Update: Arc'teryx just dropped its complete line of Winter 2024-2025 ski and snowboard jackets and pants, which includes all the main shells as last year with a few new pieces, like the Allium Insulated Jacket and the Fissile SV Down Jacket. We'll continue to update this best Arc'teryx ski jacket post to reflect the latest offerings.
Summary
We'll be the first to admit that picking the best Arc'teryx ski jacket is a matter of subjectivity based on a lot of factors, including terrain, climate, and lift-served or backcountry skiing and riding, to name just a few. We get it. We're skiers and snowboarders who do everything from resort days with the kids to big-mountain touring days with the bros. Let's get at it:
- The overall best Arc'teryx ski jacket is the overachieving Sabre SV. This jacket was a stunner from the moment it first dropped in late 2023. No one was expecting 100d face fabric. In addition to the Alpha SV (Men's - Women's), we now have two burly 100-denier hardshells in the Arc'teryx lineup, but only the Sabre SV is ski-specific. The Sabre SV is the most breathable, durable and weather-resistant Arc'teryx ski jacket. It's also the longest. We love it, but it may be overkill for many skiers and snowboarders. But hey, since when do we skiers and snowboarders care about overkill?
- Sabre SV Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-sv-jacket
- Sabre SV Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-sv-jacket
- The next best Arc'teryx ski jacket is the do-everything Rush. While it falls behind the Sabre SV in every technical category, it's still an extremely capable shell with lots of snow-specific features and bombproof Gore-Tex Pro. If the Sabre SV is the Lamborghini of Arc'teryx's ski jacket lineup, think of the Rush as the Mercedes - everything you need and want in a high-performance ski jacket.
- Men's Rush Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/rush-jacket
- Women's Rush Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/rush-jacket
- The Macai Shell, Sabre Jacket, and Sentinel/Sidewinder aren't Gore-Tex Pro but Gore-Tex, unlike the Rush and Sabre SV. They're still extremely capable. If you have no plans of using your ski jacket for 10-plus years or 100-plus days a season, then you might not need Gore-Tex Pro. The Macai Shell offers DropHood, unlike the StormHood of other shells in here. The Sabre, on the other hand, comes with a smooth flannel liner to provide a bit of additional warmth.
- Macai Shell Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/macai-shell-jacket
- Sabre Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-jacket
- Women's Sentinel Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/sentinel-jacket
- Women's Sidewinder Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/sidewinder-jacket
- Arc'teryx makes a number of insulated ski jackets, for those of you into that sort of thing. We always prefer non-insulated hard shells because we want to control the amount of insulation we need on any given outing based on the conditions that day. You might be different, and that's OK! The all-new Fissile SV Down Jacket, the Macai Jacket (down insulation), Sabre Insulated Jacket (synthetic insulation), Rush Insulated Jacket (synthetic insulation), Sentinel Insulated Jacket (women's, synthetic insulation) are all great options. It's worth noting we're not fans of the Rush Insulated Jacket's lack of pit zips.
- Fissile SV Down Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/fissile-sv-down-jacket
- Macai Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/macai-jacket
- Macai Lightweight Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/macai-lightweight-jacket
- Sabre Insulated Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-insulated-jacket
- Women's Sentinel Insulated Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/sentinel-insulated-jacket
- Men's Rush Insulated Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/rush-insulated-jacket
- Women's Rush Insulated Jacket: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/rush-insulated-jacket
Also see: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/ski-and-snowboard-product-guide/
In no particular order:
Name | Activity | Breathability | Weather Res. | Durability | Bottom line | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alpha (aka AR) (Men's - Women's) | Climbing | 8/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 4/10 | Go-to climbing harshell. | Revised | No |
Alpha SV (Men's - Women's) | Climbing | 8/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 3/10 | Strongest climbing hardshell. | Revised | No |
Beta (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 6/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | Streamlined all-doer shell. | None | No |
Beta Lightweight (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 8/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | None | No | |
Beta LT (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 7/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 6/10 | None | No | |
Beta AR (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 8/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 4/10 | Go-to all-round harshell. | Revised | No |
Beta AR StormHood (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 8/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 4/10 | None | No | |
Beta Coat (Women's) | All Round | 6/10 | 5/10 | No data | 5/10 | None | No | |
Beta Insulated (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 9/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | No data | Go-to hybrid jacket. | None | No |
Beta Insulated Coat (Women's) | All Round | 7/10 | No data | No data | No data | None | No | |
Beta Down Insulated (Men's) | All Round | 9/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | No data | None | No | |
Gamma SL (aka lightweight) (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 7/10 | 2/10 | 6/10 | 5/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Gamma (aka LT) (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 7/10 | 3/10 | 7/10 | 3/10 | Go-to softshell. | Revised | No |
Gamma MX (Men's) | All Round | 6/10 | 4/10 | 8/10 | 3/10 | Strongest softshell. | None | No |
