Embedded Files
By Finley Baker
Last Updated March 20, 2025
Image Description [Vignette style illustration with purple, pink, and yellow color palette. The purple frame of the vignette features pink swirls and yellow packers, repeated in each corner with the text "Finley Baker 2025." Within the vignette, a Black trans masculine person is standing in the shower, urinating through a stand-to-pee packer. His eyes are closed peacefully in concentration. He has gold piercings in his eyebrow and nose and is wearing a yellow shower cap with a strawberry motif. He is holding onto a grab bar on the light pink shower wall. Water is coming down from the shower head onto their chest, and their skin is glistening wet. They are standing on a suction cup mat on a maroon tiled floor. There is a fold down shower bench on the wall behind him, and two corner shelves holding various bottles.]
Image Description [Infographic with eight sections and several photos with a light purple background. Heading text reads "Packers" with the subtitle "Used by trans & cis people to give the appearance of a phallus in their pants." There is a QR code with a link to this webpage and the caption "Scan for more." The first second reads "Sock Ball: Free!, Create a sphere shape" with an image of a balled up sock. The second section reads "DIY Packers: $, Crochet, knit, sewing, or panty hose & tape" with images of a green crocheted packer and a packer made of beige panty hose and tape. The third section reads "Foam packers: $, Lightweight, bulge appearance" with an image of a white foam packer with a faint outline of a phallus. The fourth section reads "Soft packers: $$, Soft silicone, mimicking flaccid penis" with images of two sizes of light flesh tone soft packers and a purple soft packer. The fifth section reads "Hard packers: $$ to $$$, Rigid silicone, mimicking erect penis, used for partner play." with an image of a light flesh tone hard packer and the caption "Banana prosthetics." The sixth section reads "2-in-1 stroker: $$, soft packer + stroker, good for bottom growth" with two images of a side and back view of a dark skin tone 2 in 1 stroker. The back of the packer shows a small hole that is used as a stroker. The seventh section reads "Stand to pee: $$, Hole all the way through STP for urine" and has an image of a mid flesh tone stand to pee packer. A small hole is visible in the tip of the packer. Underneath, there is an image of a blue plastic stand to pee device with the caption "*Not a packer, portable STP*" The eight section reads "3-in-1: $$$, soft packer + STP + hard packer (with insert)" with two images of a side and back view of a mid flesh tone 3 in 1 packer and the insert. The back shows a deep divet where the vulva can sit.]
Choosing a Packer
Choosing a Packer
A "pro" of all these options is helping to promote bottom euphoria and safety for trans people, cis folks, drag performers, and more!
Socks: ball up 1 or 2 socks to create a sphere shape.
Pro: Discreet, can be washed easily, easily/safely obtainable item (looks ordinary if found by someone unfriendly)
Con: Quite lumpy, requires dexterity to manipulate socks into a sphere shape, may slip around in underwear, not as lifelike if wearing tight clothing
DIY Options: Can be crocheted, knitted, sewn, or created out of panty hose & tape - see Resources below for links to how-tos
Pro: Common supplies, less expensive option, can be creative with the look of the packer (not just phallus shaped)
Con: Requires crafty-know-how and physical ability to create (or get support for this step), may slip around in underwear
Foam Packer: Foam shape giving the appearance of a bulge (not attempting to recreate lifelike penis)
Pro: Lightweight option, cheaper
Con: May be difficult to wash and need to be replaced more often, will not feel like a phallus if someone touches it through the pants
Soft Packer: Soft silicone, mimicking a flaccid penis, most common option
Pro: Softer texture, cheapest silicone option, comes in different sizes, skin tones, and fun colors, includes differentiation between penis and balls.
Con: Needs to be maintained by washing & powdering, no special features (not designed for penetration)
Hard Packer: Rigid silicone, mimicking an erect penis
Pro: Used for penetration of a partner, multiple sizes and colors.
Con: Must be applied to a clean-shaved area with Silicone Medical Grade Adhesive (requires ability to shave and precisely apply glue with a brush), more expensive, cannot be worn for daily use, typically only lifelike options available
2-in-1 Stroker: Soft packer and stroker combination
Pro: Same benefits as a soft packer, but can also be used as a stroker for existing anatomy, 2 items at 1 price
Con: May need a particular kind of packer harness to hold down the tip (same as 3-in-1)
Note from Manufacturer: “Stroker cavity is gently ribbed and creates suction for external genital anatomy of at least 1/2" in diameter” - meaning the item will probably be more pleasurable if there is some bottom growth or existing large clitoris
Stand to Pee (STP) Packer: Soft packer with a hole all the way through to allow for urination while standing. Practice in the shower for mess-free clean up!
Pro: Freedom to urinate standing up, allowing the use of urinals (may be a requirement for safety if someone passes and needs to use a bathroom in an unfriendly area)
Con: Not able to use if you urinate while sitting down (only works when there is a good seal between the packer and your anatomy, requires the tip to be lower than the top so urine travels down with gravity). Hollow through the center, so if using as a soft packer, it will not keep it's shape as well if someone squeezes it. Requires more regular maintenance to keep clean.
Note: A portable STP is can be used by anyone with a short urethra to urinate standing up. Popular with trail hikers, they are hard plastic and are not designed to be kept in your underwear as a packer.
3-in-1 Packer: Can be used as a soft packer, STP, or a hard packer (if put in an insert)
Pro: Most uses, do not need to buy multiple packer options.
Con: Most expensive option, requires special packing harness to use as a soft packer, requires regular maintenance especially if you are using regularly for all three uses.
Resources & References
Resources & References
General Packer Information
Pick a Packer - Similar resource to the Binder Finder, database of multiple packing brands
Packing - Everything You Want to Know (and Then Some) - TransGuy Supply, 2022, helpful additional content on types of packers
Packing 101: The Best Packers for Transgender Men and Trans Masculine Folks - Folx Health, 2022
GenderGear Guides: Stand to Pees
Specific Packer Examples & How-Tos
Sock Ball: Packing With Friends: My Friend-Created Sock Peen
DIY Crochet Packer: Perfectly Reasonable Packer by Janet Dawson - Ravelry, 2019, free pattern
DIY Knit Packer: Knit Packer by Finn Beaton - Ravelry, 2019, free pattern
DIY Panty Hose & Tape Packer: How To Make a Packer - TransGuy Supply, 2019 (YouTube Video Instructions Here)
DIY Sewn Packer (from sock fabric): How to pack ftm with socks | DIY Packer - Emisil, 2021, includes DIY packing harness, packing underwear, and STP
Foam Packer: EZ Bulge - TransGuy Supply
Soft Packer: Archer Packer - New York Toy Collective
Hard Packer: HP 3 / HARD PACKER 3.5 inches - Banana Prosthetics
2-in-1 Stroker: Jack 2-in-1 Packer/Stroker - Trans Tool Shed
Stand to Pee Packer: Packer Gear 4 Inch Ultra Soft Silicone STP - Trans Tool Shed
3-in-1 Packer: Sam the STP 3 in 1 - New York Toy Collective
Related Topics
Related Topics
Suggested APA 7 Citation
Suggested APA 7 Citation
Baker, F. (2025, March 20). Choosing a packer. Disabled & trans sexual health. https://sites.google.com/view/disabled-trans-sexual-health/sex-ed-postcards/choosing-a-packer
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