Dog walking
Pitch-side Parents
Festivals
Fishing
Outdoor Theatre/Music
Horse Riding
I spent 5-years and far too much money trying to find the perfect full-length waterproof raincoat with hood for my wife and I on our daily dog walks. I almost found perfection* with a brand called Jack Murphy (Heritage range £60-£80). I found perfection with a brand called Baleno (£160-£240). I set up Longcoats Trading and created this website to help others find great long coats. Read on for the full story.
I am so confident you will be happy with your women's or men's full-length coat that I offer you a 28-day full refund even if worn guarantee".
Julian Patrick, Managing Director
*Jack Murphy since launched the Erin and Emmet coats and these have made the choices just that little harder to make.
Long waterproof coats for men
Long waterproof coats for women
Top tip: if staying dry is an obsession then choose Baleno Livingston/Kensington or the Jack Murphy Emmet/Erin (Erin more suited to men under 5'9 if hoping for coat to overlap wellingtons). The material is slightly heavier and the coat is much less likely to blow open or move around in the lower half thereby exposing trousers/skirts etc. to rain. In lighter winds all coats will keep you dry top to toe.
"I am so confident you will be happy with your women's or men's full-length coat that I offer you a 28-day full refund even if worn guarantee. No quibble. Try it in the rain!" Julian Patrick, founder and owner of Longcoats Trading Company.
More about Reg at the foot of the page
Once again Reg the Lurcher and I stepped from the rain into the house following the daily dog walk, both rather wet. Reg shook in the hallway, sending a pattern of spray onto the hall wall. Perhaps I could learn to do that.
I was soaked. My top half was dry but my jeans were pressed flat and freezing against my thighs. I pulled off my gloves and stood glaring at my other half's smile.
"You should have put your waterproof trousers on" said Teresa.
"You know I hate those things" I said. "It takes longer to put them on than it does to get to the beach. Anyway I can never find them. And you know what? It isn't even raining that much - all the water from the jacket just runs off and soaks my legs. I'm like a house without guttering. Bloody weather. I need a man's long rain coat, full length - just for dog walks".
"Well if you find one let me know," said Teresa "I need a women's long waterproof coat for the yard as well. I get soaked so often it gets boring. The dog's got a better coat than me".
Later that day finds me on the Internet, striving to find a long men's raincoat, a coat long enough to cover my trousers and hang over the wellies. Then another coat - a women's long waterproof coat for my wife.
So many times we have needed long coats like this. When I think of all the drenchings we have had, with the dog usually: at the Badminton horse trials, watching my wife eventing, watching Life of Pi at the outdoor Minack theatre in Cornwall, on the boat between the various Scilly islands and just shopping in Truro! Summer soakings are not so bad but Badminton was in April with freezing easterlies and we were in a tent (well a very big bell tent with rugs and some wicker ;-)
What do you search for? A women's long raincoat? A full-length man's waterproof coat? A trench coat? A long waterproof coat? A ladies long raincoat? But I did find one to trial: a wax cotton full-length Drover's coat by a well known brand ("sounds like" male hairdresser), and it cost me a fair few quid.
I used this long trench coat for a year of dog walking and other assorted adventures. My wife did not care for it for some reason.
I wore it to work a couple of rainy days as well, with the cowboy hat I got for my birthday. It was all a bit much really for herding a lone Lurcher. With the hat on - the horse-humour would come thicker and faster than stampeding Bison.
I wanted to like this particular men's long coat, but we did not get along. It was fine without wind but, once the branches were moving, that coat would open up and the rain would once again pay visit to my thighs. Yes, I know it has some weirdo-fun leg-straps but, honestly, they did not do it for me.
This raincoat was an expensive mistake and the recompense from Ebay would feed a hungry Lurcher for less than a winter month.
The search for the ultimate long women's raincoat and men's raincoat continued. Next... Jack Murphy...
My next "find" was was a long coat by the name of "Jack Murphy" and women's and men's long coats were duly purchased. The men's long coat is called the Lambourne and the women's long coat the Malvern. These coats were less expensive, about eighty quid or so. These are from the "Heritage Collection", are long, dark green or navy blue (other colours now available) and with a tartan inner lining; I certainly walk a few inches taller when wearing mine.