Sabre SV (Men's) | Skiing | 10/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 1/10 | Strongest ski jacket. | New | Yes |
Sabre (Men's) | Skiing | 8/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 | Revised | No | |
Sabre Insulated (See related products) | Skiing | 7/10 | No data | 6/10 | No data | Discontinued | Yes | |
Rush (Women's) | Skiing | 8/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 3/10 | Go-to ski jacket. | None | No |
Rush (Women's) | Skiing | 3/10 | 5/10 | 5/10 | 9/10 | None | No | |
Macai Shell (Men's) | Skiing | No data | No data | No data | No data | Discontinued | Yes | |
Macai (Men's) | Skiing | 7/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | 1/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Macai Lightweight (aka LT) (Men's) | Skiing | 7/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | 2/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Theriss Down (Women's) | Skiing | 7/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 | None | No | |
Sentinel (Women's) | Skiing | 8/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 | Go-to ski jacket. | None | No |
Sentinel Insulated (Women's) | Skiing | 8/10 | No data | No data | No data | None | No | |
Sentinel Relaxed (Women's) | Skiing | No data | No data | No data | No data | None | No | |
Sidewinder (Women's) | Skiing | 8/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 | None | No | |
Squamish (Men's - Women's) | Running | 5/10 | 4/10 | 7/10 | 9/10 | Go-to running jacket. | Revised | No |
Norvan Windshell (Men's | Running | No data | No data | No data | No data | Discontinued | Yes | |
Norvan Shell (Men's | Running | No data | No data | No data | No data | None | No | |
Nodin (Men's - Women's) | Running | 8/10 | 5/10 | 5/10 | 10/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Incendo Airshell (Men's | Running | No data | No data | No data | No data | Discontinued | Yes | |
Solano (Men's - Women's) | Around Town | No data | No data | No data | No data | Revised | No | |
Alpha FL (Men's - Women's) | Climbing | 7/10 | No data | No data | 10/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Alpha SL (Men's - Women's) | Climbing | 5/10 | 7/10 | No data | 9/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Alpha IS (Men's) | Climbing | 7/10 | 5/10 | No data | 8/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Beta Long | All Round | 4/10 | 9/10 | No data | 3/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Beta LT Hadron | All Round | 7/10 | 6/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Beta SV (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 8/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 3/10 | Strongest all-round harshell. | Discontinued | Yes |
Andessa (Women's) | Skiing | 10/10 | No data | No data | 1/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Andessa Shell (Women's) | Skiing | 5/10 | No data | No data | 3/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Micon Heather | Skiing | No data | No data | No data | No data | Discontinued | Yes | |
Micon (Men's) | Skiing | No data | No data | No data | No data | Discontinued | Yes | |
Cassiar (Men's) | Skiing | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 3/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Cassiar LT (Men's) | Skiing | 6/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 | 5/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Ravenna (Women's) | Skiing | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 3/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Ravenna LT (Women's) | Skiing | 6/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 | 5/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Procline (Men's) | Skiing | No data | No data | No data | No data | Discontinued | Yes | |
Shashka Stretch (Women's) | Skiing | No data | No data | No data | No data | Discontinued | Yes | |
Sabre AR (Men's) | Skiing | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Sentinel AR (Women's) | Skiing | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Sabre LT (Men's) | Skiing | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Sentinel LT (Women's) | Skiing | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Incendia (Women's) | Skiing | 8/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 3/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Indencia IS | Skiing | No data | No data | No data | No data | Discontinued | Yes | |
Incendo (Men's) | Running | 7/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 10/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Norvan LT (Men's - Women's) | Running | 5/10 | 5/10 | 8/10 | 6/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Norvan SL Ins. (Women's) | Running | No data | No data | No data | No data | Discontinued | Yes | |
Cita (Women's) | Running | 7/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 10/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Cita SL (Women's) | Running | 7/10 | 4/10 | 4/10 | 10/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Incendo SL (Men's) | Running | 7/10 | 4/10 | 4/10 | 10/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Norvan SL (Men's - Women's) | Running | 7/10 | 6/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Trino SL (Men's) | Running | 8/10 | 5/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Trino SL Anorak (Women's) | Running | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Venda Anorak (Women's) | Around Town | No data | No data | No data | No data | Discontinued | Yes | |
Zeta FL (Men's - Women's) | Hiking | 4/10 | 6/10 | 4/10 | 6/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Zeta SL (Men's - Women's) | Hiking | 3/10 | 5/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Zeta LT (Men's - Women's) | Hiking | 5/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 5/10 | Discontinued | Yes | |
Zeta AR (Men's) | Hiking | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 4/10 | Discontinued | Yes |
- This is how Arc'teryx compares the Sabre vs Sabre SV vs Sabre Relaxed Anorak vs Rush vs Macai Shell ski jackets:
- All 6 women's ski jackets compared by Arc'teryx:
Scroll down for full table.
