When it comes to comparing Arc'teryx vs Patagonia, looking at specific product models from both outdoor brands makes the most sense. That said, there are some general points we can make when it comes to Arc'teryx vs Patagonia.
Arc'teryx vs Patagonia: Short answer
In most cases, it's pretty much impossible for other brands (including Patagonia) to match the performance standards Arc'teryx jackets have set over the past decade.
Now I say in most cases, because there are some product lines or categories where I recommend the Patagonia model over the corresponding Arc'teryx version. Here are two examples:
- If you're looking for a synthetic insulated jacket to use during high-output activities:
- As I break down in our Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets post, I recommend Patagonia's Nano Air over Arc'teryx's Proton and Atom for this purpose (also see: Nano Air vs Proton vs Atom).
- If you're looking for a wind breaker that offers extremely high breathability:
- As explained in my Best Patagonia Jackets and Patagonia Houdini vs Arc'teryx Squamish posts, I recommend Patagonia's Houdini Air over the Squamish.
Arc'teryx vs Patagonia: Temperature Ratings
I examined the temperature ratings of all Patagonia and Arc'teryx jackets, and compiled my findings in this chart. If you're looking for an insulated jacket, this chart will probably be quite helpful to you. So don't skip it!
Enjoy!
Arc'teryx vs Patagonia: Popular Picks
Arc'teryx
Some of my favorite picks:
- Down jacket: Thorium AR (Men's - Women's - read my review)
- Synthetic insulated jacket: Proton Hoody (Men's - Women's - read my review)
- Hardshell: Beta AR (Men's - Women's - read my review)
- Softshell: Gamma LT (Men's - Women's - read my review)
- Parka: Therme (Men's - read my review)
Check out my huge Best Arc'teryx Jackets post if you're considering getting any Arc'teryx jacket.
Proton Hoody + Beta AR
These two would probably be my go-to jackets when upgrading a wardrobe. They perform wonders when they're worn together OR separately. In addition to their high performance standards, they're also going to give you a lot of versatility - much more than any single jacket could accomplish.
Patagonia
When it comes to shell jackets, there's no contest. Arc'teryx's lineup outperforms Patagonia's, and I don't think it's even close. For other jacket types, from a performance-focused standpoint, Arc'teryx still is generally a superior option to Patagonia.
Having said that ... there are two conditions where I'd recommend Patagonia over Arc'teryx:
1. If you're looking for a synthetic insulated jacket to use during high-output activities
2. If you're looking for a windbreaker that offers extremely high breathability
Check out the introduction and my product recommendations if you find yourself in one of these circumstances.
Now let me lay out some of my Patagonia favorites:
- Down jacket: Down Sweater Hoody (Men's - Women's - read my review)
- Synthetic insulated jacket: Nano-Air Hoody (Men's - Women's - read my review)
- Fleece: R1 Fleece Pullover Hoody (Men's - Women's - read my review)
- Wind Jacket: Houdini (Men's - Women's - read my review)
- Rain Jacket: Torrentshell 3L (Men's - Women's - read my review)
Also see my other reviews:
- Best Patagonia Jackets
- Best Patagonia Down Jackets
- Best Patagonia Winter Jackets
- Best Patagonia Rain Jackets
- Best Patagonia Fleeces
- Best Patagonia Ski Jackets
Hope this is helpful.
Arc'teryx vs Patagonia: Product Catalogue
Arc'teryx revises its product catalogue more often - sometimes baffingly so. Many of their product lines are extremely seasonal, so if you see something you want, jump on it. When it's out of season or out of stock, Arc'teryx often completely removes the product page from its website, leaving you guessing when (or if) it may ever appear again. The positive is that Arc'teryx's constant refreshes and product evolutions means the gear also is up to date, utolizing the latest fabric and performance advancements.
At arcteryx.com, you'll see the REVISED tag at the top right of each product image, for all revised products, such as with the Proton Hoody.
