Do you want to get married? There are lots of ways to know if you’re marrying the right person. But there’s one unusual and very practical test to help you decide if he or she is the right one. It’s called the backpack test, and yes, as the name implies, it involves backpacks. When you find out what it is, you might say, “Um, no thanks!”, but here’s why you should consider it.

When you’re in love, it’s easy to see things through rose-colored glasses. And if you spend most of your time together doing comfortable activities (think dates, parties and Netflix), everything is basically enjoyable and effortless.

But we all know that that’s not how life works – including married life. You’ll face lots of challenges, and how your partner deals with challenges, both expected and unexpected, will have a big impact on your relationship.

That’s where the backpack test comes in. Author and physicist, Richard Muller, came up with this idea, and it’s very simple. Here’s what it is.

In a nutshell, the backpack test is when you and your partner take a week-long trip together, either camping in the wilderness, or taking a road trip. In short, get out of your comfort zone and see what happens.

At first, it might seem like cruel and unusual punishment – a pre-nuptial bootcamp. However, it’s actually a pretty valuable test.

It shows not only how your partner will deal with stress and challenges, but it will also reveal something about you, too. It will highlight strengths and weaknesses, but will also create opportunities to rise above them.

The backpack test is a chance for both people to practice acceptance, forgiveness, unconditional love and hopefully, a lot of laughs, too. And at the end of it, if you still are madly in love and ready to tie the knot, you’ll have a lot of adventures to share at your wedding.