Also see: https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-sabre-vs-rush/
All-around Best Arc'teryx Ski Jacket: Sabre SV
The Sabre SV kind of has a special place in Arc'teryx history.
There hasn't been any other jacket manufactured with N100p 3L Gore-Tex Pro throughout the entire garment while also providing pit zips and a two-way zipper. Until the release of the Sabre SV in 2023, the Alpha SV (Men's - Women's) had been the only Arc'teryx jacket with a 100d 3L Gore-Tex Pro outer fabric. But it didn't offer a two-way zipper.
As you can guess, the N100d face fabric is more durable than the N80p-X and N100p-X combination of the Rush. However, it can be overkill, because most average users simply don't subject their jackets to that much abrasion.
The Rush uses 80d thickness strategically, just in the right locations where you don't need so much resistance.
In terms of breathability, the pit zips have got your back. A two-way zipper is always there for you, too. But it's generally used for comfort reasons, such as when riding lifts. But still, it can have an impact on breathability too, so I rate its breathability a 10. Facts are facts.
Compared to the Rush, the Sabre SV also has more pockets - it offers one more external (on the chest) and two more internal pockets. I personally never have too many pockets, so I love the Sabre SV in this regard. But the pockets in the Rush are also enough.
Need a lengthier jacket to cover your hips? The Sabre SV is the way to go. Standing at 85cm / 33.5in, the Sabre SV is the longest Arc'teryx ski jacket made.
The only downside of the Sabre SV is its price tag.
The do-everything Best Arc'teryx Ski Jacket: Rush
I've got a few non-negotiable things when it comes to ski jackets, and the Rush ticks all of them. This is why it has always been my No. 1 Arc'teryx ski jacket pick.
The number one thing is mechanical breathability. This comes down to pit zips (or in some rare situations, mesh armpits) or two way zippers.
Name | Activity | Temp (F/C) | Breathability | Weather Res. | Durability | Bottom line | Review | Pit zips? | Two way zipper? | Stuffs into itself? | Face Fabric | Fit | Weight | Length | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alpha (aka AR) (Men's - Women's) | Climbing | N/A | 8/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 4/10 | Go-to climbing harshell. | Review | Yes | No | No | N40d & N80d Most Rugged 3L Gore-Tex Pro | Regular | 430 g / 15.2 oz | 79.5 cm / 31.25 in | No |
Alpha SV (Men's - Women's) | Climbing | N/A | 8/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 3/10 | Strongest climbing hardshell. | Review | Yes | No | No | N100d Most Rugged 3L Gore-Tex Pro | Regular | 510 g / 1 lb 2 oz | 78 cm / 30.75 in | No |
Beta (Men's - Women's) | All Round | N/A | 6/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | Streamlined all-doer shell. | Review | No | No | No | N30p-X 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 300 g / 10.6 oz | 76 cm / 30 in | No |
Beta Lightweight (Men's - Women's) | All Round | N/A | 8/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N40p 3L Gore-Tex | Fitted | 380 g / 13.4 oz | 75 cm / 29.5 in | No | |
Beta LT (Men's - Women's) | All Round | N/A | 7/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 6/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N40d 3L Gore-Tex | Fitted | 395 g / 13.9 oz | 76 cm / 30 in | No | |
Beta AR (Men's - Women's) | All Round | N/A | 8/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 4/10 | Go-to all-round harshell. | Review | Yes | No | No | N40d & N80d Most Rugged 3L Gore-Tex Pro | Regular | 460 g / 1 lb | 76 cm / 30 in | No |
Beta AR StormHood (Men's - Women's) | All Round | N/A | 8/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 4/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N40d & N80d Most Rugged 3L Gore-Tex Pro | Regular | 460 g / 1 lb | 76 cm / 30 in | No | |
Beta Coat (Women's) | All Round | N/A | 6/10 | 5/10 | No data | 5/10 | No | Yes | No | 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 320 g / 11.3 oz | 88 cm / 34.5 in | No | ||
