In Search of the Perfect Backpack

IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT BACKPACK


We’ve decided, now that our youngest has turned four, to go on a Himalayan holiday. Four villages and two valley towns in 10 days and no baggage except the rucksacks on our backs.

Adventurous indeed but for the catch – four years of airplanes- to- grandparents holidays and we possessed nothing remotely resembling backpacks. Which is why I found myself, as prime convener and mover of the expedition, on the hot and humid streets in search of the ideal haversack.

With a list of specifications a mile long (most of which I have to say did sound reasonable) So it seemed obvious that the backpacks in question should be large enough. And large enough to take clothes, maps, sketch books, medicine kits, cameras, food and water (and piles of books that must be taken). With enough nifty compartments around the sides for need- to- fish- out- in- a -second items like money or a mobile or even mint . And with zips that won’t suddenly give way in the remote fastnesses of Jalori Pass 10,000 feet above sea level. And swoosh-like styling. After all if you’re going to huff and puff your city self through the mountains you might as well feel sporty about it!

“Buy a Nike , or a Reebok, or some other brand”, advised my sister Salone , who swears by the Jansport she bought during her years in America. “The copies look good, but then the zips will come off”, she said sagely and expertly. And so brand hunting I went. “No Tara Rum Pum”, I begged my friends “I need rucksacks”. We wandered the mall at Infiniti, Versova flitting from Nike ( with all of 6 small sized models priced Rs. 800 upwards) to Reebok. At Samsonite we picked the largest of them all – a cavernous black with a profusion of bright red pockets. “Why is it Rs.3999 ?”I gasped to my friend Sonal.”Parachute material ?” she hazarded. “Parachute Material” said the man at Azad Bag House on Station Road Andheri, of the very same red and black, “ 350 rupees final”. I must confess that I was tempted . Maybe not by the parachute material “fully waterproof”, but certainly by the many others , the fake Jansports and the Reeboks that ranged from 160 rupees to 350. Still somehow they didn't quite look right. The straps for add ons like water bottles were clearly frayed. And the material just didn’t feel the same, like really really light and almost not there .

Six days to go before the train to Delhi, to Kalka and then to Shimla and I was still stuck in decision tree deadlock . No brand or brand ? 250 rupees for now or 1200 rupees for life ? And then serendipidity in the form of a trip to Crawford Market intervened. Here’s where I found backpacks and more backpacks. In different nicely pocketed styles as well. And then the most delightful backpacks of all - those that came with a little strolley . So if you got tired of carrying all that stuff on your back and wanted to , like on a station platform or on a level road just walk , you could wheel your haversack alongside. All at rupees 450 apiece. Shimla, Naldehra, Narkhanda, Jalori, Gosaini, Manali here we come!

This appeared in the May 20th 2007 Sunday Times