Do women need to buy gear "made for women?"

[Lesleyhere]

Just how important is it for your gear to be "designed for a woman?"

I am a new hiker. While I want to buy the best gear I can afford, I don't want to buy items that are made for a woman, when any other would do.

This article brought my attention to important issues to consider when buying gear:
http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22338/27224/?CMP=KNC-DC_YSM_6

Any one else have other items to add? Or items to subtract?

 

[cbcbd]

Gear for: dayhiking, backpacking, overnighting, camping?

As far as women vs men gear, the only item that usually tends to really help being woman specific is backpacks (hip pads curve in to fit over hips). But then again, if you're a woman with no hips then by all means get a men's pack. Anything else is usually because of fit/fashion differences.

-Doug

 

[ajl50]

I think there is a large difference in women specific gear. Fit matters as a men's small isn't cut for a woman. This means while the mens might "fit" -in that the woman can wear the clothes the garment/gear might not work as well or be as comfy. For a jacket this could mean rubbing from the fabric that causes chafing or just bunching that is uncomfortable.

However sometimes the difference is just that womens stuff comes in pastels so try on stuff and see if there is a difference.

 

[bigbog]

women's gear........

On the whole ideology, I agree with you Lesleyhere, I do think that some women's-specific is simply a downgraded men's item and many women fit easily into mens items.....however there are some items that are designed rather well to indeed match a woman's "angles" here & there. I think one has to shop around these days cuz there are so many great designs out there...mixed in with the marketing....

$.01

 

[drjeff]

As posted above, 5 years ago, this answer may have been different as a majority of "womens" gear was just a slightly down graded (read as softened) mens model with some different graphics on it.

Nowadays, as ski vendors have realized that that the womens market is becoming a significant portion of the overall market (read as women are spending more $$ on equipment), and womens gear tends to be designed and built from the ground up with women in mind, and often has very little in common with the mens gear.

 

[cbcbd]

I guess it depends what kind of gear we're talking about. I don't think she's asking about skiing gear, which is highly performance oriented.

Hiking/backpacking "gear" is a different story.
I don't see too many things dumbed down for women nowadays.
As far as hardgoods go, the only hiking/camping gear I've seen that is gender specific is sleeping bags, sleeping pads, backpacks, and boots/shoes. Except for backpacks, where there are more than just sizing changes, sleeping bags/pads/boots shoes only see sizing and cosmetic differences usually, which make sense because women tend to be smaller sized and if you're 5'5" you don't need to carry a regular sized 6' sleeping bag.

Softgoods (clothes) are another story. For summer time, "technical" clothes (shells, pants, jackets) tend to be pretty much the same for men and women, but women cuts are just different.

For winter time I have noticed that women do get more of the shaft in terms of technical clothing.

But in all, it really depends where you shop and who is the manufacturer.

 

[ajl50]

If we are talking about skis there is no question. Buy women's skis. For other things...it's so specific how can we generalize. I just say some women's gear fits women better. (tech specs aside.)

 

[bvibert]

Looks like the OP is mostly interested in hiking gear guys, not ski stuff. There are activities outside of skiing you know.

I agree with the above posters that say it really depends on what gear you're looking to buy.

 

[tjf67]

I would say if there is womens specific gear in the item you are looking for I would drift towards that. They are making it for a reason.

 

[LizHobart]

Wow I cannot tell you how much I appreciate that post! The link was SUPERB!

 

[JimG.]

Gear is gear whatever sport you're talking about.

The best gear for you is what suits YOU best regardless of whether it's made for a man or a woman. And I disagree that all women's gear is detuned or stepped down men's stuff...there are companies that really do design gear specific to the physical needs of both men and women.

Companies that sell stepped down men's stuff as women's gear are crap merchants.

 

[JimG.]

I guess it depends what kind of gear we're talking about. I don't think she's asking about skiing gear, which is highly performance oriented.

Hiking/backpacking "gear" is a different story.
I don't see too many things dumbed down for women nowadays.
As far as hardgoods go, the only hiking/camping gear I've seen that is gender specific is sleeping bags, sleeping pads, backpacks, and boots/shoes. Except for backpacks, where there are more than just sizing changes, sleeping bags/pads/boots shoes only see sizing and cosmetic differences usually, which make sense because women tend to be smaller sized and if you're 5'5" you don't need to carry a regular sized 6' sleeping bag.

Softgoods (clothes) are another story. For summer time, "technical" clothes (shells, pants, jackets) tend to be pretty much the same for men and women, but women cuts are just different.

For winter time I have noticed that women do get more of the shaft in terms of technical clothing.

But in all, it really depends where you shop and who is the manufacturer.

Great post.

And as for the technical women's ski garments, the past few years have seen tremendous improvements in technical garb cut for women. Go to a company site like Black Diamond or Backcountry.com and you'll see whole sections devoted to women specific outerwear, gloves, etc.