Beta Insulated (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 21/-6 | 9/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | No data | Go-to hybrid jacket. | Review | Yes | Yes | No | N40d 2L Gore-Tex | Regular | 680 g / 1 lb 8 oz | 78.5 cm / 31 in | No |
Beta Insulated Coat (Women's) | All Round | 16/-9 | 7/10 | No data | No data | No data | No | Yes | No | N40d 2L Gore-Tex | Regular | 600 g / 1 lb 5.2 oz | 86 cm / 34 in | No | ||
Beta Down Insulated (Men's) | All Round | 0/-18 | 9/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | No data | Yes | Yes | No | 2L 40D Gore-Tex | Regular | 760 g / 1 lb 10.8 oz | 79 cm / 31 in | No | ||
Gamma SL (aka lightweight) (Men's - Women's) | All Round | N/A | 7/10 | 2/10 | 6/10 | 5/10 | Review | No | No | No | Fortius 1.0 | Trim | 310 g / 10.9 oz | 74 cm / 29.1 in | Yes | |
Gamma (aka LT) (Men's - Women's) | All Round | N/A | 7/10 | 3/10 | 7/10 | 3/10 | Go-to softshell. | Review | No | No | No | Wee Burly Double Weave | Regular | 545 g / 1 lb 3.2 oz | 76 cm / 30 in | No |
Gamma MX (Men's) | All Round | N/A | 6/10 | 4/10 | 8/10 | 3/10 | Strongest softshell. | Review | No | No | No | Fortius 2.0 | Regular | 555 g / 1 lb 3.6 oz | 74 cm / 29.1 in | No |
Sabre SV (Men's) | Skiing | N/A | 10/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 1/10 | Strongest ski jacket. | Review | Yes | Yes | No | N100d Most Rugged 3L Gore-Tex Pro | Regular | 595 g / 1 lb 5 oz | 85 cm / 33.5 in | Yes |
Sabre (Men's) | Skiing | N/A | 8/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N80p-X 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 705 g / 1 lb 8.9 oz | 79 cm / 31 in | No | |
Sabre Insulated (See related products) | Skiing | No data | 7/10 | No data | 6/10 | No data | Review | Yes | No | No | N80p 2L Gore-Tex | Regular | 815 g / 1 lb 12.7 oz | 76 cm / 30 in | Yes | |
Rush (Women's) | Skiing | N/A | 8/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 3/10 | Go-to ski jacket. | Review | Yes | No | No | N80p-X & N100p-X 3L Most Rugged Gore-Tex Pro | Regular | 590 g / 1 lb 4.8 oz | 79.5 cm / 31.25 in | No |
Rush (Women's) | Skiing | 16/-9 | 3/10 | 5/10 | 5/10 | 9/10 | Review | No | No | Yes | Hadron 2L Gore-Tex Infinium | Regular | 515 g / 1 lb 2.2 oz | 79 cm / 31 in | No | |
Macai Shell (Men's) | Skiing | N/A | No data | No data | No data | No data | Review | Yes | No | No | N80p-X 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 775 g / 1 lb 11.3 oz | ? | Yes | |
Macai (Men's) | Skiing | 5/-15 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | 1/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N40p-X 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 990 g / 2 lb 2.9 oz | 75 cm / 29.5 in | Yes | |
Macai Lightweight (aka LT) (Men's) | Skiing | 8/-13 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | 2/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N40p-X 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 855 g / 1 lb 14.2 oz | ? | Yes | |
Theriss Down (Women's) | Skiing | No data | 7/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N80p 2L Gore-Tex | Regular | 709 g / 1 lb 9 oz | 63 cm / 24.8 in | No | |
Sentinel (Women's) | Skiing | N/A | 8/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 | Go-to ski jacket. | Review | Yes | No | No | N70p 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 640 g / 1 lb 6.6 oz | 73.7 cm / 29 in | No |
Sentinel Insulated (Women's) | Skiing | 21/-6 | 8/10 | No data | No data | No data | Review | Yes | No | No | N80p 2L Gore-Tex | Regular | 600 g / 1 lb 5.2 oz | 79.8 cm / 31.5 in | No | |
Sentinel Relaxed (Women's) | Skiing | N/A | No data | No data | No data | No data | Yes | No | No | N80p 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 655 g / 1 lb 7.1 oz | ? | No | ||
Sidewinder (Women's) | Skiing | N/A | 8/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 | Yes | No | No | N80p 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 570 g / 1 lb 4.1 oz | ? | No | ||
