BALLWIN, MO – When you name a course after a hill titled “Cardiac Hill,” you’d expect times to go up. Instead, the 218 runners that tackled the “Cardiac Course” at Castlewood State Park on Thursday, August 15, pushed the pace up a notch compared to the week before. The approximately 4 mile race featured two substantial climbs, including the previously mentioned “Cardiac Hill” and also saw participants make their first finish-line-crossing of Kiefer Creek.
Jon-Paul LaVenture hits the creek crossing right before the finish line on Thursday night’s Race 3 of the 2019 Trail Run Series.
Once again, Jon-Paul LaVenture (37, Ballwin) was the first to cross through the Alpine Shop arch in a time of 26:28.5, more than a minute faster than last week’s second-place runner, Andy Rains (26, Ballwin, 27:43.2). Josh Wright (41, Kirkwood), who took third place last week, as well, crossed the finish line in 28:19.3 to round out the top three in the overall standings. Those three will also hold the points lead heading into the final race of the 2019 Series next week.
Women’s winner for the second straight week, Jaime Maher, hits the full depth of Keifer Creek near the end of the race.
For the women’s open category, Jaime Maher (36, St. Louis), last week’s winner, took first once again in a time of 33:04.9, beating last week’s second place finisher, Lory Cooper (32, St. Louis, 33:37.9), to the line by just over 30 seconds. Repeating the “familiarity” theme of this year’s races, Yuting Huang (28, Ballwin), last week’s third place woman, took – you guessed it – third place with a time of 35:34.8.
Men’s Master’s winner, Chris Martel (center, “1”), heads out with the lead group at the start of Race 3 of the 2019 Trail Run Series.
Chris Martel (53, Francis Park) won his 11th straight masters Trail Run Series race with a final time of 29:38.7 (7th overall). Eric Buckley (56, St. Louis, 31:42.6) was second in the division for the second straight week. And Ryan Yoch (56, O’Fallon, IL, 32:07.0) returned to the top three after taking second during the first week’s race. On the women’s side, Kate Dewey (51, Chesterfield) took home her third straight win with a time of 38:24.6, with Sherri Schultz (50, Chesterfield, 39:56.5) and Julie Dobslaw (51, University City, 40:48.0) once again, taking second and third, respectively.
Women’s Master’s winner, Kate Dewey heads down the hill to the creek near the end of Race 3 of the 2019 Trail Run Series.
The final race of the 2019 Alpine Shop Trail Run Series will take place next Thursday night, August 22 at 6:15 pm.
BALLWIN, MO – An evening that began with a forecast for rain earlier in the week turned into a typical St. Louis summer night for more than 210 runners who took to the trails at Castlewood State Park for the second night of four in the 2019 Alpine Shop Trail Run Series. This approximately 4.2 mile race featured two substantial climbs, including the opening half mile up to meet the Bluff Trail and then a second climb that stretched over the second and third miles.
Jon-Paul Laventure crosses Kiefer Creek on his way to his second straight overall win in the 2019 Alpine Shop Trail Run Series.
Familiar names resided at the top of the leader board as Jon-Paul LaVenture (37, Ballwin) beat the field on the 4.2-mile course in a time of 28:39.47, besting second-place runner Andy Rains (26, Ballwin, 30:03.0) to the finish line by, once again, just more than a minute. Josh Wright (41, Kirkwood), crossed the finish line exactly 18 seconds later to round out the top three in the overall standings. That’s the exact same time difference between the second and third place finishers in week 2 when Caleb Smith took third place behind Rains.
Women’s Overall winner, Jaime Maher (6), holding off Eric Buckley (3), who finished second in the Masters men division.
For the women’s open category, Jaime Maher (36, St. Louis) – the winner of Race 4 during the 2018 series – made her 2019 debut and promptly took first place in a time of 36:47.8. Lory Cooper (32, St. Louis), making her 2019 debut as well, finished almost exactly one minute behind Maher. Yuting Huang (28, Ballwin) moved up from outside the top five last week to third place with a time of 39:15.3.
Chris Martel has won the masters division in 10 straight races, going back to 2017.
Kate Dewey (255) won the masters women division, holding off Julie Dobslaw (56) who finished third and Susan Richmond (2) who was fourth in the division.
