It's a The Essentials Special Episode - The Essentials of the Jukola Traveler

As you should know this weekend is very special! It's the Jukola weekend. So, what should you remember to bring? We have been asking around and gathering some tips for this very special event.

So let's start with the big stuff:

Yes that's right, a big backpack is good to start with. You will need that to store your stuff in, or to carry your stuff from the car park to the camp site. Next, the tent, where you will live for the weekend, preferably with a good rain cover. After that it's the campingmattress and the sleeping bag. As the weather sometimes can be chilly at night, a slightly warmer sleeping bag is to be preferred. On top of that is the small camping chair just so one doesn't have to sit on the ground which can be moist.

Next, running gear, and naturally we'll present the night-O running gear:

It's all there, VJ-Bold shoes, Silva 6 Jet Spectra compass, Lupine Betty 7 for light, Emit for electronic punching, Garmin forerunner for timekeeping and GPS, vaseline for chafing, compeed for blisters, club dress and terminator knee shorts from noname, matching green duct tape for shoelaces, leukoplast for additional blister prevention, WoL knee socks, and squeezy for energy. Sounds like a lot? If you need anything at least you'll be sure to have it!

After the run one of the most important things, especially after a night leg in the rain, is the Jukola Sauna!! For this you will need the following:

Nothing special, just a towel to dry yourself with afterwards, 2€ for the Sauna and a preferably cold beer to bring with you into the sauna, because after running a tough leg in the middle of the night, you have earned it!!

Now we will take a look at some special stuff you just might want to bring with you if the weather forecast, as it does this year, indicates that it will rain like h*ll the whole weekend:

Here it is, the classic, an umbrella, next, rain boots, very good to have since it will get muddy when about 40000 people will trample the same field for two days. Gets muddy even without rain. And for maximum whimpiness but unbeatable comfort, rain clothes. And more importantly, PROPER rainclothes. What you see on the picture is no "breathable" BS cloths that let's air through but keeps the rain out. These will keep you bone dry while standing in a waterfall! Only way to get these wet is to run around too much and get sweaty!

On top of this you should bring a cap of some sort to warm your head during the night, and a pair of gloves. Some warm layers to have under your clothes to keep the brisk night air out and a lot to eat!
They serve hot food on site, and since every kind of fire making is strictly prohibited this year that is a good option to get something warm to eat. Also some additional dry clothes could be nice to have, like underwear And socks.

Before we forget, a small radio with which you can listen to the Jukola channel to have in the tent is also very traditional! And if you have been awake the whole night, take a nap before driving home and/or load up with a bagful of caffein for the drive home!

Just follow this easy guide and you will have a blast at Jukola!!

/JJ