Height rant

[Nathan90]

Just want to write this down because it actually really bothers me..

I'm a small guy, 163 cm (which is 5'4"..?) and usually I'm okay with that. I do get insecure from time to time when I'm really aware of it but most of the time. That's just what it is, and it's okay because I'm used to be seen as small.

But today boyfriend and I were out buying new backpacks for this Summer, we're going on a two week hike in Scotland and we will be taking everything we need. (tent/sleeping bags/stove/purifier etc) My old bag has 60 liters of room inside. I was planning on getting a 70L this time, so my tent could go in the bag and such.

Sadly, not only didn't they have a good 70L for me there, the guy who was helping us also told me that womens models don't go higher than 65L. So if it wasn't bad enough that I'm actually stuck to womens models because of my size, I won't be able to get a bag that's bigger than 65L. Meaning also, that unless I go lightweight and minimal I can't go soloing in the future either.

In the end I had to choose from three models and the one I chose is 60L and the colour is a bit.. It's not too bad, but if I look at it too long I do feel like I have to eat my pride as a man.

The good thing about today..?
The guy helping us saw me as a guy, really telling me that with my height I would probably be stuck to women's models.

But yea.. being small sucks..

[aleon515]

You are in the Netherlands?
I just wondered because I think REI has some 70L bags.


--Jay Jay

[smittyFTM]

Ah I feel ya there, man. I'm 5'2 maybe 5'3 lol and I have a North Face pack made for women evidently...it's a brick color, not too bad but I'm a tad self conscience about it--even though I"m probably the only person who knows it's a "woman's" pack
'

[aleon515]

Ah I feel ya there, man. I'm 5'2 maybe 5'3 lol and I have a North Face pack made for women evidently...it's a brick color, not too bad but I'm a tad self conscience about it--even though I"m probably the only person who knows it's a "woman's" pack
'

Some of the colors are the same. They definitely have men's in brick color. I don't think anyone would know unless they wanted to measure it in the hips or the back length.

--Jay Jay

[Justin 21]

well now i really feel short I'm only 153 cm (5 feet on the dot)

[Stewie]

Just want to write this down because it actually really bothers me..

I'm a small guy, 163 cm (which is 5'4"..?) and usually I'm okay with that. I do get insecure from time to time when I'm really aware of it but most of the time. That's just what it is, and it's okay because I'm used to be seen as small.

But today boyfriend and I were out buying new backpacks for this Summer, we're going on a two week hike in Scotland and we will be taking everything we need. (tent/sleeping bags/stove/purifier etc) My old bag has 60 liters of room inside. I was planning on getting a 70L this time, so my tent could go in the bag and such.

Sadly, not only didn't they have a good 70L for me there, the guy who was helping us also told me that womens models don't go higher than 65L. So if it wasn't bad enough that I'm actually stuck to womens models because of my size, I won't be able to get a bag that's bigger than 65L. Meaning also, that unless I go lightweight and minimal I can't go soloing in the future either.

In the end I had to choose from three models and the one I chose is 60L and the colour is a bit.. It's not too bad, but if I look at it too long I do feel like I have to eat my pride as a man.

The good thing about today..?
The guy helping us saw me as a guy, really telling me that with my height I would probably be stuck to women's models.

But yea.. being small sucks..

I don't know how much this helps BUT I found this...
http://www.amazon.com/Asolo-Womens-Navigator-70-Liter-Backpack/dp/B003VXM9Z2
This just means that women's backpacks do come in that size. So you just gotta shop around! I really hope you find what you're looking for.

[Nathan90]

Yesterday I was typing away very happily when the laptop gave out.

So here's a second attempt, a little less happy and a bit more to the point.

In short, yes I live in the Netherlands so online shops from another country aren't an option because I need to try the packs on first. One of the 60L packs I tried has a bigger sister (women's model) in 70L but that one was so uncomfortable it would be no use.

The shops I've been to don't have bigger packs or maybe one. Problem is one needs to compare how they feel and carry. It's good to see some links to see that they are being made. Now it'll mostly be a question of how to find multiple in the same place.

Let's see.. the pack is this 'lovely' colour.. 'Rosewood red' it says on the card.
In some light one might think 'that's not so bad' and then one turns his head and think 'ah no.. =/'.



Luckily I can use my old raincover.. which is plain silverish.

[aleon515]

Leave it out in the sun. Red is known to fade. Though I don't think it is so bad, you are understandably more self-conscious about it, but I wouldn't think twice seeing a guy with this.

--Jay Jay

[BMXJake]

I'm 5' 1"- I think I've gotten a little bigger on T- but I have this issue with snowboarding.

My feet are only a mens 5 or 6, and being 5' 1" unless I want to use a women's board (never have, probably never will) I have to use a youth board and sometimes boots and binding. Luckily because there are some crazy ass kids out there  the technology is getting better for youth boards- so I'm not limited to a something with the tech of a popsicle stick- but I can relate to you here. It sucks seeing this awesome ->-bleeped-<-/boards/boots/etc in magazines or buyer's guides that you can't use just because of your height. But you just gotta roll with it and find a compromise (like my youth boards haha).