Camping / Festival Hacks!!

[Skoo]

My top tip for Glasto: bring a welly jack!

I did this last year - life changing.

No more struggling to get your wellies off at night. 

I know what you'll say - it's easy to get your wellies off without one. I say rubbish! The first welly is fine, because you can use your other welly-clad foot to get it off....but what then? Now you have a mud soaked welly on one foot, and a bare, socked foot which you ideally don't want to smear in mud in an attempt to get the second welly off.

This is where the welly jack SHINES. It'll get that bad boy off in no time. No more muddy socks.

Mine cost me £6 and I fucking love it.

[Brave Sir Robin]

As an alternative to the above, particularly if wearing walking boots, bring a pair of marigolds and leave them by your tent to avoid muddy hands.

[fur_q]

9 minutes ago, MissStarlight said:

My top tip for Glasto: bring a welly jack!

I did this last year - life changing.

No more struggling to get your wellies off at night. 

I know what you'll say - it's easy to get your wellies off without one. I say rubbish! The first welly is fine, because you can use your other welly-clad foot to get it off....but what then? Now you have a mud soaked welly on one foot, and a bare, socked foot which you ideally don't want to smear in mud in an attempt to get the second welly off.

This is where the welly jack SHINES. It'll get that bad boy off in no time. No more muddy socks.

Mine cost me £6 and I fucking love it.

 

4 minutes ago, Brave Sir Robin said:

As an alternative to the above, particularly if wearing walking boots, bring a pair of marigolds and leave them by your tent to avoid muddy hands.

Sit in doorway of tent, put wellied feet into bin liner , pull wellies off (fnar) by holding onto the outside of the bin liner, wellies are neatly wrapped so tent is kept clean. 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2016 by fur_q

[Brave Sir Robin]

3 minutes ago, fur_q said:

Sit in doorway of tent, put wellied feet into bin liner , pull wellies off (fnar) by holding onto the outside of the bin liner, wellies are neatly wrapped so tent is kept clean.

Good idea for wellies, but untying laces through a bin liner would be tricky.

[shuttlep]

2 hours ago, siblin said:

Good thread!  We've had similar ones but we're probably due a refresh.

a common one (primarily for men) is to use a fabric conditioner bottle for their late night "comfort" breaks (pun intended).  Their wide neck and ample volume is perfect, and they are more water tight than the things you can order on the internet which are designed for the jobs.

not much good for girls though, there are things you can buy on the Internet which are more suitably shaped!

my friend who is  a lady, swears by her Pissy Tub. ordinary Tupperware tub, just pop in you bag and empty at the first loos you pass. 

[Skoo]

16 minutes ago, fur_q said:

 

Sit in doorway of tent, put wellied feet into bin liner , pull wellies off (fnar) by holding onto the outside of the bin liner, wellies are neatly wrapped so tent is kept clean. 

 

 

It sounds to me like you're trying to challenge the wonder that is the welly jack. Yes a bin bag may ultimately help you reach the same goal, but with nowhere near the style and panache that you'll achieve with the welly jack.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

3 hours ago, Thearg said:

Self inflating mats instead of blowups,after years of bouncing around and waking up on the floor after they deflate in the night I bought one last year,much better will never go back

If you get your mouth around the inlet valve and blow, you can get more air in to these giving you a little bit of extra comfort.

[Skoo]

Right I've got one more for you - THE BUCKET.

Last year, for the first time ever at a festival, I brought a bucket, along with a camping towel.

On the first day I filled up one of those mega expanding water bottles and left it in the porch of my tent to get warm.

About halfway through the fest on a sunny day where I felt grubby as hell, I filled up my bucket with the luke warm water, and first washed my hair in it. Literally just dipped my head right in, shampooed, then dipped right in again to rinse, so no mess.

Then I used a flannel and soap to give myself what can only be described as a festival sponge bath, using the soapy water I'd washed my hair in.

Yes, I could've used the showers (which I've done in the past), but I couldn't be arsed with it all. This allowed me to get nice and shiny and clean in the comfort of my campsite.

For such a small thing, it made me feel really refreshed and perked me up when I was flagging a bit. Recommended for those of you who don't want to fanny on with showers but wouldn't mind an MOT mid fest.

 

 

[blackred]

2 minutes ago, MissStarlight said:

Right I've got one more for you - THE BUCKET.

Last year, for the first time ever at a festival, I brought a bucket, along with a camping towel.

On the first day I filled up one of those mega expanding water bottles and left it in the porch of my tent to get warm.

About halfway through the fest on a sunny day where I felt grubby as hell, I filled up my bucket with the luke warm water, and first washed my hair in it. Literally just dipped my head right in, shampooed, then dipped right in again to rinse, so no mess.

Then I used a flannel and soap to give myself what can only be described as a festival sponge bath, using the soapy water I'd washed my hair in.

Yes, I could've used the showers (which I've done in the past), but I couldn't be arsed with it all. This allowed me to get nice and shiny and clean in the comfort of my campsite.

For such a small thing, it made me feel really refreshed and perked me up when I was flagging a bit. Recommended for those of you who don't want to fanny on with showers but wouldn't mind an MOT mid fest.

 

 

I do something similar with a fold up water carrier, find the spout gives it a bit of pressure to make hair washing easier. Nothing like dousing your head in freezing cold water to clear those morning cobwebs!

[Skoo]

1 minute ago, blackred said:

I do something similar with a fold up water carrier, find the spout gives it a bit of pressure to make hair washing easier. Nothing like dousing your head in freezing cold water to clear those morning cobwebs!

