Best Arc’teryx Jackets for Skiing

Raw Name	Rush	Sabre	Sentinel	Andessa Shell	Macai	Macai LT	Andessa	Theriss Down	Rush IS	Sentinel IS	Ski Guide
Name	Rush (Men's - Women's)	Sabre (Men's)	Sentinel (Women's)	Andessa Shell (Women's)	Macai (Men's)	Macai LT (Men's)	Andessa (Women's)	Theriss Down (Women's)	Rush IS (Women's)	Sentinel IS (Women's)	Ski Guide (Men's - Women's)
Image
Activity	Skiing	Skiing	Skiing	Skiing	Skiing	Skiing	Skiing	Skiing	Skiing	Skiing	Skiing
Measurements	[Men's]					[Men's]				[Women's]
Temp (°F / °C)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	5/-15	8/-13	8/-13	Testing	16/-9	21/-6	N/A
Breathability	8/10	8/10	8/10	5/10	10/10	8/10	10/10	8/10	5/10	Testing	Testing
Weather Resistance	9/10	8/10	8/10	Testing	8/10	7/10	Testing	6/10	Testing	Testing	Testing
Durability	9/10	8/10	8/10	Testing	9/10	8/10	Testing	7/10	Testing	Testing	Testing
Packability	3/10	2/10	2/10	3/10	1/10	1/10	1/10	2/10	9/10	Testing	Testing
Best pick for	Skiing.
Bottom line	Go-to ski jacket.	Alternative to Rush.		Non-insulated Andessa.	Go-to insulated ski jacket.	A lighter Macai with StormHood.	Go-to insulated ski jacket.		An insulated Rush.
Review	Review				Review
Pit zips?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Two way front zip?	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Stuffs into itself?	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Powder skirt?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Hood?	StormHood	StormHood	StormHood	DropHood	DropHood	StormHood	DropHood	StormHood	StormHood	StormHood	DropHood
Fill Power	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	750	750	750	750	N/A	N/A	N/A
Fill Weight (grams)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	90	49	60	?	N/A	N/A	N/A
FP x FW	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	67,500	36,750	45,000		N/A	N/A	N/A
Insulation Material	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Coreloft	Coreloft	Coreloft	Coreloft	Coreloft	Coreloft	N/A
Insulation Amount	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	60 + 100 g/m²	60 g/m²	80 + 100 g/m²	80 g/m²	100 g/m²	80 g/m²	N/A
Face Fabric	N80p-X & N100p-X 3L Most Rugged Gore-Tex Pro	N80p-X 3L Gore-Tex	N70p 3L Gore-Tex	N70p 3L Gore-Tex	N40p-X 3L Gore-Tex	N40p-X 3L Gore-Tex	N40d 3L Gore-Tex	N80p 2L Gore-Tex	Gore-Tex Infinium	N80p 2L Gore-Tex	N80d Most Rugged 3L Gore-Tex Pro
Fit	Regular	Regular	Regular	Trim	Regular	Regular	Trim	Regular	Regular	Regular	Regular
Weight	590 g / 1 lb 4.8 oz	705 g / 1 lb 8.9 oz	370 g / 13.1 oz	560 g / 1 lb 3.8 oz	1 kg / 2 lb 3.3 oz	855 g / 1 lb 14.2 oz	869 g / 1 lb 14.7 oz	709 g / 1 lb 9 oz	515 g / 1 lb 2.2 oz	600 g / 1 lb 5.2 oz	570 g / 1 lb 4.1 oz
Length	79.5 cm / 31.25 in	79 cm / 31 in	?	?	75 cm / 29.5 in	?	?	?	?	?	?
Insulation	No	No	No	No	Yes (Down)	Yes (Down)	Yes (Down)	Yes (Down)	Yes (Synthetic)	Yes (Synthetic)	No
Type	Shell	Shell	Shell	Shell	Shell & Insulated (Down + Synthetic)	Shell & Insulated (Down + Synthetic)	Shell & Insulated (Synthetic)	Shell & Insulated (Synthetic)	Shell & Insulated (Synthetic)	Shell & Insulated (Synthetic)	Shell
arc-mens-url	https://www.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/rush-jacket	https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-jacket			https://www.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/macai-jacket	https://www.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/macai-lt-jacket					https://www.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/ski-guide-jacket
arc-womens-url	https://www.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/rush-jacket		https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/sentinel-jacket	https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/andessa-shell-jacket			https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/andessa-jacket	https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/theriss-down-jacket	https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/rush-insulated-jacket	https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/sentinel-insulated-jacket	https://www.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/ski-guide-jacket
leave-empty-mens-url
leave-empty-womens-url
rei-mens-url	https://www.rei.com/product/178350				https://www.rei.com/product/138467
rei-womens-url				https://www.rei.com/product/209240/arcteryx-andessa-shell-jacket-womens			https://www.rei.com/product/209237/arcteryx-andessa-insulated-jacket-womens
backcountry-mens-url
backcountry-womens-url
amazon-mens-url	https://www.amazon.com/Arcteryx-Rush-Jacket-Black-Medium/dp/B00GW8451E				https://www.amazon.com/Arcteryx-Mens-Macai-Jacket-Tungsten/dp/B0163SSTF0
amazon-womens-url
image-url	https://images.arcteryx.com/F22/1350x1710/Rush-Jacket-Relic-Bitters.jpg	https://images.arcteryx.com/F22/1350x1710/Sabre-Jacket-Multiverse.jpg	https://images.arcteryx.com/F22/1350x1710/Sentinel-Jacket-W-Atmos-Habitat.jpg	https://images.arcteryx.com/F22/1350x1710/Andessa-Shell-Jacket-W-Habitat.jpg	https://images.arcteryx.com/F22/1350x1710/Macai-Jacket-Bitters.jpg	https://images.arcteryx.com/F22/1350x1710/Macai-LT-Jacket-Relic.jpg	https://images.arcteryx.com/F22/1350x1710/Andessa-Jacket-W-Techno.jpg	https://images.arcteryx.com/F22/1350x1710/Theriss-Down-Jacket-W-Atmos.jpg	https://images.arcteryx.com/F22/1350x1710/Rush-Insulated-Jacket-W-Labyrinth-Dark-Immersion.jpg	https://images.arcteryx.com/F22/1350x1710/Sentinel-Insulated-Jacket-W-Sunstone.jpg	https://images.arcteryx.com/S22/1350x1710/Ski-Guide-Jacket-Rigel-II.jpg
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Now let's take a closer look. 

