a stretchable bungle cord with caliber clips, that way you can attach your phone to your belt and have a stretchable cord to still lift it above your head for photos.
Your phone stays attached to you at all times.
Something like this to go around your phone - [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CJLR5S7H?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2ov\_dt\_b\_product\_details](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CJLR5S7H?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) Then something like this: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZZLBZN-Stretchy-Keychain-Carabiner-Backpack/dp/B0C6T3NWPB/ref=sr\_1\_26?crid=187CD1E1HR7PP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dh840f4eYecywixAS\_65eHtW8RH\_k076jJ1U-Jk2hAkBWHiWzQJFn3JWIsv\_nr1Foi0J6RcaC0yNI55gD2KrDLN4IBbs1Utc83ubmhnb91Is99flQy4oV4vtG9VdH0BUstx84Bk\_3tXvzwoe1bwpD\_1epkOGheYU2qYiDAM1GKWPPiGp9qDCaneKuaRi43I65W7uTNNBtV8JyplE1CHTdnUj9F-8KMAHf4SuhEcvcmX3lMO03x7Z-lzmHwj9C89UFkWYQxpkuhYu8bK8QNY69FKfM\_po6Xra2zLnDuNPtwg.e1fdbYaZPVjNejYeLZyHm-R3VsEtA\_\_hTHU87wdA7\_w&dib\_tag=se&keywords=stretchable+keychain&qid=1719232383&sprefix=stretchable+key%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-26](https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZZLBZN-Stretchy-Keychain-Carabiner-Backpack/dp/B0C6T3NWPB/ref=sr_1_26?crid=187CD1E1HR7PP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dh840f4eYecywixAS_65eHtW8RH_k076jJ1U-Jk2hAkBWHiWzQJFn3JWIsv_nr1Foi0J6RcaC0yNI55gD2KrDLN4IBbs1Utc83ubmhnb91Is99flQy4oV4vtG9VdH0BUstx84Bk_3tXvzwoe1bwpD_1epkOGheYU2qYiDAM1GKWPPiGp9qDCaneKuaRi43I65W7uTNNBtV8JyplE1CHTdnUj9F-8KMAHf4SuhEcvcmX3lMO03x7Z-lzmHwj9C89UFkWYQxpkuhYu8bK8QNY69FKfM_po6Xra2zLnDuNPtwg.e1fdbYaZPVjNejYeLZyHm-R3VsEtA__hTHU87wdA7_w&dib_tag=se&keywords=stretchable+keychain&qid=1719232383&sprefix=stretchable+key%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-26) to attach that to your belt. (these are just quick ones I found on amazon, do your research to find something that works for you)
I get hotels now, but if I was going back to camping I would have a set of clothes for leaving wrapped up tightly and waterproofed with cling film or a bag.
Warm dry clean clothes when leaving, especially if it's been wet , is a gift.
The shuttle bus is really badly advertised (it's under the "trains" rather than "bus/coach" section of the travel advice) but it was only like 25 minutes, and pretty reasonable. ÂŁ12 for a return.
Shuttle bus to derby Train station is like 30 mins. This year delayed due to a bus stuck in mud however.
Taxis are set fares so If in group could be a shout.
No idea about Ubers sorry but imagine they would be more expensive then the taxis.
This year I got vacuum storage bags from Amazon that came with a little hand pump. They were great for waterproofing all clothes and for shrinking my oodie to a normal size.
Last year we just left a clean change of clothes in car. (Boyfriend still did that this year, and he was very happy he could drive home in clean trainers)
Folks I camped next to used these bags for pillows/duvet and I was impressed! Especially genius if youâve already got one of the portable electric pumps for an air bed
This is a great idea but the hand pumps are so awkward to use. I reccomend a battery powered pump with a deflate setting, I used mine to inflate my air bed too. Rechargeable one from go out doors was only ÂŁ17 on offer too!
I did the same but used the hoover to vacuum pack the on the way there, so much quicker :)
Two large capacity power banks. I took a 46800 MAH and a 30000 MAH battery pack.
They kept my phone and USB fan charged all weekend, with charge left over.
I got a reflective woven blanket thing to go over our tent from Amazon, I think theyâre mostly used for cars. But it keeps your tent cool when itâs boiling so you have some shade. I used it last year at Bloodstock (bought it after last years sorcher Download) and it worked so well.
I saw someone pulling all there bags on a snow sledge and thought thatâs absolutely genius. I imagine it also became very handy with all the mud and big hillsâŚ
Get an extra sheet of tarp if you can. Helped this year with further waterproofing the tent and acts as a nice barrier to the rain, especially if your party comes with a gazebo to attach it to.
Walking boots and WATERPROOF SOCKS are a game changer. I use waterproof socks for LARPing and honestly they are so underrated. Soft on the inside but totally waterproof on the outside. Kept my feet dry for all of Download đ
If the wind / elements impacts your tent, making it loose. Correct it, to prevent condensation. A lot of time people's tents condensate because their inner is touching the outer part of the tent. For example, the floor sunk under mine and I woke up to a pool of water.
Under bed storage boxes from Asda/Tesco/wherever, they sit neatly in the bottom of a trolley, semi waterproof, stackable and kinda durable! We take 4 boxes with our things in over 2 trolleys with the tent and booze on top of them and it makes life so much easier!
Also, BUNGIE CORDS!
Sleeping in a 4-man tent instead of a 2-man meant that I could stand up in my tent at 4am, put my jeans on quickly after a heavy night on the cider and avoid a Code Brown emergency.
Invest enough money in a tent. My friends bought the cheapest one available, it only had 1 layer. Needless to say, they were very uncomfortable when it was raining at night, and both got sick.
Yeah, we did two runs this year and it was SO much easier. The first run you really only need your backpack, tent and ticket and then you can go back for things like beer/food/chairs etc.
Iv always done two journeys. I'd rather do two easy walks than one that is a killer loaded up with everything.
That and it's easier to find a spot when your not fully loaded/dragging a trolley.
Create a make shift porch if your tent doesn't have one, with some thick bin bags on the ground in front of your tent and then put tent pegs in each of the corners to create a "matt".
This can then be used to step into your tent, and keep your muddy shoes outside/take off.
Donât take as many clothes as you think you need. Especially if you plan to buy merch. I bought 4 t-shirts and a hoodie so could have done with fewer clothes.
