About two years ago I started a quest. A quest that should have been simple, but a quest that to this day I have failed.
What’s this quest?!’ I hear you cry. Well, it was the seemingly simple task of finding a technical waterproof jacket that had pit zips, zipped up across my hips and my bangers, and was NOT pink or black.
On this quest I’ve searched high and low across two continents and four countries. I’ve looked here in the land down under, back home in England, in Norway, and whilst living in Switzerland. Even the cocky World Wide Web has consistently failed to close the deal.
But I’ve come close so many times…
– The few-and-far-between non-pink or black women’s jackets available have no pit zips. Yet… lift up the arms on the male version of the very same jacket and lo-and-bloody-behold, the great, zippy goodness of an air vent. BREAKING NEWS: women sweat too.
– Flip it and reverse it: the coveted ‘I have pit zips’ jacket exists, but it’s only available in black or pink. Black is pretty useless if you want to be seen in the bush (safety first people). And pink? Seriously, what are we, a sorely misjudged gender reveal party?
– The perfect-on-paper bright blue jacket that I ordered in extra-large seemed to have nailed it. Yet when it arrived I couldn’t do it up over my hips. For reference, I’m a size 12 with E cup bazookas; I’m no Barbie Doll but if an XL won’t do up around my derrière then there is something seriously wrong with outdoor gear clothing sizes.
– I’ve even tried a lot of men’s jackets on, but the arms were inevitably too long and the hood didn’t work on my (apparently tiny) woman head.
Finally, with a trip to it’s-definitely-gonna-rain-and-be-hella-windy’ Tassie in the pipeline, I accepted my fate. I headed to the nearest outdoor shop in Sydney, told them I needed a decent, reliable rain jacket with pit zips, in whatever the hell colour they can muster. And I am now the owner of a Patagonia Women’s Torrentshell Jacket in Roamer Red.
I love that it’s made from recycled material and I’ve always trusted the quality and craftsmanship of Patagonia. I know it will last me for years and if I’m going to spend some cash, I like to spend it with these guys.
It also has pit zips and room for the boobs (though it is tight around the hips and I have to leave the zip open at the bottom if I wear a sweater underneath).
But don’t be fooled by whatever made-up colour Patagonia is pretending this jacket is. It’s pink people. It’s most definitely fucking pink.
I can tell because every time I wear it a friend looks at me, head tilted, and says ‘Huh, you’re wearing pink’. Roamer Red? More like Palpable Pink.
On writing this article, I’ve delved into the world of waterproofs once again and I can see that the Torrentshell is now available in various other colours including a bright yellow and blue on the Patagonia website. Paddy Pallin – where I bought my jacket from – only has it in Palpable Pink, Black, and ‘Smokey Violet’. No guesses what that hue might look like in real life.
And the kicker? The colour that’s sold out is the bright blue. This surely shows that women are seeking more than 1980s baby shower stereotypes when it comes to colour selection.
Fjällräven might have the right idea!
It’s Not Just Jackets
Now I get it, my rapid Googling is no scientific data analysis. So I decided to call a few mates and stick a post on Instagram. You’re welcome. Turns out I’m not the only one annoyed by women’s outdoor gear. And waterproofs are just the beginning.
Ever watched enviously as a guy delves into the waist belt pockets on their backpack? Keep an eye on it next time. Men’s pockets are so large they could fit 10 tonnes of trail mix in there.
Women’s pockets meanwhile have just about enough room for some lipgloss and a tampon.
Pockets in general are an issue. While guy’s clothes have more pockets than I eat jelly snakes on a multi-day, women’s are sorely lacking in stuff-holding, hand-warming goodness. Maybe it’s my fault for not taking my handbag with me on my week-long jaunts in the wilderness.
Looking for ski pants and happen to be on the taller side? Head to the men’s department for some ill-fitting second-choices and a side of ‘not our problem’.
As for the rest of the gear – think base layers, t-shirts, zip-up sweaters – it’s the same frustrations from everyone I spoke to:
Pink, pink, and pinker, with a touch of turquoise or purple if you’re lucky.
This article’s been bubbling away in my mind for a while now and I’m pleased to see some exciting new additions to my Google searches, including a funky blue and yellow RAB jacket I now have my eye on. Plus, we’ve definitely, 100%, come a long way already from the ‘shrink it and pink it’ strategies of the past.
