Arc Teryx Men's Gamma SV Jacket

Review Date
December 24, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: ched(Unregistered User) ,  Snowboarder

Price Paid:  $269.00 at Coast Mountain Sport

Summary:
I've had this jacket for almost two months now. I have to say that this is by far the best jacket I have ever owned. Best points: wind resistance, breathability and design. This jacket is bulletproof in the wind. I spent hours in the wind and rain at about 0*C(I'm from Vancouver - where these jackets are made) and never got cold or hot. You ever heard of people born without regulatory mechanisms like sweating and shivering? Their doctors need to get them one of these puppies, no joke. Also, this thing is LIGHT! 635 grams feels like nothing over a sweater, and since you don't hear it it's easy to forget that you're wearing it! In regards to the critic who complained about it not being warm enough, nothing outside of down is gonna keep you warm if you're static. add a layer and embrace the FUTURE!!!

Customer Service:
Went to the factory outlet - decent service, though nothing there had a warranty so you non-Vancouverites aren't really missing out.

Similar Products Used:
Moonstone, Marmot and MEC

Review Date
November 18, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Will Benedict(Unregistered User) ,  Snowboarder , from Boston

Price Paid:  $250.00

Summary:
I've pretty much worn this thing every day since I got it. It's soft enough that you can wear it around the house if it's chilly over a t-shirt, but it's also good as outer shell if it's gross out. Because it's not bright or fuzzy you can pretty much wear it over anything from a button down and a tie to a sweatshirt.

If it's pouring, it will get wet, and it's not amazingly warm, but again it's a useful fleece. From mid summer to January in Boston, it works unencumbered for light rain, and as an good underlayer. If you head out in the sunny afternoon and come back during the chilly night, you can stuff it in a backpack no sweat. Fits well, doesn't feel bulky at all.

Review Date
July 26, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Rocapina(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Price Paid:  $240.00

Summary:
I agree with most of the reviews that have been posted so far: this is a hell of a jacket. The fit/construction is fantastic, it performs as a true soft shell jacket: repels water well, breath exeptionally well. This jacket looks good enough to be worn in town without looking like a nerd.
BUT be careful this is not an insulating layer: it does not protect from the cold. This is good for serious aerobic activity not for static conditions. I wore this jacket in New Zealand by -3C with a capilene underwear, a R1 flash pull over and a R2 vest and I was cold each time I was stopping any serious activity.
So overall a great jeacket but do not buy it for its insulating property, the lined polartec 100 does not enough of a difference.

Customer Service:
You should not need customer service when you buy arcterys as their garnements are of expetional quality. If you have to get hold of thei customer be prepared for the most unhelpful/useless customer s

Review Date
May 30, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: JIm Car(Unregistered User) ,  Snowboarder , from Berkeley, CA

Price Paid:  $155.00 at www.4beartooth.com

Summary:
I recently purchased this jacket and took it out on a 3 day backcountry snowboarding over Memorial day weekend. As expected, the construction of the jacket seems to be impressively first-rate. I wore the jacket during several cycles of ascent and descent in varying temperatures on my last trip and was veryimpressed. I also have a Cloudveil Serendipity jacket (another fantastic jacket)constructed Schoeller Dryskin Extreme and wanted to make some quick comparsions. Although both jackets are wonderful soft shells and could fill nearly identical needs, their construction materials lead me to use the jackets differently. I have found that the impressive Polartec material used in the Arc Teryx seems to be warmer (since it is lined with 100 fleece), has a more rigid/stiffer feel, and seems more like a bomber "shell". As a result, I reach for it when I anticpate really cold or wet conditions. The Cloudveil seems to be cooler with a greater capacity to breath (since it is lined with Coolmax), drapes better, and feels (but doesn't function) like a very light fleece layer. As a result, I reach for the Cloudveil during when I anticpate moderate temperatures (or I bring along a light insulating layer such as a Patagonia R1). I have used both shells in outdoor adventures such as climbing Mt. Shasta and snowboarding the backcountry and have been amazed at their versatility. Both are wonderfully windproof and water resistant(although I would give the nod to the Arc Teryx), breathable (I would give the nod to the Cloudveil) and versatile over a wide range of temperatures (another slight nod to the Cloudveil). You can't go wrong with either jacket but I feel that the construction materials are different enough that they fill slightly different needs (especially if you run hot). My fleece jackets have been gathering dust since I purchased these jackets.

Customer Service:
Hasn't been required.

Similar Products Used:
Cloudveil Serendipity

Review Date
February 1, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: David Emerson(Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from Lake Forest, IL, USA

Price Paid:  $149.00 at Eerehwon Bannockburn

Summary:
Truly a work of art. Comfortable all day, never too hot, never too cold.