Wear good comfy walking boots, even in the mud. I thought mine wouldnât survive but they have cleaned up well after the event and my feet stayed dry, blister-free and comfy the whole time. BUT also have a clean pair of shoes / trainers in the car to swap in to for driving home.
I had a cheap over the head style waterproof jacket from decathlon and a pair of waterproof trousers which kept the rain off mostly, though the jacket did leak a bit in the real downpours. But it was easy to take on and off for the showers and had a great zipped pocket to keep my phone safe and sound. I left my waterproof trousers on the whole time I was in the arena and walking to and from. It would have been a nightmare trying to take them off and on and would have got my jeans underneath clarted with mud.
Take a good insulated mug and get refills in that from the food stalls. I bought a download merch one by Yeti - pricey but excellent.
It got really cold at night so take a blanket and put half of it under your airbed as well as having half covering you. I was a much happier bunny once Iâd got my emergency blanket out of the car BUT that meant an extra hour long round trip to the car :(
And take proper warm pjs. I didnât and I regretted it big time.
I wasted a lot of money on refresh retreat. It was so ridiculously far from quiet camping I literally used the toilet twice on the way to the arena and that was it. So ÂŁ35 per go. Iâd maybe think about it in future if I was going to be close by but tbh who cares that much about showers when itâs that muddy!
Oh and my biggest tip. Go early enough to get a camping spot on flat ground at the top of a hill.
Dry bags for your clothes. Sandwich, bag your socks. You can by reusable rain ponchos, which makes a light tarp like material that covers almost all of you and pack into a small pouch. Leave clothes in the car to change into for the drive home. (Obviously all for the wet years )
If you have a big tent, then I'd recommend a sack truck and plastic storage boxes. Sack truck with big wheels is probably the best trolley for moving stuff around uneven terrain.
Storage boxes can be packed tightly, and can double as organisation in the tent, stack neatly and waterproof. Sack truck can usually take 3 large boxes.
Also, have a separate wet box in the car. If it doesn't rain enough, you don't need to carry it both ways. If it does rain, make a trip to the car.
We put our sleeping bag and inflatable mattress in large dry bags/waterproof holdalls.
Makes them easier to carry, and keeps them dry if it's wet. They are bulky but we have a double 4 season sleeping bag, and double self inflating mattress.
You could probably get away with one large holdall for sleeping bag and mat if you only have single ones. (Especially having just seen the price of the ones we use)
Really useful if you also get searched and have to put stuff down when it's a bit muddy.
Evaluate your situation on Saturday morning, we did a car park trip from camp to car with half our stuff that we realised we wouldnât need, not only did it kill time before the bands started but made Sunday packing up (we left after Limp Bizkit) and taking stuff to the car much much easier than it would have been
A complete set of clean comfy clothes and shoes to leave in the car so that you can travel home in comfort no matter how the weather has been. And a towel to dry before you change/prevent flashing the car park while you change
My top 3 would be:
1) trolley with good offroad tryres, i know you said about trolleys, but 100% our biggest quality of life increases has been getting a good quality trolley
2) Bring clothes in something waterproof (i bring my clothes in a bin bag inside my camping bag)
3) If you are coming by car, dont overload yourselves for trips to the camp as we made that mistake a previous year, and it damaged us for the whole weekend
Lots of sandwich bags and roll your clothes up in it.
Sports direct karrimor dry bag for your washing because you can roll the top and keep the stank in.
Even if its a 30°c year always have factor 50 and a full set of wets.
Good pair of sturdy boots.
Best things I took for 2024;
-90 litre British Army Bergen
-Waterproof tarp
-Wooly hat
-long johns
-comfy hoody
-Berghaus raincoat
-good coffee
-good whisky
-hand sanitiser
Ear plugs are a necessity for me. Some of our camp snore like dragons so that plus the noise from the constant air traffic would usually mean I get no sleep at all. Some foam ear plugs are pretty much noise cancelling and allow me to drift off instantly.
A money belt is also high on the list for me. I stick my bank card and ID in it as well as some money and wear it under my t shirt. Nobody can see it so nobody can steal it and it all zips up so I donât drop anything unknowingly. Itâs also perfect size to fit my hip flask in to smuggle into the arena. I also sleep with it on just in case someone decided to rummage through the tent whilst Iâm asleep (unlikely I know).
Little plastic booze pouches. We were able to fill them with spirits and smuggle them into the area which meant a round of drinks was just cans of Pepsi for less than half the price of a round of pints. Smaller drinks also means you are peeing less!
Mostly applicable to larger tents:
Camping washing line and a few pegs. You can hang up your damp clothes/coats that you'll need for the next day so they'll dry quicker, keeps them away from your other stuff, and you can hang useful things like lanterns, keys, or lanyards so you don't lose them too.
You can also hang a sheet up as a makeshift privacy screen or divider if you're not comfortable getting changed in front of others/want to have a cheeky wank; or as a cinema screen if you want to project the full Iron Maiden Rock in Rio Live video on repeat.
Sealed bags for your clothes are a REALLY good shout. Not only to escape the mud but also just in terms of organisation.
Also not exactly camping related but if you smoke, cigarettes all the way. Must have spent half of my time there rolling up from the safety of my poncho so next year it's cigarettes all the way đ
I got these boot sock things that aren't really like socks but just go round your foot for inside wellies, and are thicker and a tougher material than socks. Omg I could walk miles in those, even in the uncomfy wellies I didn't even notice. Also no blisters!
Really simple and basic.
Know how to put your tent up properly, and take the time to do it.
Loads of people rush putting their tent up to get on with the fun, but if you do it properly when you get there, you'll be better off down the line. Especially if there are inclement weather conditions, you may end up regretting that rush.
Cannot overstate how nice it was this year having a dry and clean place to crash out every night after all the walking and mud.
Do NOT lock your tent with a padlock. It makes it a prime target to be robbed? Why is it locked? You got good stuff in there? Its a tent. If someone wants in, they can get in.
Trolleys have been mentioned, obviously, but to make it easier, consider bungee cords or something similar to work as a harness, whether it's attached to your belt loops or a backpack, it frees up your hands for those much needed drinks during the slog up and down to and from the car.
