Gear for the bigger bushwalker

[AlexB]

I've been researching where to find larger-sized gear, as I'm what's called "plus size" in most clothing retailers' parlance, and can't find *anything* to fit in your average outdoor store. The women's sizes max out about 2-3 sizes below my size, and the men's stuff flaps off the ends of my hands and feet because they assume that as you get wider you also get taller (not true!)

So I was wondering where people acquire gear for larger sizes?

I'm an incurable documenter (documentor?) so I can't help making lists of whatever I've learned so far. So here are a few places I've found, mostly by hunting around online and asking other larger sized outdoorsy people, but I must admit I haven't ordered from all of them yet.

For clothing, the following online retailers have outdoor gear or stuff that's outdoors-y up to quite large sizes (all measurements given are bust/chest measurements):

Columbia (http://columbia.com) -- primarily an outdoor retailer so they have just about anything you'd want eg. zip-off trousers, UV-rated shirts, rain gear, etc. Women's and men's sizing to 53" (chest/bust) but larger sizes often run small according to what the website says. I'm told Ray's Outdoor stock these but I have never seen any there in decent sizes. DStore seems to sell Columbia (including larger sizes) online in Australia: https://dstore.com.au/brands/columbia/

LL Bean (http://llbean.com) -- general clothing store tending outdoors/active; base layers, rain gear, etc etc. They have a plus size range (to 53") but much of their outdoors gear isn't available in this sizing. However they have some long underwear/baselayers (especially silk) and rain gear at present and they seem worth checking.

Lands End (http://landsend.com) -- general clothing store that carries a lot of fleece. Tends to be a little bit daggy but there are some gems to be found. Plus sizes to 54"/140cm (men's to 56"/142cm). Check the sales/clearance areas for some good deals. Return shipping available to an Australian address.

Eddie Bauer (http://eddiebauer.com) -- general-tending-outdoorsy clothing store, some fleece, activewear, and rain gear, a few performance fabrics etc. Women's plus sizes to 54", men's larger sizes to 56". Check the sales/clearance.

Terramar -- makes base layers and stuff, women's sizes to 51.5". Available via various online vendors, mostly US based. Might be hard to find someone who'll ship to Australia; I haven't tried.

REI.com -- their own line of clothing has women's plus size to 50", and they also stock some other brands eg. Columbia in a wide range of sizes; expensive shipping from the US ($40 on orders $50-$100).

White Sierra -- women's plus size to 53"; they won't ship to Australia direct but are available via some third-party vendors (eg. REI.com).

Woolovers (http://woolovers.com.au) -- specialises in merino and other natural fibre basics. Not specifically outdoors nor plus sized but you can find things like lightweight merino jumpers really cheaply and though the size chart may say 44" or something, if you're wearing them as a base layer they're pretty stretchy. (Note: their sizing varies from garment to garment so check the size chart for EACH thing you look at!) Lots of unisex/men's options too which of course have a longer length in body and sleeves (would work for some women but not others, and sadly not me). Ships from UK but return shipping to an Australian address is available.

And a local tip or two...

Target Australia have merino long johns (tops and bottoms) very cheaply, up to size 20 which they claim is to fit around bust 120cm/hips 125cm but of course they're stretchy and will go a bit bigger. They're usually available in black, charcoal, and one special colour each year (this year seems to be an eggplant/grey stripe) are $30 a piece but wait until Target have an underwear sale They're available online (search "wool thermal") or from stores; I used to start checking the stores around Easter each year but when I moved to Ballarat I found they were available year round there. Not sure if that's just Ballarat (brrrr!) or a standard thing these days.

The Cancer Council's online shop has UV-resistant/breathable summer shirts and other stuff up to about a women's size 22/118cm or men's 4XL/125cm.

Other thoughts:

I haven't been able to find a lightweight/packable rain coat that I like and fit into (let alone pants, sigh) so I'm going to try a poncho when I decide I'm over carrying my current bulky raincoat. Sea to Summit make what appears to be more or less the standard, in two models (standard nylon and sil-nylon, about $60 and $120 respectively), readily available all over the place.

Anyone got any other tips?

