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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Just So Festival

4 replies

Ni1981 · 30/07/2013 12:39

Hiya. I'm new to mumsnet and was hoping for some help and advice. I am a mum of 3 (aged 4,2 and 6 months). We are looking to go to the Just So Festival. We've never been camping and have no equipment. I have a few questions that I was hoping to get help/advise on:

Just so: has anyone been? What can we expect? Anyone going this year?

Tent: we are undecided between a 5m belltent/soulpad or a tunnel tent? I'm in love with the soulpads but my hubby is not convinced. Which are the tunnel tents people would recommend?

Essentials: what do people suggest we get/take?

Many thanks in advance!

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SparkyUK · 30/07/2013 20:08

Welcome Ni to mumsnet and camping! Lots of friendly people here so please ask away. I haven't been to Just So, but I'm sure I saw an old thread on here about it the other day/week so try searching or alternatively someone who has been may chime in.

Re tents, the bell tents are lovely. Consensus seems to be go for a 5 meter if you afford / have space for one. And people seem to have had good experiences with SoulPad. We are thinking of getting one but not sure if we can justify it. We have a Vango Samara 600 which is a great tent, especially for UK weather as it has a massive living area for days when you and DC may be stuck inside. nice big windows for watching the rain, and a spare bedroom for storing all your bags out of the way. The Vango Icarus is very similar, but on a smaller scale and is very popular with the mumsnet crowd.

For essentials, for me, sleeping things is mandatory so SIMs for the 4 of us (though we can get away with 3 if need to) and sleeping bags and pillows if we have room in the car. If you don't have sleeping bags and have room in the car, you could just use a duvet, especially if the night isn't looking particularly cold.

For food, particularly at a festival, you have a lot more options. You could go minimal and have nothing amd just expect to buy all your meals. I would probably bring my trangia which is good for cooking for the for of us, but not so great if we are camping with friends. And some plates, etc. And my icey-tek to store all the food and beer/wine (ESSENTIAL)

If we are talking non essentials then you can bring tables and chairs and picnic blankets and fairy lights. There are a few threads on packing lists if you do a search, but I would try to bring the bare minumum which would be something to sleep on, something to eat from, and a light.

Hope that helps x

cockerpoodle · 31/07/2013 17:05

I went to Just So last year with friends, 4 DC between us, I didn't really rate it TBH. Staff were surly, and activities were, sparse, badly organised, and a bit lame, especially for the £££££££££££££. We went home early at the unanimous request of all four DC (although part of that was because it was pissing it down).

I wouldn't spend a fortune on camping gear just for one trip, borrow if you can to see if you like it.

SalomeD · 31/07/2013 19:51

I agree with cockerpoodle that you don't want to splurge for a festival - just get a cheapy 'suitcase' stove and an old saucepan (you can use that to boil water in for your cup of tea).

There wasn't a huge hike from the car park to the camping but I didn't take our bell tent as there was just two of us so I picked up a 20year old canvas ridge tent for £5 from a local paper which did us proud.A 5m bell weighs in around 32kg so you'll need a decent trolley for it!

Unlike cockerpoodle, myself and my 7 year old had a fab time. We found the staff to be really friendly and he had a great time learning to samba drum and the circus skills tent was excellent (I know some people found the circus chap to be a bit brusque but then some children's manners left a lot to be desired). It was our first festival and we booked then and there to return this year.

I'm going to take wraps this year as these pack up nice and neat to carry round in the rucksack. Take lots of squash - I have an old Coleman Extreme (spotted in a charity shop for £8 by youngest DC when I was dreaming of Iceyteks) and I froze bottles of squash and they stayed really cold and kept the other food chilled. I was thinking of buying lunch, there are some great stalls, but cooking supper - probably take frozen spag bol for one night.

Hope you have a really great time - I think it is what you make of it?

Ni1981 · 11/08/2013 22:00

Thanks all for your responses. We are going to Just So, getting excited, though the weathers looking a bit naff.

We are a little disorganised, need to start packing as I have my tooth extraction on weds! Maybe see you there SalomeD!

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