Chris Martel (53, Francis Park) won his 10th straight masters Trail Run Series race with a final time of 32:32.4 (6th overall). Eric Buckley (56, St. Louis, 33:28.7) moved back into a familiar second place finish in the division. As stated last week, Martel and Buckley finished 1-2 in each race in 2018. Mickey Howell (56, Villa Ridge, Mo.) who finished just 10 seconds outside of the top three last week, moves up into third for the first time. On the women’s side, Kate Dewey (51, Chesterfield) took home her second straight win in a Trail Run Series race with a time of 43:17.7, with Sherri Schultz (50, Chesterfield, 43:54.6) and Julie Dobslaw (51, University City, 45:03.2) once again, taking second and third, respectively.
We also had one of the largest collection of young runners in Trail Run Series history this week with eight runners under the age of 14, including top finisher Oliver Pollock (14, St. Louis, 37:39.6) and the youngest runner in the competition, nine-year-old Ty Rauls (Wildwood, 46:38.3 ), who finished in 79th place overall and fifth of six in the under 20 division. 13-year-old KB Piepho (Chesterfield) was the top under 20 girl with a time of 51:35.7
Race 3 of the 2019 Alpine Shop Trail Run Series will take place next Thursday night, August 15 at 6:15 pm. We hope you can join us!
Saturday, August 10 is National S’mores Day! To celebrate this momentous occasion, Osprey Packs is providing everything you need to make your very own s’mores at our stores – including the fire to roast the marshmallows. At Alpine Shop Kirkwood and Chesterfield, s’mores hours will be from 5 pm – 7 pm! At our Columbia location and at the Pathfinder in Manhattan, Ks., s’mores will be served from 4-6 pm.
We’ll also have representatives from Osprey Packs that will be on hand with some informational seminars, games and over $600 worth of Osprey backpacks and accessories that they’ll be raffling off throughout the evening to celebrate Alpine Shop Kirkwood’s certification as an Osprey Packs PRO SHOP.
About to embark on an adventure? Pro Shops have you covered with the largest assortment of Osprey products, expert gear knowledge and custom fitting services. Don’t know where to start? Let the experts at one of our pro shops help you choose the best pack from a full range of size and color options, translate the technical specs and fine-tune your pack so it fits you exactly as it should.
Osprey Packs Website
As the only Osprey Packs PRO SHOP in Missouri, and one of only 12 shops across the entire United States with that designation, you won’t find another retailer across most of the Midwest with the kind of selection and service for world-class Osprey Packs that you’ll find at Alpine Shop.
Alpine Shop is pleased to welcome the World Bird Sanctuary back to our Kirkwood location for an Al-Pint Night this Saturday, August 10 from 5 pm – 7 pm.
While s’more stations are happening at all of our locations thanks to Osprey Packs, our Kirkwood store will also have one of our famous Al-Pint Nights to support the World Bird Sanctuary. The good folks from the Sanctuary will have a number of raptors on hand for you to see and interact with on an up-close-and-personal level. (Please, for the safety of the birds at this event, we ask that all customers respect a “no dog zone” around the birds, though!)
To support this important organization, you can purchase a STANLEY Al-Pint Night Adventure Stein (see photo below) for just $25 which includes two free pours at the three remaining Al-Pint Nights for the rest of 2019. Every cent goes towards the organizations our Al-Pint Nights support throughout the year. Or, if you have already purchased an adventure stein for the year, come and join us at no cost to yourself! Plastic Pint Night Cups are just $5!
Friday, August 2 through Sunday, August 4, 2019 is Missouri’s Sales Tax Holiday for qualifying back to school purchases. For parents looking to get high quality apparel, shoes and gear that will actually make it through not only this school year, but also years to come, Alpine Shop is the place to shop!
To qualify, apparel and footwear must be under $100. And right now, Alpine Shop has some great bargains on items like: Patagonia Better Sweaters – regularly priced at $139 are now $96.97; selected Chaco sandal styles – regularly priced between $105 and $115 are now $89.97; plus, almost our entire stock of summer apparel is discounted between 25-40% off. And as long as our price tag says it’s under $100, it qualifies for no state sales tax!
If you’re shopping on-line, we’re offering FREE shipping across our entire website this weekend. No code necessary! (But the offer does exclude oversized items like bikes and boats.)
On the subject of school gear like backpacks, we understand that very few of our backpacks meet the under-$50-threshold the state requires for the tax holiday. However, we would like to point out that we’re fairly sure most of those under-$50 backpacks you’ll find somewhere else also won’t come with a lifetime guarantee.
