When hiking, do you absolutely need boots or will low shoes do the trick? The advisor from the outdoor store approaches. Will he be able to answer this question? Fortunately, advisors are often outdoor enthusiasts and have a solid track record.
Posted at 11:30 a.m.
Anne-Marie Turcot, from the La Cordée boutique in Laval, is one of these advisers. The young woman cycled from Vancouver to Winnipeg, then resumed her ride the following year to cover a good part of Quebec, namely the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie and Côte-Nord. She also made the crossing of Charlevoix in Nordic cross-country skiing from refuge to refuge, without refueling.
“It made me aware of all the equipment we need,” she says. It gives me so much to advise people. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANNE-MARIE TURCOT
Anne-Marie Turcot has traveled Western Canada and much of Quebec by bicycle.
Anne-Marie Turcot also does canoe-camping. His great pride is the descent of the Moisie River, 19 days in autonomy. “We had all our food, all our equipment,” she says. I was used to doing bike trips where you go through villages, you see people. Whereas in a canoe, you are in complete autonomy, you don’t see anyone, apart from the animals. »
The outdoor specialist indicates that manufacturers often meet with La Cordée advisors to give them training on equipment and clothing.
Going to test it in the field, it helps so much to better understand what they are telling us. You really have to experience it to know what we’re talking about and to popularize it properly. Often, I feel like it helps me gain extra credibility.
Anne-Marie Turcot, from the La Cordée store in Laval
For example, with her experience on the North Shore, Anne-Marie Turcot knows all about mosquitoes, black flies and other bloodthirsty critters. “Sometimes we don’t care a bit about hats or sweaters with nets. But on the North Shore, there are so many mosquitoes that you can’t live without these clothes. »
Anne-Marie Turcot mainly works in the climbing clothing department. “Clients want some kind of certainty that as an advisor, you know what you’re talking about. Often I get asked if I’m climbing. »
The answer is yes.
“It’s one of the departments where experience is really important to be able to talk about it. There’s so much to consider, it’s super technical. You have to be able to popularize to get the client to choose the right harness or the right climbing shoe for them to have fun. »
passion and experience
At the MEC store in the Central Market, Aubert Tremblay does not lack credibility either. Recently qualified as an adventure tourism guide, he does, among other things, canoeing, kayaking, hiking and climbing. He has followed many technical and rescue training courses in these disciplines.
At home, he designs outdoor equipment. This helps him to assess the design of the equipment in store, for example, whether the fabric of such a tent will stretch well. “I also understand on a slightly deeper level the technical fabrics: what is useful, when and why. With all this information, I come to be a no worse adviser. At least, I hope so! »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY AUBERT TREMBLAY
Aubert Tremblay, advisor at MEC at the Central Market, trained as an adventure tourism guide at Cégep de Saint-Laurent.
He also tested equipment during his own outdoor experiences. It recounts a particularly epic ski expedition in the Chic-Chocs, in Gaspésie. “During one night, we had 3 m of snow, there were astronomical winds, our tents were picked up: some fell, others flew away. »
The experience allowed him to see which tents held up and why. “The tents must be tight, it’s super important, he reminds us. It’s like waterproof bags: if they’re not properly sealed, water gets inside. I take the time to explain it to people because it’s a bit disappointing to have wet clothes at the end of the day. »
Boots follow chops
Benjamin Côté, from the Sail store in Laval, describes himself as a camping and hiking guy. He made trips notably to the Alps and to New Zealand. In Quebec, he knows the regions north of Montreal and Charlevoix well.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY BENJAMIN CÔTÉ
Advisor at Sail, Benjamin Côté has hiked in the Alps and in New Zealand.
I will analyze the needs of the person. If she just wants to try hiking, we’ll go easy. But if it intends to make it a recurring activity, we will explore different products accordingly.
Benjamin Côté, from the Sail store in Laval
He prepares for the summer a road trip camping in western Canada, which will allow him to experiment with a little different equipment. “Currently, I don’t use walking sticks, but I plan to take some for Western Canada: on the trails, the descent is quite difficult for the knees. Sticks, it allows to transfer a little pressure on the arms. »
Likewise, this lover of lightweight shoes for hiking plans to use ankle boots. “In the sometimes difficult trails of the West, the boots support the ankles well. If possible, I don’t want anything to happen. »
Come fall, Benjamin Côté will be able to share his impressions with customers.
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