This extra long coat performs far better than its predecessor and, as long as winds are not too strong, keeps us both dry head to toe. Once the wind really gets going rain will get through leading to dampness around the calf/knee area. This is because the material is quite light and the bottom of the coat blows around in the wind, exposing leg. This was a minor annoyance in an otherwise excellent coat, especially for the price.
For me and the Lambourne, this was a much longer term relationship than my previous dalliance, only ending when the full-length zip began the process of separating from the main coat (the result of me catching the coat on the corner of a stile).
The Jack Murphy Heritage coats are functional and light and will provide a few seasons of use.
Following the demise of my beloved Jack Murphy I did revert back to jacket and waterproof trousers for a winter. What a faff. On one occasion I rushed the process and got my boot stuck part-way down a polyester trouser leg. Stuck fast. Reg crying for his adventure whilst I hobbled to the kitchen to look for a sharp instrument to extricate my stuck-fast boot. Mr Bean would have been proud.
I was tempted to buy another Jack Murphy but decided to see what other long waterproof coats were on the market...
Long waterproof coats for men
Long waterproof coats for women
Back to Google. Which is where, five years after my initial search began, I eventually found the perfect long raincoat for our dog walking adventures. A coat that is easily long enough to cover boot or wellington, is extremely tough and hard wearing, waterproof, has a hood, and fully stops the rain in a proper storm (a storm with a name ;-) without the need for waterproof trousers.
Full length women's waterproof coat: the Kensington
Full length men's waterproof coat: the Livingstone
These are genuine 4-season raincoats: light enough for milder rainy days (you do not want padded coats walking the dog when it it is mild and wet) yet upgradeable with a zip in fleece for when it gets really cold (or supply your own layering of course)..
Baleno coats are made in Belgium. When it comes to fabrics the parent company "Sioen" are really something quite special. Sioen are a world market leader in coated technical textiles and technical apparel designed "to protect people and their belongings". Okay that's their marketing hype - you are not that easily led into spending a couple of hundred quid on a coat I am sure.
Well how about this then? Sioen make clothing for foresters (think chainsaws), firefighting, divers, workmen and the army (think bulletproof vests for tactical, covert and overt operations). Basically they manufacture some serious kit for some very serious customers. What they develop in their more demanding markets is used to create product in their countryside and lifestyle ranges.
Handy tip: I ordered the first Baleno long women's coat from abroad as it was £20 cheaper. I did not even realise I was buying from abroad and was fooled by a small Union Jack! This turned out not to be such a great idea. The site suggested 7-8 days for delivery and this turned out to be around 20 days. And then I needed to change it for a new size as it came up small for me. So another couple of weeks to get it back and and more to get the next size up. Not only that I lost more than £20 having to pay cross-border return costs. The whole adventure was around six weeks and was rather stressful.
Sites advertising Jack Murphy and Baleno on Google and sending from abroad: Waveinn (Spain) | Pecheur (France)
Video shows the Kensington women's extra long waterproof coat for women. The Livingstone, extra long waterproof coat for men, has all the same features but sized for men.
Baleno long raincoats for women and for men are manufactured in a waterproof, breathable, hardwearing fabric. The design just works. Press studs are close-spaced (16cm), go well down near the hem, and press firm so will not to come undone in a gale. These studs go far enough down the garment to ensure the lower half does not fly open in the wind. This is assisted by the weight of the coat - preventing the hem flying around in the wind (as happens with the Jack Murphy).
The double zipper (one to close the coat and one to zip in an optional fleece) has a storm flap to prevent water ingress.
The hood has a draw string to easily change the face opening. The garment is light enough for mild Spring and Autumn use and warmth can be added by layering. To assist this Baleno inner-fleece linings can be zipped into place within seconds.
The zip and press stud line has a double overlap to help prevent ingress of rain and wind. And you know what? These coats look good and the materials are quality.
The Baleno 4-season coat is breathable and light.
Pockets have a covering flap and press stud.
Cuffs are adjustable and have press studs.