Squamish (Men's - Women's) | Running | N/A | 5/10 | 4/10 | 7/10 | 9/10 | Go-to running jacket. | Review | No | No | Yes | 30D Tyono | Trim | 140 g / 4.9 oz | 77.5 cm / 30.5 in | No |
Norvan Windshell (Men's | Running | N/A | No data | No data | No data | No data | No | No | Yes | Permeair 20 | Trim | 90 g / 3.2 oz | 73 cm / 28.75 in | Yes | ||
Norvan Shell (Men's | Running | N/A | No data | No data | No data | No data | No | No | No | 13D 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 190 g / 6.7 oz | 73 cm / 28.75 in | No | ||
Nodin (Men's - Women's) | Running | N/A | 8/10 | 5/10 | 5/10 | 10/10 | No | No | Yes | 20D Tyono | Trim | 130 g / 4.6 oz | 75 cm / 29.5 in | Yes | ||
Incendo Airshell (Men's | Running | N/A | No data | No data | No data | No data | No | No | Yes | ? | Trim | 105 g / 3.7 oz | ? | Yes | ||
Solano (Men's - Women's) | Around Town | N/A | No data | No data | No data | No data | Review | No | No | No | Gore-Tex Infinium | Relaxed | 355 g / 12.5 oz | 72 cm / 28.3 in | No | |
Alpha FL (Men's - Women's) | Climbing | N/A | 7/10 | No data | No data | 10/10 | No | No | Yes | Hadron 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 209 g / 7.4 oz | 76.5 cm / 30 in | Yes | ||
Alpha SL (Men's - Women's) | Climbing | N/A | 5/10 | 7/10 | No data | 9/10 | No | No | Yes | N40p 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 326 g / 11.5 oz | 77.5 cm / 30.5 in | Yes | ||
Alpha IS (Men's) | Climbing | 23/-5 | 7/10 | 5/10 | No data | 8/10 | No | Yes | Yes | N40p-X 2L Gore-Tex | Regular | 610 g / 1 lb 5.5 oz | 78 cm / 30.75 in | Yes | ||
Beta Long | All Round | N/A | 4/10 | 9/10 | No data | 3/10 | Review | No | No | No | N80p 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 441 g / 15.6 oz | 85 cm / 33.5 in | Yes | |
Beta LT Hadron | All Round | N/A | 7/10 | 6/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | No | No | No | Hadron 3L Gore-Tex | Fitted | 255 g / 9 oz | 76 cm / 30 in | Yes | ||
Beta SV (Men's - Women's) | All Round | N/A | 8/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 3/10 | Strongest all-round harshell. | Review | Yes | No | No | N80p-X Most Rugged 3L Gore-Tex Pro | Regular | 495 g / 1 lb 1.5 oz | 79 cm / 31 in | Yes |
Andessa (Women's) | Skiing | 8/-13 | 10/10 | No data | No data | 1/10 | Yes | No | No | N40d 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 869 g / 1 lb 14.7 oz | 67 cm / 26.4 in | Yes | ||
Andessa Shell (Women's) | Skiing | N/A | 5/10 | No data | No data | 3/10 | No | No | No | N70p 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 560 g / 1 lb 3.8 oz | ? | Yes | ||
Micon Heather | Skiing | N/A | No data | No data | No data | No data | Yes | No | No | NP100-d 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 685 g / 1 lb 8.2 oz | 83 cm / 32.5 in | Yes | ||
Micon (Men's) | Skiing | N/A | No data | No data | No data | No data | Yes | No | No | N80p 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 685 g / 1 lb 8.2 oz | 83 cm / 32.5 in | Yes | ||
Cassiar (Men's) | Skiing | N/A | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 3/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N70p 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 820 g / 1 lb 12.9 oz | 74.5 cm / 29.3 in | Yes | |
Cassiar LT (Men's) | Skiing | N/A | 6/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 | 5/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N70p 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 605 g / 1 lb 5.3 oz | 75 cm / 29.5 in | Yes | |
Ravenna (Women's) | Skiing | N/A | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 3/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N70s-4 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 725 g / 1 lb 9.6 oz | 69.5 cm / 27.4 in | Yes | |
Ravenna LT (Women's) | Skiing | N/A | 6/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 | 5/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N70p 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 540 g / 1 lb 3 oz | 69 cm / 27.2 in | Yes | |
Procline (Men's) | Skiing | N/A | No data | No data | No data | No data | Yes | No | No | N70p Gore-Tex Infinium | Trim | 720 g / 1 lb 9.4 oz | 76 cm / 30 in | Yes | ||
