Arc'teryx - any experts?
Discussion
I have an Arc’teryx shell and it’s a very nice piece of kit however a lot of their stuff seems REALLY expensive nowadays compared with other brands. I walk a lot in it, and it’s seen some reasonable rain, but it doesn’t live a very hard life and I’m not convinced the extra cost is worthwhile.
The cut and fit of their stuff is good though, especially if you like a slimmer fit.
The cut and fit of their stuff is good though, especially if you like a slimmer fit.
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hstewie said:
hstewie said: 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
Atom SL is pretty specialised ie. for high output activities in moderately cold conditions -5 - +5 degrees C (running, uphill ski touring) with only light water resistance.king 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
It's designed to fit close to the body and with only a thin base layer or two underneath. It makes a decent mid layer under a shell. The hood is thin stretch nylon with no insulation. This is useful to put up under or over a helmet to take the chill off your ears or to keep a cap on in wind but not much more. It's got front pockets but anything heavy will bag out.
I've got an Atom SL and a Gamma SL and the Gamma is much more suitable as an all rounder and much better as casual wear.
When I'm travelling really light my choice would be Gamma SL (if low risk of precipitation) or Atom SL plus shell - Alpha FL
You need to see handle and try on the garments. Although quite well photographed and described, they are built and fit differently
Edited by oddman on Wednesday 21st September 08:08
Faust66 said:
Of course if you really want an Arc'teryx jacket then you should buy one: LD Mountain Centre and Trekkit are both good web stores and have hassle free returns if you can't physically go to a shop to try one on.
Interesting fact. LD Mountain Centre founders Peter Lockey and Gordon Davison set up Berghaus in Newcastle upon Tyne and were the pioneers of using GoreTex on waterporoofs in the 1970s/80s. Originally they started with rucksacks before moving on to clothingEdited by Faust66 on Wednesday 7th September 19:31
A "serious" mountain shell jacket in an urban environment isn't going to keep you dry in heavy rain, regardless of brand.
Why? Feet and legs. Unless you've got waterproof shoes and overtrousers, they'll get soaked. In fact, they'll probably get wetter because rain is running down your jacket onto your legs...
A decent softshell will see of the occasional shower and keep you warm. If it's really heavy rain, take a taxi
Why? Feet and legs. Unless you've got waterproof shoes and overtrousers, they'll get soaked. In fact, they'll probably get wetter because rain is running down your jacket onto your legs...
A decent softshell will see of the occasional shower and keep you warm. If it's really heavy rain, take a taxi
silentbrown said:
Why? Feet and legs.
Water will get in at the neck and also arms. It'll get sucked up the sleeves until you might as well just be in a tee. Feet and legs lol, wear waterproof trousers. The only way out on the hills to stay bone dry is a rubber cagoule type thing, but then you can't walk far because if you sweat you'll get just as drenched.oddman said:
Another group of people who are outdoors in terrible weather not working up as much of a sweat are shooters and hunters so their jackets tend to be warm and very weatherproof. They are also cut for the less athletic
Musto and Barbour are OK but Harkila and Schöffel are on a par with Arc'teryx quality wise. Cheaper brands like Deerhunter and Seeland also do good kit
I used to wear normal kit but with farm and dogs comes different needs. I’ve been through all the expensive water proof stuff skiing, it (Rab, Montane, Arc’teryx, etc) are all utterly useless for day to day / city or country wear IMO. Ive still got Mountain Equipment stuff for skiing and rate It highly, along with Decathlons Simond brand for skiing and climbing and hill walking, my Mountain Equipment shell and simmond trousers have kept out some of the worst Scottish winter walking weather.Musto and Barbour are OK but Harkila and Schöffel are on a par with Arc'teryx quality wise. Cheaper brands like Deerhunter and Seeland also do good kit
I’m a big fan of Deerhunter, I’ve got a few of their jackets as i like the cut, they are brilliantly water proof and breath as well as I run hot, my Gamekeeper jacket kept me dry in some of the worst rain I’d seen on Mull over Christmas.