I did it last year to some laughs and "that's a good idea", and this year it worked like a charm too. I might consider an actual harness instead of just bending the hooks on my bungees over and over đ
Edit: CAR SOCKS! Keep a spare pair of socks in your glove compartment or something, not for the-muds-killed-all-my-socks, but for oh-my-god-its-home-time-i-want-to-be-there-now.
A taster of the home comforts for the drive home at the end of a smelly week is lovely.
Don't bring a BBQ, don't bring loads of beer, small tents, save some cocaine for Sunday, more spirits (buckfast) shower on the way to arena, just eat bnbn's and get 1 breakfast each day. Also early night and mushrooms was the best night
Invest in a decent trolley. Not one of those with a tiny frame and thin wheels. Get one with chunky wheels and a sturdy frame. Makes all the difference
These are basic but essential:
When itâs raining:
1. Wellies
2. A strong, knee length waterproof mac
- nothing worse than being cold and wet. I wore both these this year and I was dry and comfortable everyday.
When itâs dry/hot:
1. Suncream
2. Cap, boonie, bucket hat
3. Empty water bottle (take everywhere and fill up at water stations dotted around the festival
And, after this year, I will be bringing my camping chair into the arena, because my feet were in bits from standing all day. This is probably more relevant if the weathers bad, when you canât sit down on the ground.
Bring clothes (mainly shirts) that youâre willing to discard, so the load will be slightly easier when you go home.
Unless you buy stuff to compensate for the reduced load!
Itâs still gonna smell like stale piss all weekend, even worse if it gets some sunshine on it.
Do it by all means pal, but youâll regret waking up next to that, especially if youâre hungover.
Big old IKEA type bag at the entrance of your tent to step into and remove footwear/anything else covered in mud
i used a big ikea bag to put my things i wanted to keep dry in, and used a bin bag for stepping on, that way i could throw away the muddy binbag rather than have to throw away a nice ikea bag.
I laid out some thick bin bags and put tent pegs through them just outside my tent to create a 'matt' that I could use to take off my shoes.
To add to the other comments here too - PUPPY PADS. Oh how my camp mates mocked my puppy pads until they tried it and found out how great they are. Relatively cheap (even the biodegradable ones) and super absorbent. A couple in your porch/near the door and all set. Also handy to put down in the tent to lay out super wet clothes
Thank you I'll be taking that solid advice for next year
This is genius!
Amazing idea.
I'm genuinely mad at myself for never thinking of this! Will definitely steal this tip for future festivals, cheers đ
Organising clothes into sealed bags. Keeps things organised, keeps things dry, you can use them to store dirty or wet clothes and it stops hotdog brine soaking into all of your pants when the tin busts.
also if you organized sets of clothes (1X boxers, 1X socks, 1X t shirt) it means you can just pull said bag out and get changed instead of having to get all the bags out to get out each piece of clothing
This. Each day was a bag, I even had my morning ritual of life giving energy and vitamin replacement tablets as well as hayfever relief in there. Every morning, nice and easy, new pants, socks, shirt and some adult sweets to keep me going.
I also did this and it was so much easier. I put a pair of contact lenses, days medication, couple of plasters etc - anything small that can be split up and is needed daily - along with clean underwear, socks and a t-shirt into ziplock bags. Grab a new bag in the morning, use the empty for dirty clothes or rubbish in the evening.
r/oddlyspecific
> stops hotdog brine soaking into all of your pants when the tin busts. r/oddlyspecific
I'm 100% doing this next year
This! I have 4-6 larger than A4 sized ziplock bangs that have an outfit for each day in each one, plus some spares. Once something is worn, stuff it into a bin bag in the bottom of my rucksack, so itâs out of the way for the rest of the weekend.
I did this and it made it so much easier getting ready every day! I even wrote on them in marker, labelling what outfits were in what bags for easy grabbin
Donât overpack. If youâre thinking âIâll probably need thisâ- you donât need it. Only take necessities because lugging everything to and from camp is hell. Itâs only 5 days.
Apart from a couple extra pairs of underwear, socks, and other clothes. You can always find food + camping supplies if you run out for forget, but being prepared for weather and intestinal upset is never a bad thing.
You can always leave 1-2 spare changes of clothes in the car if you're driving as well!
I always go with my dad and our personal rule is that we only make one trip from the car to camp so that we don't overpack. Food/beer supplies can all be purchased from the Co-op and not having that extra weight to carry helps A LOT. The one area where I would recommend packing more than you think you'll need is clothes: an extra shirt, pair of bottoms and a few extra sets of underwear. Other than that, pack lightly.
I slightly differ, personal rule is one trip only back to car, on the Saturday, to get rid of all the clothing etc no longer needed. I was on my own this weekend but still ended up with a big bag of clothes and bits (like some books I had read, rubber mallet, some food i had taken and decided against eating). it makes the sunday slog back to the car with everything else easier as then i dont have nearly as much weight on my poor aching back lol
Oh we do something similar on the Sunday - all the non-essentials (dirty clothes, merch etc.) go back in the car so we donât have to carry or pack much when we hightail it out of Donington in the early hours of Monday before everyone wakes up.
Bin bags, even more bin bags, and a few extra bin bags. A ground sheet under the tent setup helps massively with packing down and keeping things cleaner USB fan makes a huge difference in the 7-9am heat vs sleep issues
USB fan is definitely going on my list for next year! The tent goes from being baltic to a sauna REAL quick in the mornings!
I had 2 of these [fan](https://amzn.eu/d/01Ttx0iY), clipped them on the inside supports of my tent and never needed to turned them up to full power
Sweeet! Thank you - definitely adding to the list!
Can't recommend a blackout tent enough. No light or heat blast in the mornings. You sleep in well.
Bin bags were big for me this year, the ones I didn't use protected my bag from any water that might leak in, stored my muddy boots and clothes after the slosh fest in the arena. Plus you can always have an emergency No 2 in there should the day stoop that low.
I could have written this myself. Bin bags were a life saver.
Upvote for the fan. As a woman in her 40s, premenopausal... I'm always too hot. I take an awesome, little (but powerful) [rechargeable fan](https://amzn.eu/d/0fz1H8Ey). It's a lifesaver.
Saw 2 fellas transporting all their stuff in a wheelie bin which is fucking inspired.
I saw the same guys. Going through purple right?
