Important things to pack and bring to Wacken

OK – so we are all preparing for Wacken (ok, not all of us, just the cool people) but if you’ve never been before, here’s a list of things that you seriously need to consider packing!!

This will be my third pilgrimage, so choose to disregard my advice at your own peril!

1) Boots. Your feet are your friends! Don’t you forget it.
You are going to be doing a crap load of walking before you even arrive at the festival grounds. Around the airports (they are huge), airport to train station, train station to your hotel in Hamburg, etc etc. At the festival you are going to be on your feet for 3 or 4 days and they are going to get fuckin’ painful. Leave your cool biker books, high heels, what ever at home and pack a pair of lightweight hiking boots. Something that is comfortable, has a thick sole, good ankle support and as light weight as possible. I have bought myself a pair of Hi-Tech hiking boots because last year I wore normal takkies and by the end my feet were murdering me and my ankles were so swollen I couldn’t even see my toes!!

2) Flip Flops.
You wont wear these for long, but when you want to go grab a quick bite to eat, or wake up in the middle of the night for a piss, it is a mission to put on socks and boots so a cheap pair of flip flops will make life a lot easier.

3) Suitcase with WHEELS.
I don’t get how we managed to put a man on the moon more than 40 years ago, but only recently realized that it would be a good idea to put wheels on a suitcase. I’ve been over with a regular suit case before as well as with a rucksack, but nothing beats one of those draggable suitcases with wheels. Don’t forget, the airports these days don’t let you leave your luggage unattended to you gotta carry that shit everywhere!

Even if you pack lightly you still got your tent, sleeping bag etc with you and carrying that shit fuck you up faster than you think. I don’t care how gay it looks. get yourself a suitcase with wheels and you will thank me later!

4) Inflatable mattress.
You’re only going to sleep/pass out for a couple of hours per night so you might as well make those hours count! Sleeping on the hard lumpy ground might be ok for one night at Thornfest or Oppikoppie, but for a prolonged festival like Wacken a few good hours of sleep will mean you enjoy the waking hours much, much more.

I just spent R189 for a good quality inflatable mattress from Game. Worth it at 10 time the price!

5) Camping stove.
OK – this isn’t strictly necessary,  but I have one of those micro gas stoves which means I can make the odd cuppa tea as well as make a breakfast on the final morning when the vendors have packed up and fucked off before the sun come up!

6)Smokes.
I get really cheap ones for R70 per carton at a shop called Holy Smoke in Alberton and take 4 cartons over. 2 in my hand luggage and 2 distributed around my suitcase to get past customs (your only legally allowed 2 cartons). There is only one company allowed to sell smokes at Wacken and they are fucked up expensive, so bring your own and bring enough to trade for beer.

A lot of people will be happy to trade a beer (2 or 3 Euro) for a pack of smokes that costs me the equivalent of 0.70 Euro. they score cheap smokes, I score cheap beer, we’re all happy.

7) As much money as you can.
Apart from food and beer, the metal market is HUGE. T-shirts, CDs, viking drinking horns etc etc etc. All well cool stuff and you can blow a fortune if you want.

A manikini
OK – you don’t have to wear a mankini, but I will and you can join the cool crowd if you like.

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