Festival season is officially underway, but there's still so much to look forward to. With Longitude this weekend and Indiependence, Electric Picnic, CastlePalooza, and SugarBeat all still to come, we thought you could do with a few tips on how to survive the madness that is a summer music festival.
No longer can we sit idly by and let you try to come out the other end of a festival unscathed. You're inevitably going to lose something, break something, and generally make life a lot harder than it needs to be, so we've teamed up with Hula Hoops as part of their #FunNeverGrowsUp campaign to teach you a thing or two about festivals, because even though fun never grows up, who doesn't love well thought out, planned, controlled, timetabled fun? Exactly, nobody!
1. Dry Shampoo
Look, talcum powder will work just fine, it's basically the same thing, but do you really want to be the person standing outside of their tent showering their hair with a big bottle of the stuff your granny used to throw in your nappy? Thought not. Pick up some dry shampoo for a couple of quid and save yourself a few horrible hair days.
2. Portable Phone Charger
Of course you could always go rooting for your old Nokia 3210. The battery will last for 12 days, it'll keep working after you drop it in the portaloo, twice, and reception won't ever be a problem. The only downside is all of the apps you'll be missing out on, the instant messaging you could send instead just texting, and the stream of photos you won't be able to take/upload o social media to let people know where you are and how much fun you're having.
On second thought, maybe you should go rooting for that phone, but if you really need all that technology in our pocket, pick up a portable charger or a power brick. They're only a couple of euro, and who can put a price on Snapchatting your friends who are stuck at home?
3. Protect Your Feet
It's basic at this stage, you're going to need something more than your trainers. Sorry to sound like your ma, but just because the forecast says it's going to be 30 degrees all weekend doesn't mean trainers will do. Get yourself a cheap pair of wellies, or if you don't mind looking like a loon, get a few plastic bags, throw them over your shoes and duct tape the life out of them.
4. Baby Wipes
For the love of everyone within smelling distance, please understand that you won't "be grand" without a washing for 3 days. Having good personal hygiene isn't for you, it's for everyone around you, and while nobody expects you to set up a makeshift shower on the campsite, at least wipe one of these things under every crack and crevice whenever you get the chance.
5. Inflatable Mattress
Sure, it might seem like you're glamping, but these thing cost practically nothing and will make sure that you won't wake up every morning feeling like you have the back of an 87-year-old plasterer.
6. A Perfect Makeshift Pillow
Forget about bringing a pillow, inflatable or not, just use the bag your sleeping bag comes in and fill it with your clothes. Save space, save your neck.
7. Bring Noticeable Clothes/Tents
And Finally. We can't all be all, or failing that, have tall friends, so to make sure you can find your friends(and your tent) don't be afraid to wear something that sets you apart from the crowd. A hat, a wig, seven million glow sticks tied together to create an illuminous plastic suit. Whatever takes your fancy.
Now you should be all set for the festival season, apart from one last thing. Keep an out for Hula Hoops' custom built Hoop-la-Stall and dancing Hula-Hoop Girls over the weekend if you're heading to Longitude. They'll be showing you how it's done as well as giving you a chance to win some deadly prizes with their Hoop-La Challenges!
Have some fun, and some free crisps, courtesy of Hula Hoops if you're heading along to any of the festivals, just keep an eye out for #FunNeverGrowsUp girls and maybe practise your hulaing in advance seeing as there are some prizes on the line!