Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
One of my only "problems" this year was my backpack.
As I was the only Roo-vet in my group this year, I was pretty much left in charge of everything and I was the one carrying a backpack with all of our stuff in it into Centeroo. I didn't have a problem with this, except when some of the shows were going on. The chill-out sets weren't too big of a deal, but I struggled throughout the late night dance your ass off sets. For example, at Chromeo (unexpected highlight of the weekend for me), I wanted to dance dance dance. But I had a backpack, and I was pretty much right in the thick of the crowd. I didn't want to just leave it on my back, as I'm sort of a security freak and anyone behind me can just open it and start jacking my stuff without me even noticing. Leaving it on the ground would work, but I was very concious about where it was and had to constantly move it. Also, it's not too easy to let loose dancing when there's a backpack between your feet.
Who else brings backpacks in that's faced this problem, and more importantly what'd you do about it?
Post by Mada is it backwards on Jun 28, 2008 17:38:36 GMT -5
i too had a backpack on me at all times. it was a major hassle, but lucky for me pretty much everyone else in our group had one as well. For the most part i just placed it at my feet. i didn't need a lot of room to dance anyway. During MSTRKRFT me and two of my buddies were left with everyone else crap while they went into the crowd to dance. that sucked especially since I wanted to go to My Monring Jacket really really bad. I heard Off the Record bleed over from Which Stage and it hurt me. I kept my backpack on during Ghostland Observatory and I too was a little paranoid that someone could just unzip and have a field day. Future advice is to have one of your friends stand behind you if you can. that is what I did for the most part. you can do that or keep moving a.k.a. dancing. it is hard to steal if the person won't sit still.
I had a camel back on with a bunch of stuff in it (camera, cell phone, food, schedule, etc..) and was somewhat worried about things getting stolen while at a show. There wasn't much I could do about it though, so I just kind of had to let it go. Sometimes I would reach back and just make sure the zipper was still closed, but that was about it. As for dancing, it didn't really affect me too much, but it was much smaller than a normal backpack.
weirdly i was just thinking about this today. i carried a tote the first day and felt really paranoid that my keys and/or camera etc. were going to fall out. two of us decided to consolidate the next two days and traded off wearing the backpack. i do think it is annoying to have to worry about it when you are trying to get your groove on. what i think i'll do next year is carry a very small over the chest purse where i can keep my phone, keys and camera and then maybe carry a towel or poncho with me that i can sit on if need be.
a) For myself I go absolutely minimal for Centeroo, carrying cash, sunblock, some TP and a camera plus I have a water bottle in my hand. I do realize that not everyone can afford to buy all their food and drink, so I realize that I'm lucky. I love being unencumbered and I wonder how much stuff in folks' backpacks actually got used?
b) Several times I got stuck in crowded sets behind people dancing with overstuffed backpacks on who were clearly unaware that they were bumping into their neighbors. I feel for you guys above who had to carry stuff, but I hope that you were more aware of those around you. The worst are the d!cks who wait until set time and then push to the front with all their baggage - looking at you Mr-right-in-front-of-me-at- State-Radio...
The first two years I did a huge packpack. Back then I used to wear skirts with no pockets, though. I found that after Day 2, my shoulders were worn raw from the backpack - not fun.
Now I wear cargo shorts and carry a small tote. Cigs, lighter, schedule (daily printout, not the book), blistex, cash in the shorts. I use a d-ring to clip my keys to my shorts. Camera, tp, sunscreen, small poncho in the tote. I make sure that my weekend will not be ruined if my tote is lost or stolen - important stuff is on my person. Also, the chairs we carry into the venue have large pockets that will carry four beers or waters, plus a dozen glow sticks. After four years, we have it down to a science.
a) For myself I go absolutely minimal for Centeroo, carrying cash, sunblock, some TP and a camera plus I have a water bottle in my hand. I do realize that not everyone can afford to buy all their food and drink, so I realize that I'm lucky. I love being unencumbered and I wonder how much stuff in folks' backpacks actually got used?
b) Several times I got stuck in crowded sets behind people dancing with overstuffed backpacks on who were clearly unaware that they were bumping into their neighbors. I feel for you guys above who had to carry stuff, but I hope that you were more aware of those around you. The worst are the d!cks who wait until set time and then push to the front with all their baggage - looking at you Mr-right-in-front-of-me-at- State-Radio...
I was definitely envious of your freedom!
I would carry way too much in my Camelbak, but I like to be prepared if I don't make it back to camp...for whatever reason. Anyway, this was my 5th year and while I'm definitely proud of my overall ability to pack fairly light when flying, my Camelbak stuffing has only gotten worse with each passing year! I don't have the problem at smaller fests, but with the size and unpredictable nature that goes with Roo, I find myself being a little overprepared...
I like that! What size do you use/recommend? From the pictures it's hard to tell if there are interior pockets other than under the flap - are there any?
Post by rideincircles on Jun 30, 2008 1:58:11 GMT -5
Last year I just had my wallet keys Camera Phone Schedule Memory Cards and batteries in my cargo shorts. simple, but yo cant haul stuff around easily.
This year I had a High Sierra Multi-sport Hydration Pack.
