Fit For A Woman Outfitters Are Answering The Need For Gear Designed For Fejale Figures

It’s a lot easier for mom to be a happy camper nowadays.

When I started my outdoor career (as a whitewater raft guide almost twenty years ago), outdoor apparel and gear was made with men in mind. I needed quick-drying river shorts; the only ones I could find were sized for men - big in the waist or too tight across the hips.

Outdoor gear was generic, too. I froze in my sleeping bag, while my husband snoozed, cozy in the same model. When we went backpacking, I labored under an ill-fitting load. But no more.

Each year, more and more products targeting women become available. Boots and other outdoor footwear are made specifically for the female foot. Most outdoor apparel is made in both mens and women’s sizes.

Many women avoid spending extra money on high-tech outdoor gear and clothing, disdaining the seemingly male motto, “Whoever dies with the most high-tech gear and toys, wins.”

Meanwhile we cling to our wet cotton socks and shiver.

But after a while, we wake up to the fact that we could be much more comfortable outdoors. We find our way to the outdoor store for some good, really waterproof rain gear, and once we get over “sticker shock,” we find we have a lot of choices.

Women who make the mistake of buying “unisex-size” rain gear to save a few dollars (like I did), tend to regret it.

One mail order company, Title 9 Sports, has made a specialty of outfitting active women. The catalog, now in its eighth year, operates on the premise that “fit is the key.” Founder and president Missy Park personally wear-tests every item and uses her friends and co-workers for further testing.

“It’s a question of proportion - women’s bodies are different from men’s. Our shoulders are narrower, our hips are fuller and our waists are shorter.

Many companies make good products for women, she says. “Companies like Moving Comfort and Insport are manufacturing good products, but these don’t always make it into stores,” says Park.

Some of the products recommended by Title 9 Sports include:

The Adidas “Trail Response” for off-road running. “Adidas has got the women’s fit right on the money,” Park said.

Terry Bicycles anatomical cycling seat. The seat solves a very critical problem riding with all our weight resting on an extremely sensitive part of a woman’s body. The seat’s nose is filled with gel-like foam, and the saddle is wider than conventional seats.

Maternity Multi-Sport Short by Japanese Weekend. The four-inch waistband provides gentle support, cradles your tummy and comes up high in the back to alleviate stress.

Best sellers for Title 9 Sports include the Champion Jogbra line, and the Cross-Sport short and pants by Moving Comfort.

Lately, camping gear manufacturers have been addressing gender needs, too. Several backpack makers have designed models that address women’s body size and shape difference.

Pack designers note that women need shoulder straps and hip belts shaped and sized for women, plus they need packs with a shorter torso length.

One example is the Kelty women’s pack called the “Zuni.” It features a waist belt contoured for women’s curvier hips and shoulder straps designed to meet the unique angle and length requirements of women.

I tried this internal frame pack on a recent Hells Canyon backpack and felt as nimble as a mountain goat. When I forgot I had a pack on and bent down to tie my daughter’s shoe, I knew something was definitely new and improved.

R.E.I., Lowe, Mountainsmith, and The North Face are among the other makers of women’s backpacks.

Several other manufacturers, while they don’t go so far as to specifically market a pack for women, do offer a choice of torso lengths. Torso fit is the most important factor in pack comfort and efficiency, so some pack makers don’t feel the need to market a pack specifically for women.

Put a “For Women” label on a pack, and you’ve probably excluded the slender or smaller man from buying that pack; pack makers understandably don’t want to limit their market.

Not only are women usually shaped differently than men, we also have different metabolic rates. These factors combine to make women’s sleeping bags more than a luxury or a gimmick: they become a must for comfort in all but the most mild camping conditions.

Women’s average height (5‘4”) means most bags are too long. (The average height for men is 5‘10”.) Too long translates into too cold when her feet can’t warm up the extra six inches of bag dangling at the bottom of the tent.

Sierra Designs, a leader in designing sleeping bags for women, manufactures bags that take into account not only the shorter average height, but also women’s lower resting metabolic rates, narrower shoulder and wider hip. They offer several models of women’s bags, each available in both long and regular lengths.

Slumberjack also manufactures bags for women. I tried out their “Gem” on a frosty night and found it an improvement over my decade-old unisex Slumberjack. North Face also offers women’s sleeping bags.

Even whitewater has seen some female innovations. After years of complaining about lifejacket fit, women now have a PFD available that addresses one of women’s most obvious anatomical differences.

Extrasport, a leader in whitewater PFDs makes the “Mae Vest,” featuring thinner panels over the chest and back with higher floatation panels around the waist.

Whitewater boating, cycling, trail running, camping and backpacking - these are only a sampling of the outdoor fields that are beginning to cater to women’s needs. Add to that list women’s hunting boots by Dunham Bootmakers, women’s flyfishing waders by Red Ball, rock climbing harnesses by Black Diamond and others… choices and variety like this will keep any outdoors mom happy.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: GEAR FOR SALE Most of the camping and whitewater items mentioned are available in local outdoor-gear stores, which can special order products if necessary. For info on Title 9 Sports producs, call (510) 655-5999, or check the Internet at www.Title9Sports.com/