We asked you for your topfestival packing tips, and many of you – seasoned attenders ofGlastonbury,Womad, Primavera andDownload, to name a few – had a lot to say. You shared your hard-won advice, occasionally taking us to task, and it turns out many of your tips are sustainable as well as savvy.
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So to help you make greener choices this summer, we’ve rounded up some of your best eco-friendly tricks, from solar-powered lights to aninterestingway to reuse a fabric softener bottle (and no, none of you are associated with any of the products or brands recommended).
Anna Parkeravoids single-use plastic ponchos with a reusable rain poncho likethis one. She alsoratesthe Gym Kitchen’s grain pouches. “[They’re] ideal for when you can’t stomach (or afford) another burger. You can eat them cold straight from the packet. They won’t go off easily and won’t mind being squashed in a bag.”
She also recommends a much more durable water carrier than the one included in our guide. “The one you suggested won’t last longer than a season: you can’t take it apart and dry it out properly before putting it away, so it sits over winter with old water in it. TheColapz water carrieris excellent and well worth the money,” she said.
ReaderEllis Kaysuggests taking acollapsible water bucket, a bar of soap and a cloth. “It’s a great way to keep clean while avoiding shower queues and environmentally problematic wet wipes,” she told us. She also recommends thisOrtlieb water bagfor keeping hydrated back at camp. “And you can get a shower valve attachment for nice communal hair washing,” she adds.
Heatheris “a disabled festival goer and, as a person on a mobility scooter, I offer to fetch and carry [food and drink] for the group, using reusable coffee cups and resealable plastic containers.” TryCircular & Co’s reusable coffee mugs, which are made with single-use cups, andthese leak-proof containersfrom John Lewis.
A few readers suggest taking lights, butJonathan Kendalspecifically recommends solar-powered ones. “They’re nonintrusive, slightly bigger than fairy lights, switch on automatically and go out after about three or four hours,” he told us. Find them atMarco PaulorArgos.
Graham, who says he has attended more than 50 festivals over the past 30 years, said: “As a man of a certain age, a wide-mouth fabric conditioner bottle is very useful.” Enough said. While readerMark’s wise advice is to “take your own toilet roll! Don’t rely on there being paper in any Portaloo.” (Filter readers love theWho Gives a Crap subscription.)
And multiple readers wrote in to advise taking a four-wheel trolley to help lug all your gear. Just make sure you get one sturdy enough to handle rough terrain – I’ve witnessed many festival goers stranded with a mountain of stuff because their trolley has lost a wheel. Trythis one from Decathlonorthis one from Argos, both of which have great reviews.
And finally, a reminder from readerNeilabout how sometimes less is more. “[At] my first Glastonbury, which wasn’t all that long ago, I had the clothes I was wearing, about £20 and a ton of resourcefulness. Guess what? I didn’t die.”
Festivals aren’t cheap: if you’re hoping to reduce how much you spend this year, check out some more affordable (and sustainable) secondhand gear. Decathlon has aSecond Life scheme, where it sells preowned or tested products that can no longer be sold as new at a reduced price. Or shop around for a cheaper price. ReaderJonathan Kendaltold us he bought a tent from a commercial seller on eBay for £60 cheaper than if he had bought it straight from the manufacturer.
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Whether you’re heading to a festival or a campsite this summer, your experience will live or die by one thing, says Sian Lewis: a decent tent. Lewis, a seasoned camper and outdoor kit expert, put 10 tents through their paces for our guide tothe best tents, sleeping in each for a few nights at campsites (and in her friend’s field) in a mixed bag of weather conditions.
From abudget tent under £100to a glorioustwo-bed family tentthat will keep everyone happy, there’s something for every budget and occasion. Happy camping!
Hannah BoothEditor, the Filter
Along with your tent, you’ll need a decent mattress to sleep on. Our intrepid, dedicated camper, science journalist Linda Geddes,put 26 to the testto find the best for every outdoor sleeping occasion, from luxury glamping to expeditions. And ourguide to the best head torches, by Paddy Maddison, might come in handy too, for those midnight stumbles to the loo.
It’s graduation time. If you’re about to leave university and launch into the world, what thoughtful gift would you love to receive (and no, we won’t accept money as an answer)? If you recently graduated – or if you’re a friend or loved one of someone who has – did you receive or give anything particularly useful, or inspiring, or both? Let us know by replying to this newsletter or emailing us atthefilter@theguardian.com.