Man Using Woman-Specific Sleeping Bag+Pad?

Hello Everyone, (first post) I just decided to get into hiking and am thinking about buying a woman specific sleeping bag and pad because I am 5' 4" and weigh165# (I should weigh 145-ish). The bag I am looking at is a 20 degree down bag, with a 5' 6" hgt limit and a shoulder girth of 58" (2" less the mens version) I was thinking about this because on colder nights it's less space to warm up and less to carry (8 oz and 8 cu in). I guess it would be like a 5'10" guy in a 6' bag. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

(REI Downtime +20 and Ether Thermo 6 Pad)
Any and all advice is greatly appreciated...

Thanks in advance
Jim

Try them on first. A ladies sleeping pad and bag won't magically make your willy shrivel up and fall off if you use them, so your masculinity won't be at risk, but they are cut different. The answer is simple. Try it on - if it fits, buy it. if it doesn't, look at a short size mens bag
(or look at both and buy what you are *comfortable* in.

Unless the bag is in the so-called "feminine" colors of what I call "bink and burple," nobody will know the difference. I'm female and I won't buy those colors, either! I know that a number of men use the Thermarest women's Prolite 4 pad because it has more cushioning, despite the pink color. Be sure to try the bag out, though, because you want to be able to wear more insulation inside the bag on a really cold night.

On the other hand, the Western Mountaineering Ultralight Super is a men's bag, but the short (5'6") size fits me just fine, even with my very ample hips.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> It's Light Green and black, looks like a string bean or pea soup color but not so bad. I am pretty secure with my masculinity but not that much to use the feminine colors.

I guess I will have to try it on.

Thanks
Jim

I second what Phat says: if it fits well, and feels good, use it. Don't worry about the color - if obnoxious color was a deal-killer, I'd never have gotten my blaze-orange Hubba tent and Prolite 4 pad. (By the way, I don't see anything particularly "feminine" about the bink-and-burple - if anything, they're about as obnoxious as the blaze orange.)

Hey my son slept in a ladies bag for awhile and he is still all boy <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hey, at least they are starting to make ladies gear in non pink/sky blue/hot purple now <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> And yes, you often will be warmer with women's sleeping pads and bags - more insulation, especially in the feet!

Try it on. It depends on your build. I bought my wife a NF Snowshoe Women's Long that fits up to six foot. I fit okay but the shoulders are narrower than the equivalent Men's bag and the hips a bit wider. If you're not real broad across the shoulders, it could fit you great but in most bags, it's not just the colors that are different. As long as it fits though, who cares?

And I buy the men's bags cause I need more arm room! Whatever works for you...

Theresa in Indy

Well, the bag should arrive tomorrow and I will get to see how it works. I guess I will try it out for a night inside just in case I need to return it.

I just thought of a possible option if this doesn't work,

How about buying a longer bag and taking about 6" off the bottom? (or not)

Happy trails,
Jim

I recently bought a Big Agnes Roxy Ann bag (the petite that goes to 5'8"). Wow. Roomiest bag ever - I sprawled in it this weekend. Warm and I could move in my bag. It was sleeping bag heaven in eyes <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Some women's bags have more insulation (down) in the chest area and feet. That's where most of us get cold first. It really doesn't matter if you use a gender-specific bag/pad. Whatever gets you thru the night. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

At 6'3'" and 200lbs I can't really go for a women's bag, but I was thinking about one of the women's thermarest pads. I just couldn't get over the pink color though :-)

It would be nice to see these go more neutral in color...

Lol...well you'd not have to worry about anyone stealing your gear <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Over the years I have sold a number of girly colored cozies to men....my theory is that a)they won't get lost or left behind b)their buddies won't take it.

lol......

LOL, too funny... Well I recieved the bag today and it fits pretty good. I tried all my different sleeping positions and it was pretty comfortable. The two extra inches in the men's version would have been nice but I really don't think it would have made much of a difference, mummy bags aren't really designed like a queen-sized bed.

Oh, the color is a pea soup/olive drab-ish color with black bottom so the fact that it's a "girly bag" is only between us, OK <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the input all,
happy Trails
Jim

No way man!!!! I'm telling EVERYBODY.

Too late! I think a couple hundred forum members already know! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />