Alright gear companies and field crews of the world, the women of fisheries have an ask for you: can you get us some gear that fits us???

This conversation has come up MANY times in our Women of Fisheries discussions: it can be a huge challenge for women to find field gear in our sizing. Most gear is tailored to men, and when sizing for women does exist, it’s often limited and doesn’t account for the range of shapes and sizes that define us.  And don’t get us started on field gear that’s appropriate for when pregnant or nursing…

Wearing ill-fitting gear is not only a huge pain, it can also be dangerous. Imagine how tricky it is to navigate a stream when you are swimming in your waders, or to handle equipment when your fingers are slipping around inside gloves too big. In addition, when only men’s sizes are available, it’s yet another reminder to us that we aren’t expected to be there.

And so, every few months we discuss where to go to get gear that’s made for us, and we scour the web on the quest for the best fit for our forms. It shouldn’t be so hard! Gear should be available for all the sizes and shapes of women, so that we can get back to our work without having to go on these clothing quests.

Oh, and we have one more ask. Don’t get us wrong, many of us love pink. It’s a neat color. But please stop making ALL our options pink! We’d like some of the other colors, too, please.