Non-insulated Arc'teryx Ski Shells

Sabre (Men's - Women's Sentinel) and Rush (Men's - Women's) are the two flagship products in this regard. These two would actually make up like 90% of my entire Arc'teryx ski jacket recommendations. Both are fascinating units you'll love to use for years decades to come. Wearing these are so comfortable and enjoyable they'll even make you want to ski more. 

I also personally think that getting the Rush over the Sabre would worth it for almost anyone. The relatively smaller price gap would definitely worth the added weather and abrasion resistance, plus the lighter weight. 

But the difference isn't all THAT noticeable. Sabre would also fill the bill flawlessly. Absolutely go for it if you like its looks for the better or you come across a discount. 

Both of the Sabre and Rush are offered in StormHood, by the way. For those who don't usually ski with their hoods on, a DropHood might feel more comfortable than the StormHood when the hood is down. 

In the end, everyone is different, and hence it of course really comes down to personal preference (which is why they manufacture both). But this is the general consensus. 

Both of them also come with a non-removable powder skirt. If you're unaware, a powder skirt is a cinched waist seal that prevents the snow from getting into the jacket from down below. Read more about powder skirts: https://outdoorcrunch.com/powder-skirts/

Also see: 

• Men's side-by-side Rush vs Sabre page on arcteryx.com: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/compare/X000004986-oracle%20daze/X000006171-black
• Women's side-by-side Rush vs Sentinel (which is women's Sabre) page on arcteryx.com: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/compare/X000005677-phenom/X000006672-atmos%20habitat

By the way, for women, there's also the option to get an Andessa Shell Jacket (Women's) instead of Rush and Sabre. But one thing to note about it is that it does NOT come with any pit ventilation. This is a dealbreaker to me, but of course, you are you, so proceed to your own desires and needs. 

PS: If you're in Arc'teryx's exclusive Pro Program, then absolutely consider the Ski Guide Jacket (Men's - Women's). If this jacket was a regular member of the line up instead of being a Pro product, then I'd recommend it over the Rush and Sabre without a doubt. 

Insulated Arc'teryx Ski Shells

For men, the go-to jackets are Macai (Men's) or Macai LT (Men's) in here.

I think that their most important difference in here is that the Macai is offered in DropHood and the Macai LT is offered in StormHood. As explained earlier into the article, DropHood is considered to be more comfortable when the hood is down and the StormHood is considered more comfortable when the hood is in use. 