[Mickl]

If you have Anaconda stores in Vic you could try on Columbia gear and make sure it fits before purchase. Also if you are having trouble with rain pants have you considered a rain kilt or skirt? I think Zpacks and some other retailers make them but probably wouldn't be hard to make one yourself or have one made.

Costco sell outdoor gear and I've read that there jackets run a bit large in sizes so they may have some gear that fits ok....

Other than that I'm no help as I'm what most people consider a short a@#.

[Moondog55]

Junonia in the USA do some stuff

[AlexB]

Unfortunately Anaconda don't sell the larger size range of Columbia gear -- I checked! Costco isn't anywhere near me and I think I'm glad because they terrify me! (I used to go to one sometimes when I lived in Canada. It's a vortex that you can't escape without emptying your wallet, and then you have five million plastic cheese things and you're wondering what made you buy them.)

Honestly for rain pants, I'm planning to walk in wool and let it get wet, at least for the daywalks I'm doing at present. I find that my legs don't get *that* wet anyway!

I'm a short a@# too but also a wide one! It's an annoying size to be... if I were the same width but 6 feet tall, I'd actually have more luck buying clothes as more of the men's stuff (which is usually larger) would fit.

[AlexB]

Junonia in the USA do some stuff

Ooh, thank you! Looks like they mostly do activewear in wicking polyester fabrics, fleece, and cotton/spandex, up to a 6X (66", wow) including short/average/long pants lengths. They're more gym/running/yoga oriented than hiking so most of their stuff doesn't have pockets or sun protection or any of that, but it looks like a good option for what it is!

[Moondog55]

Get a surplus Dutch poncho from Aussie Disposals The S2S are for small people and teenagers
Looks like it's going to be DIY
Make a proofed nylon rain kilt

[AlexB]

Looks like the Dutch ponchos are shorter but wider:

S2S: 150x266cm
Dutch: 165x220cm

For someone who's short and wide, that sounds like a top tip! I was actually worried that the S2S would be so long it'd drag on the ground, though I figured I could shorten it if needed. Anyway, I'll check our local Aussie Disposals and see what I can find. Thanks!

[Moondog55]

No way the S2S ponchos are that long; they barely come down to my knees
Perhaps there are different sizes in different fabrics?

[Nuts]

Sierra Trading Post (.com) often have larger sizes, mostly US based brands but a big inventory & you can do a site-wide size search in clothing.

[madmacca]

Just on the shipping from the US thing.

Use a mail forwarder such as shipito.com

This can be even more attractive if you are ordering things from several suppliers, as they will amalgamate the shipment before sending it on.

[Cecile]

I'm what's called "plus size"

I'm Moondog's wife, and still a very big lady, even after weight loss surgery and 70kg loss. PM me any time if you want to have a chat about big girl clothes.

[jackattack]

Hi Cecile, may I PM you about hiking and weightloss surgery pls? I am soon to go under....

Jack

[Tortoise]

The women's sizes max out about 2-3 sizes below my size, and the men's stuff flaps off the ends of my hands and feet because they assume that as you get wider you also get taller (not true!)

Hey AlexB,
While I don't need plus sizes, I don't have that much in the way of arms and legs, so long sleeves and legs on clothes are often a problem. While I can do a hack job of shortening them, I have a friend who is a retired professional seamstress. We do a bit of bartering, and I get the perfect fit. don't spose you know anyone like that?

[AlexB]

I'm pretty decent at sewing, myself. But when you need to go bigger, not smaller, you can't just cut things down, so the complexity of making anything decent is kind of daunting. It basically looks like I'm in MYOG territory for everything except base layer . It's not that I can't do that, just that it's infuriating that I have to.

[jackattack]

Ok I am fat and short. Currently I am losing weight so struggling to find quality stuff at an affordable price as I wont be wearing the same stuff in a few months time. Most of lowes stuff is crap and only lasts a season but they have size at a disposable price. I shop mostly in store but have ordered online. https://lowes.com.au/Default.aspx

They have a winter sale on at the moment. I have a 5xl rain jacket which fits me for 19.95 but haven't had to wear it in the wet yet. I do love my polar fleece jacket. Its not the most stylish but it seems to be of a better quality polar fleece and drys quickly - super warm.https://lowes.com.au/productdetail.aspx?pid=23598


I also shop at http://www.kingsize.com.au

Stuff is more expensive than lowes but quality and a range of stuff including an activewear section.