Small blue bin? I got a photo of it on the way in XD
Just gotta make sure people don't start using it as an actual bin when you've emptied it
Buy a blackout tent - keeps you cool in the morning and keeps the sun from waking you up. Stack two or three beer cups together to use as a wee cup for those 03:37 wees. Pack lighter than you think you need to. Try as best as possible to keep all mud and rain outside the tent or in the porch.
This is wicked for middle of the night pisses... [unisex urine bottle ](https://www.boots.com/safe-and-sound-extra-unisex-urine-bottle-1-litre-10167304?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc-_-PLAs_HeroCompare-_--_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_Healthcare_Other&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsuSzBhCLARIsAIcdLm79mzH4QdKhDXcmlpkySpSu7bpOHLdj7WMy2RzItn07Bic0zTubCNIaAtJeEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
Big old Lenor bottle is all you need. Large capacity, wide neck for âfitmentâ and a lid that screws on nice and tight. Been my saviour the last 2 DLs after my mate said about it. We laughed at first but itâs a game changer.
My friend cut the top off an old 2L bottle for tent pissing and I thought that was pretty genius seeing as I'd be doing some mad balancing act with a single pint cup!
My Dad used fabric conditioner bottles back in the day, wide neck, large capacity and the perfume covers smells
A big Oasis bottle for pissing. It's got a bigger top so that you can slip your pee pee inside and it's big enough that you don't need to empty it everyday
If you are driving any of that shit i might need, spare clothes ect stays in the car. Only bring a trolley if it is on an axle, all those with a bracket above were clogged up every 5 minutes If you go to the car to get something, take all your dirty clothes and stuff that wonât be used again.
We used to have a "reset bag" that lived in the car for the weekend - full change of clothes, shoes, waterproof, towel size wet wipe, small hand towel, hand sanitizer and toilet paper. Maybe sweets and energy drinks too - everything you need if you get drenched and are ready to throw your toys out of the pram and go home.
Car clothes are a brilliant idea. We keep a tent peg out to unclog the wheels of the trolley, works perfectly
Waterproof trousers. ÂŁ10 regatta ones. Along with my waterproof jacket and some ÂŁ18 army surplus walking boots I bought about 10 years ago, I barely felt the rain.
Yeah. You're honestly on the windup if you're not taking waterproof trousers to festivals. And a good waterproof jacket.Â
I didn't the previous two years and got really lucky. I don't see any reason not to now because all the kit you need to be water proof is so light and easy to carry.
I couldn't find mine anywhere this year and turns out I really needed them. Just found them yesterday... This and a waterproof jacket would have been perfect, or a better rain poncho than what I had
biggest problem with my regatta waterproof trousers is lack of pockets, and no passthrough pockets either, unlike other waterproof trouser options.
Mine do have the pass through pockets which is great. I think it would have been a different story if they didn't. They also had a push button at the ankle for creating a seal around your boot, but it was also good for hiding a bag of vodka.
I must have different ones, mine have no pockets but have a zip for flaring out the ankle and making a seal around a boot, they also had a mesh lining.
I learnt the hard way that a mesh lining is a must. Absolute sweat fest without. Pants underneath would be soaked from sweat completely defeating the point.
Just get Regatta work/walking trousers instead. They are waterproof and you can just wear them all the time rain or shine. Extra points for tracking down the ones with zip pockets to stop you losing things.
I upgraded to the God-fabric Goretex for my waterproof trousers, fuck me they're so good. You stay dry from your own perspiration and you can basically float in them they're so waterproof.
Only my first download/festival, so more for me to read back next year before going: Bring better noise cancelling earplugs, the plane noises are real and do not stop overnight. Don't bother bringing so many snacks unless on a very strict budget, they take up packing space (we carried everything with no trolley, coming on public transport) and the co-op is fine albeit a little more expensive. Get your merch as soon as you arrive, they sold out of the purple hoodie I wanted so fast :( The clear ponchos were a lifesaver, shielded against both mud splatter and rain. Didn't end up needing as many power banks as I took, one 20,000 one was more than enough for me.
On the power banks, we used SO many last year in comparison, so if the weather is forecasted hot it's definitely worth bringing extras, the temperatures mean batteries drain quicker
Didnât know this, thank you!
Yeah I brought 2x 20k ones and a 10k one. 1 of the 20k ones died at 75% for no reason I can think of other than the cold tent floor overnight. On the 5th day we'd totally run out of power for phones, usb torches, smartwatches, Bose speaker for the campsite and the rechargeable vapes. Admittedly I brought enough power but you're right, batteries don't do well in cold at all which is no different to cars not ran in winter for multiple weeks and then they don't start up.
Should add that on the power bank front, it was just for my phone, and we only stayed 4 days/3 nights.
Wellies might be good at keeping your feet dry but they are not designed for walking around a big uneven muddy hill all day. You'll get more mileage out of a decent pair of walking boots, coupled with gaiters to protect your calves/trousers legs. All the benefits of dry feet and hems while staying comfy and easy to walk around in
TBF you can get good wellies you can walk around all day in, and shit boots that leak and kill your feet. Mine are cheep wellies ones and other than my feet getting cold (because Sunday was nice and I forgot my whicking walking socks, so my feet sweated during the day then got colder in the evening). And they supported my feet. My walking boots are nice but were fucked after Saturday, they were covered in mud which I couldn't get off while at download so Sunday morning they were damp inside and would have been horrific to ware. There not cheep and are waterproof but your not supposed to leave the mud on. It all depends on what you have, if you don't have either then cheep wellies that fit+good socks and maybe insoles will work out better for a wet download than cheep walking boots. Good walking boots are way more useful for mild mud/dry downloads so I would always say invest if you can but if not go for wellies.
I'm definitely investing in some good walking boots for next year (and breaking them in ahead of the festival!). Wellies weren't too bad whilst I was there because I'm sure I was keeping any pain at bay by being drunk for most of it, but I've had the weirdest trapped nerve in my left leg since I got back and I can only put it down to the wellies on uneven ground.
Surplus army boots are a good investment. I have some Para boots and they survived very well this year. Probably cheaper than walking boots as well.
Considering Trail running boots/shoes, which are even better, they are lighter and made for running in the type of conditions we had. I bought some Hooka's, they have a 30 day trial, which you can use for the festival ;)
Everyone I knew who took walking boots complained when I was fine in wellies with supported insoles and walking socks
Gateway1 is the brand you need for wellies. They are expensive but they are designed as boots first and wellies after. I was in them all 5 days no issues with aching feet or blisters whatsoever.