For women, there are a lot more options, such as the Sentinel IS (Women's), Rush IS (Women's), Andessa (Women's) and Theriss (Women's). 

Andessa can mostly be a great option, as it's extremely robust and does come with pit zips, unlike its sister Andessa Shell Jacket. Its main front zipper is also covered with a storm flap, unlike most other ski jackets. It's also one of Arc'teryx's trimmest fitting ski jackets.

The best alternative to the Andessa is the Theriss. And if you'd like less warmth, then Sentinel IS is the best option, because unlike these two, Sentinel IS is insulated only with synthetic insulators (no down insulation). 

Another jacket with only synthetic insulation and no down insulation would be the Rush IS, which would mostly respond the best to those who are planning to travel a lot with the jacket. Because it's stuffed into itself (comes with a stuff sack), unlike any other Arc'teryx ski jacket. Not something we see that often with the ski jackets. It does NOT come with pit zips, though. 

For temperature ratings and other details, check out the database below as well as these links: 

• https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/ski-and-snowboard-product-guide/mens/
• https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/ski-and-snowboard-product-guide/womens/
• Also use this: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/jacket-finder/

By the way, if you're unaware:

• Resort: Skiing / snowboarding close to the piste or right at the resort,
• Freeride: A little bit far from that,
• Touring (a.k.a Backcountry skiing): The farthest. Requires the most experience. 
  • This post goes deeper into how these 3 types differ from each other.

So here's the list of all Arc'teryx ski jackets: 

Cassiar vs Cassiar LT (women's counterpart for these is Ravenna and Ravenna LT)

These are discontinued but can be found in some (like AUS) locales or second hand retailers. 

I had contacted Arc'teryx about this years ago and this is what they told me: 

"They will be similar in terms of breathability and weather resistance (wind and waterproofness), however the Cassiar is much more durable than the Cassiar LT, due to a difference in face fabrics. 

• The Cassiar LT fabric is N70p 3L GORE-TEX fabric with brushed flannel backer, which means it is a 3 layer Gore-Tex construction with 70denier, plain weave face fabric. 
• The Cassiar fabric is N70s-4 3L GORE-TEX fabric with lo-loft soft shell construction, which means it is a 3 layer Gore-Tex construction with 70denier, stretch face fabric. 

The additional -4 also denotes that this face fabric has an exceptional weight to durability ratio. 

The stretch fabric of the Cassiar would also mean it's a bit more moveable. 

If you ride close to trees at all, I'd highly suggest the Cassiar over the Cassiar LT for that extra durability. 

The Cassiar series of product is designed with resort type activities in mind for the principle usage."

What difference does the backcountry vs resort skiing make?

Backcountry Skiing (a.k.a Touring)

Hiking your way up to the peak and carrying relatively more items with you gives breathability a larger factor when skiing in the backcountry - so shells are usually preferred more than the insulated jackets.

There are also some small design details here and there.

Rush is a perfect example for this - its internal stash pocket is designed to be shallower in order to store items such as goggles or gloves, to make transitioning in the backcountry as seamless as possible.

Resort Skiing

Resort skiers, on the other hand, are divided into two groups. Generally speaking, those who prefer non-insulated shells usually either;

• don't ski when it's below 30 deg F (0 deg C), 
• tend to overheat a lot they can sacrifice warmth to maximize breathability in return,
• or more leaned towards comfort and flexibility side of the balance rather than the warmth.

If these don't apply to you, then I'd recommend most of you to forget about getting one of these shell jackets laid out in the table above. You'd probably do better getting yourself a breathable, insulated jacket instead. 

Freeride

This is somewhere between Resort and Backcountry Skiing settings.

An important caveat here

Apart from RECCO Reflectors and powder skirts, these jackets mostly don't offer anything else you can benefit specifically when skiing and/or snowboarding.

So if you think you wouldn't make much use of these two features for any reason, and would actually prefer something that's great at a lot of things (but not perfect at anything - including skiing and snowboarding) then I'd also recommend you to consider getting an all-round jacket such as Beta AR or Beta SV.

Since they aren't biased towards any specific outdoor activity, they'll be more versatility focused and can be better choices for you. I'd strongly recommend everyone to prefer skiing or snowboarding with Beta AR from time to time rather than prefer climbing/hiking/fat biking with any Rush or Sabre models from time to time!

Lastly, if you're torn between Rush and Sabre, then you can check out my related post about it.