With a grin from ear to ear, YouTuber Kade Cooks leaps enthusiastically from his bed and gazes into the camera, his eyes twinkling with glee as he makes an announcement to his webcam: “You can jump up and down, and nothing will fly out of your pants!”
It’s a jockstrap review video, and Cooks is referring to his packer — a squishy, often silicone dick designed to help trans guys pad out their pants, and sometimes to pee standing up. (Some packers come with urethra-like holes, and are handily called “STPs” or “stand-to-pees.”) In the seven-minute rundown of Packer Gear’s packing jockstrap, Cooks points out a pouch with specially-designed “curtains” to put the packer inside, as well as a hole for it to hang out — perfect for peeing in public with an STP. It’s ideal for everyday wear, but seemingly not for fucking. “I don’t think that this jockstrap would be great for most dongs during playtime,” he explains, cutting to a scene of his long, thick packer hanging down limply. “The dong just flops down and is not able to stay in place.”
Not every trans guy chooses to pack, but for those who do, finding underwear designed for packers can be a nightmare — either they flop around and fall out, or they’re difficult to wear with packing harnesses (which can be used for extra security). In this sense, Cooks’ video isn’t just a lighthearted resource for trans guys seeking recommendations — it’s a wholesome glimpse of the joy that comes with finding underwear designed with your body in mind.
A few companies have nailed this — FTM Essentials and TransGuySupply both cater to trans men — but most mainstream underwear brands still aren’t aware of what trans guys need. “Trans-masculine people aren’t aliens,” says 34-year-old Ryan, a pseudonym. “We don’t need underwear that’s drastically different from anything else on earth, just a few slight tweaks.”
These tweaks are tiny, but all-important. “A lot of men’s underwear is geared toward cis guys,“ Cooks continues. “Sometimes, the hip/waist ratio tends not to line up as well, so finding the right size helps so much.” This is generally easier with trans-led companies — they tend to list exact inch measurements, for maximum specificity. It’s not always the case, but cis guys tend to have narrower hips and waist, so simply sizing up can help trans men in the comfort department.
Then, there’s the aforementioned packing pouch. Undies for cis guys do sometimes have pouches, but they’re usually designed to “enhance” or “uplift” — they’re push-up bras for your balls, basically. Often, they aren’t the kind of pouches with “curtains” or “flaps” that would keep packers secure, either. This matters since there’s a whole world of packers out there — whether you’re going old-school and shoving a sock down your pants or shelling out dollars for meticulously detailed dick replicas, it’s crucial that the underwear’s pouch be able to fit them.
“If you do pack, keep the size of your packer in mind when buying packing underwear,” Cooks continues. “If not, then I recommend going for tighter boxer briefs — that way, there’s less chance of the packer falling out.” Failing that, you can always buy “regular jockstraps and cut a hole in them,” as one Reddit user recommends.
When it comes to designs, there’s more choice than ever. Cooks recommends brands like Packer Gear and Rodeohs, created specifically to be packed with. As for guys who don’t pack, the variety of styles at Cake Bandit are made with pouches that don’t look “empty” if you decide to retire your packer for a day or two. It’s not just about comfort, either — with an Instagram full of thirst traps and an experienced fetishwear designer at the helm, it’s a company that taps into the reality that trans dudes want to feel hot as fuck, too.
Not everyone wants the gentle swell of a silicone dick in their pants, though. For Ryan, who’s a decade into his transition, packing “feels superfluous at best and dysphoric at worst, because rather than helping me feel whole, it often just reminds me of what I don’t have.” Testosterone makes your junk swell too, which he says makes packing “generally more uncomfortable.”
In Ryan’s eyes, it’s important for brands to outline that these trans-inclusive options work for anyone, regardless of whether they’re packing or not. Although not exactly common, there are jockstraps and “masculine” undies designed for people who don’t have dicks — the WAP Strap is one, and TomboyX has a whole range of designs available. “I recognize that this is kind of a ‘me’ problem, but it seems like a lot of brands that are trans-friendly also make underwear for female-identifying AFAB (assigned female at birth) people, and it makes me feel weird,” explains Ryan. “It makes sense for companies to cultivate a broader customer base, but I still don’t love being grouped in with women’s underwear by association.”
There is no perfect option, but subreddits like r/FTM and video sites like YouTube are full of tips and tricks. In a recent video, for example, Cooks demonstrated how to use an STP without dribbling piss down yourself.
These might seem like small issues, but shopping for a silicone dick or liquidating your savings for expensive packing underwear can feel like a big deal. Even just a few years ago, it was almost impossible to find guys like Cooks grinning and proudly showing off their bulges online. But by shaking his ass joyously for the masses, he’s providing a public service for newly out trans guys just looking to jiggle their junk with their packers in place.
Jake Hall
Jake Hall is a freelance journalist, fashion features editor and author. Their debut book 'The Art of Drag' is scheduled for release in May 2020.