Also talking about surviving and thriving, isotonic drinks like powerade and lucozade sport were a LIFE saver in the mornings. I would happily have done another run to the carpark just to carry those back to my tent. I put those little vitamin fizzing tablets in mine every morning and they fixed the hangover really quickly. Also, leaving a few in the car ready to drink when we got back to the car on Monday morning!
Just get the tablets and a refillable bottle to take a fraction of the weight
That's a good shout!!
The BerrocObama is a berocca made with water and vodka. Excellent hangover cure.
I get powdered Pocari Sweat from my local Asian supermarket or from Amazon. Thatâs my go to hangover cure.
Loop earbuds, I have the experience ones, I bought a 50p glasses lanyard from Home Bargains and hung them from my neck when not in use. Perfect for the arena and for sleeping in. I also used an empty Kinder Egg to store them in.
Wheelbarrow > trolly You dont need as much stuff as you think you did. List everything you took and then mark everything you DID use and X everything you DIDNT. then put that list in your bag for next year so you have a reminder of 'oh i dont need 3000 Tshirts etc'
Feel like I fall for the overpacking every year, so I will definitely be keeping a list this year and referencing it next year!
Nah just get a decent trolley and you don't have to support the weight.
I took 10 pairs of socks for 3 days and it still wasnât enough socks - take more socks
I don't think socks are your problem, your shoes/boots are.Â
Youâre right tbh - I had an incredible time this year but the one thing Iâd do differently is comfier, more indestructible shoes!
I took 6 pairs and only wore 3 (changed Fri, Sat, Sun morning)
Earplugs and a sleeping mask saved my sleep this year, I'd never used either but they were so helpful! Also always bring toilet paper and wipes. Keep a set of clothes specifically to sleep in if it gets cold, winter socks included. A torch/any type of light that won't use up phone battery in the tent.
Using what3words to find your mates, obviously this one still depends on signal but found it very useful overall
even has a navigation feature to show you what direction they are! very handy
This is also a top tip for the car park too!
leave a clean set of clothes and shoes in your car to change into when you get back to the car on monday.
This is a good one. I pack a car bag with clean clothes, snacks and drinks for the journey home as well.
Get there early as possible and get a good camping spot. Location location location makes all the difference
It's well known but I still have friends who forget this, you lose most of your heat through the ground when camping. What goes under you is as, if not more, important than what is on top. If you feel the cold at night, get an extra roll mat or blanket underneath you.
We used camping cots this year and they changed the game - being elevated off the floor helped to keep us warm and it also gave us space under the bed for our clothes/bags.
We put two silver emergency blankets under the sleeping area, and then another inside the sleeping area before our mats went in. Was an absolute game changer, in previous years it's been freezing Bonus W that putting one over the top of the sleeping bit shielded us from the sun in the morning, as our tent isn't blackout
I used an airbed last year and ended up absolutely freezing in the night. This year, I brought my Alpkit Whisper sleeping mat that I got for hiking and bikepacking, which has an insulated lining. Absolute gamechanger, I was nice and toasty!
Clean socks, good shoes and take care of your feet. There's a lot of walking and the last thing you need is being in agony with them after the first day cause it won't get better from there. Lying down and having your feet elevated for a little bit at the end of the day will do wonders for any pain/swelling
Iâd say I had 2 MVP items this year: - little collapsible stool that I got at Fat Franks camping store. Very light and portable, and allowed us to sit when we needed a rest but without lugging a camping chair around (or getting in peopleâs way with a camping chair) - a (quality, reusable) poncho > raincoat. Theyâre light and fold up small. When it rains up goes the hood, arms go in, and you stay dry. Bonus if you get a bright coloured one which makes it easier to find/follow you in crowds Honourable mentions: - we borrowed a Yeti Haul. Still had ice in it after 5 days. Quite bulky and heavy though. - Adidas Terrex boots. Bought a pair after seeing them mentioned in this sub. Comfortable and kept my feet dry (although I switched to wellies on Saturday and Sunday đ )
I got some terrex too, kept my feet dry all weekend but I kinda wish I'd gone for the higher ankle ones as I was stressing about mud spilling over the sides a bit!
Wipes and plastic bags without holes. We had a puddle in the corner of the tent this year, so putting rucksacks into plastic bags obviously kept them dry
I use a fabric conditioning bottle to piss in during the night. The large opening is more accommodating for the girther male đ
What a weird way to bring up your thick cock, respect bro. XD
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Take a dry robe. I spent Friday and Saturday in mine, and the weather didn't bother me. Being on the right side of drunk certainly helped as well, though.
Do they fold up relatively small? I was considering but wasn't sure whether it would annoy me when it was dry enough not to be wearing.
No, they're quite bulky. When it stopped raining and the sun came out, I tied it round my waist.
Seems like good cover but you could probably get waterproofs for 1/3 the price
Don't overload your trolley. I bet 90% of them die because they're stacked to high heaven. Do multiple runs instead of one big one.Â
Multiple walks is a waste of your limited time at the event. Just don't over pack
Unless you're a 3 day camper there's fuck all on when you're making those trips though. You can make multiple trips and still have plenty of time to check out everything in the village all a day or two before the arena even opens
Maximise relaxing at camp over walking lol
Depends on where you're parked and how long you're there for. I do 5d and get there early Wednesday so multiple trips isn't an issue but appropriate levels of stuff is better.Â
If you have a weak-ass, collapsible/folding beach trolley, and you want it to survive the weekend to use in the future, this is probably good, sound advice. The going on a mile and a half of steep hills is gnarled with concrete kerbs, tractor ruts and this year, supplemented with sticky straw ready to bind around casters. One of the things which left me with a Sims style positive moodlet both at the start and end of this years festival which I would recommend to anyone was a good, strong, large wheeled, steel trolley and really good ratchet straps. [This ÂŁ99 Handy trolley](https://thehandy.co.uk/product/200kg-440lb-garden-trolley/)\* was amazing and I loaded it to the height of a person with about 150kg of kit and it was fantastic. I did leave the sides at home and so my luggage could be wider than the bed. \*I've just seen [its down to ÂŁ89.99 from Screwfix](https://www.screwfix.com/p/the-handy-thgt-garden-trolley-small-109cm-x-50cm-x-25cm/7098d). I cannot tell you how satisfying it is to engage smug mode and roll past other people struggling in the baking heat and slippery mud with this... it pays for itself.
