(Part 2) Top products from r/Coachella

So in my "flying from NY" experience, which I did twice before just moving to Southern California, here are some more tips:

Check a bag and get the majority of your gear into that one 50 lb. bag. Buy whatever you can before the trip from Amazon or wherever else, and just order the camping chairs and whatever else from Walmart for pickup. I knew I wanted my tent to be more than just a one-time coachella tent, so I researched it thoroughly and came up with this, which is a bit pricy, but the tent is only 11 pounds packed up, and packs up real nice and small so you can easily fit this into your checked bag. It's about 75% mesh, which means it's ventilated like crazy, which is great for the desert, and it comes with a rain-fly that the reviews all said worked great (especially important if you're going weekend 1, which has had weather issues the past 3 years).

This does mean you'll have to worry about the sun though, so I bought a bunch of mylar emergency blankets that I just duct taped to the top of my tent to reflect out as much heat as possible. They crinkled when the wind blew, so they were a bit noisy, but it's Coachella and you're going to be dealing with noise all weekend.

That's why you need earplugs. For the concert, you might want either of these pairs that I have used in the past, but for sleeping, you just want basic foam earplugs that will block the majority of sound out. You won't have to worry about your tent making noise or your neighbors' afterparty.

I wasn't willing to buy an easy-up in the past (though I may this year), so instead I just picked up a silver reflective tarp (to help with the desert sun) from Harbor Freight for not too much money, and then I ordered a few of these tarp poles along with a good line of reflective tarp cord and some plastic stakes (they don't allow metal). As long as someone else in your campsite has an easy-up, you can easily bungee the tarp to the side of that. Just make sure you are really good about tying down the poles.

The most IMPORTANT tip I can give you is to FIND A GROUP to camp with before you go! Last year, I was part of a campsite that attempted to include about 50 people. Only about 25-30 wound up actually meeting up before heading in, with a group of 11 cars. That wound up being split into groups of 5 and 6 cars, that had sites that were still within a block of each other. Make sure your group stays together on the security line! Find a line that seems to be moving faster than the others (which means they are checking each car a bit less ;) ) and make damn sure you stay together, because they only allow you 15 minutes to wait for the rest of your group once you're past security. Be a New Yorker about it if you have to. Two years ago, we found that there was an empty line over to the right that had been blocked off by another line right next to it. When we saw it and then went to move all our cars into the line, my brother just stood there with a beer in one hand, holding his other hand up to a group of cars that patiently waited for our group to be in the line together, and then we were all good.

One of the best parts about finding a group to camp with was that everyone is gonna forget something, but each time it happened, someone else in the group had it handy. It was pretty magical. The other awesome thing about finding a group to camp with, is you can almost bet everyone will have a good time because people are generally in their best moods and on their best behavior trying to meet cool new people like you.

I will also note that for flying in from NY, my budget has usually been somewhere around 1200-1500 for the weekend, including a flight (350), the ticket (375), the camping pass (85, split 2 ways), purchasing gear (around 300 the first year, but if you have last year's equipment it gets cheaper), and then about 300-400 for food/beer/weed (and if you stick to drinking in the campsite you'll be able to spend less on beer and stay hydrated more easily).

Anyway, there's my short novel about being prepared for and having an awesome Coachella camping experience. I'm still a boy scout at heart, so planning for stuff like this comes naturally to me and I am pretty passionate about it. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Copied and pasted from my reply in a related thread a few weeks ago about camping showers. This is a bit more involved than most people probably use, but it doubles as a both a camping shower and a misting setup for your canopy to provide cooling all weekend.

 

>We buy gallon jugs and a flat of water bottles for drinking, but our "utility" water comes from the water fill stations, or melted ice, depending on the use.

>Our shower is different than most camping showers you'll see people bring. We use a pump action garden sprayer like this one connected to a misting hose like this one that is clipped around our EZ-Up for general cooling purposes. When someone wants to shower, they disconnect the pump tank from misting hose and take it in to a small camping shower enclosure like this one to take a quick wash with the sprayer. The enclosure is lightweight and pops up so it's very quick to throw out and fold down as needed. It's a great combination system to get clean without the wait/walk, and also to keep your campsite refreshingly cool with the misting hose. Neighbors are generally impressed by the mist.

>More commonly, you will see people use bag showers like this one hung within something like this. Take down and set up as needed, or leave it up all weekend if you find yourself with a corner spot. Enclosures that are stable enough to hold the water bag can be expensive, though, so that's why I think our system is a little better and more versatile.

Well first, read through your Coachella welcome guide that comes with your box. It has tons of awesome information on what to expect.

Then, use the search bar and find tons of other threads recommending camping items. Seriously there's so many, nobody will cover them all in this thread.

That being said, here's a copy/pasted comment of mine from another similar thread. These are some of the lesser known items I like to recommend:

> "Individually Wrapped Butt Wipes: low profile enough to stash a couple in your fanny pack or backpack. Make the porta potties wayyy less of a nightmare.

