It's festival season and live music and camping are 2 things that go together perfectly, and
make music festivals one of my favourite summer activities.
And these days there are literally hundreds to choose from, each with a different atmosphere.
There are even festivals that the whole family can enjoy together.
But what should you take for a weekend camping at a music festival?
It's a question that people either get right, or wrong!
So we're at the Wychwood Music Festival in Cheltenham and we're going to find a group
with the worst camping set up and
PIMP THERE Up tent
Mike> What are you doing
Ollie > Pimping my tent..
No?!
Mike> NO.. and I have also brought my lovely wife Gem, and Ollie has a girlfriend
Ollie > Fiancée
Mike> Fiancée..?!
Really!?
Congratulations.. and this going to be the first time I have met her actually .. and
I have literally No idea what to expect
Ollie> And here she comes..
So while the girls went of to get to know each other and compare horror stories, we
went on a little tour of the camp-site in search of a group who looked like they would
benefit most from a new set-up, we also did a bit of tent spotting along the way.
Ollie & Mike> Nice
Mike> This is a really good example of why you need to make sure that out all your guy
lines out because you don't know when its windy ... It was really still yesterday, but
today has been windy and these guys had a few problems ... Its a nice tent though?
Mike> This is a Montana 6 from Outwell, its a really good tent -- one of the best family
tents you can buy .. I'm not sure id take it to a festival, a lot of festivals the car
park will be miles away from the camp site, but we're lucky here that its literally just
over there, but its a lot of tent to lug all the way across
Ollie> but it is a good family tent
In the end we came across this group, and when we got chatting we discovered 2 of their
tents were pretty much on their last legs, and that the chap in the tiger onesy (you'll
see more of him later...) didn't even have a sleeping bag.
Mike> So I think we've found our group, its by no means the worse set up here, but they
seem nice and I think its time to
Ollie> Pimp My Tent up!!
Mike> Ollie Seriously you've got to start doing that..
Its embarrassing
So when you are choosing a festival tent, firstly you don't want something that's to
expensive.
I once took an expensive mountaineering tent to a festival and nearly cried when someone
accidentally caught it with a cigarette on the way past.
Secondly.
You don't want something that is going to be too heavy or bulky.
At many festivals the camp-site can be miles away from the car park and it's not a trip
you want to make several times just to get your camp set up.
Tents are a given though, so what other accessories should you think about taking?
Mike> Wicked wedges, they are sort of a blow up seat thing
Ollie > and the wind break, to make your area a bit more private, and er block the wind..
Mike> The go anyway chair, perfect for festivals, and its more transportable than a wicked wedge
and its got a pocket on the back -- very useful
Ollie> The mini headlight great for going to the toilet in the middle of the night,
and can be hung up at the top of your tent and act as a great lantern.
Mike> We've got a wind up mobile phone charger and torch, very useful for festivals because
your phone always runs out of battery and there are not many charging points around
Ollie> And the Sheweee .... Mike?!
Mike> I think you should visit the website for more details..
Mike> We've got the solid fuel stove, some festivals don't allow gas on site, so these
are great for making a cup of tea in the morning and to go with that we've got the Hi Gear
Whistling Kettle and also a Hi Gear pan set, for cooking up beans and other things
Ollie> and with the sleeping bag, it doesn't need to be too expensive but make sure its
warm enough.
Mike> Light sticks so you can rave it up like its still the 1990s
Ollie> BOOOOOM!!!
Ollie> The Hi Gear camper a self inflating mat, no need for a pump and much easier to
carry than an air bed
Mike> The Hi Gear Utah chair
Mike> A pillow, really compact but it make it much easier to get a good nights sleep
Ollie> And a packable rain jacket, just in case it rains
Mike> Right guys do you want to come see your new tents
Onesy Man> That was my tent
Ollie> So lets have a look at it now.. look at it..
Onesy man> Wooh a 4 man tent..
Mike> and this is a 6 man tent
Onesy man> WOOOW
Mike> and I'm not sure if its necessary
Onesy man> these are always good for me
Mike> and a mobile phone charger -- and it winds up .. that's genuinely useful
Anyway.
I'll let Ollie's Norfolk Gangsta alter ego introduce the icing on this pimped out cake.
Ollie> I give you Thrill Collins
This weekend really was a lot of fun, huge thanks to thank Wychwood festival for inviting
us along.
It was my first time at a festival that advertises itself as family friendly, and it turned out
to be one of the most good natured festivals I have been to.
Even the afterhours silent disco was well worth staying out for.
Live music and camping.
Throw in a bit of sunshine, and there are few things that can be more fun.
And you will find everything that you need to help you enjoy it at GO Outdoors.
Finally thank you Thrill Collins for the fantastic set you played on our pimped out campsite.
And remember, if you can find any of the equipment featured in this video for less anywhere else
GO Outdoors will beat that price by 10%.