Your unessential essentials

[shiveringsky]

I think they are still working on the theory!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCxNP6oQRNw

[HOT JON]

Damn. I was really hoping to avoid th evil charging tents and their queues of doom.

C'mon vegetable revolution!

Edited March 20, 2009 by HOT JON

[r0cky]

you can buy AA battery powered portable phone chargers from maplins - mine cost £2 - admittedly i haven't tried it out yet, so it could be rubbish but it has adapters for most phones and can fit in your pocket.

[daggermouth]

I find it easier to buy cheap replacement batteries for my phone and charge them up before going. when your battery runs out just change it there and then. It cuts out having to wait for it to charge and just remember to turn your phone off at night as your wasting battery for no reason.

[r0cky]

I find it easier to buy cheap replacement batteries for my phone and charge them up before going. when your battery runs out just change it there and then. It cuts out having to wait for it to charge and just remember to turn your phone off at night as your wasting battery for no reason.

[CrunchyFrog]

My Shmangle!

[mouth]

got to be airbed and pump. the cool box. The other essential is leaving a clean tracksuit, t-shirt, socks, pants and trainers in the car. makes the drive home on monday so much better.

[HOT JON]

I don't have any experience of the Maplin charger, but for £2 I can imagine it being quite poor. The voltage that the cheap ones create is just directly from the battery, and often insufficient to charge the phone well.

You can get much better AA chargers that use a SMPS to generate a good charging voltage for the phone.

Look at things like Power Traveller Power Chimp.

You can even get a solar charging version (needs actual sunshine though) Power Traveller Power Monkey Explorer

[featherboa]

I also take spare phone batteries as they are much quicker to swap over. I also have to take bananas, the best cure for that groggy feeling you get in the mornings! Also thermal leggings, not a great look on us girls but they keep you warm at night and take up less room than jeans, they dry quicker too!

[mouth]

My Shmangle!

[Spider43]

Not thought about spare batteries - I always take two phones which is a bit unnecessary...

Is Ebay the best bet?

[2/Z]

my sleeping bag with built-in airbed, plus electric pump i aint slippin off that in the night!!

[CrunchyFrog]

are these any good, was thinking of getting the mrs one but it looks like a bit of a pain to carry around

[daggermouth]

Not thought about spare batteries - I always take two phones which is a bit unnecessary...

Is Ebay the best bet?

[alix08]

I had one of these last year and I think I blew it up too much so it popped the second I sat on it.

I was seriously gutted it being the first year I'd ever had anything more than a hypervalue rollmat

I'll get another one this year I think

Every year I take a folding bowl a bit like this one here and a sponge and micro towel for a wash every morning. Been doing it for a few years now, it's great, beats sticky wet wipes and doesn't even take up much more room to pack.

[daggermouth]

wouldn't you still have to queue up in the morning at the sinks to get water for your bowl??

[alix08]

Not if you have a bottle with water in or one of the 5L plastic water carriers another unessential essential just remember to clean out before taking with bicarb soda or else you will have the problem i had in 07 of plastic tasting water yum yum.

[robith]

I find it easier to buy cheap replacement batteries for my phone and charge them up before going. when your battery runs out just change it there and then. It cuts out having to wait for it to charge and just remember to turn your phone off at night as your wasting battery for no reason.

[r0cky]

wouldn't you still have to queue up in the morning at the sinks to get water for your bowl??

[HurrahBrother]

Those are good - keep you warm! I use one myself

Edited March 20, 2009 by HurrahBrother

[HurrahBrother]

Is this for your tent?

[HurrahBrother]

Every year I take a folding bowl a bit like this one here and a sponge and micro towel for a wash every morning. Been doing it for a few years now, it's great, beats sticky wet wipes and doesn't even take up much more room to pack.

[tazzyb]

Now that is what I call an essential unessential essential, thank you for sharing it with us!!! Is costco members only? Is it a case of putting very cold stuff in when packing?

In awe!

[nina3d]

My Shmangle!

[mouth]

Now that is what I call an essential unessential essential, thank you for sharing it with us!!! Is costco members only? Is it a case of putting very cold stuff in when packing?

In awe!