Shashka Stretch (Women's) | Skiing | N/A | No data | No data | No data | No data | Yes | No | No | N70p Gore-Tex Infinium | Trim | 670 g / 1 lb 7.6 oz | 71 cm / 28 in | Yes | ||
Sabre AR (Men's) | Skiing | N/A | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N70p 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 700 g / 1 lb 8.7 oz | 79 cm / 31 in | Yes | |
Sentinel AR (Women's) | Skiing | N/A | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N70p 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 590 g / 1 lb 4.8 oz | 72.5 cm / 28.5 in | Yes | |
Sabre LT (Men's) | Skiing | N/A | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N80p 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 660 g / 1 lb 7.3 oz | 83 cm / 32.5 in | Yes | |
Sentinel LT (Women's) | Skiing | N/A | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | N80p 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 565 g / 1 lb 3.9 oz | 73.5 cm / 29 in | Yes | |
Incendia (Women's) | Skiing | N/A | 8/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 3/10 | Review | Yes | No | No | NP100d 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 610 g / 1 lb 5.5 oz | 79 cm / 31 in | Yes | |
Indencia IS | Skiing | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | Yes | No | No | N80p 2L Gore-Tex | Regular | ? | 78 cm / 30.75 in | Yes | ||
Incendo (Men's) | Running | N/A | 7/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 10/10 | Review | No | No | Yes | Lumin | Trim | 125 g / 4.4 oz | ? | Yes | |
Norvan LT (Men's - Women's) | Running | N/A | 5/10 | 5/10 | 8/10 | 6/10 | No | No | No | N13p 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 190 g / 6.7 oz | ? | Yes | ||
Norvan SL Ins. (Women's) | Running | 39/4 | No data | No data | No data | No data | No | No | Yes | Gore-Tex ShakeDry | Trim | 270 g / 9.5 oz | 71.5 cm / 28.1 in | Yes | ||
Cita (Women's) | Running | N/A | 7/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 10/10 | Review | No | No | Yes | Lumin | Trim | 120 g / 4.2 oz | 67.5 cm / 26.5 in | Yes | |
Cita SL (Women's) | Running | N/A | 7/10 | 4/10 | 4/10 | 10/10 | Review | Yes | No | Yes | Permeair 20 | Trim | 65 g / 2.3 oz | 61.5 cm / 24.2 in | Yes | |
Incendo SL (Men's) | Running | N/A | 7/10 | 4/10 | 4/10 | 10/10 | Review | No | No | Yes | Permair 20 & Canim | Trim | 80 g / 2.8 oz | 73 cm / 28.75 in | Yes | |
Norvan SL (Men's - Women's) | Running | N/A | 7/10 | 6/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | Review | No | No | Yes | Gore-Tex Infinium | Trim | 120 g / 4.2 oz | 77 cm / 30.4 in | Yes | |
Trino SL (Men's) | Running | N/A | 8/10 | 5/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | Review | No | No | No | Gore-Tex Infinium | Trim | 340 g / 12 oz | 74 cm / 29.1 in | Yes | |
Trino SL Anorak (Women's) | Running | N/A | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | Review | No | No | No | Gore-Tex Infinium | Trim | 290 g / 10.2 oz | 65 cm / 25.5 in | Yes | |
Venda Anorak (Women's) | Around Town | N/A | No data | No data | No data | No data | No | No | No | Gore-Tex | Relaxed | 255 g / 9 oz | 75.5 cm / 29.7 in | Yes | ||
Zeta FL (Men's - Women's) | Hiking | N/A | 4/10 | 6/10 | 4/10 | 6/10 | No | No | No | N20r 2L Gore-Tex | Trim | 221 g / 7.8 oz | 76 cm / 30 in | Yes | ||
Zeta SL (Men's - Women's) | Hiking | N/A | 3/10 | 5/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | Review | No | No | No | 2L Gore-Tex | Trim | 310 g / 10.9 oz | 77.8 cm / 30.6 in | Yes | |
Zeta LT (Men's - Women's) | Hiking | N/A | 5/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 5/10 | No | No | No | N40P-X 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 335 g / 11.8 oz | 78 cm / 30.75 in | Yes | ||
Zeta AR (Men's) | Hiking | N/A | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 4/10 | Yes | No | No | 3L Gore-Tex | Regular | 425 g / 15 oz | 80 cm / 31.5 in | Yes |
Performance data axis of synthetic jackets (table above) and shell jackets (this table) are different. Don't compare them.