But if my experience – and those of the adventurous women I surround myself with – are anything to go by, there’s still plenty that can be done to help women feel like they’re more than just a walking reminder of their sex or gender.
Listen Up Outdoor Brands!
Here are four things that’ll make your outdoor-loving, female-identifying customers love you just that little bit more:
– Offer more sizing options and don’t assume all women are shaped the same
– Be brave with your colour choices; we want more than just 50 Shades of Pink
– For the love of cheese and crackers please give us pockets – as many as you can muster
– Any functional addition you make to men’s clothing – like pit zips – we probably, definitely, need it too
Alright, rant over. Me and my pink waterproof are off to bond in the bush. See ya!
Thank you Brooke!!! You hit the nail on the head! I hope the brands are listening. This also applies to young women and girls. Perhaps your next article can be on women’s shoes? The standard B width is crippling for many of us, but the standard D width for men usually only start at a women’s size 9 so not an option for our most popular sizes (women’s 7 to 8.5). How did they even come up with these rules and when? Were we still binding feet back then?? Well done on bringing these inconveniences and barriers to the attention of the clothing producers.
Hi Matilda, such a good point on the shoes!! I struggle with slim feet and constantly battle to find the right hiking shoes (I’m still looking). Thanks for commenting and glad you enjoyed the article!
Absolutely love this, so well articulated! I’ve never been a fan of pink either, and find it so frustrating that who ever designs gear seems to choose form over function, which is fine (I guess, but not really) when making a dress with no pockets, but it really is a safety issue when it comes to outdoor wear.
Hi Maxine! Glad you enjoyed the article. The safety aspect is such a good point, particularly when it comes t access to tools and things you need easy access to in the outdoors. Thanks for commenting!
Hi Maxine, glad you enjoyed the article. The safety aspect is such a good point, particularly when it comes to easily accessing tools and things you in the outdoors. Thanks for commenting!
For me, a garment with too-long sleeves is a luxury, and I’m definitely shorter than my 6′ friend who makes all her own clothes.
Pink clashes with my red hair, even apart from the fact that I Don’t Like Pink.
I’d also love a recognition that you don’t have to be short, skinny, flat chested and hipless to want to be protected from the rain. I live next to a national park, but finding anything that actually fits, and covers me down to my thighs – I’ve given up.
If your budget allows, have you looked at Mont? Their factory is in the Canberra area, I’m pretty sure they will either modify things or make to order, and when I last went to their shop before I moved I cannot remember anything in the dreaded pink!
Hi Anne! I’ve given up anything that comes down to the things too and I’m not even that tall! I’ve just taken a look at Mont now; they look fantastic. If they modify too then that is amazing. I wish more shops would do that.
At last, the truth about women’s sports & recreation gear being nothing but a fashion statement. I’m a kayaker & do you think I can find those quick dry pants & tops that crowd the racks for men? Nooo, not unless I want to wear a pair of skimpy little shorts that barely cover my clacker. It’s sooo damn frustrating, annoying, indeed rage inducing. I want functional clothing that looks ok & performs not pretty, fashion clothing that’s pretending to be serious. Please please designers & manufacturers take bloody women seriously!
Hi Louise, thanks for commenting…sorry to hear you have the same struggles kayaking as I have hiking (though no surprise really). Let’s hope that things keep moving in a positive direction and we get what we need soon!
I think you’d enjoy this podcast episode https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/designing-gear-for-women-with-edita-hadravska/id1183017174?i=1000492937731
Hi Linds, thanks for sharing! I’ve just added it to my Lockdown Listening List 🙂
Well I am a size 18 or 20 at the moment and I seem to only fit into men’s size and not ladies, they seem smaller. I’d like some nice colours a softer pink or that newish light green but no, black is only for larger people. Sometime there is a navy but I would like girl colours.
Hahaha so I had the same dilemma. I was desperate for an UL rain jacket, but I didn’t want to spend a fortune and I wanted it LIGHT. I sacrificed pit zips in this quest and found a clearance Outdoor Research Helium II that was listed as “Desert Rose” and I swear it was RED on my screen. Also not a pink person. It turned up and it is pink. Oh well, I guess I am wearing a pink rain jacket! But keeping my eye out for one with pit zips (that is still UL)
and of a different colour for the future ;).