Travelling light?

Beanie · #1 06-06-2011, 01:11 PM

I'm just interested to know how many manage to carry all their stuff in in one go? Or do people make two trips from the car? I managed it in one go last year, but only just!! Dunno how you coach/train travellers manage it? Is there a knack to it? (The inside out underpants trick for travelling light?).... or trolleys?

Nelly · #2 06-06-2011, 01:36 PM

We used a giant trolley last year (not of the shopping kind I might add), its brilliant and only requires one trip.

This year Mr Nelly is going down on the Tuesday night as I can't get the time off work (boo hiss!) so I am arriving by train with just a bag of clothes on Thursday.

tort · #3 06-06-2011, 01:50 PM

I take everything but the kitchen sink with me but only because I can by using my sack truck. It's a bit of a slog pulling it uphill but otherwise it's an easy one handed push. If I came by bus or train I'd simply strip down what I took to the bare essentials.

Nelly · #4 06-06-2011, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by Nelly

We used a giant trolley last year (not of the shopping kind I might add), its brilliant and only requires one trip.

This year Mr Nelly is going down on the Tuesday night as I can't get the time off work (boo hiss!) so I am arriving by train with just a bag of clothes on Thursday.

Oh and a box of frozen wine

Beanie · #5 06-06-2011, 02:51 PM

Its amazing how 5 changes of clothes, wellies, tent, seat, sleeping bag, bed roll, essential toiletries, wet wipes oh & not forgetting the glow sticks can get up to quite a hefty weight! Hang on, not forgetting the beer too!

I'll be the one looking positively like a pack donkey!

glastomad · #6 06-06-2011, 03:05 PM

What I do is put all the heavy stuff (beers and other drinks) right at the bottom of the bag then put the lighter stuff on top of that (sleeping bag, clothes, sleeping mat, mini pillow) in that order ish. This makes it bottom heavy so you can keep your back straight and makes walking easier! You see lots of people leaning forward when they walk with big things on their back which makes walking alot harder. The chair goes across the top as its a bitch to carry and dosn't really effect the weight distribution

Tent goes in hand or around a shoulder with a piece of string/ribbon/rope changing sides once in a while.

This is what i do and have never had to stop short of where I intended to camp, although this cannot be said for my friends

RickySSmith · #7 06-06-2011, 04:20 PM

I'm ridiculously skinny and have pretty much no muscle whatsoever so I always struggle carting the stuff for miles.

I'm normally the one flagging at the back huffing and puffing wanting to stop and rearrange every ten minutes - top tip, if you feel like you need to stop - DONT! As soon as you stop once you're buggered, that's what I've found anyway, push on through the pain and know that your reward will be setting up camp and diving straight into the beers ready for the best 5 days of the year!

rooroo · #8 06-06-2011, 06:12 PM

i've always tried to pack light, but never seem to get the knack of it and always ended up with bits and pieces hanging of my rucksack like buckaroo... even after i have loaded up my other half with all the extra bits i can't quite clip / tie on...

We've invested in a brillant trolley last year, but you still have to push / pull the thing and its a rookie mistake to put too much on it as in the blazing heat it seems like will never end, but if you do manage it in one... its quite satisfying knowing you don;t need to go back to the car until monday!!

akicif · #9 06-06-2011, 06:53 PM

If you do the train/coach/bus thing, you're more or less forced to travel light - well, light-ish.

I still end up with a rucksack and a wheelie bag (so far I've been lucky with the too-small wheels): and that's after doing a pre-Glasto festival trip to a smaller local festival to eliminate the things I don't need....

stinkywitch · #10 06-06-2011, 07:14 PM

We have usually done it in one trip, and thats with 2 kids a family tent and all the shizzle that goes with it. The kids have always been really good though and pulled their weight. This year we will be taking what we are comfortable with and going back if needed on thur or fri. But saying that, this year the 2 kids we usually take are replaced with 2 adults and one of them is a soldier. Think 1 trip will be enough and easy.

stardustjunkie · #11 06-06-2011, 07:27 PM

We traveled by train last year, we had hiking rucksacks and a suitcase (silly idea) with booze and food in it. Also a tent to carry.

Was a killer.

We're both tiny and not very strong at all.

This year there's 3 of us, we'll each have a hiking rucksack, and also 3 old ladies trollies (with good size wheels). The trollies will carry our booze/food, and we'll split the tent up between our rucksacks probably.

akicif · #12 06-06-2011, 07:34 PM

I was going to mention the wheelie bags that LiDL had last year, so tried looking up the details. Turns out that LiDL have them again right now, and at only £9.99....

(Mine's survived (mostly) four festivals, two camping weekends and a few day trips)

TAFKASair · #13 07-06-2011, 12:38 PM

I remember the old days when I could pack a rucksack with a few tins, clean pants, some t-shirts and a tiny saucepan with my gaz stove in it. Tent and bed roll attached to that. Wear army boots and they'll cover you for all weathers. Combat trousers instead of a bag for loo roll, fags and wallet (no mobile phone bak then).

These days my huge tent, airbed and duvet go down to the workers camp 2 days before I do, hubby has a wheelbarrow for the beer and I carry far too many clothes and half the kitchen on a trolley.
I think it's a symptom of getting old.

m1keanderson · #14 07-06-2011, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by akicif

I was going to mention the wheelie bags that LiDL had last year, so tried looking up the details. Turns out that LiDL have them again right now, and at only £9.99....

thanks - a tempting offer. This is what you get for your money:

m1keanderson · #15 07-06-2011, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by TAFKASair

These days my huge tent, airbed and duvet go down to the workers camp 2 days before I do, hubby has a wheelbarrow for the beer and I carry far too many clothes and half the kitchen on a trolley.
I think it's a symptom of getting old.

Just to let you know TAFKASair, Lidl are also selling fold-up guest beds. I'm lucky enough to send my gear on ahead too and last year slept on something similar (gotta love the glamping). Unfortunately, only room for the airbed this year

Beanie · #16 07-06-2011, 01:57 PM

OMG you are a hero! That bag is the bees knees! I am on my way to Lidl immediately to go get myself one

Means I can take three pairs of shoes, yay!

Razda101 · #17 07-06-2011, 02:44 PM

Gonna try to pack lighter this year. Last two years i've taken a different pair of shorts for each day and only every worn two maybe three of them. I don't wear 7 pairs of shorts a week normally so why do i plan to at glasto!!

A trolley is a must! Without it we would be stuck up a creek without a paddle!

KarenEH · #18 07-06-2011, 04:24 PM

My tents going with the advance party, but this year I'm waiting until the latest weather forcast to decide about wellies- I have great hiking boots that repel the mud but still take the wellies! Rolled up sundresses, undies, socks and a thick hoodieplus cheap plastic ponchos and mini size toiletries! I'm forgoing the wigs and glamour wear this year! My old lady trolly carries the booze and airbeds! Hopefully that's pared it down a bit!