What buggy would you take to a festival for a 1.5 year old.

[navyeye]

So we're going to Glastonbury again, last year my son was 8 months old and happy to go in a backpack, but he is bloody heavy now so we need to get a proper offroad buggy, my yoyo wont cut it!

As far as I can tell my choices are, Nipper 360 (lots of hood storage but does the basket hang too close to the floor?), Mountain buggy (but is it easy to steer in crowds and a baby jogger (but is it just too long for crowds).

In an ideal world I would like something that's spacious for him to sleep in, nice big hood incase it's sunny and if it rains a rain cover that you don't have to remove totally to pass through food/kisses etc.

Does anyone have any ideas? The terrain at Glastonbury can vary between this:

just your average walk way

not too bad

getting worse

let's go to the Maldives next year

thanks :)

I'd check out a local sling library and think about a decent sling that distributes weight better, maybe a Connects or Ergo.

Glastonbury is not particularly pram friendly, the terrain is one thing but getting through the crowd is on a level of it's own.

I would highly recommend a Jane Slalom Pro - I would keep an eye out on ebay for a good second hand one. They can go over any terrain, they are quite big but they fold up fairly small as the wheels and seat ce off very easily so you can pack things around the chassis in your car!
The raincover had a flap at the front that you can poke bits of food through! The seat reclines almost flat and is very spacious.

Definitely bring a buggy. DS fell asleep in his with his ear protectors on and i was able to stay up late with him happily snuggly in the buggy. I would have been exhausted carrying him all day.

No idea what make it was though sorry i borrowed a friend's three Wheeler

I used a nipper 360 for cornburry and it was fab.

He weights over 20lb and there is no way I could carry him for any long duration; he sleeps about 4 hours a day and obviously will sleep less at the festival but I imagine him sleeping in my ergo (which by the way hurts my shoulders after 1+ hr; any idea why?) would make it impossible for me to do much. I will be taking my ergo for short trips but any cross site trekking will need a buggy.

Thanks everyone for the recommendation, I will have a look at them.

I think I've narrowed it down to a few options. Does anyone have any idea on whether swivel or fixed wheel will be best? It's very confusing as I really need it to be manoeuvrable so imagine I would need a swivel sometimes and fixed other times?! Thanks.

The happiest parents and toddlers I've seen at glastonbury have been in something like this: www.amazon.co.uk/SixBros-Pull-along-Garden-Trolley-Trailer/dp/B006FTCH42/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt

What about a wheel barrow? I've seen/heard of lots of people using them, putting in cushions and blankets and even fairy lights for when it's getting darker

I got caught pregnant a week before we worked at Glastonbury last year and spent a lot of time watching families with buggies to figure out what would be best. The mountain buggy or city mini seemed very popular choices.

We went for the city mini gt in the end as I loved the ease at which out folds down. I'm not sure the wheels on the standard model would be good hence why we went for the gt model. It was also a which? Best buy for three wheeled buggy's.

The gt is a fantastic option, really lightweight and glides like a dream. The front wheel can very easily switch between being fixed or free.

We're taking it to Green Man this year and I'm really happy with the choice we've made.

Oh and the sun/canopy is massive and has a little window in it so you can keep an eye on them.

@Lentilpot, we do have a garden trolley, it's styled like a VW and looks amazing and my son sleeps it in no problem. However, when I'm by myself it's a bugger to pull as people stop and ask to take photos etc and you can't get a momentum going. Also for other things, like the walk up the hill to the top of the site for the view, a light buggy would perfect.

@Fcukfifa, A wheelbarrow would kill your arms I reckon? Be ok for short spells but all day would ache, especially as we are going for 5 days! Thanks though.

@PeaceLillyDoge, thanks, I hadn't check out that buggy, looks interesting. Only prolem is the max load if 15kg which means by son would probably be too heavy for it in about 6 months or so :(

I'm leaning towards a nipper. But do I get a 360 or a fixed wheel? I'm thinking I can tip it back onto the back 2 wheels when the going gets tough?

We had a fixed wheel at a festival and tbh I found it really annoying. 360 much more manageable IMO.

Out n about nipper 360

Another vote for the BJCM GT. ignore the 15kg weight limit. That's a UK standard thing for pushchairs. The same model has a weight limit of 50lbs in the US which is about 22.5kg. And mine is accommodating my enormous toddler nicely.

I've never pushed a wheelbarrow come to think of it so haven't a clue lol, have seen cute pics of them though.

I have a bjcm and love it, so easy to maneover, the seat is so roomy and like someone else said, the hood pulls down really low.

What will you do if it is a washout? I can't imagine pushing a buggy through really muddy fields. (Not being judgey, genuinely interested as we'd like to take the dc next year - 2.5 and 4.5)

Argh! Manoeuvre even

@fcukfifa If it's really bad, we'll just use the garden trolley as it protects him from the wind and rain. If the weather is sunny but the ground is muddy we'll probably just use an ergo carrier or maybe even the buggy and lift it through the worst of the mud if the buggy can't cope. We'll probably move around less too if the weather is awful.

@TheAbominableWoman that's good to know, I'll have a look if any are on ebay! Thanks.

@wigglylines , that's what I think is going to happen to me too! I think I will get cross that it doesn't turn. What festival did you go to and what was the weather like? I think if the mud is awful then tipping on back onto the back two wheels is going to hurt after a while!

Thanks everyone :D

bit late to this thread but would you consider something like this?

I took a big heavy trolley for my son who was 2.5 last year and he really didn't want to sit in it, though it was good for night times when he was sleeping (apart from the drunk people coming up and shouting 'is there a baby in there?') but this year my DH isn't coming so we have got hold of a bike trailer like this one for my DS and his Cousin to go in.

bike trailer sounds good idea. I had a britax b-smart 3 wheeler and you can get them very cheap on ebay. LOVED it. It manages most terrain (and to be honest with a second hand one, who cares if its knackered after the festival?) it has a giant basket and giant hood with a UV panel in it and a very comfy seat....