Overcoming Barriers to the Outdoors: The Plus Size Experience

Why Inclusive Gear and Representation Matters for Plus Size Adventurers

For a long time, being plus sized and loving the outdoors has felt like trying to join a club where the clothing doesn’t fit and the photos don’t include you. From the lack of jackets and trousers in larger sizes to the absence of representation in outdoor media, the barriers faced by plus size walkers, campers, and hill lovers are both practical and psychological.

As someone who’s navigated these challenges firsthand, and who’s now built a business around solving them, I want to share what’s changing, what still needs to, and why it matters that everyone, no matter their body size, feels like they belong in the outdoors.

The BIG Barriers to Getting Outdoors

When we talk about “plus size,” we’re not talking about how someone looks, we’re talking about actual clothing sizes. In women’s clothing, plus size starts around a UK 16; in men’s, around a 2XL. Until very recently, most outdoor clothing brands simply stopped there. Only in the past five years or so have we started to see some change, and even now, the options above a women’s UK 24 or men’s 3XL are extremely limited.

That might sound trivial until you remember that, in the UK, it rains a lot. Without a good waterproof jacket, walking trousers, or base layers that actually fit and perform, walking quickly goes from joyful to miserable. And if you don’t have the right clothing, you’re less likely to go out at all, which means you’re missing out on the many mental and physical health benefits that walking and time in nature bring.

Of course, not everyone needs a technical or high quality gear. When you’re just starting out, you can make do with ordinary leggings or jeans, and a basic jacket if the weather’s kind. But once you want to get into longer walks, hill days, or mountain hikes, you need kit that performs. You need to stay warm, dry, and safe when the weather turns. And if that kit simply doesn’t exist in your size, that’s not a personal failing, it’s a design failure and a complete barrier to access.

And before you think that plus sized folks are the minority, I can tell you with certainty they’re not. New data from Mys Tyler Insights of over 24,000 UK women 18 years or over, shows the average woman in the UK wears between  a size 16 and 18. Most outdoor brands stop at this size, so you can see the problem we face!

The Emotional Barriers for Plus Size People Getting Outdoors

The challenges to getting outdoors with a bigger body aren’t just about clothing. It’s also about belonging. When you rarely see people with bigger bodies represented in outdoor magazines, brand campaigns, or social media, it’s easy to feel like you don’t fit the image of an “outdoorsy person.”

Even brands that do offer extended sizes often show them on slim models, which sends a mixed message. That lack of representation chips away at your confidence before you’ve even laced your boots or plotted your route.

And then there’s how other people respond. Many plus size walkers have shared stories of receiving “backhanded compliments” that miss the mark, such as comments about burning calories or being “brave” for hiking. These may be well meant, but they reinforce the stereotype that plus size people are only engaging in these activities to lose weight or that we’re all beginners. The truth is, we’re out here because we love it, because we belong in nature just as much as anyone else. And many of us are highly experienced.

There are also the practical frustrations of poor path infrastructure. Kissing gates that are too narrow, stone gaps that barely fit a shoe through, let alone a chunky thigh, and old, wobbly stiles that literally shut people out. The new OS Maps app feature that lets users report path issues is a brilliant step forward, it helps highlight barriers and gives all walkers more information before setting off. I’d encourage everyone to use it.

Meeting A Community Need

My own journey started much like many others. I’d always been outdoorsy, but when I began walking more seriously in my early thirties, I struggled to find clothing that fit. I was a UK size 16, and even then, women’s walking trousers were too small or didn’t fit my shape, and waterproof jackets were often cut too tight in the hips. Stretch fabrics were rare, or expensive, and anything technical in larger sizes was non-existent. I ended up walking in ill-fitting men’s jackets, and cycling tights or gym leggings, which were fine until the wind picked up! I spent a lot of winters feeling cold.

Fast-forward to 2021. I had co-founded non-profit community organisation Every Body Outdoors with four other plus size women and I had a side-hustle – a small online shop, Vampire Outdoors, selling outdoor accessories. We discovered that some US brands were quietly producing outstanding plus size ranges, designed properly, not just scaled up. Outdoor Research has launched a range of technical outdoor clothing up to a women’s UK 30 equivalent, and Gregory Packs had launched a new range of backpacks engineered specifically for plus size hikers, with redesigned frames, harnesses and hip belts.

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These weren’t token gestures; they were high-quality, technical products tested by plus size adventurers. Yet, during a call with their UK sales agent it became apparent that UK retailers weren’t stocking them. So I took a leap. I ordered a very small quantity to test the market, and the response was overwhelming. The excitement, relief, and gratitude from my community told me everything I needed to know.

That’s how Vampire Outdoors became the UK’s first dedicated plus size outdoor clothing and equipment shop, and I now source sustainably-made, high-quality, technical men’s and women’s outdoor clothing in plus sizes, from around the world.