>Individual Pedialyte Packets: never worry about hydration. Just drop one into every water bottle or Camelbak refill. Also tastes amazing in conjunction with "goodies."

>Chelated Magnesium: if your "goodies" make you queasy or clench your teeth a lot.

>Hydro Flask Cup: It's going to be hawt as FUDGE out there. Last thing you want is your drink getting warm. I've left these on the hood of my car by accident and come back to it still full of ice. Amazing.

>Ravpower Portable Charger: this bad boy is one of my favorite purchases ever, not just for Coachella. When this thing's fully charged, it charges a full phone battery around 6-7 times. It charges like twice as fast as my wall outlet charger. It's seriously amazing.

>Individual toilet seat covers - Those camping porta potties are a fucking warzone sometimes.

>I'd also recommend side walls for your EZ Up as extra shade. Tapestries work too. "

lightsaber

not prime, but already pretty cheap at around $10. toss it in your backpack and use it as a guide when directing friends to your location (blue lightsaber, stage right gobi). get a bunch for your friends and have battles after the sun sets. be wary though, security forced me to toss mine citing it as a weapon (friend in other line got through just fine).

300 glowstick bracelets

great thing to pass out at night. make so many new friends with these!

this is my first year going, but i've heard about all about the dehydration issues. i've heard these tablets are good for keeping you hydrated, and they can easily fit in whatever bag you're planning on bringing along with you. spend money on staying healthy! http://www.amazon.com/Nuun-Active-Hydration--Electrolyte-Enhanced/dp/B005GQ6IN6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1396026838&sr=8-3&keywords=nuun+electrolyte+tablets

I bought this one from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Instant-Canopy-Lighting-System/dp/B004E4CUBK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474699178&sr=8-1&keywords=coleman+canopy+with+lighting

Was on sale when I bought it, about $120, but I'd pay twice that for what it has done for us. I made my own side walls for it from a bolt of cotton fabric I bought at Joann's, but any side walls will do. It lowers halfway, so when we leave the campground for the festival each afternoon, we just lower it instead of taking the top off. It has never blown away (though we do sneak in metal stakes and have sandbags to weigh down the legs as backup). We also double it as a tent and it comfortably sleeps 6 people. The lights on the inside are battery powered and are perfect for chilling inside the tent in the wee hours of the morning.

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Amazon Smile Link: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BJCHH36/ref=oh_details_o01_s01_i00


|Country|Link|Charity Links|
|:-----------|:------------|:------------|
|USA|smile.amazon.com|EFF|
|UK|www.amazon.co.uk|Macmillan|
|Spain|www.amazon.es||
|France|www.amazon.fr||
|Germany|www.amazon.de||
|Japan|www.amazon.co.jp||
|Canada|www.amazon.ca||
|Italy|www.amazon.it||
|India|www.amazon.in||




To help donate money to charity, please have a look at this thread.

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I ordered a bunch of stuff for this year. I went a little amazon crazy.

I stubbed my toe on a tent stake last year so I ordered these glow in the dark tent stakes.

I figured this blow up couch would be a cool addition to our campsite.


I got one of these battery powered fans for my tent.


I ordered a few of these batter powered led lights in different colors for decoration.


I ordered like 4 of these portable fans for our camping group to clip onto their camel packs for the daytime heat.


I ordered this portable battery pack to keep my phone charged.


I ordered a 300 pack of glowsticks 100 for each day.

I ordered these light shooter things. They are fun to play with in the camping grounds.


I ordered one of these anti chafe sticks for my fat legs. It's truly a life saver.


Also I ordered The Watterpuff for obvious reasons.

[This] (http://www.amazon.com/Vivere-UHSDO9-Double-Hammock-Space-Saving/dp/B004YJCP7O/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1397542568&sr=8-3&keywords=hammock) is the one I bought. Super quick (under 5 minutes) and easy set up. Handy carrying case. Easily holds two people.

Self Inflatable Air Pad - So much better than sleeping on the tent tarp / yoga mat.

Handheld Water Misting Fan - The most popular item at my tent the past couple of years. Put a few small ice cubes and water for a refreshing cool down.

I've never had any issues, but after all the comments/threads here and the /r/Lollapalooza sub I decided to get one of the SPIbelt running belts. Tried it on and it seems comfortable enough with space for my phone and easily hidden under my shirt.

I can't recommend anything higher than the cooling towels:
https://www.amazon.com/Frogg-Toggs-Chilly-Evaporative-Cooling/dp/B003YF7W22/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484083513&sr=8-1&keywords=frog+togg+towel
Stays cool until it evaporates which is about an hour or 2 in the hot coachella sun. Saved my life the first year i went. Keep it on your shoulders or head when youre out in the sun or take a nap in the shade with it over your face. heaven

I use this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Instant-Canopy-Lighting-System/dp/B004E4CUBK

I love the LED lights on the inside. Battery powered. When I got it, it was 140, not the 190 listed there...

But also, what devlindigital said, get at least one sidewall (I put mine facing east so the sun doesn't kill me.)

