Backpack Like a Girl

Q&A with Holly Hyperlite

Q: So, how was your maiden voyage? I heard you went around Mount St. Helens.

A: Oh, it was wicked. I’ve been sitting in the gear closet for over a month now, so it was awesome to get outside and stretch my straps. That’s one downfall of being a backpack-you’re totally dependent on a human taking you out. I guess I’m like a dog in that way, but you don’t need poop bags. Though I technically carry tools for pooping in the woods . . . let’s not go there. Anyways, I was ecstatic to be walked around a volcano on my first trip. The scenery! Greg the Backpack had it right-you get to see so much, looking backwards on a trail. Plus, you get to photobomb a lot.

Q: What are your favorite things to carry?

A: Hmmm, I don’t have many pockets but that just means I carry less, which, in turn, means I only carry the good stuff. Obviously, I love carrying a sleeping bag because it’s like I’m hugging a body pillow. I also love my handy hip belt pockets because they’re ideal for holding snacks. You know in Napoleon Dynamite when Napoleon reaches for his tater tots in his cargo pants pocket? That’s what these pockets are like. But please don’t put tots in me-too dense and greasy. Peanut butter-filled pretzel nuggets on the other hand are ideal and very welcomed. For St. Helens, I carried a whole bag of bean…