Is it possible to pack light?

[The Nal]

4 x boxers/socks

T-Shirts x 3

Shorts x 2

Walking boots x 1

Toiletry bag

Booze

Collect the rest at the Cozy Camper

 

Edited May 16, 2016 by The Nal

[big__phil]

All you NEED are bottles of spirits, drugs, clothes, tent, fancy dress and something to sleep on. Anything else is a luxury, which you can either buy inside or do without.

My days of lugging crates of beer, mixers, food, stove etc are behind me now. Far too much grief and pain, and I never eat all the food anyway. Plus the food at G is so good anyway, it seems a bit silly missing out for another tin of Bovril cooked by the tent in the rain.

Edited May 16, 2016 by big__phil

[4AssedMonkey]

The microfibre towel tip is a good one.  They dry in no time, weigh nothing and pack small.

Clothes wise, again if you get the right fabrics they are light, pack small, and dry quick if you get wet.  Hiking trousers with zip off bottoms are great for this.  I take one pair of these and a couple of pairs of shorts.  Fleeces are warmer, lighter and pack smaller than cotton hoodies.  Dry much quicker too.  In fact anything cotton based (inc. denim) is bulky/heavy and will waterlog easy so keep cottons to a minimum.

Don't bother taking cooking stuff for camp.  Get out for meals and hot drinks.

 

 

[blackred]

Have managed to perfect my festival packing these days, can get everything (including tent!) into a 75+10l bag if needed including a fair few 'luxuries'.

My tips (mostly already covered)

• Get a decent rucksack and adjust it to fit - makes a big difference to how easy it is to carry stuff in the first place
• Buy lightweight kit - more costly but tends to last longer than the cheap and cheerful stuff
• Only take shorts - add leggings or longjohns if you get cold in the evening, lightweight and quick drying
• Walking boots - no need for any other footwear unless its gonna be a washout
• Food/cooking stuff - don't bother unless in a large group (share the weight) or on an extreme budget
• Layer up warm clothes - I take a light jumper, a hoodie and a waterproof, have found this combo to cover all temperatures
• No more than one set of clothes (top, underwear) per day
• Don't take things you 'might' use, if you do end up needing something you can always buy on site
• Drugs > Spirits > Boxed wine/cider > Cans

Driving again this year so will still be taking a trolley + cases of beer/cider but could quite happily do the coach or train, just add a couple more bottles of spirits to replace the tins.

[kaytee...]

I say it every year but still can't manage to pack light. I've realised that the rucksack itself can make so much difference.

I splashed out on an Opsrey rucksack and even though it fills the same as my cheap one, it somehow fits in so much more and weighs next to nothing. 

Not taking any cans this year just spirits, partly because Im taking the coach but mostly because my back is ruined. 

[Mezhyp1]

Drinking gin is an issue, as carrying tonic is a serious effort, I'm thinking about ditching the tonic this year and just drinking it with 7up/Sprite on site, being it a pineapple infusion it shouldn't be too bad

[sloseph]

using an actual rucksack makes a massive difference, I can't believe how many festivals I did with terrible bags only to find I had a proper rucksack in my parents loft from my old scout days, life has been much better ever since

you can skimp on many clothes I only take shorts, t-shirts, 1 hoody and a poncho

what ever you do, don't skimp on clean socks

[RichardWaller]

I'd love to just turn up in the clothes I'm standing in. It'd be nice to be able to afford to do that...

[Joshuwarr]

I have some friends who seem to manage it. Generally it's down to not taking cans of beer/cider, buying all your food there and going for a much smaller tent.

[McCor]

Although my rucksack is smaller this year, to encourage me to take less, it's a far better one than last year (invested in a Berghous), and lighter. I'm opting for 2 pairs of shorts, 5 tshirts / vests, one jumper, and socks etc per day. Poncho, pack away water proof trousers. 

[timbrass]

18 minutes ago, RichardWaller said:

I'd love to just turn up in the clothes I'm standing in. It'd be nice to be able to afford to do that...

Technically (and if you had the money and the balls - so to speak) you could turn up naked carrying just your ticket and a debit card.  I believe everything else you could get on site!

[KryziF]

If you've bought a decent rucksack, adjust it so it fits properly. Use the waist strap to transfer the weight to your hips. Use the chest strap, it will stop your shoulders being pulled back and make it easier to breathe. So many times I see girls struggling in with giant rucksacks just on their shoulders.

[windy_miller]

I try and fail to pack light every year.  The two boxes of Wild Wood cider don't help though.

[RichardWaller]

3 minutes ago, timbrass said:

Technically (and if you had the money and the balls - so to speak) you could turn up naked carrying just your ticket and a debit card.  I believe everything else you could get on site!

You could! I don't have that level of balls although I do like the idea of a gang of Glastonbury virgins queuing behind this big stark bollock naked bloke and thinking "hmm I don't remember this happening at V". But yes, the clothes I'm standing in, pick up tent, sleeping bag, clothes and anything else there, enjoying the best of the food and drink going, no worrying about packing or owt.

As for the actual question, I and some of my mates have been at very opposite ends of the packing scale from time to time. My second festival (Leeds 2001) I figured I wanted to pack lightly, so lightly that I left half my tent at home. Oops. One of my mates turned up to V2007 literally with the clothes she was standing in and a bottle of JD. The same mate turned up to Glastonbury 2010 with everything. Loads of cans, bbq, dry shampoo, airbed, sun lotion - all the hallmarks of the professional camper. 

[big__phil]

11 minutes ago, timbrass said:

Technically (and if you had the money and the balls - so to speak) you could turn up naked carrying just your ticket and a debit card.  I believe everything else you could get on site!

Great advice.

[sime]

1 hour ago, sloseph said:

what ever you do, don't skimp on clean socks

Absolutely! I love that fresh sock feel every morning

[fat_man_joe]

Does a torch count?

[sloseph]

16 minutes ago, fat_man_joe said:

Does a torch count?

you don't need a torch, just drop a couple of Garys and your bin lid pupils will give you all the light you need

[sime]

52 minutes ago, timbrass said:

Technically (and if you had the money and the balls - so to speak) you could turn up naked carrying just your ticket and a debit card.  I believe everything else you could get on site!

Now you're talking!

[Jakkkkobz]

Buy cold bottles of mixer from the supermarket-type shops on site.

[lucyginger]

27 minutes ago, sloseph said:

you don't need a torch, just drop a couple of Garys and your bin lid pupils will give you all the light you need

Garys? I am a seasoned, erm, "partaker", but I have not heard anything called this before!! 

[lucyginger]

12 minutes ago, Jakkkkobz said:

Buy cold bottles of mixer from the supermarket-type shops on site.

This. Definitely. No need to take mixer in unless you want tonic. Can't find that for love nor money on site! 

[EIaine]

4 minutes ago, lucyginger said:

Garys? I am a seasoned, erm, "partaker", but I have not heard anything called this before!! 

Gary Abletts  

[shuttlep]

GARRY'S

 

not heard that in  a while

[dooke10]

Still Gary's my way!!