(Part 2) Top products from r/festivals

1. My pod poi, I have them in hand for a solid chunk of the time I'm at festivals.
   
2. Cooling towel. If you can get a good one these things are lifesavers when it's hot out. And they feel amazing when you're in altered states. Full discretion I sell a pretty great version of them, but we had them made because we used them first and wanted to make them better. Check them out here
   
3. Mint tins like these. Usually I'll have one with mints in it for flavor and another that's empty. Maybe the best container for party favors, joints, etc that I've found for festivals. It's unassuming and looks normal to have, it's rigid so even if you sit on it you won't crush what's inside, and the stuff inside will stay happy.
   
4. If you need to keep stuff in the cooler but don't want it to get wet (chocolate, makeup, party favors, wax/hash, whatever else) go for one of these boxes. They're for boating so they're watertight, come in a bunch of different sizes, I've got a medium/small one and a huge one that I ordered thinking it was smaller.

As you probably know, the stuff you buy for UK festivals will need to be waterproof, and preferably lightweight as you carry all your stuff from the coach/ train to the campsite, and can often stand in the long entry queues.


For a camping chair I brought this last year, it was godsend from the previous cheap and heavy camping chairs. I was able to pack in my rucksack it folds that small, and weighs so little. The price is a little steep, but I use it a lot outside of festivals, and it still intact, which I can’t say for the cheaper camping chairs I’ve brought.


I brought this tent last year, it was on sale, and the price seems to have increased. It’s pretty big, and provides good cover from the rain, and your camp can join you in the porch area inside during a downpour. A few people seem to be raving about this tent as it a larger pop-up, and keeps the sunlight out, allowing a couple more hours kip in the morning.

I bring a folding table like this one. I have a 2-burner Coleman stove that runs off propane and a single-burner butane stove. I'll bring one or the other depending on how many fuel canisters I find while packing. I always bring gear for cooking (pan/pot, spatula, tongs, ladle, hot pads, seasonings, etc.) but the most common stove use is boiling water in a kettle (for making coffee in an Aeropress or french press). I'm one of those "it's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it" people who brings EVERYTHING!

I usually camp with a large group. We try to plan so that everyone (or every couple) brings one meal to share to reduce the overall prep work and expense. Sometimes we have electric available at camp and I will do a slow-cooker recipe on site. Other times I make a dish at home, freeze it so it will keep in the cooler, then re-heat it on the stove. A 'one pot' dish like soup or jambalaya is easy to re-heat and serve and doesn't generate a huge mess to clean. Tip: add dish soap to a small scrubby sponge (or cut a larger sponge into a more manageable size) and keep it in a ziploc. The reduces the chances of a soap spill/disaster and it can be thrown away if no longer usable at the end of the fest.

I bring a few snacks and something to eat in the mornings (plus coffee - never go without a reliable caffeine source!) in addition to my group meal contribution. I rely on the vendors for everything else.

your in luck, I'm looking at 4 arduinos right now and literally just did some arduino coding yesterday :).

So I actually used something like these for color changing leds,

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11450

Basically you just give them power and they change automatically. I gave them paper wings but that's not necessary. So what I would do is get a bunch of those and wire them up on some fishing wire. Not sure if that would be ideal though, hmmm.

Regarding motor, you can use anything really. Here's one,

http://www.amazon.com/15RPM-Shaft-Torque-Turbine-Geared/dp/B00EDMIH7E/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416102606&sr=8-3&keywords=gear+motor

But I'd honestly stay away from motors to start, it makes it too complicated. At least a motor with strings, because it's fragile and you have to worry about people touching them.

Another very cool effect is bouncing laser pointers off of mirrors. You can do some cool stuff with a laser pointer and a package of these http://www.amazon.com/Round-Mirror-Craft-Projects-Mosaics/dp/B0028BVL2A/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1416102750&sr=8-12&keywords=small+mirror.

I don't think the hammocks are provided, but there are thousands of them. I'd definitely recommend getting one of your own. It looks like the price has gone up since I bought it (about $50) and don't forget the straps!

I love my ETY ER20 Plugs. Inexpensive, comfortable and sound great. Just used them throughout Moogfest. Links below for folks not familiar.