Runners gather under the Alpine Shop arch for the beginning of the 2019 Trail Run Series at Castlewood State Park on Thursday, August 1.
BALLWIN, MO – Back in 2010, Alpine Shop hosted the inaugural race of the Trail Run Series with a grand total of 33 participants. On Thursday, August 1, 2019, we began our 10th season with a capacity crowd of nearly 250 at the starting line. Along the way, we’ve continued to try to build this series into the best combination of physical activity, social night and a great chance to win some impressive prizes, in the St. Louis area.
Jon-Paul LaVenture takes on the crossing of Kiefer Creek in Race 1 of the 2019 Trail Run Series.
Jon-Paul LaVenture (37, Ballwin) conquered the approximately 4-mile course in a time of 25:07.9, beating second-place runner Andy Rains (26, Ballwin, 26:10.6) to the finish line by more than a minute. Caleb Smith (31, St. Louis) crossed the finish line just 18 seconds later to round out the top three, overall.
On the women’s side, Mandy Wright (Kirkwood, 42) captured a rare feat, winning two Off-Road Racing League Events in less than a week. With the rescheduled Meramec Marathon Paddle Race running this past Sunday, Wright was the top women’s finisher in the Marathon Stand-Up Paddleboard division. Five days later, she took the top spot in the women’s race with a time of 34:22.1. She was followed by Emily Haarmann (29, O’Fallon, 34:34.1) just 12 seconds later and Annemarie Rains (27, Ballwin, 34:58.6) just under 40 seconds after that.
Women’s winner Mandy Wright (left) at the creek crossing with third place finisher Annemarie Rains (right).
For the purposes of the Trail Run Series, our Masters Division starts at age 50. This week, Chris Martel (53, Francis Park) continued his dominance over his competition for the past three years with a final time of 28:44.9, good enough for 8th overall and first in Men’s Masters. Chasing him to the line were Ryan Yoch (56, O’Fallon, IL, 31:01.8) and Eric Buckley (56, St. Louis, 31:22.6). Martel and Buckley finished 1-2 in each race in 2018 and Martel has now won the last nine races in his division, going back to the 2017 season. On the women’s side, Kate Dewey (51, Chesterfield) took home her first win in a Trail Run Series race, with Sherri Schultz (50, Chesterfield, 38:25.3) and Julie Dobslaw (51, University City, 40:11.6) taking second and third, respectively.
Following the race, participants helped themselves to a selection of Urban Chestnut Brewing Company beers along with some barbecue and snacks. Lucky winners also took home prizes from Hoka One One footwear, Native Sunglasses and Smith Optics.
Race 2 of the 2019 Alpine Shop Trail Run Series will take place next Thursday night, August 8 at 6:15 pm. We hope you can join us!
It may be summer now, but soon it will be time for students to head back to campus and back to the books.
So, guys and gals, we’ve gathered up a few tips to help you make the most of what you got and stay green while doing it.
Avoid Plastic Bottles
Seems simple enough and you’ve heard it a hundred times, you may even already practice it, but keeping a few good water bottles and tumblers in the dorm are a must for kicking the plastic bottle habit and making your own beverages to help keep costs down.
Yeti Rambler Tumbler 30 oz
Our favorite tumbler for keeping your drink cold through the party, ahem… study sessions, is the Yeti 30 oz tumbler with a variety of lids and color options. You can get them to match your style and you never have to worry about your drink being the opposite temperature than you want it.
Klean Kanteen
For bottles, our wide assortment of Klean Kanteen has you covered on any size or color and the double wall vacuum keeps your drink at just your favorite temperature so when you make coffee in the wee hours and you really need that boost mid-morning, you don’t have to suffer through a lukewarm disaster.
Skratch Hydration Mixes
Check out these skratch drink mixes for a flavorful blast that will keep you hydrated through cram sessions and recovery.
Furnishing your dorm
Furniture is a given but what about all the shipping and moving involved? Two great ways to combat this are to buy second-hand from around campus which not only knocks out the moving involved but also reuses the old and cuts out the effects of manufacturing. That’s not always an option, though. Sometimes in the scramble of everyone moving in, things get snatched up quickly.
ENO Hammocks – Single Nest Hammock with Hanging Kit.
Another less common solution is to use camp furniture! Imagine a living room filled with an ENO hammock or a study circle comprised of our beloved Nemo Stargazers (see below). And when it’s time to explore the outdoors for the weekend or pack up and head home it all packs down to a portable size that is sure to fit in even the most compact cars.