- Patagonia and Arc'teryx are like up to 70% off at REI rn...
Arc'teryx always uses either one of these in their ski jackets - except the Rush Insulated (biggest disappointment).
Going back to Rush, it offers pit zips, but lacks a two-way zipper. From breathability perspective, the latter is less important. It would however be helpful for other stuff (more on this later). Wish Rush had that too. Still, not a dealbreaker. Some even dislike two-way zippers because it can break down more easily. Lots of Arc'teryx warranty issues stem from the zippers. And a two way zipper doesn't mean making things easier.
Rush doesn't offer any insulation. Which is great. I've never been a fan of insulated ski jackets hardshells in general (with a few exceptions like the Beta Insulated (Men's - Women's - read review), but we all know that it's a hardshell that isn't being used as a hardshell...). Not being able to control the warmth would be a nightmare. Especially if you run warm like I do.
If you're worried about the cold so much you can always under layer the Rush. It's the slimmest fitting men's Arc'teryx ski jacket, but still plenty of room to get a mid layer and/or a base layer. The air that gets trapped between different clothing items will work as an extra layer of insulation (because air is a stunning insulator by its very nature), and will heat you even more.
Macai: The hood king
When it comes to StormHood vs DropHood, I'm always camp "it depends".
For most people, DropHood will feel more comfortable when the hood is not on, because the hood is separated from the collar. StormHood on the other hand mostly feels more comfortable when the hood is on, because the hood and the collar is integrated.
Macai is the hood king.
It is not only the only Arc'teryx ski jacket that comes with DropHood, it also provides you with the option to remove the hood. On top of those, you still have the option to opt for the Macai Lightweight, which comes with a StormHood.
I still don't like the idea of an insulated ski jacket, because I like having control over warmth. But I do not dislike Macai as much as I dislike Rush Insulated, because Macai does offer pit zips, which gives you some control over warmth by dumping heat.
It is, however, insulated with Coreloft AND down, instead of the sole synthetic insulators used in other insulated jackets in this review. Down is usually terrible when it comes to breathability, but luckily both Macai's contain less than 100 grams of down.
Besides insulation, Macai is a solid item, but I still would probably get a Rush, or a Sabre SV. 40d face fabric of Macai is the least strong of all current Arc'teryx ski jackets. Check out the table for this. This is probably the biggest downside of this jacket.
Other Arc'teryx ski jackets are usually around 80d and 100d with a few exceptions. If I'm paying buckets for Macai... I don't accept the half of the strength of others.
In terms of fit, in addition to all the Sabre jackets in this review, Macai and Macai Lightweight, too, come with the revised fit.
Which means that the medium size remains the same but smaller sizes are now even smaller with the new revision and larger sizes are larger, compared to the legacy fit which is seen in the two Rush jackets.
Sabre: The Rush alternative
When you can get a Gore-Tex Pro jacket at the same price range (which is the Rush I'm talking about in here) I feel you need to have a strong reason to get the Sabre.
The comfort of flannel liner is a plus but it's a double edged sword. It's 50% heavier than the Rush. Also what if you overheat? You cannot remove it so you need to learn to live with it. It's a commitment you can't take back and I want full control over insulation, but still it isn't just as bad as the next one.
Rush Insulated: The no-go?
Rush Insulated is an item that never really made sense to me. I think you need an amazing reason to get it.
And running cold isn't one of them.
Because you don't have the option to ventilate the Rush Insulated. You heard that right. No pit zips or two-way zippers. This is a deal breaker for me, especially when I'm looking at an insulated shell.
