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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.

whhat clothes to take camping at a festival?

20 replies

belcantavinissima · 02/06/2008 17:28

never been camping and never been to a festival so this yr we decide to do both at the same time and take with us 4 kids!
so no idea what clothes to take, presumeably i need to pack for any weather scenario but dont want to take a whole wardrobe! what are the definitive essentials?

oh and a really stupid question, what does one wear at night time? clothes or pjs???

OP posts:
talilac · 02/06/2008 17:49

Just back from one, so..

Think layers first of all. So you can layer up if its cold and wet, and strip down if its warm. So if it were me I'd take a few pairs of jeans, or whatever trousers you live in normally and then on top wear: nice vest, tshirt, cardigan or jumper, waterproof mac. I'd also wear trainers and take wellies in case of mud. Don't wear anything that you'd mind getting wrecked. Ignore what Kate Moss etc wear when they go to festivals, they have backstage passes! The rest of us need to aim for comfy and practical.

Night time I'd just stip down to the vest / tshirt combo and change into jogging bottoms. I'm assuming you're all in sleeping bags. If you've got a thin futon type mattress you can take, that will make a difference, if not get a good ground sheet type thing, the cold really seeps up from the ground into your bones..

For kids, I'd do roughly as above, but take extra changes in case of mud.

Remember: sun cream, sun hats, sunglasses, wellies, waterproofs, toilet roll, wet wipes, picnic blanket, plenty of water and snacks. If you can't not wear make up, take a mirror and cleanser wipes.

Do assume you won't get near a shower while you're there and be prepared to make the best of it with wipes etc. Do absolutely cover yourself and the kids in suncream if its even a bit sunny. Lots of people with burned necks at the weekend and it was pretty cloudy.

Which festival is it, do you mind me asking?

belcantavinissima · 03/06/2008 13:27

ah thanks! that all makes sense. sorry only just got back tyo this. we are going to Camp Bestival in dorset (a family friendly Bestival basically ). if it goes well we may then also go to Beautiful Days in devon (just up the road from us!) in august

OP posts:
VictorianSqualor · 03/06/2008 13:43

Personally I'm a casual shortish skirt, with vest, tshirt, hooded cardi (my layers) with flat boots/wellies type of girl.
If it's hot you don't want to be sweating in trousers, if it's wet, skirt and boots still works.

A hat.
Waterproof cheap lightweight jacket, and a bag you can put over you and wear all day, I have a pineapple satchel.

hellsbells76 · 03/06/2008 13:47

ooh i've been to beautiful days the last 3 years, it is FAB, you'll love it. talilac has given great advice, just to add that my essential festie wear is combat trousers - multiple pockets very handy! if they convert to shorts, even better. if you can get waterproof all in ones for the DC they're perfect if it gets muddy. and have a great time!

talilac · 03/06/2008 19:02

VS - skirt / boots combo good call, though reminds me vividly of the Glasto mudbath years.. You'd get home and find mud everywhere, including in your belly button... You're also spot on re the satchel bag - a zippy one would be good.

Had never done a festival with kids til last weekend, it was pretty um interesting. The toddler loved it, she went feral pretty quickly, playing in the dirt with hippy children who didnt seem to belong to anyone.. The baby was pretty unsure, I think the noise was a bit much for her. With hindsight I would have taken ear protectors for both of them, might have looked a bit Gwyneth twattish but made for a happier baby..

talilac · 03/06/2008 19:12

Oooh Camp Bestival looks great. I love the Flaming Lips. I bet you'll have a fab time!

belcantavinissima · 03/06/2008 22:22

am really looking forward to it! am esp looking forward to the wurzels. no seriously lol
kids areb aged 13, 9, 5 and 3 [panic emoticon]

OP posts:
hellsbells76 · 03/06/2008 22:26

my kids love festivals - took dd to her first when she was 3 months! the other day i was trying to get ds (6) to sing some nursery rhymes and he said 'i don't like nursery rhymes, i like festival songs!
it's definitely a different experience with kids but they love the freedom last year ds spent ages chatting to a little girl who turned out to be called gaia. feckin hippies
first festie of the year this weekend...praying the weather improves...

Thomcat · 03/06/2008 22:34

Oh festivals and kids are perfect otgether.

Where are you going?
We're doing th big chillaghain this year with u[ours.

Day time - denim shorts, wellies, flip flops, vest, light shirts, like little tunicy tops (helps if really sunny to avoid burning all day), hooded sweaters, a rain mac, light trousers (as in not heavy) and thermals for the night. It can really really cold at night.

It's all about layering.

You can use thermals to sleep in under light trousers and if it rains light trousers dry out gin quickly.

Flips good for showers as well as airing feet while walking round but I wore wellies most of time even in sun with shorts.

Dark clours best as you'lkl be gettign a bit grubby and then it won't matter.

Have a grea, great time

Fennel · 05/06/2008 11:17

Take ear plugs. I was very grateful for mine at the last festival we went to, which was small so didn't have a "quiet" family field.

loo roll
little bucket for washing in, soap and towel. so you don't have to go near the portaloos too often.
Flag or banner to fly from your tent so you can find it easily in a huge field.

Scramble · 06/06/2008 23:35

I would avoid denim as it is crappy when wet and takes ages to dry, thinner cotton trousers or shorts or even 3/4 length so they don't drag in the mud.

You could also get a pile of those plastic ponchos from the pound shop, chuck on in a down pour or even if it is a bit chilly, they cost a lot more on site.

Keep at least one set of joggies and t-shirts clean for sleeping in.

Fleecy jumpers for the evening, best to take them with you during the day unless you plan to return to the tent later on. Depends how far away you are camped from the entertainment.

oops · 06/06/2008 23:40

Message withdrawn

ravenAK · 06/06/2008 23:45

Far more pants than you imagine you'll ever need - something about the general grottiness of festivals means that clean undercrackers twice a day makes you at least feel a bit more civilised. Take old ones, bin them, & use as excuse for lovely new knicker drawer on return.

Cheap supermarket combats & vests, plus a fleece or two if it's chilly.

Don't buy band merch on site - look them up online when you get home - it'll be cheaper, more of the revenue will reach the band & you won't end up with a drawer full of impulse buys with peeling prints...

Scramble · 06/06/2008 23:48

If you find you do get too cold, stalls like Cosy Camper sell fleecey blankets and stuff for not too much more than outwith festivals.

cheeset · 06/06/2008 23:55

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3400504/Trail/searchtext%3ECAMPING.htm this]]

Poncho's are fab if you need to pee and the ques for the loos are long. Just squat down and no one can see anything

We had to share one poncho last year, ooohh-it was gross but it did the job

cheeset · 06/06/2008 23:56

Just cant get the hang of this website link thingy. Argos anyway[blush[

Scramble · 06/06/2008 23:56

If you plan to squat and pee under the cover of a poncho don't buy clear ones LOL

cheeset · 07/06/2008 00:06

Just looked at my posts, I need to go to bed, so many mistakes.... I said!

solo · 07/06/2008 00:07

Wellies!

Ami111 · 27/06/2010 12:08

hi

i might be 2 years late but ive just come back from a FANTASTIC outdoor festival in Germany. It was warm but you always need plenty of clothes, towels, wellies and some friends as many people were complaining about tent invaders!!

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