Nemo Stargazer Camp Chair
Cooking for yourself
Mountain House Backpacking Meals
Most dorms don’t allow you to have open flames but that doesn’t mean you can’t make some amazing food for yourself. You can do a lot with microwaves, toaster ovens and Crock pots which all keep most of the heat contained to help keep your electric costs down, too. And when you’re in a pinch and don’t have time to find the best slow cooker meal, our backpacking meals can seem like heaven and all you need is hot water.
Unplug
Goal Zero Solar Chargers and Battery Packs
You can’t get through college without your electronics; they are your lifeblood. But checking your settings and making sure you have them set to the best power saving practices to fit your needs can cut down on electrical use as well as help keep you going longer with more battery power. For even more power saving, you can hook up to our Goal Zero solar chargers to keep your laptops and speakers going while hanging out in the Quad, soaking up the sun. Or, you can even use it to power some sweet lighting to your back patio. (Oh and a quick reminder to make sure you unplug all your other electronics when not in use as those cause a slow drain as well.)
What’s that smell?
Anyone who has been in a dorm room knows they can get smelly quickly if you ended up with the messy roommate (or if you’re the messy roommate). One green way to combat those smells is to place a couple of potted plants around the room to help improve air quality and a couple of herbs in the window to add a little fragrance. Plus then you can quickly add fresh free herbs to your favorite Crock Pot meals!
Hang it up
Get a drying rack to hang dry your clothes. Not only will you not have to fight for the last dryer but you will save a ton of energy in the process. Worried about it taking too long to dry? We have lots of quick dry clothing made from merino wool to the latest wicking technology from Patagonia. Check out our blog here about our favorite wicking clothing.
Inked
Printer ink is just one more thing that adds to the seemingly endless list of non-efficient products, but you can do some small things to help. Did you know that most printers have an “ink saver mode”? You can also get most cartridges refilled at a local store and they save the cartridge from going to the landfill as well as your wallet a few extra bucks. If they can’t be refilled, check and see if your school has a recycling collection for these. If not, why not try to start one, yourself?
Keep it clean
Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Hemp Pure Peppermint Pure-Castile Soap
The soap of all soaps – Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap . This eco-friendly, all-natural soap cares about its customers, employees and the environment. A little goes a long way and works great as a shampoo, body wash, laundry detergent, dish soap, floor cleaner and even pets! Check out their dilution cheat sheet here.
Ditch the plastic bags
Patagonia Tote 32L
One option is to simply ask for paper at checkout. An even better option is to bring your own. We have a couple of bags that are our favorite for hitting the local farmers markets and hauling our myriad of stuff around town.
Pass it on
Recycle what you can when you leave. When the semester has ended and it’s time to pack up we hope you will keep in mind local shelters and charities to donate furniture and unused school supplies to. Or make use of that college bulletin board and hand things over to the next set of pupils coming through the door.
Good luck this semester and cheers to being green. Are there things we didn’t mention? Tell us what you currently do to keep your dorm green!
Finding the right gear to keep you cool, dry and comfortable can be tough. That’s why we are here to help. We have curated our favorite pieces for wicking sweat away from your skin. But don’t forget you also want to keep your skin healthy by covering it with UPF sun protection fabrics and sunblock, too!
Patagonia Women’s Tropic Comfort Hoody
1) Patagonia Women’s Tropic Comfort Hoody – This lightweight, fast-drying fishing and travel hoody wicks away moisture, offers 50+ UPF sun protection, and has Polygiene® permanent odor control for extended wear in hot and humid weather.
2) Patagonia Women’s Capilene® Cool Daily Graphic Shirt – most versatile performance knit for use on trails or on the water provides 50+ UPF sun protection and Polygiene® permanent odor control. Patagonia tech tees keep you comfortable when you’re working hard in conditions ranging from cool to hot.
Royal Robbins Women’s Expedition 3/4 Sleeve Shirt
3) Royal Robbins Women’s Expedition 3/4 Sleeve Shirt – Style, function, comfort – this top works hard to keep you dry, cool and comfortable on long, hot days on the trail, but has the style to handle civilized evenings out. Packable and wrinkle resistant, quick-drying and durable, it has TempraTech™ thermoregulating mesh at the yoke for wicking performance that adapts to rising temps, built in UPF 40+ sun protection, and a hidden zip pocket on the hip to secure your cash and passport.
