Packing for Beginners: A Simple Guide to Using Your First Packer
Share
Starting to pack can feel like it should be fairly straightforward. You get a packer, put it in your underwear and carry on with your day. In reality, there can be a bit of trial and error involved before you find a setup that feels right.
Your first packer might sit differently from how you expected. You might spend far too long looking in the mirror trying to decide whether your bulge looks natural, or find that everything looks fine until you sit down and your packer moves.
These are all normal parts of getting used to packing.
This guide covers the basics of packing for beginners, from choosing your first packer and positioning it to finding underwear that keeps it secure.
What is packing?
Packing usually refers to wearing something in your underwear to create the appearance or feeling of having a bulge.
It's common among trans men, transmasculine people and some AFAB non-binary people, although packing isn't limited to any particular identity.
People also pack for different reasons. For some, seeing a bulge through their clothes can help with dysphoria or create gender euphoria. For others, it's more about the physical feeling of having something there.
Some people pack every day and others only do it occasionally. There isn't a right amount of time to pack and it isn't something you need to do to be trans or masculine.
Choosing your first packer
There are a lot of packers available now, ranging from simple soft packers to realistic silicone prosthetics and STPs.
For everyday packing, comfort is worth putting fairly high on your list.
It's easy to get caught up in how realistic a packer looks when you're holding it, but most of the time it's going to be underneath your underwear and clothes. What tends to matter more in everyday life is whether you like the shape it creates and whether you can comfortably wear it for several hours.
Size is another thing beginners sometimes overthink.
A large packer isn't automatically going to create a more natural bulge. Depending on your clothes and where you position it, something smaller or softer can actually give you the look you're trying to achieve more easily.
We've covered packer sizing in more detail in What Size Packer Should I Get? A Guide to Choosing the Right Packer Size.
If you're looking for something lightweight for everyday packing, the Casual Reign Soft-Form Packer is designed to create a soft bulge without the weight of a traditional silicone prosthetic.
How to position a packer
There's no exact position that everybody has to use.
A good starting point is to place your packer where it sits comfortably between your legs, with the shaft positioned naturally rather than sitting very high at the front of your underwear.
Once it's in place, put your trousers on and have a look at the overall shape.
Try not to judge it from a few inches away. Step back from the mirror and look at your whole outfit instead. The bulge you're concentrating on can seem much more noticeable when you're specifically looking for it.
It's also worth sitting down and walking around for a few minutes. Your packer may look great while you're standing but move slightly once you start going about your day.
Small adjustments are completely normal when you're finding the position you prefer.
For more help with the appearance of your pack, read How to Make Packing Look More Natural.
Keeping your packer in place
One of the most annoying things when you first start packing is getting everything positioned nicely and then feeling it move ten minutes later.
This is often more about your underwear than the packer itself.
Putting a packer loose inside ordinary boxer shorts gives it plenty of space to shift around as you walk, sit and move.
Some people use harnesses or packing pouches to secure their packer. Another option is underwear with a packing pocket built into it.
Casual Reign Packing Boxers have an internal pocket designed to keep a packer securely in place, with a button fastening to keep it contained inside the pocket.
They look and feel like everyday boxers, so you don't need to add a separate harness to your usual underwear.
We've also got a full guide on How to Stop Your Packer Moving Around: 8 Simple Fixes if shifting is something you're struggling with.
Getting used to the feeling of packing
Your first day wearing a packer can feel surprisingly noticeable.
Even if nobody else would pay any attention to your bulge, you'll probably be much more aware of it because the sensation is new.
Give yourself some time to get used to it.
You don't have to put your first packer on and immediately wear it for a full day at work. Wearing it around the house for a while can help you get used to how it feels when you're walking, sitting and relaxing.
It also gives you a chance to experiment without spending the whole day wondering whether your packer has moved.
Once you've found a comfortable setup, packing often becomes much less of a conscious thing.
Packing comfortably all day
If you decide you want to pack regularly, comfort becomes especially important.
Your packer shouldn't cause pain, excessive rubbing or feel so restrictive that you're desperate to take it off after a couple of hours.
A lightweight packer and supportive underwear can help, but your clothes make a difference too.
The same packer can feel completely different underneath loose joggers compared with tighter jeans or smarter trousers.
We've written a separate guide to How to Pack in Jeans, Joggers and Tighter Trousers Without Looking Unnatural, which goes into this in more detail.
Our guide to How to Pack Comfortably All Day Without Constant Adjusting also covers making your everyday packing setup more comfortable.
Making your pack look natural
A lot of beginners worry about whether their pack looks realistic.
One of the most useful things to remember is that bodies don't all look the same through clothes. There isn't a specific bulge size or shape that you need to recreate.
The type of trousers you're wearing will also affect what you see. Thick denim can disguise the shape of a packer, while thin joggers tend to show more of what's underneath.
If your pack looks much larger than you wanted, try changing its position before deciding you need to buy something else. Moving it slightly lower can make a noticeable difference.
You can also experiment with different underwear and trousers until you find combinations you like.
Packing is supposed to help you feel more comfortable in yourself, not leave you analysing your crotch every time you walk past a mirror.
Packing at work or when you're out
Once you're comfortable packing at home, wearing your packer outside can feel like quite a big step.
A secure setup makes this much easier.
If your packer is held properly inside your underwear, you're less likely to spend the day worrying about it moving or falling out.
Before wearing a new setup somewhere you'll be for several hours, try it at home first. Wear the same underwear and trousers you're planning to use and spend some time sitting and walking around.
You'll usually notice fairly quickly if something needs adjusting.
Looking after your packer
How you clean your packer depends on what it's made from, so always follow the care instructions that came with it.
This is particularly important with silicone and other prosthetic materials, as some products can be damaged by certain cleaners or storage methods.
Fabric packers will have their own care instructions too.
Keeping your packer clean and allowing it to dry properly between uses is an important part of packing regularly.
Your first packing setup doesn't have to be perfect
It can take a while to work out exactly how you like to pack.
You might change the position after a few days, try different underwear or eventually decide you'd prefer another size or style of packer.
That's fine.
There's no test to pass and no correct way your bulge is supposed to look.
If you're still figuring things out, Things I Wish I Knew Before Packing is worth reading next. It covers some of the little things that aren't always obvious when you're starting out.
Finding an everyday packing setup
A good everyday packing setup is simply one that works for you.
It should feel comfortable, stay reasonably secure and create the appearance or feeling that you want from packing.
At Casual Reign, we make packing products with everyday wear in mind. Our Soft-Form Packers offer a lightweight option for creating a bulge, while our Packing Boxers have an internal pocket designed to securely hold your packer in place.
Once you've found the setup you like, packing can become another normal part of getting dressed rather than something you have to think about all day.