Nic Woods, hiker and kayaker says:

“Finding suitable gear and clothing has always been a challenge. It can be as simple as not wanting to go out for a walk in the winter or wetter months because you’ve no coat or trousers that fit you. I’ve suffered though being cold and wet, to be outside but not being comfortable. I would cancel plans because I didn’t have the right clothes.

Thanks to Rebecca and Vampire Outdoors, I have been able to spend the last two and half years buying really good kit that has extended my outdoors time. I now feel comfortable hiking in cold or hot places, I have thermals that fit me for kayaking, I have coats I can wear on site to work and not feel conspicuous. Rebecca is so good at customer service to talk through concerns and find you the right kit. Her sizing knowledge is very helpful and honest.”

What Makes Good Plus Size Gear?

The brands getting it right, or going in the right direction at least, include Amble, Gregory Packs, Helly Hansen, Keela, Maier Sports, Regatta, The North Face, Osprey, Outdoor Research, Paramo, and Rab. They’re proving that it’s entirely possible to make outdoor gear for every body shape, and are making products up to a minimum size UK 22 in women’s. Some of them make some products up to a women’s UK 30, and a few of them make larger men’s gear too.

And while Vampire Outdoors doesn’t stock all of these brands, I have selected the ones with the most inclusive sizing, good quality materials, which are true to size and fit a variety of body shapes.

When it comes to jackets, look for breathable, waterproof fabrics with venting zips, and cuts that suit your shape, whether you’re top heavy, bottom heavy, or somewhere in between. Some women’s jackets are more ‘straight’ cut, which will suit those with similar sized chest and hips, while other jackets are more ‘A-line’ in shape, and work better for those with larger hips than chests.

For trousers, stretch fabric is key, along with quick-drying materials and flexible waistbands that move with you. Deep pockets and good durability in the inner thighs are also must-haves for comfort and longevity. For both men and women, you may prefer a higher waist is you have a bigger belly, so look for trousers that state they have a higher waist, or higher rise.

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And don’t forget base and mid-layers, they keep you warm and wick moisture, helping you stay comfortable on longer days outdoors, or in changeable weather. There are now quite a few options including synthetic and natural materials like Merino wool, and a merino/synthetic mix which offers the benefits of temperature regulation, effective sweat wicking and garment durability.

If you’re having trouble finding clothing brands that make items in your size, or you don’t know where to start,  there is a handy guide that Every Body Outdoors put together for women’s plus size hiking clothing and women’s plus size cycling clothing (things do change, but it’s a good place to start!)

A quick note about other outdoor equipment too – for anyone who likes to camp (at a campsite or wild camping) sleeping bags have been a perennial struggle if you’re larger bodied. So it’s great to see a range of wide sleeping bags and camping mats for plus size campers available from brands like Big Agnes, Kelty, Rab, Sierra Designs, and Therm-A-Rest, many of which I stock at Vampire Outdoors.

Why Representation Outdoors Matters

Every week, I hear from people who tell me that discovering Vampire Outdoors has changed their lives. Some had stopped walking altogether, thinking they’d have to lose weight before returning to the hills. Others had spent years squeezing into ill-fitting kit or getting soaked because nothing worked. Finding something that fits, performs, and looks good can be transformational.

Chris Gill, cyclist and walker says:

“Over the years I’ve had several cheap waterproofs bought on the assumption that I’d soon be shrinking and would then buy a better-quality jacket. I did manage to buy a 3XL commuting cycling jacket which I “wore to death!” but it wasn’t suitable for multiple activities. Following its demise I reverted to buying inexpensive waterproofs which were a lousy fit and not waterproof – a waste of money.

“Having made do with ill-fitting or no suitable waterproof apparel for too long I decided to invest in a good quality, properly fitting waterproof that has multiple applications. I love my Outdoor Research Foray 3l Jacket, bought from Vampire Outdoors. It’s the first off-the-peg waterproof that really fits me. I feel comfortable wearing it, indeed dare I say that I feel normal and the jacket has performed well in multiple situations and will accompany me on all my travels and adventures.”

When you see yourself represented, and when you’re wearing kit and clothing that’s designed for your body, you stop feeling like an outsider. You start feeling like an adventurer.

A Call to the Outdoor Community

We all have a role to play in making the outdoors more inclusive. If you’re walking with someone who’s said they’re slower or needs more breaks, be patient. Use those pauses to take in the view, have a chat, or take photos. If you notice inaccessible gates or stiles, report them on the OS Maps app, and to the local council (who are responsible for getting them fixed). And if you work in outdoor retail or design, please listen to your plus size customers!

The more we talk about these barriers, the faster they come down.

I firmly believe the outdoors is for everyone. It doesn’t care what size jacket you wear or how fast you reach the summit. What matters is getting out there, feeling the wind on your face, and knowing that you belong.

That’s what drives me every day – whether I’m out on the hills, packing orders in my tiny stock room, or advocating for plus size people at events and festivals. Because everyone deserves gear that fits, works, and makes them feel like they belong in the wild.

Rebecca is the founder of Vampire Outdoors, co-founder of Every Body Outdoors CIC, and former Trustee and Chair of The Ramblers.

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