Description Designed for the toughest conditions in mountaineering, ice climbing, alpine and backcountry skiing. Built for pure function, this is the ultimate alpine mountain jacket.
Summary: Veeery nice. Of the half-dozen shells I've owned, this is the best by far. The fit is slightly snug--and I'm fairly lean. The hood is designed well. The stretchy XCR fabric adds give. The waterproof zippers are still doing well after four years. Unlike my cheap-o REI Switchback parka, this one stays dry in even the most sustained rain; due to both the 3-ply construction and the terrific sealing. The whole jacket just feels right. Perfect for skiing, glacier climbing, backpacking in all weathers. For extensive rock climbing, it may be a little delicate compared to the soft shells out now.
The only quibble I have, and it's tiny, is that the left side interior chest pocket ought to be beefier and top-zipped for town wear, for wallet/phone stowage. The less used side-zipped glasses/snot-rag pocket could go on the right.
To be fair, I couldn't have justified $475 for this or any other parka; I got it on a pro deal. But I do love it!
Similar Products Used: North Face, Moonstone, REI
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Reviewed by: Archaeopteryx (Unregistered User)
,
Day Hiker
, from West Coast, Canada
Price Paid:
$0.00
Summary: After wearing this jacket for over a year, I have concluded that this jacket has not met my expectations. First and foremost, this jacket is advertised as the ultimate alpine jacket and is super durable. You can get a similar jacket, Theta AR for somewhat less and have the same materials used, very similar features, for less. The only gimmick is the the Alpha SV is the lightest of the light. Well, it is very light - what this jacket doesn't do well is hold up to scrapes in the lightweight gore-tex areas of the jacket. As for lightweight Gore-Tex jackets, this is #1 in the world in terms of design, comfort, advanced construction. However, for durability, well, jacket isn't a 100% fortress. The only durable areas are the shoulders and arms, the rest is the just light yet not very durable Gore-Tex XCR. I would not recommend this jacket to climbers who will have to endure endless scrapes to their gear. Lastly, I would still recommend Arc'Teryx products, especially all of their Gore-Tex jackets. JUST PLEASE IMPROVE ON THE DURABILITY ON THE LIGHTWEIGHT AREAS OF THE JACKET!!!!
Customer Service: Replied my email about my concern after two days. Never replied afterwords when I addressed additional comments and concerns.
Similar Products Used: Various Gore-Tex garments.
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Reviewed by: Vertical_Trekker(Unregistered User)
,
Day Hiker
, from Burnaby, British Columbia
Price Paid:
$320.00
at Coast Mountain Sport
Summary: I just want to say that this jacket is quality and the fit is what makes it special. I have tried other top of the line jackets and this one has the best fit. Though it is expensive when you don't get it on sale, and I recommend only to buy it on sale because there is some others jackets - I won't mention company name - that is made by the same people who made this jacket and it is about equally as good, though not as good as for the fit - though SAME construction! For those who want to save big time money, there is a 1-3 day sale held it year at the Arc'Teryx factory in Vancouver where they slash big time prices, so all you Yankees out there, you could get this jacket for about 200 US dollers. Heck, I missed this years factory sale because they rarely advertise in the newspaper or anywhere else, and I found it one week late in a small newspaper ad. An interesting note, there are very few people who wear Arc'Teryx where I live because it is so expensive and people could get better value stuff at equally as good quality and better versatility. I live in the city where they make this jacket, I haven't seen a single person where a Gore-Tex Arc'Teryx jacket in Burnaby! No joke!
Customer Service: Good? Never tried it.
Similar Products Used: Mountain Equipment Co-op and Taiga Works.
Both companies making equally high quality and high value but not as advanced compared to Arc'Teryx as in fit and sometimes quality.
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Summary: OHH MY GOSH! If thinking about jackets gives you a woody this jacket is orgasmic! and i do mean ORGASMIC!i love this jacket. it's light weight, super minimal, all the right pockets in the right places. pit zips cuase core vents suck. and it's hand made in canada! does it get any beter? used this for a week in Ouray ice climbing and never got wet from water or sweat. i was even testing it out in my home town of tulsa oklahoma when a small freek tornado pulled up and knocked a tree down right behind me. i was still dry! except for weting my pants but you know how that goes. if you are looking at north face or mountain hardwear or marmot you arn't doing bad but if you want the best, and i do mean the absolute best buy Arc! it is expecive but it is worth 600$
Customer Service: haven''t had to deal with them and that''s the best service you can ask for!
Similar Products Used: north face mountain light
kichatna
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