White Sierra Women’s Crystal Cove River Shorts
4) White Sierra Women’s Crystal Cove River Shorts – The Crystal Cove River Short is always ready for any land and sea getaway, thanks to its quick dry & travel friendly nylon fabric. Comfort fit flat front with back side elastic waistband. Front hand slash pockets make it a laid-back short while multiple cargo pockets are there for all your valuables.
The North Face Women’s Class V 2.0 Hike Short
5) The North Face Women’s Class V 2.0 Hike Short – In the river or on the trail, The North Face Women’s Class V 2.0 Hike Short feels great wherever you adventure in the warmer seasons. Its FlashDry fabric wicks moisture and dries quickly to help you feel fresh after hot hikes or cool dips. It also shields you from the sun’s harmful sunlight. The elastic waistband is complemented with a novelty belt.
Icebreaker Everyday Cami 175
6) Icebreaker Everyday Cami 175 – Combining flattering feminine style with the softness and breathability of 100% pure merino wool, the 175 Everyday Cami is a versatile and ultra-comfortable top for any day, anywhere. This cozy cami features a rib knit design for superior comfort and stretch, while the classic scoop neck design makes it a wardrobe essential in any season. Adjustable straps help you find the perfect fit. While it does not have sun protection we find this top to be the pintacle of baselayers, offering dryness from the skin out.
The North Face Men’s Paramount Trail Shorts
7) The North Face Men’s Paramount Trail Shorts – Navigate through the backcountry wearing The North Face® Paramount Trail Shorts. The durable nylon material is accompanied by a relaxed fit silhouette that ensures ultimate comfort. They feature UPF 50 sun protection, so you can stay out for hours on end. Complete with a webbed belt and various pockets to hold your trail essentials, these shorts will become your go-to for every adventure.
The North Face Monanock Short-Sleeve Shirt
8) The North Face Monanock Short-Sleeve Shirt – Men’s – The North Face hid a few tricks up the Men’s Monanock Shirt’s sleeves to better prepare you for summer trips out of the country. Its sun-blocking fabric features FlashDry fibers that advance moisture management and quick-drying comfort for warm tours through foreign cities. There’s an internal pocket sized for passports to keep your identity cleverly hidden in public places.
Icebreaker Amplify Crewe
9) Icebreaker Men’s Cool-Lite Amplify Short Sleeve Crewe – A lightweight training T-shirt, the Amplify Short Sleeve Crewe is a smart choice for when you want to take it to the next level. Made from our ultra-light 130gm jersey, the fabric features corespun fibers, where we wrap merino and natural TENCEL® around nylon for added durability and a great feel. Cool-Lite™ technology keeps you cool when things start to heat up, and a mesh back and sleeves offer added ventilation. This breathable T-shirt wicks away moisture for maximum comfort and performance whether you’re hitting the gym or out on the trail. The design features off-set shoulder seams to prevent chafing, and a drop-tail hem for added coverage.
11) Simms Stone Cold Shirt Short Sleeve – Sometimes great fishing requires venturing into places that feel like the inside of a blast furnace. It’s times like these that it’s important to keep your cool. The Stone Cold SS Shirt can help. Made with Cool Control™ cool-touch fabric technology, this quick-drying fishing shirt also features COR3™ performance to help out in the moisture wicking, odor fighting, and sun protection departments.
White Sierra Men’s Bug Free Base Camp Long Sleeve Crew
12) White Sierra – Men’s Bug Free Base Camp Long Sleeve Crew – For those who prefer the natural feel of cotton and need protection from the pesky mosquitoes, this Bug Free Jersey Long Sleeve Crew is for you to wear on any day. Treated with Insect Shield Technology, this casual long sleeve fends off mosquitoes and bugs so you can enjoy the outdoor. It’s also quick drying and wrinkle resistant.
Outdoor Research – Oasis Sombrero
13) Outdoor Research – Oasis Sombrero – Women`s The Oasis Sombrero offers the highest level of sun protection in a garment, UPF 50, and is sure to keep you nice and cool under the blazing sun. The extra wide brim offers shade while the liner headband wicks perspiration away.
Buff Coolnet UV+
14) Buff – Coolnet UV+ – Built for Ultimate Sun Protection – BUFF CoolNet UV+™ Multifunctional Headwear is 95% recycled – engineered with REPREVE® performance microfiber, HeiQ cooling technology, Polygiene® odor control and has a 4-Way, seamless, ULTRA STRETCH fabric construction that features UPF 50+ sun protection. BUFF CoolNet UV+™ Multifunctional Headwear is approved and recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation. Can be worn 12 different ways – from cap to balaclava, neck gaiter to hair tie.
