Week 42: The Pack Man

In October, I will trek on The Great Wall of China in support of Special Olympics. A key part of getting ready is having the right gear.

I needed a new backpack for the trip, because the one I have is old and worn out. Also, I wanted one with a hip belt for more support, pockets big enough to hold large water bottles, and a few other features.

I'm a good shopper and I did some advance research online, but when I got to the store the choices were overwhelming. Some of the packs that were supposed to be the best were uncomfortable. Others seemed heavy before I even put anything in it.

Without the help of a knowledgeable, patient and extremely upbeat expert at the store, I think I may have purchased the wrong pack or walked out with nothing (and I don't have a lot of time to keep shopping).

This young man happily helped me test out a number of packs, including loading them up with weight and accessories like large water bottles and trekking poles. I bought a pack and used it on a 10-mile Appalachian Trail hike the next day. It was perfect!

There's nothing like an informed and helpful person to make shopping a good experience. And there is no way I would have found this great pack if I bought it online without his help!

Photo by Josiah Weiss on Unsplash