The only "justified" reason to get a Rush Insulated I think would be if you get ski jackets often and don't mind using it no more than a few times a year.
Rush Insulated is the only Arc'teryx ski jacket that comes with a stuff sack (i.e is packable). Packability can make it the ideal pick for some certain situations, but there really shouldn't be many of these conditions.
On top of the lack of ventilation, unlike Rush and Sabre SV, Rush Insulated isn't equipped with a 3L Gore-Tex Pro. It's equipped with a 2L Gore-Tex Infinium. A noticeably inferior alternative.
If you don't want to get Rush or Sabre SV for some reason... Maybe take a look at Beta and Alpha. They're not ski specific but I'd even rather get them instead.
Sentinel: The best Arc'teryx ski jacket for women
I wish this had a men's counterpart. Arc'teryx keeps switching the women's counterpart of Rush on and off. If they don't bring it back for a long time, Sentinel has got your back.
Sentinel doesn't offer any insulation, but it does come with a flannel liner. It provides minimum warmth and is pleasant to touch.
Sentinel Insulated and Theriss Down are the two other Arc'teryx women's ski jackets. As you can tell by their names, they're both insulated. I'm not going to roast them like I roasted the Rush Insulated. Because they both do offer pit zips just like Sentinel does.
A word on Theriss Down: Don't worry the down losing its insulation power when it's wet. This problem doesn't arise for hardshells like all these jackets because the Gore-Tex fabric of the outer face won't let the water in. But it can hinder breathability noticeably.
I would put Sentinel above the other two my eyes closed. One thing is the non-insulated structure. Like I said, I never liked the idea of an insulated shell jacket. I personally like having multiple options. I can always under layer very easily. And when I prefer, I'd like to be able to ditch the insulation.
The other thing is the face fabric. Sentinel offers a 3L Gore-Tex face fabric, compared to the 2L Gore-Tex of the other two. This is important and plays out as a noticeable difference in practice.
In terms of center back length, Sentinel Insulated is the longest at 79.8 cm (31.5 in). Which it's questionable. It might be too long for most users. Freedom of movement is crucial when skiing and a long jacket preventing that can be a buzzkiller.
At 63 cm (24.8 in) Theriss Down is super short. It allows for maximum movement and looks better to some people. But wait until you take the chairlift. The cold creeping under the jacket can get you quicker than you think. With longer jackets this is less likely.
Sentinel I think is perfectly fine here at 73.7 cm (29 in). Unless you have personal preferences (too long/short torso or something else), Sentinel I believe is sitting at the sweet spot in here.
Although Arc'teryx is horribly guilty in terms of men's ski jacket fitting, that's not the case for women's. All three jackets fit true to size.
Types of skiing:
- 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.
Now let's take a look at how these 3 types differ from each other.
What difference does 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.
- Arc'teryx Jacket Finder: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/jacket-finder
Canberk is 5'11" and 165 pounds, with an athletic build. Size Medium fits him perfectly across almost all brands and product lines.
- Poll results: Giant Arc'teryx & Patagoina survey (Gore-Tex, pockets, hoods, fit, & more) [1000+ participated]
- Pics from outrageous discounts I ran into at Arc'teryx Parndorf Outlet
- I bought Gamma Lightweight (aka SL), Gamma (aka LT) and Gamma MX
- Patera Parka (one year update): Ain't worth the price...
- Alpha vs Beta: I bought all 4 Beta's and both Alpha's. Settling this for good
- Proton Hybrid: A "hidden" way to stuff it in itself!?
- Best Insulated Jackets: A hands-on Arc'teryx & Patagonia face-off
- 2024 Nano Air is in! Bought it immediately...
- I bought all 7 of Winter '24 Atom and Proton jackets
- Best Arc'teryx Ski Jackets: Rush is ideal, Sabre SV is overkill
- Arc’teryx colors: Most and least liked (poll results)
- Took my Nuclei SV to the Alps near Pfander, Austria
- Arc'teryx Alpha Parka Review: The most impressive jacket of all time
- Arc'teryx ReGEAR: OutdoorCrunch exclusive promo code!
- Beta Insulated Jacket is in: Pit zips AND two way zipper
- DropHood vs StormHood: Pros/cons and best uses
- 7 things all Arc'teryx newbies should know
Check out our other content on jackets:
Guide: Insulated & Shell Jackets
Start here: