"...a hauberk, iron chausses, helmet or lighter war-hat, espalier for the shoulders, solerets for the feet, padded gambeson to be worn beneath the hauberk, shield, lance, sword, ‘Turkish mace', and fighting dagger... a knife for bread, a third small knife, two shirts, two pairs of breeches, two pairs of hose, a small belt for his shirt, a small sack for his night shirt, another small sack for his quilted soft armor, a leather sack for his hauberk, a hat and a felt bonnet." From the, Knight of Outremer, Warrior Series, Osprey Books, David Nicolle PhD. and Christa Hook
It may seem early to be preparing for an event in June but a week-long affair like Rag takes some forethought. While the above passage is romantic and even useful it does not speak to the day to day needs of a person on campaign. I will cover some of the things we have learned in our adventures so you can enjoy a weekend or week-long Dagorhir event and come home in one piece.
It is obviously where you will sleep, if you have children they will be in there as well, unless they are old enough to have their own tent.
Bedding is important. One night on the ground is tolerable; six is out of the question for most people. An air mattress is many people's choice but a foam pad from a sofa bed will also work. Sleeping bags are a favorite but blankets let you adjust how much coverage you have in the night. It will be hot, cold, wet and dry...not to mention humid at any point during the week. Be prepared. Extra blankets are nice, even if you do not need it some one else may.
Clothes: It is good to have lots of changes of under things. At some point $50 for a pair of dry socks may seem a bargain, also plan on layers of clothes for cool nights. An extra pair of boots is nice as well; your fighting boots will need time to dry out.
As a precaution put a full set of modern clothes in a sealed plastic bag and leave it in the car. If things get soggy you can escape and get into them. At the end of the war you can slip into them and drive home in some comfort.
It is a Dagorhir event so plan on being in garb for the whole week. You don't need new clothes for each day, just a couple nicer tunics or dresses and clean pants. The rest can be several simple tunics for lounging around camp.
Food and water: We have learned that canned goods are your friend. Trying to keep a cooler of perishables fresh with ice is a full-time job and can be dangerous. Food poisoning sucks--if you survive it. Plan ahead, make your peace with powdered milk, and make sure you have some balance in the meals.
There are many ways to deal with food and cooking duties. Some people like to pool things together and share the cooking and cleaning up. Others come up with plans with assigned duties. Still others just like to take care of their own needs so they are not tied to a schedule, especially if they have special dietary needs.
Water is a must. Gallon jugs of water from a grocery store are cheap and very important because they are clean. There are many drink and juice mixes out there that add some excitement to your beverages. Adult beverages are your own affair, but they can dehydrate a person (thus the hangover) so don't be foolish and overdo it. It's always good to have more water available for yourself than you think you need as it is needed, not just for drinking but for cooking and washing.
Budget: By figuring things out in advance you can probably go to Rag for a pretty reasonable price. Pre-registration is $40 per adult pre-reg (on-site is $45). Food can run you $60 to $100 for the week depending on where you buy. There are stores near the site so you need not pack all of your num-nums at home, just plan on shopping when you arrive. Car pooling saves gas money, you will need to fit people and gear into the vehicle and still have room to breathe.
Stuff: Don't forget your favorite weapons, armor and repair items. Toiletries (including the paper!) are good to have. Towels, a folding chair, some kind of table. Coleman stoves are handy...do not use them inside a modern tent; you will fill it with carbon monoxide in short order. Some eating utensils and dishes (non-breakable), trash bags, dish soap...BABY WIPES. What a great invention! You can clean your hands (or a baby) and avoid germs and then throw the thing away. If the U.S. military likes them-so do I! Include some toys for the kids, sunscreen, bug repellent, candles and a lantern, a flash light.
This may seem a huge amount but it is not too bad once you make a checklist and keep it handy. We have a list in our files that we have used for years. It gets modified from time to time and we have some things that always go with us pre-packed. For example, we have a ‘bath box' for camping. It has all of our toiletries in it for a camping trip; we just stuff some clean towels in it and pack it in the van. This has helped us with weekend trips as well, we just grab and go!
There is, by the way, a very good packing list linked to the Ragnarok web site.
I hope that this helps, give it a trial run when you go for a weekend camping event and then you will be able to build up for Ragnarok.