Schoffel are good / look far better for wearing in town etc, but IMO in comparison I prefer my Deerhunter and Ridgeline as does my wife, i sold my Schoffel shooting jacket after i got my Deerhunter kit.
Just don’t buy Barbour, ever. If you want a better wax jacket for 1/10 the price get one from New Forrest Clothing
https://www.outdoorgear.co.uk/Fjallraven-Skogso-Pa...
Appreciate this might be a bit late to the party but the above jacket fits the use case perfectly.
And is circa £100 cheaper than in the shops.
I got one for Christmas, and I'm very happy with it.
Appreciate this might be a bit late to the party but the above jacket fits the use case perfectly.
And is circa £100 cheaper than in the shops.
I got one for Christmas, and I'm very happy with it.
DukeofBork said:
I used to wear normal kit but with farm and dogs comes different needs. I’ve been through all the expensive water proof stuff skiing, it (Rab, Montane, Arc’teryx, etc) are all utterly useless for day to day / city or country wear IMO. Ive still got Mountain Equipment stuff for skiing and rate It highly, along with Decathlons Simond brand for skiing and climbing and hill walking, my Mountain Equipment shell and simmond trousers have kept out some of the worst Scottish winter walking weather.
I’m a big fan of Deerhunter, I’ve got a few of their jackets as i like the cut, they are brilliantly water proof and breath as well as I run hot, my Gamekeeper jacket kept me dry in some of the worst rain I’d seen on Mull over Christmas.
Schoffel are good / look far better for wearing in town etc, but IMO in comparison I prefer my Deerhunter and Ridgeline as does my wife, i sold my Schoffel shooting jacket after i got my Deerhunter kit.
Just don’t buy Barbour, ever. If you want a better wax jacket for 1/10 the price get one from New Forrest Clothing
What's so bad about Barbour?I’m a big fan of Deerhunter, I’ve got a few of their jackets as i like the cut, they are brilliantly water proof and breath as well as I run hot, my Gamekeeper jacket kept me dry in some of the worst rain I’d seen on Mull over Christmas.
Schoffel are good / look far better for wearing in town etc, but IMO in comparison I prefer my Deerhunter and Ridgeline as does my wife, i sold my Schoffel shooting jacket after i got my Deerhunter kit.
Just don’t buy Barbour, ever. If you want a better wax jacket for 1/10 the price get one from New Forrest Clothing
I have a couple of their wax jackets and they are very good.
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.
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.
GranpaB said:
What's so bad about Barbour?
I have a couple of their wax jackets and they are very good.
1 overpriced for what they are.I have a couple of their wax jackets and they are very good.
2 not brilliant for anything aside from a short walk to a pub.
I've never been a fan and I've had them / inherited them etc. Too cold, Too hot, the aren't that waterproof when you actually use them in the countryside properly. My last one leaked through the arms after an hour in the drizzle, my wifes last one soaked through the pockets in not that much rain.
In contrast my Schoffel (more than a Babour but worth the extra) and Deerhunter jackets (cheaper and far better) have kept me dry and non sweaty in the worst conditions for hours. I spent last week traipsing across the peat bogs on Mull in my deerhunter gamekeeper and through sleet and hail storms I was warm, dry and it breathes, try that in a Barbour and you would be soaked and freezing.
I've also got a load of Army Surplus MTP Goretex stuff that makes you look like a t
t but its the best thing if your out walking in the pissing rain for more than a few hours.I have a cheaper Ridgeline for when I'm out on the farm its not as good as the Schoffel or Deerhunter but it copes with the dirt and grime without loosing its waterproofing and it breathes far better than any wax jacket.
After 5 years of almost daily abuse, the zip gave up on my Zeta AR shell jacket. Despite the fix it yourself video by Arc’teryx, UK shops don’t have the spares to do this.
Cue Arc’teryx support who asked me to send it in. A couple of weeks later, it’s arrived, good as new with some additional small repairs to inner taping. All free of charge.
Happy customer.
Cue Arc’teryx support who asked me to send it in. A couple of weeks later, it’s arrived, good as new with some additional small repairs to inner taping. All free of charge.
Happy customer.
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