I couldn't believe I hadn't been doing this for years. Previously I had just been doing the classic baby wipe showers every morning and then having an actual shower mid fest which, while brilliant, is a bit of hassle, having to take all your washing gear and towel across the festival. This was much easier and a similar effect.

[warriormonk]

Much is being spoken of taking a wizz in the tent at night.  Personally I don't like lugging bottles of urine around site so I use these Travel John things. Turns wee to a solid in seconds.  Less chance of spillage, odour etc.   OK it's pricier than a Lenor bottle but worth a thought.  First used them when I was still rehabbing my ankle after a dislocation some months earlier and I couldn't be arsed to trip through the assault course that is Dairy in the early hours of the morning

http://www.traveljohn.com/products/disposabale-urinal/

They should be giving me bloody commission for this!

[musky]

Page 4 and nobody's mentioned getting your wristband put on the hand you don't wipe with. 

[siblin]

4 minutes ago, warriormonk said:

Much is being spoken of taking a wizz in the tent at night.  Personally I don't like lugging bottles of urine around site so I use these Travel John things. Turns wee to a solid in seconds.  Less chance of spillage, odour etc.   OK it's pricier than a Lenor bottle but worth a thought.  First used them when I was still rehabbing my ankle after a dislocation some months earlier and I couldn't be arsed to trip through the assault course that is Dairy in the early hours of the morning

http://www.traveljohn.com/products/disposabale-urinal/

They should be giving me bloody commission for this!

Ive used them but wasn't a fan, as its still possible to spill in your tent.. doesn't seem the most environmentally friendly either.

[Thearg]

33 minutes ago, Yoghurt on a Stick said:

If you get your mouth around the inlet valve and blow, you can get more air in to these giving you a little bit of extra comfort.

Yes I've done this and it speeds up the inflating process that can take a long time

[Bernieray]

1 hour ago, blackred said:

I do something similar with a fold up water carrier, find the spout gives it a bit of pressure to make hair washing easier. Nothing like dousing your head in freezing cold water to clear those morning cobwebs!

I take a travel bowl and fill up for a morning 'top and tail' feels great having a refreshing wash in the morning, helps the hangover too! 

[Bernieray]

3 hours ago, evilduck said:

Don't however put it at the bottom of your sleeping bag if you sleep with your feet by the door. I've heard of sneaky thief gits opening the tent and then just cutting open the bottom of your sleeping bag. Lockups are your best bet, or I like the sock idea from before!

What's the sock idea? 

[TheBurns]

Bring a proper pillow, it makes all the difference for the few hours sleep you're going to get.

[Jne___]

2 hours ago, MissStarlight said:

Right I've got one more for you - THE BUCKET.

Last year, for the first time ever at a festival, I brought a bucket, along with a camping towel.

On the first day I filled up one of those mega expanding water bottles and left it in the porch of my tent to get warm.

About halfway through the fest on a sunny day where I felt grubby as hell, I filled up my bucket with the luke warm water, and first washed my hair in it. Literally just dipped my head right in, shampooed, then dipped right in again to rinse, so no mess.

Then I used a flannel and soap to give myself what can only be described as a festival sponge bath, using the soapy water I'd washed my hair in.

Yes, I could've used the showers (which I've done in the past), but I couldn't be arsed with it all. This allowed me to get nice and shiny and clean in the comfort of my campsite.

For such a small thing, it made me feel really refreshed and perked me up when I was flagging a bit. Recommended for those of you who don't want to fanny on with showers but wouldn't mind an MOT mid fest.

 

 

That's really good! I always struggle with my hair as its so thin it can't last that long without a wash! dry shampoo just makes my hair sticky, although i have found talc does a much better job !!  

[rubenz]

Friend of mine took something similar to this last year. Fill with water in the morning and leave out in the sun for a bit and you can spray yourself down for a campsite shower. I was sceptical at first but it worked quite well!

Apologies for huge picture

 

[Woffy]

Start every morning with a delicious warm cheese toastie.

[Crazyfool01]

13 minutes ago, rubenz said:

Friend of mine took something similar to this last year. Fill with water in the morning and leave out in the sun for a bit and you can spray yourself down for a campsite shower. I was sceptical at first but it worked quite well!

Apologies for huge picture

 

just purchased similar , should be useful for washing the car after too

[blackred]

1 minute ago, Woffy said:

Start every morning with a delicious warm cheese toastie.

Unfortunately the wife is staying at home this year, will have to look out for that van...

[Kneale]

Now we've discussed how everyone goes for a wee in their tent, how do people pee when they're right in the middle/front of a crowd, say at Pyramid stage? I was thinking of taking Traveljohns, I've used these before but only in my tent at IoW last year.

Edited April 26, 2016 by Kneale

[carlosj]

Is this realistic as a mini shower for hair washing, rather than big buckets? I've seen them at garden stalls as a watering device on a standard plastic pop bottle, so it may be ok for a quick wash and easier to pack.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I haven't read the entire thread so am not sure if this has already been said - lash a load of little bells or beer/ cider cans on a bit of twine to your tent zipper. Then if a tent thief opens your tent it'll make a noise and possibly scare them off. The bells or cans being on the inside of the tent, of course, so that the thieves are unaware until the point of noise is made.

Bells;

 

As for can's of alcohol (or even non alcoholic drinks) - just lash them the same way as you would the bells above, making sure that they will hit each other and make noise.

Edited April 26, 2016 by Yoghurt on a Stick