{shortcode-4266e13b5450c4c0cf104080f38c67b0692531ad}Head of the Charles: a weekend full of fun, energy, and excitement as we watch people of all ages compete for glory on the Charles River. There's a massive influx of people on campus, as I’m sure you felt this past weekend, with tourists from all over the globe coming to Cambridge and the greater Boston area to experience this famous event. However, in addition to attending to support the Crimson’s teams, I had another goal in mind: brand pop-ups. I love to try new things, especially for free, and if you didn’t know, the Head of the Charles is the perfect place to do that. Here’s a ranking of the items I received for attending:

1. Barebell Hoodie

My absolute favorite item I received this weekend was a beautiful white hoodie from Barebell Protein Bars. The material was of excellent quality, and the design is actually something I like to wear. Plus, it allowed me to wait to do laundry another day, so it’s a win-win all around.

2. Barebell Hat

Since my friend was not a hat person, I was also able to obtain a matching hat from the same vendor. It's a nice hat, perfect for bad hair days.

3. Barebell Protein Bars

I received 18 of these, a solid steal since 12 retail around $30. They’re actually pretty good. My favorite flavor thus far is cookie dough —it’s like candy disguised as a protein bar.

4. 5 Cans of Reign Clean Energy Drinks

I really liked the Reign stand. It was impressive with its two-story setup. I was able to secure five cans, which I will give out to my friends when they are in the trenches. Very happy to aid my friends in need.

5. 22 Bags of Cheese Puffs

Though they came in tiny bags and took up a lot of space in my bag, preventing me from obtaining other items, these cheese puffs were delicious.

6. Five Gold Tea Bottles

They have the same vibe as the Reign energy drinks, except they don’t have caffeine, which places them further down on my list.

7. Barebell Stickers & Regin Hand Sanitizer

They're nice but aren’t very exciting. They're the kind of items that end up tucked in a drawer somewhere.

In summary, I was extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to go and experience this event. All of the brand booths I went to had immaculate setups and were incredibly generous in giving out free products. I am sure I will be stocked for the next few weeks going into midterms.