I found it to be perfect in size, with a 2 liter water pouch, and held inside my shirt, pancho, camera, memory cards, bottled water, bubble wand, light sticks, snacks, markers, misty mate, etc... It was easy and comfortable to carry around. My favorite part of it was the 3 hidden pockets it had scattered around. The pockets are for a strap and a net for holding a bike helmet. One is on the front with two velcro side entrances, and I was able to bring in 3 tubes of glowsticks in there everytime. Another was the zipper for expanding the width of the bag which could have fit 2 more glowstick tubes. And the best one had the helmet net and was located on the bottom of the bag, and you can hide whatever small items rolled up in the helmet net zipped up and tucked away and noone ever notices it. I love this backpack for festivals. And way cheaper than actual camelbaks @ 32.95. I bought mine on ebay for $30 w shipping though.
I like that! What size do you use/recommend? From the pictures it's hard to tell if there are interior pockets other than under the flap - are there any?
Hey, I pmed you with specifics, but for anyone else interested, i use the metropolis and it's just right for all my bonnaroo needs. I think i might be picking up a kremlin for something superbig, but thats a ways down the road. I've yet to find anything i own that i cant toss into that bag. You can even ice it down and use it as a makeshift cooler.
Last year I just had my wallet keys Camera Phone Schedule Memory Cards and batteries in my cargo shorts. simple, but yo cant haul stuff around easily.
This year I had a High Sierra Multi-sport Hydration Pack.
I found it to be perfect in size, with a 2 liter water pouch, and held inside my shirt, pancho, camera, memory cards, bottled water, bubble wand, light sticks, snacks, markers, misty mate, etc... It was easy and comfortable to carry around. My favorite part of it was the 3 hidden pockets it had scattered around. The pockets are for a strap and a net for holding a bike helmet. One is on the front with two velcro side entrances, and I was able to bring in 3 tubes of glowsticks in there everytime. Another was the zipper for expanding the width of the bag which could have fit 2 more glowstick tubes. And the best one had the helmet net and was located on the bottom of the bag, and you can hide whatever small items rolled up in the helmet net zipped up and tucked away and noone ever notices it. I love this backpack for festivals. And way cheaper than actual camelbaks @ 32.95. I bought mine on ebay for $30 w shipping though.
I had this at bonnaroo too! it is soooo great, better than any camelback, plenty of room for everything you may need to carry, and plenty of hidden(ish) compartments. it's really great - and the kicker? only $20 at costco!!!! get em while you can!!!!
I carried my Flipside 300. It's a camera bag, backpack. Cool thing about it is that you access the pack from the area that rest against your back. There are no external zippers exposed. for the main compartment. My regular backpack (Lowe Alpine) got stolen this year. Luckily they didn't take the camera bag. That's where the expensive stuff was.
Watchin' a stretch of road, miles of light explode. Driftin' off a thing I'd never done before. Watchin' a crowd roll in. Out go the lights it begins. A feelin' in my bones I've never felt before...
Post by candyflippedaround on Jun 30, 2008 22:31:25 GMT -5
i had my camelbak on my back the entire weekend and ya at some shows i felt like if im paying too much attention to the stage, someone could just open it up and rummage through it. after the first day i just didnt keep anything valuable in there, the first day i kept my wallet in the smallest pocket so it was easily accessible to me but then i realized its also easy access for everyone else lol. after i took all my valuable out of the bag, i would just do a random left to right swing of the backpack to make sure there was no hands on or inside, if there was i would surely feel a tug. then i never even had to look back the rest of the weekend. by the end of it all i realized i was just over paranoid and at the shows people were paying more attention to the stages than my backpack
lol this thread has made me Bonnaroo - sick more than any of the threads about shows. i really just loved walking around the camping area and centeroo and this thread reminds me a lot of that for whatever reason
I wore a camelbak and when I was in thick crowds I would carry it on my front. I started doing this after I caught some chick trying to unzip my bag at Tiesto So it was a little awkward but I just learned to roll with it.
I brought one to the farm but it never left my car. I sported the cargo shorts with a camera money and as many waters as I could fit. Next year will do a better solution.
Post by billclinton on Jul 1, 2008 23:54:38 GMT -5
I wore my huge ass Oakley backpack into MSTRKRFT. I just choked it up on my shoulders as much as I could and expected the people behind me were smart enough to not get whacked with it while I jumped and danced lol!!
EDIT: Before it gets read wrong I had a friend stand behind me most of the time, and it was nothing more in there except for a few wallets, set of keys, few ponchos, some glowsticks, and no more than 2-3 bottles of water.
i guess i'm one to drop the pack between my feet, and i always have my girl right in front of me, so we kinda box it off. never had a problem, always carry my ADIDAS backpack around with me, although for AllGood will just be using the camelbak
*i like coconuts, you can break them open they smell like ladies lyin in the sun** *Hell I don't even know where I am** *for now I must sit here and ponder the yonder: The herbivores did well cause their food didn't never run** *We listen, if it feels good We shake** *You made a big impression for a girl of your size, Now I can't get by without you and your big brown eyes.**
Post by thedudeabides on Jul 3, 2008 0:16:51 GMT -5
See, this is why i be lovin my pack, cause A. They'd have to unbuckle the flap, then B. Pull off industrial grade velcro. This stuff is LOUD when you open it. Not to mention they would have to orient themselves sideway. I would reccomend a chrome bag to anyone who needs a serious sollution at bonnaroo.