Continuing my plan to avoid going old prematurely I have arranged for my wife and I to go to our first festival next year – Cambridge Folk Festival in case you are interested.
The last time I had a tent was in the summer of 76 when I inter-railed Europe with my mate. To be honest it was his tent and he did the putting up etc – I was a bit like Art Garfunkel in as much as my job was knocking in the guides or whatever you call them.
Anyway I will need to buy a tent – does anyone have any recommendations? I need easy to assemble and waterproof. The rest I can take care of.
I’m no use as I last bought a tent in 1991, but I do know we’re not heading up to Scotland until the weekend following the CFF. in order to be there when the Highland Games are on.
So we might go to CFF for the first time in years. In which case, I’ll stand you a pint.
Allow for an extra body for clutter so a 3 person one. A new innovation is blackout material which is essential for me. Prices go up for super light weight. I tend to think a trip to Blacks is a good plan.
Well, mine is a Lichfield, which should appeal by name but probably not size: it fits but me and my bare necessities. I am sure they do bigger versions which, if similar, are a doddle to put up and, perhaps even as important, a doddle to take down and actually fit back in the bag. Cambridge looks a good ‘un this year. The only pain is that you really want to be on the Cherry Hinton Grounds, rather than Coldham Common. That means leaving your car in what looks like a municipal coach station and taking a provided bus over to Cherry Hinton. With tent and everything you need being carried on said journey. But worth it when you get there. Could well be there myself.
That’s okay then because we are in the Cherry Hinton grounds.
Looking forward to it.
My view on tents is ….. get a hotel room 😉
I remember when it was all yurts around here.
I used to think that camping at festivals was OK in my 20s because I was young then. Now I think it’s because I was young enough to endure the quantity of booze and drugs which made the whole miserable, degrading horror show even vaguely tolerable.
Oh, and if you’re old enough to have inter railed more than 4 decades ago on no account forget to get an inflatable mattress as well. And some anti-inflammatories. And an eighth from the well-dodgy geezer hanging out by the fence behind the burger van.
I’ve had great service out of Coleman tents. Not the cheapest, but don’t leak for years IME.
Miles better value than my expensive Exped.
Thinking laterally, there are plenty of B&Bs along Cherry Hinton Road and Hills Road, and a Travelodge near the Hills Road railway bridge, all within 10 mins walk of the Cherry Hinton Hall festival site.
We have camped six years out of the last seven in the family camping at end of the road festival. In the last couple of years we have enjoyed the luxury of the Vango Iris, which should sleep six, but there’s only three of us. It takes two to put it up, but it goes up quickly (practice in advance), fits nicely in the boot of a small car and we can all stand up in it. I genuinely love it. I’d suggest a wander around a branch of Go Outdoors, or wherever, and get a feel for somewhere you will want to spend three days if it’s tipping it down outside.
Happy camping
Another vote here for a trip to Go Outdoors – the Exeter one has loads of them erected so you can wander round. They give decent advice too. Ours is a ‘4 person’ but frankly it is fine for two of us plus loads of gear but I wouldn’t want to sleep 4 in it. We are in our 60s and camp at Cropredy every year and we cope rather nicely, but get some decent beds rather than blow up ones – they are much better to sleep on and you can bung stuff underneath.
You need to bear in mind that if you aren’t going to be camping where you’re parked up, then whatever gear you bring with you needs to be carry-able by the pair of you without too much hassle.
What about camping up wherever you’re parked?
Oooh, ducky! Well, I never!
Shut that door!
Etc…
I finally decided that tents and I were through when I got cramp in both legs SIMULTANEOUSLY in a sleeping bag in a 2-man tent.
Good luck anyway.
Here’s an Afterword-friendly tent:
https://www.beatlesmuseum.net/shop/souvenirs/the-beatles-yellow-submarine-zwei-personen-zelt/
I am a bit disappoint, Fatima.
It’s just a traditional-shape tent, but with a nice printed surface.
I was hoping to see a submarine-shaped tent. Having something like that would make me seriously consider going to festivals again.
Provide your own periscope,I assume.
Hurrr
Well here’s the “White Album Commemorative Tent” (Deluxe Edition):
https://www.fieldcandy.com/snow-white-2-person-tent.html?from_popup=1
Happiness is a warm mallet
Bunch of old farts on here. Tents at festivals great if you want to stay to the death, hear a bands oerformance horizontal or take a breather during the day. The BnB down the road wont do that. Are you able to have car near tent ? If yes then air pump connected to battery for air bed essential. If not get a good footpump. Lot easier than managing foam beds and the like and only have to pump up once. Sleeping bags are a pain. Double air bed and dooner is the go.
I found that more expensive tents are lighter and most importantly are much easier to set up. Cheapies do the job but are often really tricky to set up and connections rip.
Old farts in tents are a bad idea – if it rains there”s no escape.
Old farts smell far worse than fresh new ones, it’s true.
Old farts need old farts to keep warm
Old farts run out of time
When you’re up against the night.
Don’t stand there all alone.
In the dying of the light.
(Cor! Strike a light!)
Fart trapping is the principal advantage of the sleeping bag.
I believe that the inventors of Carbon Capture and Storage were inspired by that.