Jenny Bruso is the founder of , an inclusive community highlighting the underrepresented outdoorsperson. Here, she鈥檒l share gear reviews for plus-size outdoor enthusiasts as well as her experiences battling stereotypes within the outdoor industry.
Being an out, proud, and loud-about-it fat hiker, I receive a lot of questions from other plus-size women and femmes (feminine-presenting people who don鈥檛 necessarily identify as women), and most of the time it鈥檚 about clothing. Where did you get your jacket? What would you wear snowshoeing? Does plus-size snow gear even exist?
Until recently, I dreaded these questions, because I didn鈥檛 know how to answer them. I鈥檇 never worn good, functional, attractive plus-size winter wear, because I didn鈥檛 see it in stores. The outdoor industry hasn鈥檛 done enough to meet the needs of plus-size women and femmes. Many brands only offer larger sizes online, and many only up to a size听3X or a 22鈥24. All of that听on top of the fact that technical gear is expensive and than our thinner peers.
As another winter approached, I couldn鈥檛 stand the idea of wearing the same ugly,听ill-fitting men鈥檚 winter clothing I鈥檇 been wearing for the last few years. It makes me feel unattractive and听less confident. No matter what size you are, you deserve gear that鈥檚 functional and aesthetically pleasing. Things that fit. And layers!
I tested new plus-size offerings from Columbia, REI, and Smartwool on a recent trip to the Grand Canyon and northern Arizona, where temperatures dipped down to ten听degrees. These options are now available in many stores, as opposed to only being available online, and sizing is more uniform (though note that not all of these items go above a size 3X).
How to Layer鈥擶ait, What Is Layering?
I didn鈥檛 even know what a base layer was until this year. Now I know that layering is about more than staying warm. Wearing the right materials helps regulate your comfort as your activity level听or the weather changes. When you get sweaty and stop for a break or a snack, you can get cold fast. Worse, you run the risk of hypothermia, especially in windy conditions. And just in case some know-it-all outdoorist hasn鈥檛 told you yet: no cotton! It clings when you sweat and doesn鈥檛 dry as quickly as wool or synthetic materials, leaving you shivering in听cold, soggy layers longer. Here are some more basic terminology and tips:
- Base layer: A听thin, lightweight, moisture-wicking layer between your skin and winter wear to keep you from steeping in your own sweat. Think听long-sleeved tops and legging-style pants that conform to听your body but aren鈥檛 too tight or restrictive.
- Midlayer: Clothing that听holds your body heat in. What听types of midlayer you choose, if any, are听a little more dependent on weather conditions: How cold is it? How long will you be out?听Think听flannels, fleeces, wool sweaters, light jackets, and puffy vests.
- Outer layer:听Designed to听keep听the water and wind out. Think听puffy coats and waterproof pants. The warmness level听of puffy coats varies听based on their fill. If it鈥檚 not pouring rain, I prefer a rain-resistant pant, which is lighter and more breathable. Snow pants are too warm for me, but they鈥檙e a good idea if you run cold or if you鈥檙e participating in听snow sports rather than hiking snowy trails.
- Shell:听A piece that shields you from rain, wind, and snow. A hooded waterproof jacket is essential. My jam? A puffy coat under a rainjacket, which are generally thin and only protect from wind and rain. Waterproof puffy coats also exist. Make sure your shell is big enough to fit over all your layers.
- Accessories: I听suggest wearing a knit cap long enough to cover your ears or a fleece-lined cold-weather headband. Waterproof gloves are a must. I prefer the kind that transition from mittens to fingerless gloves for dexterity. A Buff is great for face coverage, especially in the wind.
I rarely put on all of these things at the outset of a hike. Usually, I start out with my base layer, midlayer, rain-resistant pants or, if it鈥檚 raining or snowing, a shell and rainpants. When I get moving, I heat up fast. I put on my top-half outer layers as I need them. Don鈥檛 let yourself get soaked before putting them on!
Base Layers
Columbia Midweight Stretch Long Sleeve Shirt and Tight ($65 each)
This is true to size鈥攁nd stretchy! I was certain the Omni-Heat thermal-reflective lining would be some sort of outer-space-looking gimmick, but it really does create a shield of breathable warmth. I was amazed at how toasty听and comfortable I was walking for hours in 25-degree weather.
