Packers Wear & Care

By Finley Baker

Last Updated April 4, 2025

Image Description [Vignette style illustration with teal, purple, and green color palette. The frame of the vignette includes several types of packers, a pair of packing underwear and green swirls repeated in each corner with the text "Finley Baker 2025." Within the vignette, two people are sitting on a teal couch looking at each other. The younger Native two-spirit individual is lounging with one leg up on the couch and an arm thrown around the back. They have long dark hair, and visible armpit and leg hair. They are wearing a purple binder, short crop tank top with the phrase "Land Back" and purple packing boxers with a visible bulge from their packer. A raven tattoo in the indigenous style is visible on their right shin. The older Native trans man is sitting on the other side of the couch, with long grey hair in two low braids. He is wearing green packing underwear with a visible bulge, and is otherwise nude with his large chest tissue hanging low. He has visible veins, leg hair, tendons, stretch marks, and wrinkles. He has a similar tattoo as the other figure on his upper left arm. His two forearm crutches are propped up next to the couch. There is a green rug, small side shelf with books, basket of beading supplies, a lamp, and a pair of glasses. The wall has an Indigiqueer pride flag, a woven tapestry with a Coast Salish pattern, a hat, and framed family portraits.]

Image Description [Infographic with several illustrations and photos in two sections and a tan background. Heading text reads "Packers" with the subtitle "wear & care." The first section reads "Type 1: STP Packing Underwear." There is a color-coded illustration with a key for each color showing a pair of purple packing underwear. There is a front "outer pocket" in dark purple, a hole in main layer in teal, and an "inner pocket" in light green. A dark skin tone STP packer is visible inside with the balls in the inner pocket, shaft through the hole, and tip in the outer pocket. There is a series of three images that are color-coordinated in the same way as the illustration. The first image shows a pair of blue brief style packing underwear with no packer visible and the text "inner & outer pockets up - most of the time." The second image shows the same pair of underwear with the tip of a light skin tone STP packer coming out the front and the text "outer pocket down - to urinate." The third image shows the same pair of underwear from an inside view showing the base of the STP packer and the text "inner pocket down - to urinate." The second section reads "Type 2: Soft Packer Underwear." There is a similar color-coded illustration with a key for each color showing a pair of teal packing underwear. There is only an inner pocket in light green, with the outline of mid-tone soft packer visible from the outside. A small image of boyshort-style soft packing underwear with purple melting smilely faces is to the right of the illustration. In the bottom right, there is an octagonal teal textbook with the heading "Cleaning" and the text "For silicone packers - Wash with gentle soap & water. Let dry fully. Powder with cornstarch or arrowroot power (avoid talcum) to reduce tackiness." There is a QR code with a link to this webpage and the caption "Scan for more."]

Packers Wear & Care

Overall, place the packer in a lower position between the legs than you think! Most people's natural phallic anatomy hangs low unless erect.

Wear

STP Packing Underwear: Has both an inner and outer pocket for access on both sides. Requires use of both hands or a lot of patience to set-up an STP packer - must be thread through the hole in the main panel of the underwear and tuck the pockets on both sides up around the packer. When going to urinate, need the dexterity to pull down both pockets, ideally discreetly.
Soft Packer Underwear: Only one inner pocket, much easier to manipulate the one layer of fabric to position a soft packer. Can put on however you usually put on your underwear.
Packing Strap/Harness: Essentially an elastic strap that goes around the waist with an O-ring to slip a packer through. Can be worn under any underwear. Needed for any packer that is soft, but is natural in more of an erect position. There are options that have a specific strap that pulls down the tip so that it maintains a flaccid position while you go about your daily life.
TransTape: This can be used with an O-ring to attach a soft or hard packer directly to the skin while leaving access to your natural pee hole, but the area must be clean-shaven and it is advisable to do a patch test of the tape in that area before fully committing. Most difficult to put on, must build extra time into your routine.
Silicone Medical Grade Adhesive: Used to attach specific hard packers to the skin, comes with many warnings. Least common option. More information here: Emisil
Note about Swimming: silicone packers are the best option to get wet because they are not-porous. You can sew an additional packing pocket into your swim trunks, find packing swim shorts, use a swimmer's jock strap, or TransTape (which can get wet). Get Your Joey Mesh Swimming Packing Pouch is an option you can buy, as it is mesh pocket designed to hold your packer while swimming.

Care

From TransGuy Supply: "How to properly care for your packer depends on what material your packer is made of. If your packer is made from 100% silicone, you can wash it with soap and water, boil it, or even throw it in the top rack of your dishwasher. If your packer is made of TPR, you'll want wash it in warm water with a mild detergent. Cloth and foam packers can also be hand-washed and air-dried. A foam packer will eventually start to deteriorate, however, so you'll want to be gentle."
Silicone packers should be powered regularly to avoid become tacky/sticky. Apply a small amount of cornstarch (most common) or arrowroot powder (good if you have a corn allergy) with your hands or a small brush if you do not like the sensation of touching cornstarch. Keep a small container somewhere visible that will remind you to do this.
Do not use talcum powder, as there is some evidence that it may be a carcinogen (American Cancer Society)
Add an un-lubricated condom to hard packer or 3-in-1 packer when using for partner play. May not unroll all the way, but should still go over the phallus. Alternatively, you can unroll it all the way over the balls before putting the packer through a harness.

Resources & References

Packing Resources

DIY Packing Underwear - Mack Bayda YouTube video instructions on sewing your own DIY packing underwear

Swimming and Locker Room Tips for Trans Men - Hudson's FTM Guide

Trans Swimming Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Getting Wet This Summer - Folx Health

Packing 101 - University of Vermont Children's Hospital, free 2 page download that has essential info about packing for healthcare provider to give to clients

How to wear a packer - Emisil

Packer Strap - New York Toy Collective

How to Pack with TransTape

Native Gender Diversity Resources

Note: Not all two-spirit people identify as trans, or use the trans flag symbol, which was created by a trans woman who is a settler on Turtle Island, as is the author of this website. (More about Monica Helms)

Access to Care: Native, Indigenous, & Two-Spirit Communities - OutCare [Video 55:08]

Indigenous Gender Diversity - TransCare BC [Free 3 hour CE course]

Trans and Gender-Affirming Care in IHS/Tribal/Urban Facilities: 2020 Strategic Vision and Action Plan