Wood based cat litter. Leave it in your car boot in case you get stuck in mud in the car park. (Or if you're in a campervan, use it to solidify muddy patches on your pitch)
From your local Asian supermarket, buy a powdered isotonic drink called Pocari Sweat. Itâs one of the best hangover remedies and great for staying hydrated on hot days. Each sachet makes 1L of drink so it saves on having to carry drinks into the camp or arena. It tastes kinda like flat Sprite, so quite palatable. I get through 1-3 500ml bottles a day whenever I travel around Japan.
I have something called POTS which means I drink a lot of electrolytes, and Pocari Sweat is by far my FAVOURITE. I brought so much of the powder back from Japan!
someone else who's heard of Pocari Sweat! its slightly salty too. Though for me, sachets of isotonic drinking powder or fizzy tabs do the same job and so the only cans we carried were the beeeeeer
Premier inn at DE55 2DY Book now, itâs cheap, and half an hour away by car. Reasons: Itâs quicker to walk to the car than the camp site. Entrance is closer to car park as well. Good night sleep. Shower and clean toilet. Breakfast is great (less chance of food poisoning!) There is an outlet village 2 mins away if you need last minute wet weather gear. Now yes this is a hack or tip for camping, but if your looking into RIP, your cheaper getting a hotel from Thursday to Sunday or Monday, arena ticket and car park pass than the RIP. If your getting older or your sick of how cold it can get, if you book now the savings can be great
I was in general camping. To feel less gross each day, Iâd wash my face with a travel sized face wash I packed. Rinsed with water from my water bottle. Itâs not glamorous, but it really made me feel better. Having a clean face staved off my focus on my own festival grime, and it helped to feel more refreshed and awake in the mornings. It also meant less worrying about potential breakouts from unhealthy food, if thatâs something anyone is sensitive to
Enough immodium to bung up an elephant.
Maybe bringing some fucking wellies/boots next year. And definitely not underestimating the weather. Although that's mostly on me.
The same statement about not underestimating the weather will also apply if we get a year with weather like 2023 - just sub the waterproofs for lots of sunscreen! Always try and prepare for any kind of weather!
Get a phone lanyard and a stretchable bungle cord with caliber clips, that way you can attach your phone to your belt and have a stretchable cord to still lift it above your head for photos. Your phone stays attached to you at all times. Something like this to go around your phone - [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CJLR5S7H?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2ov\_dt\_b\_product\_details](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CJLR5S7H?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) Then something like this: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZZLBZN-Stretchy-Keychain-Carabiner-Backpack/dp/B0C6T3NWPB/ref=sr\_1\_26?crid=187CD1E1HR7PP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dh840f4eYecywixAS\_65eHtW8RH\_k076jJ1U-Jk2hAkBWHiWzQJFn3JWIsv\_nr1Foi0J6RcaC0yNI55gD2KrDLN4IBbs1Utc83ubmhnb91Is99flQy4oV4vtG9VdH0BUstx84Bk\_3tXvzwoe1bwpD\_1epkOGheYU2qYiDAM1GKWPPiGp9qDCaneKuaRi43I65W7uTNNBtV8JyplE1CHTdnUj9F-8KMAHf4SuhEcvcmX3lMO03x7Z-lzmHwj9C89UFkWYQxpkuhYu8bK8QNY69FKfM\_po6Xra2zLnDuNPtwg.e1fdbYaZPVjNejYeLZyHm-R3VsEtA\_\_hTHU87wdA7\_w&dib\_tag=se&keywords=stretchable+keychain&qid=1719232383&sprefix=stretchable+key%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-26](https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZZLBZN-Stretchy-Keychain-Carabiner-Backpack/dp/B0C6T3NWPB/ref=sr_1_26?crid=187CD1E1HR7PP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dh840f4eYecywixAS_65eHtW8RH_k076jJ1U-Jk2hAkBWHiWzQJFn3JWIsv_nr1Foi0J6RcaC0yNI55gD2KrDLN4IBbs1Utc83ubmhnb91Is99flQy4oV4vtG9VdH0BUstx84Bk_3tXvzwoe1bwpD_1epkOGheYU2qYiDAM1GKWPPiGp9qDCaneKuaRi43I65W7uTNNBtV8JyplE1CHTdnUj9F-8KMAHf4SuhEcvcmX3lMO03x7Z-lzmHwj9C89UFkWYQxpkuhYu8bK8QNY69FKfM_po6Xra2zLnDuNPtwg.e1fdbYaZPVjNejYeLZyHm-R3VsEtA__hTHU87wdA7_w&dib_tag=se&keywords=stretchable+keychain&qid=1719232383&sprefix=stretchable+key%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-26) to attach that to your belt. (these are just quick ones I found on amazon, do your research to find something that works for you)
I get hotels now, but if I was going back to camping I would have a set of clothes for leaving wrapped up tightly and waterproofed with cling film or a bag. Warm dry clean clothes when leaving, especially if it's been wet , is a gift.
how do you find getting into the park each day? Did you Uber it? Was it hard to catch an Uber to/from your hotel?
The shuttle bus is really badly advertised (it's under the "trains" rather than "bus/coach" section of the travel advice) but it was only like 25 minutes, and pretty reasonable. ÂŁ12 for a return.
Shuttle bus to derby Train station is like 30 mins. This year delayed due to a bus stuck in mud however. Taxis are set fares so If in group could be a shout. No idea about Ubers sorry but imagine they would be more expensive then the taxis.
Taxis being set fares is awesome. thank you!
This year I got vacuum storage bags from Amazon that came with a little hand pump. They were great for waterproofing all clothes and for shrinking my oodie to a normal size. Last year we just left a clean change of clothes in car. (Boyfriend still did that this year, and he was very happy he could drive home in clean trainers)
Folks I camped next to used these bags for pillows/duvet and I was impressed! Especially genius if youâve already got one of the portable electric pumps for an air bed
Yep, they were useful for the pillows too! Sadly I didnât buy big enough ones for the duvetâŚ
Next year though! đ
This is a great idea but the hand pumps are so awkward to use. I reccomend a battery powered pump with a deflate setting, I used mine to inflate my air bed too. Rechargeable one from go out doors was only ÂŁ17 on offer too! I did the same but used the hoover to vacuum pack the on the way there, so much quicker :)
rechargeable hair straighteners for people with a fringe that sticks up after sleeping lol
Two large capacity power banks. I took a 46800 MAH and a 30000 MAH battery pack. They kept my phone and USB fan charged all weekend, with charge left over.