Found this rain suit on sale at bigcamo.com - http://www.bigcamo.com/ONYX-Big-Tall-Bi ... ingear.php havent pulled the trigger on it yet. They also have all the big columbia stuff.

I am going to hunt down a poncho for my day walk pack.

Happy clothes hunting!

[Tortoise]

I'm pretty decent at sewing, myself. But when you need to go bigger, not smaller, you can't just cut things down, so the complexity of making anything decent is kind of daunting. It basically looks like I'm in MYOG territory for everything except base layer . It's not that I can't do that, just that it's infuriating that I have to.

Maybe I misunderstood what you said before:

can't find *anything* to fit in your average outdoor store. The women's sizes max out about 2-3 sizes below my size, and the men's stuff flaps off the ends of my hands and feet because they assume that as you get wider you also get taller (not true!)

I can usually only get things that fit around me that 'flap off the ends of my hands and feet'. So you would have access to a whole lot of men's clothing if you shorten the arms or legs, as I need to do with lots of clothes. I wasn't suggesting you enlarged women's clothing to fit. That would indeed be daunting! (Though I'm experimenting with making the legs longer on kids woollen socks...)

[AlexB]

Ah well, since my first post I've found that men's active/outdoor clothing generally doesn't even go up to my bust/hip size, as it turns out. So I could buy eg men's cotton shirts and cut the arms down if I were that desperate, but not, say, a wind proof shirt. So in fact I can't just cut stuff down after all, it turns out. Sorry for the confusion!

[Imprint]

Try 5.11 http://www.511tactical.com.au/

While its not specifically hiking / bushwalking gear. Its pretty much all I wear as I am short and round.

You can get the Stryke Pants with the 2-way flex-tac material that are light, strong and have greta freedom of movement, in short leg sizes like 30" so no need to have them taken up.

The shirts are similar as are the jackets. I love their gear as its reasonably priced (even cheaper if you can get it direct from the usa) and super tough wearing.

[just wandering 78]

www.kuhl.com clothing in the US. They do pants with waist and inseam measurements. Hence I ordered 40 inch waist and 30 inch inseam. Lots of range and options!

[AlexB]

Unfortunately 511 Tactical only do men's styles, which won't fit, and Kuhl's women's styles max out at 43" bust. (The discrepancy between hip and waist is what messes you up with men's pants; with tops it's the shoulders and sleeves.)

[Moondog55]

Message Cecile about DIY
We could happily sell you some really hi-tech fabric at a reasonable cost as I bought too much [ and we desperately need to destash]

[Eremophila]

Hi Alex,

My partner is XXXL in men's sizing and has had some trouble finding bushwalking gear. In his own words, "obviously fat b*st*rds don't go bushwalking". He's also 6'6" and sometimes finds things are made wider, shirts especially, but not longer.

For lightweight rain wear, check out Rainbird who have a good range - their Stowaway Overpant goes up to 3XL, jackets seem to vary by model.
Also the Husky/Huski range of rain jackets stocked by Harris Scarfe, not sure what sizes they go up to, but they are well priced and often reduced to half price (probably about now in fact).

I've been told by a couple of retailers that Columbia's XXL in men's sizing is more like a XXXL, but haven't had the opportunity to test this out as yet. Most well-meaninb folks tell me a largeish XXL will be fine, but they are never big enough for partner to be comfy. He does however have a fantastic Mont jacket (not lightweight) which is XXL and fits him beautifully.

Kathmandu used to have the odd item in XXXL but not any more.

Our local Ray's Outdoors occasionally has some larger size men's tops which are wide but not long enough for him. They were a cheaper brand but looked ok.

When we were living in Devonport, the Allgoods store there had some great gear in larger sizes, fleeces, waterproof pants, merino thermals. I think the fleeces were Gondwana brand.

George Taylor's Stores stock the Rainbird Stowaway range and also some large fleeces. There's a store in Colac which isn't awfully far from you. I've just had a quick look at their website but it only shows hunting-style clothing. They do have some good knick-knacks too, great for rummaging around.

