r/myog • u/Open_Outcome_5633 • 18d ago

Question Modifying goretex jacket to be plus size

Bought my wife a light pink XXL Arc’teryx goretex jacket and it fits great up top but is tight on her hips. :( has anyone modified a jacket to accommodate a larger booty? Wouldn’t it be great if the mod looked cool and was still waterproof-ish where accommodations added?

6 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

21

u/AccidentOk5240 18d ago

My favorite hack for this: get a zipper that is interoperable with the one on the jacket. Make a trapezoidal panel that adds the requisite dimensions, attach the new zipper to the edges so they match up (box towards the pin side and vice versa) and zip it into the jacket. Ta dahhhh! 

The best part is if it doesn’t work it doesn’t matter. The jacket is just as alterable as before. 

6

u/CBG1955 18d ago

OMG yes, I actually did this! Let me see if I can find the photo.

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u/CBG1955 18d ago edited 18d ago

I uploaded it to Imgur https://imgur.com/BCYe6js

My husband commented that he thinks Arcteryx uses a proprietary zipper and you might not find one that fits if you do this.

My jacket is a rainbird, and i made the gusset in the red Taslon because I had it. I did my gusset with a big curve on it too, because I needed so much extra around the hips and belly.

the exaggerated belly curve shows in the pic below.

10

u/sprashoo 18d ago

Clever. A lot of high end outdoors jackets have side zippers as well... if those go all the way down you could add two side panels.

I think it's unlikely Arcteryx uses proprietary zippers - they probably just use high end waterpoof YKK ones or something (but I'm only guessing).

3

u/CBG1955 18d ago edited 18d ago

We just pulled out his Arcteryx parka and tested the zipper for compatibility with others. The tongue of the slider on my zipper does not fit into the Arcteryx zipper and even thought the teeth look identical they may still not mesh properly. My zipper is just a no-name brand bought from the local fabric retailer, and we were surprised it was compatible with the Rainbird zipper.

There is no YKK branding stamped into the zipper pull on the Arcteryx, which is a different shape to the standard YKK pull (I do have some of these.)

So I hope this helps some!

5

u/flatlanderMAWI 18d ago

I use YKK Aquaguard zippers on some of the stuff I build and they require a “reverse” zipper pull. They look surprisingly similar to a regular pull but are not interchangeable. I’d bet that the zipper on OP’s jacket is not proprietary but is probably an unbranded zipper & pull made by YKK or Lenzip (even the reverse pulls from YKK and Lenzip are not interchangeable, even though they are the same size and look identical).

2

u/sprashoo 17d ago

I just don't think a clothing design company like Arcteryx would get into the ultra specialized field of zipper engineering when companies like YKK have spent literally 150 years perfecting that highly specialized technology. Maybe a bit more likely is that they commissioned a unique zipper from a zipper manufacturer, but even then, why, especially why would that manufacturer engineer a unique and generally incompatible system for one customer?

So it's probably a question of what OEM and model are they using?

Honestly, it might be worth emailing Arcteryx and asking. You never know, they might just tell you.

3

u/DrBullwinkleMoose 17d ago

Actually, they make a big deal out of it, as though they invented waterproof zippers and got YKK to make them:

https://arcteryx.com/us/en/explore/obsessive-design/watertight-zippers

1

u/AccidentOk5240 17d ago

That’s absolutely hilarious bullshit! In case you needed proof that corporations will just say any goddamn thing….

1

u/DrBullwinkleMoose 17d ago

I don’t know the history. Arc’teryx used to be legitimate innovators, making gear for expeditions and military, so it is possible.

They aren’t that anymore, but they were a couple of decades ago.

1

u/AccidentOk5240 17d ago

I suppose so. Idk, the internet is not forthcoming on the subject, but I did discover that NASA invented airtight zippers. Of course, NASA would have been working with contractors possibly including Arcteryx, so…..

1

u/flutterbird42 17d ago

It could be worth searching for a cheap used Arc'teryx jacket with damage and scavenging the zipper from it.

1

u/sprashoo 17d ago

Cheap and Arcteryx don’t usually belong in the same sentence ;)

4

u/AccidentOk5240 18d ago

 Nice!

That sucks about the proprietary zippers. I guess the remaining solution would be to find a damaged Arcteryx jacket with a zipper the same length and use that….

7

u/anon_capybara_ 18d ago

I remember having a pregnant professor in college who did exactly this with her winter coat. It’s such a brilliant solution.

17

u/womenandsongs 18d ago

I know this is the myog subreddit but honestly, I’d return it and buy a goretex raincoat from a company that has better plus size designs.

I do think it’s great that you’re trying to figure out how to make it work, and it seems like a great suggestion from CBG1955.

Arc’teryx historically runs very small imo and there are decent brands making rain coats that have better pattern design for plus size gear and will fit better and likely last longer. Marmot, Columbia come to mind.

3

u/CBG1955 18d ago

u/UnhappyAd5883 (my husband) agrees with Arcxteryx being very small fitting. He has issues with fitting (male, shoulders) and suggests US Army surplus. It's not pink, but even plus size me has been able to get stuff that I can wear AND zip up.

15

u/CBG1955 18d ago

I'm a very curvy large size and this is a huge problem - outdoor gear that doesn't fit. Normally I'd suggest she buy a larger size to accommodate her hips but I'm fully aware that XXL might be the largest available. It really stinks that manufacturers seem to think that bigger people don't want to get out into the wide world.

The problem with any garment that is too tight, if you want to add a gusset or modify it in some way, you may have to disassemble part of it. With Gore-Tex, you have to consider the addition of seam tape to re-waterproof it.

What is the style of the jacket - does it have a waist tie: Can you show a pic? That will make it a bit more complex.

My instinct is to put a triangular gusset at the side seams, tapering up to nothing closer to the armholes.

5

u/Large-Heronbill 18d ago

Fellow hippy outdoorswoman.  Side seam gussets are what I would do. 

Or just make the darn jacket from scratch so it fits correctly all over...

4

u/anOutgoingIntrovert 18d ago

Plus size woman here. Outdoor Research comes up to 4X

1

u/Unicorn187 17d ago

I assume it has side zippers? Make panels for the sides. Tapered at the top, al.kst triangular shaped. This will allow the jacket to flair at the bottom where it needs more room but wont add much size higher up.

You'll need waterproof fabric and matching zippers. If the side zippers are waterproof zippers that would be best since with the extension panels the zipper will be more exposed. You could try adding an outside and inside flap to reduce water intrusion.

1

u/flutterbird42 17d ago

True that 😂 But a damaged one for parts could be affordable compared to a new one.

1

u/bluebell_flames18 12d ago

I have a winter down ski jacket I modded. I took it to the thrift store and bought a contrasting ski jacket. It was a smaller size but the length of the body and sleeve matched. I cut panels from the thrifted jacket along the side seams and arms and used it to add 2 sizes to mine (about 4 inches). It also gave me more range of motion around my arms and shoulders. I don't think it's an obvious diy solution. Nothing worse than a coat too tight to fit layers underneath.

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u/RobertGHH 14d ago

Plenty of walking trips and it will soon fit more comfortably, it's the first area that weight will go with exercise.

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u/Open_Outcome_5633 13d ago edited 13d ago

Appreciate the input. I’m looking for a jacket modification, not a modification to my wife.