Arc'teryx - any experts?

[bitchstewie]

I fancy another new jacket and I like Arc'teryx.

It won't be used for climbing mountains or walking hills it will be used around town and on the commute to work so to/from the office and house and train station.

I'm a little unclear if their shell jackets do much for warmth of if the assumption is you'll be layering them and I'm a little unclear if their insulated jackets are wild overkill for a commute with a shirt underneath in normal UK weather.

And then there is SL, AR, LT and all the other types of the same model of jacket.

There isn't anywhere near me that has a decent selection in stock so any pointers would be great.

[bitchstewie]

Muppet007 said:

What time of year do you want to wear this and which part or the country?

Midlands and to stress it's general town and commute not proper outdoors stuff.

Take now as an example.

When it's windy or chucking it down a fleece doesn't quite do the job.

Something like a Solano looked like it might be ideal as it's a shell that claims to be decently waterproof and also has a degree of insulation.

[bitchstewie]

Well this hasn't got at all weird has it

Comments welcome on what might work in the British climate for normal daily use either over a tee shirt or work shirt when on the commute as the variety on the Arc website is a bit overwhelming as is the price delta between the bottom and top end.

Right now I use an old fleece or an old Montane Prism or occasionally a Rab Vapour Rise which is lovely but has seen better days.

[bitchstewie]

DoubleSix said:

I answered that exact question above.

Appreciated This is where I struggle with the Arc range as the Beta LT is about £350 whilst (for example) the Atom SL is £180.

It isn't at all obvious (to me) which one is an all-rounder.

I'm also slightly conscious about not going overkill and walking from the station totally cocooned and looking like I'm trying to climb Snowdonia etc.

Bit like that old cliche of all seeing people in (probably fake) Canada Goose cooking their tits off on a "cold" UK day.

[bitchstewie]

deckster said:

Arc'teryx is awesome but pricey kit that really isn't designed for walking to the station.

But then again, people drive the kids to school in Range Rovers and pick up the shopping in Ferraris, so fill your boots.

That's kind of the tightrope I'm trying to walk here.

Oddman has helpfully explained some of the naming

If a £180 Solano or Atom SL is plenty good enough for urban UK weather at ground level I've no desire to spend twice that on something that's massively overkill.

Not going to pretend something a bit cheaper wouldn't do the job but I'm also not going to beat myself up for the odd treat.

I think it's trying to understand what degree of warmth the shells offer v what degree of wind and rain protection the insulated jackets offer and then choosing the best compromise taking price into account.

[bitchstewie]

Douvre777 said:

Got a beta ar after jumping on the arcteryx hypetrain.

Done great for mountain walks in the pissing rain due to the goretex pro. I think it's pretty solid for UK climate in a t-shirt till about November maybe then perhaps a jumper needed. Only point I'd make is due to the stiffness of the material, they feel and sound like bloody cardboard so probably not the most ideal kit for casual wear.

If I went pub I'd just go in a hoodie tbh rain or shine.

I did wonder about that with some of the shell jackets as I didn't want to sound like a crisp packet if I sit down or move.

Useful to know

Is there a scale of crispiness i.e. thinking back to the Solano Hoody which is the one that really appeals.

[bitchstewie]

I might have to rethink this.

Just gone out for a walk wearing a regular tee shirt and a tight but thin old Berghaus fleece pullover.

Very thin fleece and I'm not sweating but am somewhere beyond toasty warm.

[bitchstewie]

RobbieTheTruth said:

Yeah - I picked Gamma over Solano as I don't really like the collar on the Solano, but they are similar. It's soft shell, so quite fitted with a bit of stretch and doesn't sound crispy.

I think it's down to those two and we're back to nowhere local selling Arc so trying to work this out from videos.

Probably looking at the Gamma SL as the colour choices are there and the MX sounds too heavy and I suspect it's the wiser choice as an all rounder whilst the Solano looks like more of a distinct jacket if that makes sense.

[bitchstewie]

Still fking around and haven't decided yet

Leaning towards an Atom SL hoody.

Went out yesterday wearing a thin fleece over a couple of tee shirts and realised my core was pretty warm and the things I really wanted were warm pockets for my hands.

Pretty pathetic in September but I'm a wimp

[bitchstewie]

I had a revelation a month or so ago - baselayers.

Got a few £10 Talus long sleeve ones from Mountain Warehouse and found those are all I need with my "old" Montane Prism and I've been warm so far whatever the weather has done (scarily warm for just a baselayer and fairly thin insulated jacket ).

So for now it's some money saved.