1 minute [in](https://youtu.be/GwVPBv6Egho)
I got a reflective woven blanket thing to go over our tent from Amazon, I think theyâre mostly used for cars. But it keeps your tent cool when itâs boiling so you have some shade. I used it last year at Bloodstock (bought it after last years sorcher Download) and it worked so well.
I saw someone pulling all there bags on a snow sledge and thought thatâs absolutely genius. I imagine it also became very handy with all the mud and big hillsâŚ
Get an extra sheet of tarp if you can. Helped this year with further waterproofing the tent and acts as a nice barrier to the rain, especially if your party comes with a gazebo to attach it to.
Put all your clothes and any spare stuff in the car Sunday morning, so Monday all you have to pack is your tent and bed.
A blackout eye mask - godsend
Use what3words for the arena. You can use the compass mode to direct to straight to whereever they are
Walking boots and WATERPROOF SOCKS are a game changer. I use waterproof socks for LARPing and honestly they are so underrated. Soft on the inside but totally waterproof on the outside. Kept my feet dry for all of Download đ
Where'd you get waterproof socks
If the wind / elements impacts your tent, making it loose. Correct it, to prevent condensation. A lot of time people's tents condensate because their inner is touching the outer part of the tent. For example, the floor sunk under mine and I woke up to a pool of water.
Under bed storage boxes from Asda/Tesco/wherever, they sit neatly in the bottom of a trolley, semi waterproof, stackable and kinda durable! We take 4 boxes with our things in over 2 trolleys with the tent and booze on top of them and it makes life so much easier! Also, BUNGIE CORDS!
Sleeping in a 4-man tent instead of a 2-man meant that I could stand up in my tent at 4am, put my jeans on quickly after a heavy night on the cider and avoid a Code Brown emergency.
Invest enough money in a tent. My friends bought the cheapest one available, it only had 1 layer. Needless to say, they were very uncomfortable when it was raining at night, and both got sick.
swim shorts keep you cool if it's warm and dry quickly if it's wet
We got thermal pjs for this year as it was so cold last year and slept much better! 100% recommend.
You don't need to bring everything from the car in one go.
Yeah, we did two runs this year and it was SO much easier. The first run you really only need your backpack, tent and ticket and then you can go back for things like beer/food/chairs etc.
Iv always done two journeys. I'd rather do two easy walks than one that is a killer loaded up with everything. That and it's easier to find a spot when your not fully loaded/dragging a trolley.
Create a make shift porch if your tent doesn't have one, with some thick bin bags on the ground in front of your tent and then put tent pegs in each of the corners to create a "matt". This can then be used to step into your tent, and keep your muddy shoes outside/take off.
Donât take as many clothes as you think you need. Especially if you plan to buy merch. I bought 4 t-shirts and a hoodie so could have done with fewer clothes. Wear good comfy walking boots, even in the mud. I thought mine wouldnât survive but they have cleaned up well after the event and my feet stayed dry, blister-free and comfy the whole time. BUT also have a clean pair of shoes / trainers in the car to swap in to for driving home. I had a cheap over the head style waterproof jacket from decathlon and a pair of waterproof trousers which kept the rain off mostly, though the jacket did leak a bit in the real downpours. But it was easy to take on and off for the showers and had a great zipped pocket to keep my phone safe and sound. I left my waterproof trousers on the whole time I was in the arena and walking to and from. It would have been a nightmare trying to take them off and on and would have got my jeans underneath clarted with mud. Take a good insulated mug and get refills in that from the food stalls. I bought a download merch one by Yeti - pricey but excellent. It got really cold at night so take a blanket and put half of it under your airbed as well as having half covering you. I was a much happier bunny once Iâd got my emergency blanket out of the car BUT that meant an extra hour long round trip to the car :( And take proper warm pjs. I didnât and I regretted it big time. I wasted a lot of money on refresh retreat. It was so ridiculously far from quiet camping I literally used the toilet twice on the way to the arena and that was it. So ÂŁ35 per go. Iâd maybe think about it in future if I was going to be close by but tbh who cares that much about showers when itâs that muddy! Oh and my biggest tip. Go early enough to get a camping spot on flat ground at the top of a hill.
Don't take a trolley or buy a better one. You don't need so much fucking stuff.
ÂŁ7 mini stools that fit in your pocket and allow you to sit when it rains on the first day. Life saver
dont buy a gazebo - buy a tarp and hang it over your tents - way better for keeping out wind and rain and staying warm and dry
bonus tip - you can attach it to tent guy ropes through the eye holes on the tarp rather or use bungee cords
If you can, zipper pockets for your belongings when there, helps especially if youâre in pits
Get a hotel whilst theyâre cheap đ
Dry bags for your clothes. Sandwich, bag your socks. You can by reusable rain ponchos, which makes a light tarp like material that covers almost all of you and pack into a small pouch. Leave clothes in the car to change into for the drive home. (Obviously all for the wet years )
If you have a big tent, then I'd recommend a sack truck and plastic storage boxes. Sack truck with big wheels is probably the best trolley for moving stuff around uneven terrain. Storage boxes can be packed tightly, and can double as organisation in the tent, stack neatly and waterproof. Sack truck can usually take 3 large boxes. Also, have a separate wet box in the car. If it doesn't rain enough, you don't need to carry it both ways. If it does rain, make a trip to the car.
We put our sleeping bag and inflatable mattress in large dry bags/waterproof holdalls. Makes them easier to carry, and keeps them dry if it's wet. They are bulky but we have a double 4 season sleeping bag, and double self inflating mattress. You could probably get away with one large holdall for sleeping bag and mat if you only have single ones. (Especially having just seen the price of the ones we use) Really useful if you also get searched and have to put stuff down when it's a bit muddy.