From Friday, July 19 through Thursday August 1, 2019 Alpine Shop is offering an impressive deal on all of your favorite clothing and gear from the most iconic brands in the outdoors – The Back to School Kickback!
Get ready to head back to school, back to campus, back to the lake house, back to the backcountry… whatever it is you want to get back to, you can get rewarded for shopping at Alpine Shop!
The program is pretty simple: Between now and August 1, purchase $119 worth of anything in our store – pre-tax – and Alpine Shop will give you a reward certificate for $20 towards your next full-price purchase to be made between August 2–18, 2019. There’s no limit to how many reward certificates you can receive! And, even better, certificate is good throughout the Missouri state tax holiday, August 2–4.
Shop on-line at www.alpineshop.com as well! We’ll automatically include your Reward Certificate with your purchase.
Please Note: •$20 Reward certificates are redeemable for regularly-priced retail merchandise at all Alpine Shop locations starting August 2, 2019 and ending August 18, 2019. Offer may not be combined with any other discounts or promotions. Not redeemable for cash, gift cards or any Alpine Shop program. Offer also not valid on special orders or prior purchases. Offer is limited to stock on hand. Return of goods purchased in order to receive reward certificate will result in forfeiture of certificate. No balance will be carried over after purchase of any amount. No change will be given for any remaining balance. • Qualifying purchase amounts exclude gift cards, taxes, returns and previous purchases. Cannot be combined with any other special offer or incentive, except for the Missouri State Tax Holiday August 2-4, 2019.
Come out and support Great Rivers Greenway Foundation at a Schalfly Al-Pint & Movie Night at the Alpine Shop in Kirkwood on Wednesday, July 10.
Purchase a reusable STANLEY Adventure Stein for $25 and enjoy two free Schalfly pours at this Al-pint night – and at all remaining 2019 pint nights(!)–or buy a cup for $5 and enjoy two beers. (Or if you’ve already purchased your Adventure Stein for the year, simply show up and enjoy your two beers!)
2019 Re-Usable STANELY Adventure Steins – available for just $25 – and you can bring it back for two free beers at each remaining Schlalfy Al-Pint Night the rest of the year.
In addition to the cool libations, we’ll also enjoy a movie and popcorn! We will be showing the documentary “Waterschool.” The film demonstrates the power of education, and how we can all be ambassadors for water conservation. ‘Waterschool’ follows the experiences of several female students who live along six of the world’s major rivers – the Amazon, Mississippi, Danube, Nile, Ganges and Yangtze – and celebrates the efforts of Swarovski Waterschool.
We’ll also have a make-your-own popcorn trail mix bar!
Great Rivers Greenway is the public agency connecting the St. Louis region with greenways, with 125 miles built so far. St. Louisans decided to leave a legacy for future generations by investing in and connecting together some of our region’s best assets with a network of greenways, making it a more vibrant place to live, work and play. Greenways help residents and visitors explore and enjoy the region and live life outside.
Demand for GRG projects, such as the Gravois Greenway expansion, is higher than ever. The investment is significant – we cannot depend solely upon tax dollars to complete the critical greenway connections that people want and need within their lifetimes. The Great Rivers Greenway Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that engages private supporters to help complete our priority projects.
My wife and I purchased The North Face Jester Backpack pictured above for our youngest son before he entered first grade in the 2004-05 school year. Fed up with the number of backpacks our older kids were going through each year at school, we wanted to try a different approach.
12 years later, my son left for college. Before he headed off to campus, he texted me to ask if he could get a new backpack.
“What’s wrong with your old one?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he replied. “I’ve just had it for 12 years. All of grade school and high school. Come on!”
He got his new pack. Another TNF backpack, actually. This time with a laptop sleeve. Something he didn’t really need back then. But it’s still built with the same strength and durability that old Jester was constructed with over 13 years ago.
And the old pack? Still in use for trips, actual hiking, as well as the ever-so-often lugging around of video game consoles and controllers.
Here at Alpine Shop, we know you can grab a backpack for $15 or less at any big box chain. But, we all know how quickly those can break, especially with the immense weight of the books kids pile into them these days. This year, make sure they have a pack that will last, no matter what they put it through.
Stop by any Alpine Shop location and find a backpack they can count on for entire school career.
