All about the packy

So what is a packy?

A packy is designed to replicate a penis and testicles. Also known as a ‘stuffer’ they can be professionally made from silicone or cyber-skin, or home made, from a variety of products or simply a pair of socks. For some this is not about simply creating a ‘bulge’ in the pants but rather an extension of self.

I bought my first packy before I started T. I was nervous and a little self-conscious to wear it but I also felt alive. Wearing it that first time gave me a small insight into how I could feel complete. Not just for a small slice of time but really. Permanently. For some guys this feeling is well known. For others wearing a packy didn’t even touch the sides.

So why do so many of us wear them whilst others don’t? I put out a call for guys’ opinions’ and this article explores the realm of the packy and the feedback I received.

Responses came in from both guys who do and guys that don’t, wear a packy along with a couple who did but now don’t. Cost, comfort and not wanting or needing to wear one were reasons some guys chose not to wear a packy. In contrast, reasons guys have given for wearing one have been feeling whole, reassurance and presentation (having a visible ‘package’). Some guys reported a feeling of being exposed or incomplete without it and two guys informed me they would not leave the house without one.

There is no rule anywhere that says you have to wear a packy. The essential thing here is only wear one if you want to.

So if you want to give one a go where do you start?

Online is the best place although you can go to some adult shops and buy them there – or ask them to order them in. The key with the last option is to remember that people that work there have heard and seen many more obscure things than a request to order in a packy. Confidence will get you what you want with ease.

So what about buying online? There is one supplier in Australia called HomeGrown. Quality is good, there is a range of styles and there is the option of buying a Stand-To-Pee version. The main difference between HomeGrown and most imports is that HomeGrown make their packies from a non-silicone material which is great for those guys who may be allergic to silicone or prefer not to use them. For me silicone, worn as a packy, gives me a bit of a rash when I exercise or sweat. However, this can easily be resolved by putting a barrier between my skin and the packy.

For imports there are any number of online adult shops you can buy them from. From the feedback I received from guys the most commonly used ones were Early2Bed www.early2bed.com

Once you find somewhere to buy from how do you choose?

I asked a few guys what they prefer and received a diverse range of answers. To give you a helping hand here are a few tips the guys gave;

Think about your body shape and size and try and choose a packy that suits you as an individual.

If in doubt by a smaller one – getting something too big will look out of place and may be uncomfortable to wear. Most guys report being happy with the 3.5″ and some guys wore the 5.5″

Wash the packy regularly (hygiene boys!). To get rid of stickiness grab a chux cloth, put corn flour in the middle of it and tie off with an elastic band – dust your packy after you have towel dried it. Not all have a ‘stickiness’ issue.

Don’t freak out if you open the box and it’s bight pink. The brightness will fade and some batches are brighter than others.

Once you find the one you like buy them in twos – the postage is hardly any extra, if at all, and then you have a spare. Or better still bulk order with some mates and save on postage that way.

Another aspect to wearing a packy is how to keep it ‘in place’ and remove the risk of it rolling around on the toilet floor. There are a number of approaches to this, so there is no need to change your preference of underwear. A packy can be worn with boxers, jocks or g-strings. To keep your packy in place you can:

• buy double-front jocks and cut a slit in the interior panel and just drop your packy into the newly created pouch;
• get an old pair of double-front jocks, keep the material in the front (as little or as much as you want) cut the remaining material away from the elastic waist, cut a slit in the interior panel and just drop your packy into the newly created pouch;
• make a harness www.geocities.com/FTMPass/FullMonty316.pdf
• buy a pre-made harness;
• grab a new sock, cut the foot off at the ankle, drop your packy in and use a safety pin to pin it to the inside of your jocks/boxers.

As for Stand-to-Pee (STP) many guys prefer to go without this additional aspect. Main reasons cited were accidental spillage, difficulty of use, and discomfort. Those who use STP’s citied festy loos as the primary reason for use and relayed two ways to get one – adding it to their preferred packy themselves or buying it pre-made.

A couple guys used STP devices not attached to their packy such as TravelMate or a disposable option like the P-mate. You can also made one out of softdrink bottle plastic – just cut a piece15cm x 5mc bend in half length wise and pinch the plastic at one end. The non-pinched end goes against your body. Really, you can use almost anything that fits you and has minimal leakage issues.

A range of packy, STP and harness solutions can be viewed on these websites:

• www.ftmtransition.com/transition/resources/products.html
• www.ftmguide.org/packing.html
• www.geocities.com/ftmpass/passing.html no longer online
• web.ukonline.co.uk/agitor/ftm/stand.html no longer online

Dual-use prosthetics are also available which allow you to use one product for both sex and everyday use. These are generally in the high-end of the market price-wise.

The feedback I received on these was rather limited. Three guys reported buying a Lola Jake one was happy, one is still awaiting delivery and the last guy is disappointed and is saving up to buy from another prosthetics supplier.

Lola Jake www.lolajake.com

So are guys happy with the products they can buy?

Most guys who do wear them are satisfied to a point. Common complaints I received about a packy was the lack of realism, lack of adhesiveness and difficulty in getting the hang of STP devices. Comfort was another issue for some guys with particular reference to STP devices in a packy. Testicle realness, size and distance from the penis were recurring sources of dissatisfaction.

Cost was also a recurring issue – typically with reference to dual-use or high-end realistic products which were considered over priced by many. A couple of guys mentioned price in terms of the cheapest packy so it’s worth mentioning HomeGrown has a buddy program where, if you’re hard up, you can get one.

That leads me to improvisation. Some guys never buy a packy and instead use something as simple as a rolled up sock or make something from rice or hair gel, and condoms. This was how I came to find the best result for me.

I lead a fairly active life so I needed something that stood up to scrutiny doing a presentation in a suit or in gym clothes doing reps on the bench press. Whilst I had bought a 5½ inch packy the testicles were flat and hard so when I do squats and such in the gym the look isn’t quite right. I wanted something realistic so I made new testicles from hair gel inserted into condoms (Ed – see page 8 for instructions). I then dropped my packy into the toe end of stockings (yes, I really bought stockings) followed by my new nuts and tied off the package. I left extra length on the stocking and modified my jocks a little so I can ‘tie’ my packy into place. Using this combo I have never looked back. Behind clothes it looks and feels as real as I can get without serious surgery.

So once you have one, or a drawer full, what happens? Some guys say they never leave home without one as it leads to feelings of nakedness or incompleteness. Others said they never wear one and feel no less a man.

Over time they do wear out, discolour and generally degrade which leads you to either buy another the same or try something different. This is probably be where I’d say “Buyer Beware”. Whilst you can always ask other guys how they find various makes and models everyone has different bodies and expectations. What makes one guy ecstatic equals disappointment for another. If you can, get a real time look at one before you sink hundreds of dollars into something that may end up in the drawer. And if you have a drawer full why not donate unwanted ones to a buddy program.

For instructions on making soft prosthetic testicles for the packy (PDF 530kb) – photographs and step-by-step instructions are in our February ’09 Torque starting on page 9.

All about the packy (2009) Torque 9(1), 9-12.

page updated 30 January 2011