My boyfriend recently offered to buy me one, and I'm not sure if I should take him up on it. I've heard so many guys say that it made them feel more comfortable/confident/right, that it makes me genuinely curious. Plus, it'd alleviate my phobia of having a weird looking crotch. On the other hand, I'd be worried that if I wasn't passing (which happens, it seems, completely at random) it would cause issues.

Also, as the title indicates, I don't know if I'd just feel...goofy. Like I was lying to myself or something, I don't know. Its weird. Input?

How would it feel like lying to yourself?  I'm one of the ones that it helped to feel whole, so I don't have much of use to say, sorry.

I put off ordering one because it seemed like an odd concept.  However, it hasn't left my pants for long since it arrived.  It feels like a normal part of me, and I find it really comforting.  It's probably worth a shot.  After all, if it doesn't feel right, you can always go back to not wearing one.

I wouldn't call it goofy more as giddy. I was excited as hell to get my first binder, my first packer was a blast, it feels wrong not to wear one, now. It might help if you get glue for it rather than a harness?

I suggest you try it out. If it doesn't work out for you, that's fine. You can return it or sell/give it to someone here or something. But there's always the chance it'll work out smashingly for you, so maybe you should take that chance. 

I didn't even think about giving it to someone else X_X I'm a moron who sometimes forgets about the awesome regifting possibilities of the internet.

I think then, if he's still got the funds, I might take him up on it.

@Kreuzfidel, I feared that since I'm so rabidly cynical sometimes, I'd feel more like I was rubbing it in my face that it'd never be biologically mine or something stupid like that. I'm incredibly insecure sometimes and feel like everything about me is fake...its weird. I can't really explain it well, at least not right now, but I hope nobody was offended by the question.

I feel goofy about it too. If i was going to buy a packer I would save up for the realmajick one. It actually looks like a dick instead of just a kinda phallic rubber thing. It's very realistic. I just can't see any of the other ones working for me.

I felt odd wearing mine the first time, like it was massive and everyone would surely notice, so I put it away and didn't wear it again for a couple of months. But once I got onto T and started feeling a little better about myself, and passing more, I decided to give it another try. For the first few days it felt strange, and I was really aware of it all of the time, but it did make me feel so much better about myself. Now I wear it every day, and I couldn't imagine going out without it.

While it can be a little saddening to take off your pants and remove your dick with them, I find that over all it makes me dysphoria a lot better to have it there.

Quote from: N.Chaos on November 25, 2011, 01:16:24 AM
I didn't even think about giving it to someone else X_X I'm a moron who sometimes forgets about the awesome regifting possibilities of the internet.

I think then, if he's still got the funds, I might take him up on it.

@Kreuzfidel, I feared that since I'm so rabidly cynical sometimes, I'd feel more like I was rubbing it in my face that it'd never be biologically mine or something stupid like that. I'm incredibly insecure sometimes and feel like everything about me is fake...its weird. I can't really explain it well, at least not right now, but I hope nobody was offended by the question.

No worries, mate.  I feel like that sometimes, too.

Packing is great, but I'm always too scared to do it in case I get it wrong and it looks ridiculous! Plus I've been wandering around without one for such a long time I worry that people would notice if I suddenly sprouted a crotch 

I'd say go for it. Like others have said if you don't like it, it's no big deal! Packers are pretty cheap so no money wasted, plus like you say there are a lot of re-gifting possibilities :]

its kind of odd and uncomfortable at first you wonder if anyone can tell or if you look like you have a boner but you just need to learn to be confident and if you worry about passing or whatever you end up drawing more attention to yourself. packing taught me to man up and not give a ->-bleeped-<- what people think, its been good.

Thanks for all the input and responses guys, seriously. I'll definitely try and get one soon, one of the small ones. If B doesn't have the money I could always talk to my mom about it (plus, we could get some serious laughs out of that conversation).

And if it doesn't work for me, I'll give it to someone else on here that could actually use it.

Reelmagik requires an adhesive, though. That kinda leaves me cold.

I started wearing a packer when I started being read as male (not consistently) and when I started going to a men's group. At first, I thought I'd wear it only to the group. Then I thought I might run into some of the men at the Center when I was there for other things, so I started wearing the packer whenever I went to the Center. Within a month or two, I couldn't live without a packer, period.

It increases some guys' dysphoria, but it helps me with mine.

I've got an STP packer and I did feel awkward using it at first and I don't always wear it still but I do notice the way I walk with it is different and it does make me feel more confident and some how takes my mind of my chest. Makes me feel better when I'm using the guys toilets in public. So they are good to help with confidence but take some getting used to.

Get one of those cheapy $12 ones to try out.

Since I'm lacking balls I bought one and on occasion, wear it out. I get read as female the majority of the time by people so it doesn't seem to have any effect at all if I have a bigger bulge than normal - and I'm walking around in tight, skinny jeans no less lol. So who knows whether people are really looking or what.

Packing makes me feel more comfortable and relieves dysphoria.  It feels natural, not awkward at all. I don't ever take it off except to clean it, for if I do I feel the lack of it in the form of intense dysphoria.

However the reason I got it was because of my desire to have one. If you're having doubts like this maybe it's not for you.... but it still can't hurt to try. They are cheap.

Quote from: Silas on November 25, 2011, 01:01:08 AM
I suggest you try it out. If it doesn't work out for you, that's fine. You can return it or sell/give it to someone here or something. But there's always the chance it'll work out smashingly for you, so maybe you should take that chance. 

Minus the returning it.

Packing makes me feel like an idiot because I don't have that much bottom dysphoria. I get paranoid and think that the bulge will probably look weird. Then the logic kicks in and points out that if I'm not getting anything out of the deal, but could potentially be losing something, then it's not a good deal.

That's how I am now. Maybe once I'm further along in my transition, I'll feel differently.

You can get a packer for $9.60 from http://www.early2bed.com/ You can only use the coupon code STW on today(black Friday). It's regularly $12. Priority shipping is free this weekend.
I decided to get one to see how I like it since it's so cheap. I wish I could justify buying a ReelMagik right now, but I could really use that money for a laptop or rent. I still feel awkward about it and really hope my grandma doesn't accidentally open the package.

Personally I don't plan on wearing a packer because I feel like it will be physically uncomfortable for me, and that would just make me even more self conscious. But as they say, to each his own.

Can't say i felt awkward so much as very aware of it. i guess i don't really care much what other people think, i'm pre-op pre-t and my face is pretty femme. i'm not sure how often i really pass but i do get confused looks every now and again.

Quote from: Sharky on November 25, 2011, 10:48:04 PM
You can get a packer for $9.60 from http://www.early2bed.com/ You can only use the coupon code STW on today(black Friday). It's regularly $12. Priority shipping is free this weekend.
I decided to get one to see how I like it since it's so cheap. I wish I could justify buying a ReelMagik right now, but I could really use that money for a laptop or rent. I still feel awkward about it and really hope my grandma doesn't accidentally open the package.

Well, damn. Sucks that I missed black Friday, but 12$ is still a great price. I'll be snatching that up relatively soon then.
Eesh, that would be incredibly awkward. If she didn't get mad, it'd be a hell of a thing to laugh about later, though.