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OUTDOORS COLUMN

Finally, It's Gear Just For Women

By FRANK SARGEANT

Published: Jun 29, 2007

About 20 years ago, a company came out with a series of pink fishing rods, which it thought would bring women flocking to the sport of angling. It didn't work, but it did betray the mentality at the time of the mostly male-dominated industry of designing and making outdoors gear.

Much has changed since then. There are a lot of serious female outdoors fans these days, and they spend tens of millions of dollars on gear. Most are not hunters or anglers, the traditional outdoor sports. But for spending time in the woods or on the water, the women of today represent a new generation, and it is one of which equipment manufacturers are taking note.

Hiking is a favorite with many outdoors-oriented women, but until recently the boots available for off-road walking were basically identical to those made for men, except in smaller sizes.

Now, manufacturers such as LOWA are building specially shaped and tuned footwear that company chief Peter Sachs says makes a huge difference in comfort, and consequently in the distance women can travel and the amount of time they are willing to spend in demanding terrain.

"Our women's boots are narrower in the last or bottom shape, higher in the arch and higher and slimmer in the heel than men's models," Sachs says. "They're not necessarily lighter, however; a good backcountry boot weighs between 3 and 5 pounds. We have found that lighter boots don't have the durability and the support you need in rough country."

Sachs also notes that waterproofing boots without making them capture sweat is as important to women as men.

"We use Gore-Tex liners, which most quality boots do these days, but we've also found that minimizing seams and gussets and using the right kind of leather makes a big difference in the long run," he said.

Sachs said the fit of a boot should be snug from the arch to the heel, but allow plenty of wiggle room for the toes up front.

"Your toes should be able to just touch the front of the boot, but not be forced into it on a steep downhill," he said.

Not surprisingly, boots that do all these things can be expensive - LOWA models range from $175 to $225, but they reportedly last through many seasons of hard walking; www.lowaboots.com.

Sunglasses are pretty much a universally worn outdoors item in Florida, but here again many of the polarized models, by far the best for boating, fishing and beach wear because they cut water glare, are only available in what might be considered men's models.

According to Chris Nelson, sales manager of Ono's brand sunglasses, most women prefer smaller lenses and narrower frames. The smaller lenses are lighter and don't overpower the face, he said, while the narrower frames better fit most women's heads.

Nelson said the company's Oak Harbor line, which sells for around $90, is a favorite of females.

And a plus for ladies who are 40-something or older: the glasses are available at the same price with a reading bifocal ground into the lower part of the lens. If you need a little help to tie on a fly or lace up a bathing suit, the extra magnification can help; www.onostradingcompany.com.

For those who spend nights outdoors, something like the Neklight may be of use. The 2.5-ounce LED light hangs on a nylon necklace, leaving the hands free. The company says the light operates 150 hours on three AAA batteries. It's water-resistant and can also be mounted on a belt or headband. There's also a version for pets, designed to help keep tabs on your dog outdoors after sundown. Price for either is around $20; www.neklight.com.

You don't have to be a woman to get seasick, but if you do you might try the Quease-Ease inhaler. The device looks somewhat like the inhalers used to ease nasal congestion, but it contains some rather pungent oils, which are said to get rid of mal de mer in many people. (Note: the Quease-Ease does not contain any actual seasickness medicine like scopolamine or Bonine, so success may vary.) The Web site, www.soothing-scents, gives details.

This is just a sampling of the thousands of products now made to make the outdoors easier or more enjoyable for women. One good source of information is www.backpacker.com, which has a forum that keys on women's gear. It's not alone - do a Yahoo search on women's outdoors gear and you'll get back some 3 million sites. Clearly, the business has come a long way since pink fishing rods.