Patagonia also frequently revises its product offerings, but not to the extent of Arc'teryx. To me, Arc'teryx is the clear winner in this respect.
Visit the bottom of my Best Arc'teryx Jackets page to see the full list of all revised, new, and discontinued Arc'teryx models.
Product Diversity: Arc'teryx vs Patagonia
The Arc'teryx Gamma Hoody
As mentioned above, Arc'teryx's product diversity is superior to Patagonia. Arc'teryx tends to design a product to target a very specific need in the market. Often, that need is extremely niche.
It isn't unusual to come across two different Arc'teryx jackets and wonder why Arc'teryx thought it necessary to make both. For example, you might see almost no difference between the Gamma and Gamma MX models.
However, when you look closer (or read Outdoor Crunch); you'll recognize the small nuances that ultimately make these jackets perfect for their intended uses or users.
This, in turn, constitutes another reason as to why Arc'teryx jackets are unbeatable in the performance department.
One criticism I have about Arc'teryx's catalogue is that it can be a bit difficult to really understand which product to get. The brand's naming scheme can be extremely confusing and ever-changing.
- Read more about Arc'teryx's naming scheme
- Take advantage of Arc'teryx's awesome Jacket Finder tool, which I strongly recommend every potential buyer use
Also, the Questions & Answers section on each product page at arcteryx.com can provide a lot of nuanced information to help you make a purchasing decision. Patagonia doesn't offer a similar feature on their site, unfortunately.
Arc'teryx vs Patagonia: Material Quality
This is another category where Arc'teryx is the clear winner.
Now, this does not mean there's something wrong with Patagonia, which is rightly regarded as a top outdoor gear manufacturer. It's just that Arc'teryx tends to operates on a whole another level.
This is also the main reason Arc'teryx jackets are more expensive than Patagonia jackets.
Although Arc'teryx never really completely discloses the material specs in detail, I did find some good resources on this: https://outdoorcrunch.com/goretex/
Arc'teryx vs Patagonia: Deals
Arc'teryx
Only recently has Arc'teryx jumped into the Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales game. Besides this one-week period, don't expect to find Arc'teryx gear on sale directly from the manufacturer. If you want a deal, head to REI.com to explore their Arc'teryx inventory, including out-of-season inventory. You can often score an off-season steal.
Patagonia
Patagonia, however, offers discounts throughout the year through its Web Specials page. Savvy shoppers can find some seriously smokin' deals here. And as with Arc'teryx, it's always worth checking out REI's Patagonia selection.
Arc'teryx vs Patagonia: Where are they made?
Arc'teryx
With the exception of the Alpha SV Men's and Alpha SV Women's, which are still made in Canada, almost all other Arc'teryx jackets are made in factories across Asia. I like that Arc'teryx lists the specific manufacturing facility and location on the product page of all its jackets. The data below is from arcteryx.com.
Full size table (without scrolling): https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-data.html
Patagonia
For Patagonia, I didn't code a script that pulls the necessary data from patagonia.com, but I did find a good source about this:
- Vietnam – 40.69%
- Sri Lanka – 16.03%
- China – 13.09%
- Thailand – 7.21%
- Mexico – 5.16%
- Colombia – 3.29%
- USA – 3.12%
- Philippines – 2.05%
- El Salvador – 1.87%
- Bangladesh – 1.60%
- Canada – 1.60%
- India – 1.51%
- Hong Kong – 0.98%
- Nicaragua – 0.80%
- Not Specified – 0.62%
- Taiwan – 0.09%
- South Korea – 0.09%
- Spain – 0.09%
- Portugal – 0.09%
Source: https://allamericanreviews.com/patagonia/
Conclusion: Both brands manufacture the majority of their products in Asia
Arc'teryx vs Patagonia: Full list of reviews
Scroll below to see the full list of our Patagonia and Arc'teryx jacket reviews.
Check out our other content on jackets:
Guide: Insulated & Shell Jackets
Start here:
Also see:
