I've been going into stores and trying on jackets. I can't zip up even the large women's jackets. They just don't fit around my hips. If I can zip them up, then they are extremely snug.
I've been hiking and backpacking since my teens and have saved my old, worn out goretex jackets. I would use them but they are full of holes, delaminated or just plain heavy and poorly designed. What is weird is these old jackets fit me just fine! I have a Moonstone jacket I purchased in 1990. It's size medium. It fits perfectly still. My delaminated North Face jacket, purchased in 1983, fits just fine around my hips too. It's also size medium.
It seems that the jackets that are made these days are cut quite small in the hips. Does using less fabric save the companies money or something? I've tried on Arcteryx, North Face, Patagonia, Lowe, Marmot, Cloudveil and a few others. None of them fit!
I've tried a few men's jackets but the sleeves are always several inches too long. I'm getting really frustrated because I have been searching for a new jacket for several years now with no luck. Right now I'm using a Lowe jacket that's ill-fitting, bulky and full of holes.
I'm thinking of giving up and going back to my Moonstone jacket. Sure it weighs two pounds, has fabric that absorbs water instantly, and has a metal button that freezes to my lower lip in cold conditions but at least I can zip it up!
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!
. You brought up sewing....if you have a sewing machine, a little experience, and some time, sewing your own from scratch isn't too far fetched...I've sewn several of my jackets with good results and at a fraction of the cost of a new one, and you can customize the pattern to fit your needs or use an older jacket you liked as the pattern. Just a thought. 