Camping Luxuries

[*Miss*Sparkle*]

Got an Exped extra-wide airmat, it's great, you can't roll off it in the night, unlike the Therma-a-rests. Very comfy. Would sooner lug about a pound extra weight during the day and have a good night's kip than have a lighter load and sleep badly.

Ooh Expeds are the king of the airbed world They are bloody well expensive tho - mine cost £100. But, it only weighs a kilo, packs up to the size of a bag of sugar, is filled with down to keep you warm, and they're what the mountain rescue dudes use as they keep you warm down to -40c. I love my exped and wish I'd bought it when I first started going to festivals instead of buying loads of those crappy airbeds that always deflate.

 

[tarannau]

They are very heavy work style Malboro Country leather boots I got for about 70 quid for Glastonbury 2000, thinking I'd prolly not use them much.

Totally 100% water proof even last year, though they were getting a bit damp Monday morning. One thing I like about them is (possible due to their weight) their impressively sure footing. I've never slipped once wearing them, up in the Himalayas ploughing through snow and trapsing through the 2007 Glastonbury mud, kept me warm and upright.


Might just continue to use them actually..

Beware though, they need maintenance. My leather boots lasted about 4 years of Glasto, but I think I stepped in one deep puddle too many last year and it all went wrong. It took a fair bit of pain and denial to admit that my boots policy went wrong - white trench feet are so not a good look - and I caved in to buying wellies on Sunday.

In general, if you're lazy, unable to see everywhere you're stepping or it's really wet, wellies provide a safer option.

 

[Tank Girl]

all this boot advice is confusing me

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Anyone have good boot suggestions.

As aqua says, army boots.

They are designed for people to fight wars in, so they'll laugh in the face of mere festival mud

For a quick way to break them in simply leave them out overnight in the rain, and let them dry. Then beat the crap out of them with a hammer. Stick them on your feet and wander around for a couple of hours and voilla, comfy boots.

Add a few layers of beeswax and they'll be fully waterproof as well.

Once you've tried them you'll never go back to "proper" walking boots.

 

[Sunray]

I was always told you weren't meant to put lanterns/stoves etc inside tents on account of the whole catching fire/CO poisoning bit.




Very. But not as hard as yurts.

Yes, clearly. I have a huge porch on my new tent so I can use it in that with the doors open.

 

[aqua]

For a quick way to break them in simply leave them out overnight in the rain, and let them dry. Then beat the crap out of them with a hammer. Stick them on your feet and wander around for a couple of hours and voilla, comfy boots.

Add a few layers of beeswax and they'll be fully waterproof as well.

or the less drastic way, wear some comfy socks and wear them as slippers around the house - start with the laces undone, then slowly over a period of a couple of days do up the laces

= slippers

 

[zenie]

all this boot advice is confusing me

I'll stick to my flip flops, they don't get waterlooged, weigh virtually nothing and are cheap as chips!

 

[aqua]

never seen the maggots crawling around on the floor near loo's after the first couple of days then

you can keep your flip flops

 

[Looby]

I'll stick to my flip flops, they don't get waterlooged, weigh virtually nothing and are cheap as chips!

Fine for a little festy but you wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes at Glastonbury last year in flip flops. The mud was so deep and cold, my feet were freezing with wellies and thick socks on.

 

[zenie]

never seen the maggots crawling around on the floor near loo's after the first couple of days then

you can keep your flip flops

I wouldn't go near anywhere with maggots, flip flops or not.

 

[aqua]

I wouldn't go near anywhere with maggots, flip flops or not.

take a closer look near the loos at a festie then

 

[El Jefe]

Maggot's what?

 

[aqua]

not our lovely maggot who posts silly small wriggly creatures

 

[idioteque]

I went to my first festival without a towel and really regretted it.

 

[pennimania]

Fine for a little festy but you wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes at Glastonbury last year in flip flops. The mud was so deep and cold, my feet were freezing with wellies and thick socks on.

I saw some peeps gleefully discarding their flipflops at the gate one year when it was muddy at the beginning,thinking they would merrily roam thru the mud free as birdies with their little bare feet

I bet they had a shit time

 

[zenie]

take a closer look near the loos at a festie then

No way!!

I wouldn't bother going to a Festival if it was muddy, rather stay home than camp in the cold and wet.

 

[pinkmonkey]

I am through with wellies - I've worn out three pairs this winter alone. I cut the tops off the old ones and plant bulbs in them but at this rate it's going to look like a centipede lives here.

 

[d.a.s.h]

Get a pair of those Seal Skinz or similar waterproof socks to wear under your boots!

Sealskinz are indeed a wonderful invention for the outdoors. Ford streams, endure horizontal rain and get stuck in peat bogs with total impunity

 

[zenie]

I am through with wellies - I've worn out three pairs this winter alone. I cut the tops off the old ones and plant bulbs in them but at this rate it's going to look like a centipede lives here.

I wonder if you could get those hunter sovereigns copied?

 

[Biddlybee]

How hard are teepee's to put up?

*imagines zenie packing a teepee into her mini*



Airbed is our biggest luxury... tis comfy

 

[christonabike]

Van

 

[El Jefe]

Van

Yep.

Complete with fridge, cooker, sink, big bed, cupboards, power, music, wardrobe, etc etc etc.

Mwahahahahaha

 

[mysterygirl]

I have been upgrading my gear this year. I've always muddled along really for the last 6 years. This year I've decided to splash some cash on improving my gear. Esp as I'm not paying for tickets this year.

Got a nice waterproof jacket.
A nice bright (and tent warming) dual fuel lantern.
A new tent with a big porch.

What other niceties do you own that are useful?

Decent footwear (whatever that means for you - horses for courses init), inflatable bed, pump for inflatable bed (), decent sleeping bag, change of clothes. Lots of other things are useful, but staying warm & dry is unbeatable, and if that's not possible during the day a decent nights sleep - ie warm dry & comfortable - will set you up for the next day like nothing else.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Yep.

Complete with fridge, cooker, sink, big bed, cupboards, power, music, wardrobe, etc etc etc.

Mwahahahahaha

Yeah, I imagine at your age stuff like that becomes prety much essential

 

[Biddlybee]

Van

Yep.

Complete with fridge, cooker, sink, big bed, cupboards, power, music, wardrobe, etc etc etc.

Mwahahahahaha

easily affordable in a short period of time?



You got a fridge in your van?

 

[zenie]

Biddly - redundancy?!

 

[Biddlybee]

Depends how soon I get another job though innit

(but fuckin A.... less than 4 weeks to go!!!! )

 

[El Jefe]

You got a fridge in your van?

Well we had a shitey one, but we're planning on getting another one in before Glastonbury. If not, some coolboxes

 

[christonabike]

easily affordable in a short period of time?

Saved up

You got a fridge in your van?

Yup, 38 litre Danfoss BD35F 12 volt compressor with ice-box

 

[Biddlybee]

Well we had a shitey one, but we're planning on getting another one in before Glastonbury. If not, some coolboxes

Nice.

Saved up

I should do too.

I want a Bedford... right size for me