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Smartwool 250 Base Layers ($95 and up)
I wanted to love 听because they鈥檙e so good looking and the 250-gram merino wool is soft, breathable, and odor resistant. However, the bottoms bear all听the signs of the manufacturer sizing up from the original straight sizes鈥攁nd that just doesn鈥檛 cut it. They鈥檙e too short-waisted for my round, high butt, and the waistband is a little too firm, so it folds over every time I sit down. It鈥檚 not uncomfortable, but I don鈥檛 like messing with it constantly. I will keep the , though; they fit beautifully,听they look like they鈥檙e expensive,听and听they make me feel like a fancy B.
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Midlayers
Columbia Glacial Crew Shirt ($40)
The throwback, classic style of the Glacial Crew shirt makes it one of my favorite pieces. It鈥檚 cute enough to wear with street clothes, which is rare with function-first clothing, though I鈥檇 love to see it in funkier colors. While plus-size outdoor wear is clearly making leaps and bounds, the design and color options are still often far too muted. Believe it or not, we don鈥檛 all want to hide behind our clothes! Regardless, I love this great-fitting, light microfleece shirt, because it听keeps me perfectly warm without overheating.
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REI Co-op 650 Down Vest听($55 and up)
Until I tried the REI Co-op 650 Down vest, I didn鈥檛 understand puffy vests. (If you need the warmth of a puffy jacket, why would you wear one without sleeves?) Turns out, keeping your core warm radiates heat to the rest of your body without getting you overheated, and as a person who naturally runs hot, this is a game changer. Throwing this over a long-sleeved midlayer is about all the coverage I need while I鈥檓 hiking or snowshoeing, so I don鈥檛 feel bound up in jackets. In extreme cold, wear it with a long-sleeved midlayer under a puffy and shell for maximum warmth.
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Columbia OuterSpaced III Half Zip Fleece听($50)
Superstretchy, wool-like (but really synthetic), and created with cute design details in many different colors, the OuterSpaced III Half Zip fleece is true to size, lightweight, and breathable. It could also be worn as a base layer.听I鈥檒l take one of each, thank you!
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Outer Layers
Columbia Anytime Casual Pull On Pant听($55)
Hi, these are my favorite. I didn鈥檛 believe in anything other than leggings to hike in until I tried the . Rain repelling, lightweight, and breathable, it听also fits well over a base layer. Plus, it鈥檚听not ugly and overly techy looking, like I鈥檓 about to pull an entire chainsaw out of my pocket. I can鈥檛 say enough good things about it.
REI Co-Op 650 Down Jacket听($69 and up)
Like the vest, but with sleeves, this is rain repelling and light, great on its own or over layers. Its classic style and good fit are听suitable for most adventures.
Columbia Pike Lake Hooded Vest听($130)
More of that Omni-Tech witchcraft, but superquilted and thick, the Columbia Pike Lake Hooded vest鈥檚 synthetic fill means it dries fast听in wet weather听and doesn鈥檛 decompress, which keeps you warm. It鈥檚 too thick to be a midlayer, but it can be worn well over a lightweight down jacket. I love the hood and overall chicness of the design. This has become a go-to of mine.
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Shells听
REI Co-Op Rainier Rain Jacket听($45 and up)
I could just say REI听makes the best plus-size shells and stop here,听but let鈥檚 dig a little deeper. The 听is your classic听light-wind听waterproof jacket. It comes in many different colors, including bright ones! I love the hidden collar underneath the hood for extra protection.
REI Co-Op XeroDry GTX Pants and Jacket听($95 and up each)
The real heroes of the rainjacket game are the XeroDry GTX听 and听. They are full-on function, with rain- and snow-proof听cinchable wrists, ankles, hems, etc., for maximum protection. I feel so secure in these pieces (though not exactly attractive). The billowing, wide legs of the pants don鈥檛 do anything for my figure, but it means I can wear them over a lot of layers, and this is a good thing. I feel like I can do anything in the Xero Dry GTX set. Sometimes, and I say this begrudgingly, function is a tad more important than fashion, especially when it comes to snowy conditions.
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