Pity you weren't around when our local Disposals store closed down a while back! I picked up a few bargains for both of us there.

[Eremophila]

Had a quick look in Harris Scarfe yesterday, the Huski rain jackets in stock included size 20, don't know if that's their largest size or not.
They also had soft shell jackets. Both look like decent quality.

[BlueSkyGirl]

Had a quick look in Harris Scarfe yesterday, the Huski rain jackets in stock included size 20, don't know if that's their largest size or not.
They also had soft shell jackets. Both look like decent quality.

I bought a size 22 in this jacket about a month ago and have been wearing it here in Canberra for the last half of winter and it's been great. Lightweight, seam sealed, packable (packs into the inside pocket) and not at all expensive.

I wish they'd had rainpants to go with them!

I would love a pair of hiking trousers but haven't found a pair I liked that fit. I normally wear merino leggings (I have a number of pairs but the ones I like best were from Costco), which are lightweight and comfortable but not great with the odd bit of tenacious foliage or particularly persistent insects. I normally just get wet and then dry off. As long as my top half is dry, and my boots, I am pretty much okay.

[MarizXW]

how about a tough backpack for placing your bushwalking gears? I find 3V Gear pretty cool tbh, have used it since few years ago for putting my bushwalking gears in. This is the one im talking about: http://3vgear.com/index.php/packs-and-b ... -pack.html

some online positive reviews (just food for thoughts): http://letstalksurvival.com/3v-gear-outlaw-sling-pack/
http://renfels.com/3v-gear-outlaw-sling-pack-reviewed/

[Gadgetgeek]

I don't think its just a bigger bushwalker problem. Most of the women I work with can find clothes that fit, but the women's stuff is always "fashioned" to death, and makes no sense. Like shirts with pockets too small for any reasonable use and really poor placement. Eventually they get stuff modified for comfort, even the ones who one would think were of a size that clothes were designed for.
I would look at some of the workwear store type stuff, king gee and the like. might be able to find stuff big enough that can then be tailored. All the exofficcio stuff I have seems to run big, so that might be worth looking into. But that's mens stuff, so I don't know if the women's stuff is the same way.

[north-north-west]

I don't think its just a bigger bushwalker problem. Most of the women I work with can find clothes that fit, but the women's stuff is always "fashioned" to death, and makes no sense.

A particular bugbear of mine. The only company I have found that still makes high-waisted walking pants for women is Mont. The also have a reasonable amount of room in them seat and thighs. They're a little heavier than I like, but that does have the advantage of making them more durable.

I think it's a conspiracy. The blokes don't really want us out there walking.

[jackattack]

For men I noticed the Rivers Big Fit Fishing Shirts looked quite good. I am usually a 2xl-3xl but the Xl fit me great so a 3xl may do somebody up as big as 4xl-5xl. I like the fact the sleeves role back and secured with a piece of fabric and a button. As usual the sleeves are too long but I wanted a long sleeve shirt for sun protection. The back is vented, they are light weight and quick drying. The green ones are cotton polyester, the light blue ones are nylon polyester. http://www.rivers.com.au/catalogdb/item ... 35&G=1mens

I did get a pair of hiking shorts as well. I did look at the pants but I didnt like the cut and its a month or 2 till necessary so will wait and try again as I am still dropping weight.

The rivers performance stuff while not super technical has some cheaper options for the chunky hiker up to 3xlish...

http://www.rivers.com.au/catalogdb/prod ... tegory=335

[Moondog55]

Not just the females who walk
The current crop of pants for men has the "Waistline" right on the edge of my rucksacks hipbelt
A really big PITA
Hi-Vis workshirts in polyester mesh are actually pretty good walking wear; winter or summer
Cecile is looking at a roll of discounted basketball mesh at the moment for just this sort of stuff
Congratulations jackattack on the weight loss, I know it isn't easy; especially if you like pastas as Cecile does

[ghostwren]

Target merino thermal underwear I bought a few years back had big lumpy seams which chaffed at my inner thighs viciously, so not good for walking for me! Have they improved?