Thursday, December 30, 2010 - Blog on a Log
Feel like a 'Natural Woman' in gear designed for the female adventurer
Last time I checked, Nature's a girl, so it seems only right that so are a huge percentage of the outdoor adventurers out there. However, ss any good feminist will tell you, equality does not mean interchangability. Just because women are as active or adventurous as men does not mean they should be using all the same gear. Luckily there are quite a few options out there designed to suit female bodies and needs.
The female and male torsos are just not the same. The men in our lives celebrate this fact, but it can make finding a comfortable PDF difficult. For a safe paddle experience try the Stohlquist Betsea with a contoured chest area and princess cut seams to wrap (rather than crush) your body. The slimmer-fitting cut and etra-wide armholes allow for freedom of movement and increased mobility while paddling.
When the paddle's over and you're turning in, you want a sleeping bag that fits your body to minimize heat loss and keep your warm all night. Men's and unisex bags tend to be too long for most women, leaving extra space for your feet to get chilled. They also come too narrow in the hips, which can leave some women uncomfortably snug. The North Face Cat's Meow comes in a women's model designed to follow your curves for optimum warmth and comfort. For those in need of more hardcore gear, The Mountain Hardwear Phantom is also available in women's sizing, and its 800 fill power down insulation and ultralight fabrics give the Phantom one of the highest warmth-to-weight ratios of all sleeping bags. Pair your bag with a women's model thermarest, cut shorter and wider for better comfort.
If you're adventures lean more to travel you may not need camping gear, but you'll certainly need a backpack that properly fits your body. We carry a variety of women's backpacks, including the Asolo Navigator Elle. These bags feature a shorter torso length and thicker, padded hip pads contoured to the female form. When you're carrying your life on your back, you might as well do it in comfort, and a properly fitting pack will make all the difference to your trekking experience.
Set and prepped with your new women's gear, you'll only need a few more items to make your trip complete. Those in search of easier rest-stops will find relief (har har) in the SheeWee, and every pre-menopausal woman would benefit from adding a Diva Cup to her camping and travel staples (it completely changed the way I backpacked).
Women shouldn't settle for less when it comes to our camping and travel gear. Suppliers are responding to demand, and designing gear that works with the female body, instead of against it. Try out some women-friendly gear for your next outdoor adventure!
B