Last year I upgraded my camp with a freestanding hammock, it was great for sleeping in after the tents get too hot https://www.amazon.com/Vivere-Double-Hammock-Space-Saving-Tropical/dp/B004YJCP7O/

I got this bad boy in on Monday: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BZD6QCW?pc_redir=1396407738&robot_redir=1
Nice bed comforter too.

Sheets or tapestries and clamps like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CPSJCB8/ to clip the sheets onto each side of your canopy for privacy. Make sure the clamps are big enough to fit onto your canopy legs!

Cheap water jugs with spouts http://www.target.com/p/arrowhead-brand-100-mountain-spring-water-2-5-gallon-plastic-jug/
Keep one on a folding table and bungee cord a roll of paper towels to the handle, throw a bucket on the floor and you have a sink.
Leave one on top of your car and the water gets hot enough to rinse off with if you're too lazy to make the trek to the shower trailers.

Solar/battery powered string lights or a lantern for the campsite and a headlamp for the portapotties

Plastic tent stakes

Battery powered fans https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003SXLW7Q/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ATSHJ1Q/ and a misting bottle

A jump starter that can also charge phones https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D42TYFC

I have this guy and it works pretty well. If you have prime it will make it in time for week two. $25

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BJCHH36/ref=oh_details_o01_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There are a bunch of other bundle options as well. MONEY WELL SPENT.

https://www.amazon.com/Fireworks-Glasses-Multi-Starbursts-Displays-Holiday/dp/B0081LC7MY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1491696338&sr=8-7&keywords=diffraction+glasses

I mean keep your balls fresh with Fresh Balls.

I have the Alpine pros and I think the 20 dollar ones should do.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032BYCWG/ref=s9_acsd_al_bw_c_x_4_w

Pros have less reducing filters, and extra earplug in case you lose one.

I enjoy earaser branded ones and alpine because they don't stick out of your ear as much as the etymotics. They also sound better than the cheaper etymotics, I haven't tried the higher one ones.

Not requesting one for myself, just pointing out how useful they are. Prime eligible as well.

that's an interesting take on your own shower, i had only seen people using these

We used this Sunwall attachment which worked pretty well. Add it to the side thats going to block the sunrise.

I bought this one

https://www.amazon.com/Pedialyte-Powder-Variety-0-3-Ounce-Count/dp/B004M1BOC6

You can get it at Target or Walmart as well. I would take one at night and one in the morning.

Trying these out this year, should be a little more convenient than all the pedialyte bottles.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GQ6IN6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_buZ-wbAHA4P38

http://www.amazon.com/External-Battery-Pack-Limefuel-L130X/dp/B00BZD6QCW

Or something similar.

Here is the mobile version of your link

Don't know what the quality difference is here, but you can get 50 of em for $14 on Amazon

Or This...bra flask:

http://www.amazon.com/The-WineRack-200-008-Wine-Medium/dp/B001FYZZI2/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1396302001&sr=8-7&keywords=secret+flask

POSCA PENS I MANAGE A BODYSHOP AND WE USE THESE PENS ANYWHERE ON THE CAR .. THEY WASH RIGHT OFF WITH SOAP AND WATER

https://www.amazon.com/O2cool-Deluxe-Battery-operated-Handheld-Water-misting/dp/B000QUC8N6/ref=pd_lpo_201_bs_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QS8GV02V8XSBDXX8YAYV

did you even try googling. i literally googled titty flask.

https://www.amazon.com/Smuggle-Your-Booze-Floppy-Flasks/dp/B00DUKGNLW

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FYZZI2/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B001FYZZI2&pd_rd_w=SFqXa&pf_rd_p=80559f3c-f83b-49c1-8a72-40f936e9df7a&pd_rd_wg=Eiarr&pf_rd_r=NT6J58C8MX0B35G9WAKB&pd_rd_r=9cb9a1f8-57e1-11e9-9c56-b9e9f5e85b72

Non-mobile: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000GL6RK/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/187-1701326-5739659

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

this one has lasted my three years including 15+ fests and tons of runs. It doesn’t have the largest capacity and it’s only one pocket but it worked well for me. Very tight fitting so no worries of it going anywhere during my dancing and I would definitely feel any thieves tug on it. Thing is they would-be thieves never see it cuz it’s covered by the bottom my shirt most of the time Just got a new more standard fanny pack though so curious to see how I like the change

Haven't seen Frogg Togg yet. Will never hit another festival without one.

https://www.amazon.com/Frogg-Toggs-Chilly-Evaporative-Cooling/dp/B003YF7W22/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1483725398&sr=8-4&keywords=frogg+toggs

Tajin powder is mostly crushed peppers, salt, and citrus. It's the slightly spicy, somewhat salty chili powder rim they put on red beer/michelada. It really peps up a mellow Mexican beer.

Buy a 5 gallon bucket and one of these https://www.amazon.com/Emergency-Zone-Brand-Bucket-Toilet/dp/B004KLY5CE . They were a lifesaver when I was in one of the far ass lots that rarely got cleaned. I remember seeing people puke after going to pee in there.