Would You Like the Regular or Irregular Bag?

If a company makes two versions, with the same exact name, of say, a 20° sleeping bag, and one version is called a women’s model, then shouldn’t the other one be called a men’s model? Not a “regular,” which implies some sort of irregularity with women and their gear?

I see this fairly frequently with packs, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads from some major outdoor gear companies. I’m glad there are women-specific models of gear available. And I realize some taller women fit better in “regular” gear while some smaller men and teens fit better in “women’s” gear. But having a “regular” model alongside a women’s model just seems a bit insulting.

Hats off to Sierra Designs and other companies that call their bags men’s or women’s models, and pack companies like Osprey, which has men’s and women’s backpacks, and Deuter, which instead call its models regular, short, or long torso.

As long as I’m on this kick, I also hate it when publishers give women’s gear its own "special" section, completely separate from the “regular” outdoor gear and clothing. Obviously men and women want to find the gear designed to fit them best, and taking gender and body type into account is important. But let’s treat all outdoor enthusiasts equally. Not separately or irregularly.