For my wife and I the Baleno long raincoat has changed our wet and windy dog-walks completely. Add wellington boots or long boots of any kind and you will stay dry from head to toe - and I mean completely dry. Over the last few weeks storm Ciara and storm Dennis blew through. 50-80mph winds and icy rain. In our Baleno long coats, wellingtons, gloves and scarf we stayed warm and dry. And I mean dry, completely dry. No more waterproof trousers.
Teresa uses her Baleno long women's coat daily at the yard. No more "chilled to the core" due to soakings whilst riding or taking horses from stable to field. No more over-trousers. No more searching for the world's best long raincoat for women.
I use my Baleno men's long coat primarily for dog walks but it comes in useful so many other times (we have a local outdoor theatre near us and I often get envious glances).
But long coats are not just for the sprightly. My father has a mobility scooter and he wears his men's long raincoat and cowboy hat with pride (cool look Dad ;-). In a wet and wild country like ours - you'll wear it a lot.
If a £200 Baleno is outside the coat budget - the Jack Murphy Heritage range comes a close second :-)
Long raincoats for women
Long raincoats for men
Adventures in long coats
Men's long waterproof raincoat on test
Women's long waterproof raincoat on test
Early November 2021 Baleno launched a lightweight full-length coat: the Baleno Oxford long raincoat for women and Newbury long raincoat for men.
These coats have just arrived with us to review on Wednesday 10th November 2021. I am very, very happy with them. I took the Newbury Large from its bag and it fitted me perfectly. I was worried the material might not be what I like but it is beautiful to the touch - I hope you'll have the same reaction if you order one of these coats. The coat is stylish and beautifully made, inside and outside. Baleno chose poppers rather than velcro - more expensive but worth it. At the price point I am astonished at the quality of this coat - really astonished. Well done Baleno.
Kind regards,
Julian (owner)
JPM Ltd
Brands include Stovefitter's Warehouse and Longcoats Trading Co.
https://www.stovefitterswarehouse.co.uk | https://www.longcoats.co.uk
Text only 07520635388 (fastest way to get to me)
Longcoat "Teresa" adventures whatever the weather
Well, would you believe it...
Reg has two of his own coats: one red and one blue. He also has a fluorescent backup-coat for dark nights and neutrality on election days.
His contract, which we do not ever remember signing, states that Reg requires two good walks a day of at least fifty minutes each. Areas of interest to include, but not be limited to, beach, countryside, rabbit-infested area or a mixture thereof - to take place on time each and every day, whatever the weather and with no rest days even if ill or dead. Any variation to these standards does result in Oscar-worthy theatrics generally involving gaslighting, hard stares, threats to "do it on the sofa" and staged levels of whimpering.
We've got no kids so the dog is spoiled. He has better health-care than either myself or Teresa. Any small warning sign (whimpering, glumness, sulking) or minor injury (splinter, scratch or scrape) and he and my wallet are chauffeured at high speed - straight into private medical care day or night.
Multiple soft beds are strategically placed around our house lest one is too far away when a sleep beckons. Reg climbs onto our bed (despite having TWO of his own in the bedroom) whenever the mood takes him, and growls if either of us dare adjust the duvet after the settlement process has finalised.
Any minor change in his expensive, organic, grain-free, finest-ingredients diet results in immediate stomach upsets and complaints. This never happens with "treats" for some reason: the odd sausage, knob-end of a Cornish pasty or licking the stick of a Magnum ice-cream - all fine.
Sorry Reg - for presenting you in a bad light - only jesting. You are the best lurcher I have ever owned (only had one ;-) You make us smile or laugh every single day and you are kind, humble, loving and you no longer hassle the cat.
Here's to many more years of dog walking...
From time to time we have reduced price stock. These are coats that have been returned by customers for exchange and sometimes are missing their bags or tags. No marks or damage but we don't want to put back into normal stock. Check here to see what we have on offer today.
Okay, enough now. It's actually stopped raining... for now.
Reg and I are off out again. To the woods today, away from the crowds, where he sees stuff - things I cannot see.
If he could speak he would say, I believe, that I should use my imagination a little more.
Okay Reg, I get it. I can do that.
Let's go adventuring...
