More Help required - recommendations for...

Sorry, I've another favour to ask.  We live on an island and there is very little choice here, so any technical gear we usually buy online, so returns can be a hassle.

I'm looking for a women's helmet compatible waterproof jacket for the missus, but she prefers to have a longer cut (i.e. not stopping at the waist.. or hips.. in fact she prefers it right down past her bum, so more of a hiking jacket but with a helmet compatible hood.

While we can work out which hood will take a helmet, its sometimes difficult to work out how long the jacket is, so any help you can give would be most appreciated.

Cheers John, must admit, its been a real struggle finding any manufacturer who makes a longer length jacket, I suspect in the rush to cut the headline weight, so people could avoid the strain of carrying an extra 100g, length was the first to go.

The only two I can find are Arcteryx Theta and Haglofs Cirque... I'll see if I can talk her into getting a men's jacket!

er... what's wrong with the Haglofs Cirque Q?

Any Haglofs thing with a Q in its name is girly.

Metric Kate wrote (see)

er... what's wrong with the Haglofs Cirque Q?

Any Haglofs thing with a Q in its name is girly.

Sorry Katie - I meant the Cirque Q and the Women's Theta when I was talking about long length jackets. 

I was expecting to find a decent long length one by Berghaus, but it seems that mountain jackets are on the short side this year... like footballers shorts used to be in the 70's, so maybe the longer style will come round once (I mean waterproof jackets, not footballers shorts).

When Pandas go Bad wrote (see)

but it seems that mountain jackets are on the short side this year... like footballers shorts used to be in the 70's.

If you can persuade her to get a mans jacket then ME Ogre is superb. For some reason ME womens jackets seem shorter this year (although you don't need a current model) which could save you some dosh. Maybe worth contacting manufacturers/shops to get exact length to give you some idea before you shell out. Here is a link that may interest you the site has other jackets that may fit your requirements too.

http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog/MOUNTAIN_EQUIPMENT_OGRE_WATERPROOF_JACKET_.html

Well the rohan hill top certainly has the length but unsure as to helmet hoods.

Some Paramo stuff very long cut of course, as are some Cioch styles. My Sligachan for round town is getting on for knee length and they'd happily put their helmet hood on one if you asked.

The Rab Vidda has a long back but I'm not sure if the hood is helmet compatable.

My only gripes with it are

1: The small toggle adjusters on the bottom of the jacket and on the back of the hood.

2: the pockets have an internal storm flap rather than an external one. So the laminated ones are exposed have to be pushed fully shut into a wee hood at the top of the zip. I find it a bit of a fiddle getting into the pockets, especially in gloves.

Otherwise it's not a bad jacket

I'm not sure how tall your wife is, but I'm 5ft 5.5 in and the Vidda easily covers my bum.

As John said some of the ME jackets are longer cut. Especially the men's ones. I had a (now sadly discontinued) Lhotse and the body length was very good. I have just bought a Diamir (womens) and it does cover my bum, just. However shop around- full price it is very expensive- ridiculously so. I managed to find it online with £100 off.

When you're looking online, see if you can find a back length mentioned in the spec. I know when TGO review jackets they give back lengths.

Have a look here  for a start to the search- back lengths are given which might be helpful to you.