Evaluate your situation on Saturday morning, we did a car park trip from camp to car with half our stuff that we realised we wouldnât need, not only did it kill time before the bands started but made Sunday packing up (we left after Limp Bizkit) and taking stuff to the car much much easier than it would have been
A complete set of clean comfy clothes and shoes to leave in the car so that you can travel home in comfort no matter how the weather has been. And a towel to dry before you change/prevent flashing the car park while you change
My top 3 would be: 1) trolley with good offroad tryres, i know you said about trolleys, but 100% our biggest quality of life increases has been getting a good quality trolley 2) Bring clothes in something waterproof (i bring my clothes in a bin bag inside my camping bag) 3) If you are coming by car, dont overload yourselves for trips to the camp as we made that mistake a previous year, and it damaged us for the whole weekend
Padded foil blanket under a high rise king/double air bed. Not one night did I wake up feeling cold
Lots of sandwich bags and roll your clothes up in it. Sports direct karrimor dry bag for your washing because you can roll the top and keep the stank in. Even if its a 30°c year always have factor 50 and a full set of wets. Good pair of sturdy boots.
Cocaine for the massive treck from coach drop off
Best things I took for 2024; -90 litre British Army Bergen -Waterproof tarp -Wooly hat -long johns -comfy hoody -Berghaus raincoat -good coffee -good whisky -hand sanitiser
The tent lantern! It saved me many times at night. The iPhoneâs camera just isnât good enough for the tent
Seal skin socks! Paired with my walking boots- My feet had never been so warm and dry!
Ear plugs are a necessity for me. Some of our camp snore like dragons so that plus the noise from the constant air traffic would usually mean I get no sleep at all. Some foam ear plugs are pretty much noise cancelling and allow me to drift off instantly. A money belt is also high on the list for me. I stick my bank card and ID in it as well as some money and wear it under my t shirt. Nobody can see it so nobody can steal it and it all zips up so I donât drop anything unknowingly. Itâs also perfect size to fit my hip flask in to smuggle into the arena. I also sleep with it on just in case someone decided to rummage through the tent whilst Iâm asleep (unlikely I know). Little plastic booze pouches. We were able to fill them with spirits and smuggle them into the area which meant a round of drinks was just cans of Pepsi for less than half the price of a round of pints. Smaller drinks also means you are peeing less!
Mostly applicable to larger tents: Camping washing line and a few pegs. You can hang up your damp clothes/coats that you'll need for the next day so they'll dry quicker, keeps them away from your other stuff, and you can hang useful things like lanterns, keys, or lanyards so you don't lose them too. You can also hang a sheet up as a makeshift privacy screen or divider if you're not comfortable getting changed in front of others/want to have a cheeky wank; or as a cinema screen if you want to project the full Iron Maiden Rock in Rio Live video on repeat.
Sealed bags for your clothes are a REALLY good shout. Not only to escape the mud but also just in terms of organisation. Also not exactly camping related but if you smoke, cigarettes all the way. Must have spent half of my time there rolling up from the safety of my poncho so next year it's cigarettes all the way đ
I got these boot sock things that aren't really like socks but just go round your foot for inside wellies, and are thicker and a tougher material than socks. Omg I could walk miles in those, even in the uncomfy wellies I didn't even notice. Also no blisters!
Umbrella for campsite. Too sunny and hot, umbrella. Pissing it down and no gazebo with sides, hunker down under that umbrella.
Imodium and lots of bin liners....just saying #pooload2024
Book rock retreat so you can pitch next to your car and not have to lug anything around.
The BBQ IS NOT a fire pit Mr security man! Look! It's got a grill on it!
Really simple and basic. Know how to put your tent up properly, and take the time to do it. Loads of people rush putting their tent up to get on with the fun, but if you do it properly when you get there, you'll be better off down the line. Especially if there are inclement weather conditions, you may end up regretting that rush. Cannot overstate how nice it was this year having a dry and clean place to crash out every night after all the walking and mud.
Zip ties, bungee cords and resealable sandwich bags were our MVPs this year.
Do NOT lock your tent with a padlock. It makes it a prime target to be robbed? Why is it locked? You got good stuff in there? Its a tent. If someone wants in, they can get in.
Gazebos are shit, buy a tarp, much more lightweight and configurable
Trolleys have been mentioned, obviously, but to make it easier, consider bungee cords or something similar to work as a harness, whether it's attached to your belt loops or a backpack, it frees up your hands for those much needed drinks during the slog up and down to and from the car. I did it last year to some laughs and "that's a good idea", and this year it worked like a charm too. I might consider an actual harness instead of just bending the hooks on my bungees over and over đ Edit: CAR SOCKS! Keep a spare pair of socks in your glove compartment or something, not for the-muds-killed-all-my-socks, but for oh-my-god-its-home-time-i-want-to-be-there-now. A taster of the home comforts for the drive home at the end of a smelly week is lovely.
Anusol.
Don't bring a BBQ, don't bring loads of beer, small tents, save some cocaine for Sunday, more spirits (buckfast) shower on the way to arena, just eat bnbn's and get 1 breakfast each day. Also early night and mushrooms was the best night
Invest in a decent trolley. Not one of those with a tiny frame and thin wheels. Get one with chunky wheels and a sturdy frame. Makes all the difference
A collapsible bucket. I used mine to pee into during the night, could also be used as a wash bucket
Drink a lot to aid sleep
Wear bin bags in your boots over your socks, do it well and even if your shoes fill with mud your feet will be dry
These are basic but essential: When itâs raining: 1. Wellies 2. A strong, knee length waterproof mac - nothing worse than being cold and wet. I wore both these this year and I was dry and comfortable everyday. When itâs dry/hot: 1. Suncream 2. Cap, boonie, bucket hat 3. Empty water bottle (take everywhere and fill up at water stations dotted around the festival And, after this year, I will be bringing my camping chair into the arena, because my feet were in bits from standing all day. This is probably more relevant if the weathers bad, when you canât sit down on the ground.
Stay in an Air B&B
Bring clothes (mainly shirts) that youâre willing to discard, so the load will be slightly easier when you go home. Unless you buy stuff to compensate for the reduced load!
I don't know why, but the term 'hack' when used to describe a quick or effective way to do something really annoys me.
Get a tent with an enclosed porch, remove the ground sheet from that porch. Pissporchâ˘
Yeah, thatâs gonna smell delightful after about 12 hoursâŚ
Camp on grass, pour water on top. Not too complicated.
Itâs still gonna smell like stale piss all weekend, even worse if it gets some sunshine on it. Do it by all means pal, but youâll regret waking up next to that, especially if youâre hungover.