The bigger question is, how do you avoid forgetting them?!

https://www.etymotic.com/hp/er20.html

http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-ETY-Plugs-Protection-Earplugs/dp/B0015WNZ9K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1398874091&sr=8-2&keywords=Etymonic+Ear+Plug

For festival camping I actually bring a fold-able exercise mat that I have. Basically can be used as a 1" mattress. I like a firmer bed so it works fine for me. Here's basically the one I have -

http://www.amazon.com/Everlast-Folding-Exercise-72-Inch-24-Inch/dp/B000O2GCS8/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1464119105&sr=1-3&keywords=exercise+mat+fold

This one looks promising as well -

http://www.amazon.com/Sunny-Health-Fitness-Tri-Fold-Exercise/dp/B0016BUR9G/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1464119114&sr=1-1&keywords=exercise+mat+fold

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap (Link at bottom). You don't need much, its easy to wipe off with very little water, smells good, and is safe for the environment. You can order it online or find it at Whole Foods or Target (Target has little 2oz travel bottles). Bring a wash cloth for each day (unless want to scrub your face with the same towel that you cleaned your sweaty junk with) and one or two towels. You basically just take a sponge bath and wipe off with a wet towel. The peppermint scent is really refreshing!

https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Bronners-Organic-Castile-Liquid/dp/B000HK1ON0/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1466456775&sr=8-1&keywords=dr.+bronners+castile+soap

I use this one: http://www.amazon.com/Intex-Raised-Airbed-Built--Electric/dp/B000M0MJU2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1464031886&sr=8-2&keywords=intex+air+mattress

This one is good too: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G7H793G/ref=ice_ac_a_t_dpn?ie=UTF8&qid=1464031886&sr=8-1-ac&keywords=intex+air+mattress

The first one has been to burning man and a few other festivals and still gets nice and firm. You need an inverter to inflate it (it uses a regular wall plug).

We upgraded to cots this past year so no more waking up with your hip bone poking into the ground. Pro super comfortable built like a tank. Con takes up a lot of room we had to get a 10x13 tent to fit them us and our gear, but what the heck we needed a new tent anyway.
http://www.amazon.com/TETON-Sports-Outfitter-XXL-Camp/dp/B000P6BGYI/ref=zg_bs_3400811_17

This sounds fascinating. I am really trying to discover psychology and sociology with the psychedelic mind state, which is fairly similar.

I have a book about humanistic psychology and sixties culture. the book

What do you know already about ethnography and festivals?

I got one of these http://www.amazon.com/Intex-Prestige-Downy-Airbed-Battery/dp/B000HBIL7G/ref=sr_1_17?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1464041698&sr=1-17&keywords=intex+air+mattress

Its a double so if theres other people in the tent it still leaves plenty of room for them. Its definitely not the best air mattress I've used, deflates as the night goes on but I just use the battery pump to re-up before going to sleep each night. Small and easy to transport, does the trick and lets me get much more sleep than I usually would on the ground

If you're going to have rice anyways, you can pair it with Indian food packets. Delicious & nutritious. https://smile.amazon.com/Kitchens-India-Dinner-Variety-Ounce/dp/B002GQ6OEM/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1499980953&sr=8-1&keywords=indian+food

On a complete side note, you want to get 'How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans'!

Indeed, that as well, although I've seen with just water it's not nearly as bad as no water at all.

I prefer SaltStick capsules, full spectrum with all the trace bits without all the crappy sugars that most electrolyte additives use https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002IY96B0

Two of these water bladders. They can provide drinking water, wash your feet and general cleaning purposes.

Also fest season isn't over until November! Come to Live Oak, FL for Bear Creek, one of the funkiest get downs ever!

Deep cycle boat battery yo.



And a battery box with external hookups.


amazon.com/MinnKota-Trolling-Motor-Power-Center/dp/B001PTHKMG?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B001PTHKMG





Lasted me all Electric Forest 2016 and only lost 50% charge between 6 people.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002X6VXL4/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1495195680&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=jump+starter+box&dpPl=1&dpID=51BczLz-Q1L&ref=plSrch

If you're set on solar, then this isn't for you. But i have brought this to every fest i've gone to and its never ran out of juice. I use external batteries and as my phone charger as well. It also starts dead cars and can be charged (somewhat) if hooked up to a running car's battery for a while.