Best Arc’teryx Jackets: An Ultimate Guide

Summary

Always start with Arc'teryx's very own Jacket finder tool: https://arcteryx.com/shop/jacket-finder 

It's difficult to summarize this giant article, but if you're looking for some quick answers, here you go. 

You probably figured by now that there's no best Arc'teryx jacket, but only the right Arc'teryx jacket for your needs. 

And you're most likely paralyzed when trying to pick the right Arc'teryx jacket. Because there are so many of them and the naming scheme makes it so confusing. 

In this post, I'm addressing this very problem. I'll basically lay out lots of intended uses considering many different conditions, and then list the right Arc'teryx jackets that best corresponds to those uses: 

Also, before reading this post, I'd highly recommend you to give this a try:

• Arc'teryx JacketFinder tool: https://arcteryx.com/shop/jacket-finder 

I'd like to start by disclosing that giving these recommendations is a bit difficult. 

This is not to say that there aren't some facts apply to the vast, vast majority of us (because there are). And this is what I'll try to provide you with in this post.

IMPORTANT: Typical settings I'll mention will be corresponding to the following.

• Severe Weather: Where maximizing waterproofing and wind resistance performances are needed.
• Variable Weather: Where a wide range of weather conditions are expected - but nothing extreme.
• Mild Weather: Only light precipitation and/or wind.
• Extreme Cold: The name says it all.
• Variable Temperature: Used through multiple seasons.
• Mild Temperature: Cool conditions such as a breezy summer nights. 

I'd like to remind you one more time the importance of reading individual reviews of some selected pieces.

Now let's get to the typical buyer profiles for each purpose & setting. 

Some of the recommended products are discontinued (mostly temporarily), so you can't get them from arcteryx.com. Check out REI's Arc'teryx clothing section in that case. 

Multi-Use

Extreme Cold

• Insulated: Absolutely the Alpha Parka (Men's - Women's). It's the warmest Arc'teryx jacket. Stuffs into itself and comes with a two way zipper. Alternatively you can get Ceres SV (Men's - read my review) or Firebee AR (Men's - Women's - read my review). 
  • If you're looking for a multi-use synthetic insulated jacket in extreme colds, then check out the Fission SV (Men's - Women's - read my review). It's the warmest all round synthetic insulated piece Arc'teryx has ever manufactured. 

Variable Temperature (& Variable Weather)

• Insulated: For literally any high output activity, I'd recommend the Proton LT (Men's - Women's - read my review) my eyes closed. This and Beta AR (Men's - Women's - read my review) are at the top two of my all time Arc'teryx favorites. 
  • Atom LT (Men's - Women's - read my review) is the most obvious alternative in here. It's slightly less warm and weather/abrasion resistant than Proton LT. But owing to its mesh panels located at the armpits, it's more breathable. Read more about Atom LT vs Proton LT in this article. 
• For stationary use in wet weather, I'd recommend the synthetic insulated Atom AR (Men's - Women's - read my review). It's a fantastic jacket that will almost never disappoint. 

Mild Temperature

• Insulated: For high output activities, Proton Hybrid Hoody (Men's - Women's - read my review) is probably what you're looking for. Think of it as a crossover between a softshell and an insulated jacket. 
  • Both the Proton FL (Men's - Women's - read my review) and the Atom SL (Men's - Women's - read my review) would be the top alternatives to this. If you'd prefer a down insulated garment instead of synthetics, then the Cerium SL (Men's - Women's - read my review) would be suitable. 
  • Mind you that all of these alternatives are discontinued as of FW23. 

• Insulated: For stationary use, I'd recommend the Nuclei FL (Men's - Women's - read my review). 

Severe Weather

• Shell: Absolutely the Beta SV (Men's - Women's - read my review). If you'll be climbing a lot (say, 50+% of the time), then I'd recommend the Alpha SV (Men's - Women's - read my review). 
  • Both Beta SV and Alpha SV are fantastic jackets and neither of them are going to disappoint. They're extremely stiff, durable, weather protective and abrasion resistant. I'm 99.9% sure they will provide much more than what you need. In fact, in most situations, these two pieces are even more likely to come overkill than not enough. 
  • To read more about both Arc'teryx's Beta and Alpha Series, check out my Arc'teryx Alpha vs Beta article. 

Variable Weather

• Shell: Absolutely the Beta AR (Men's - Women's - read my review). The alternative is equally as great, the Beta LT (Men's - Women's - read my review). 
  
• Further reading: 
  • Beta AR vs SV
  • Beta AR vs LT
  • Beta AR vs Alpha SV
  • Beta vs Alpha Series
  • Beta vs Zeta Series
• Insulated shell: The new member Beta Insulated (Men's - Women's - read my review). One of the few hardshells that come with insulation. 
  • On top of that, Beta Insulated Jacket is the first Arc'teryx jacket to offer pit ventilation (in this case, zips) and a two way front main zipper at the same time. This makes it even more unique, and hence it's being talked about a lot. 
  • Of course no single jacket can substitute the advantages of a layering combination, especially a stunning combination like the Proton LT + Beta AR, but Beta Insulated Jacket is as closest as one can get on its own. 

Mild Weather

• Shell: Gamma MX (Men's - Women's), Gamma LT (Men's - Women's) and Gamma SL (Men's - Women's) are all great options for this. The difference between these three are smaller than the differences between the jackets that take part under the same line. 
  • Go for the SL if you want trimmest fit in the body and hood, if you're OK with just two hand warmer zippers, and if you want something super light (11 oz or 310 g). Go for the MX if you want to maximize durability, want additional chest pockets and want helmet compatibility. If you want something in between, get the LT. 
    
  • Read more in this Gamma MX vs LT vs SL article. 

Moving on to the next one. 

Severe Weather & Extreme Cold

• Insulated: Absolutely the Nuclei SV (Men's). It's an amazing jacket. Kappa (Men's - read my review), Fission SV (Men's - Women's - read my review) and Dually Belay Parka (Men's - read my review) are mostly amazing alternatives for this, though they all got discontinued. That's why the links will take you to their pages on REI. Their availability tend to fluctuate throughout the season, so check back regularly. 

By the way... 

I can't stop but mention that as long as the weather isn't something extreme, layering the Proton LT and Beta AR together would make a killer combo in almost any situation. 

Compared to getting just one piece at the price of Proton LT + Beta AR, getting two of them would also make your wardrobe more versatile... Something to think about if you ask me. 

Casual Use

I'll assume...

• Little output, 
• That the style is almost just as important as the performance and capability, 
• That layering is an option but not a primary preference because I'm assuming warm indoors and it's a pain to put the jackets on and off all the time. 

Extreme Cold

Products below provide INCREDIBLE degrees of warmth. So much that it'd be foolish to wear them when it's fairly cold and not extremely cold because you're likely to overheat. 

• Top Parka: Therme SV (Men's - read my review) or Patera (Women's - read my review) would be the top picks in here. Therme (Men's - read my review) and Alessa (Women's - read my review) are pretty good alternatives. 
  • Thorsen (Men's - read my review) is actually the closest to Therme SV in terms of warmth. Closer than the Therme Parka. But it's discontinued so it might be difficult to find it in other retailers. 
• Top Synthetic Insulated Jacket: Again, the Nuclei SV (Men's - read my review) can be a pretty good option here. Kappa (Men's - read my review), Fission SV (Men's - Women's - read my review) and Dually Belay Parka (Men's - read my review) are mostly amazing alternatives for this, though again they all got discontinued. 
• Top Down Jacket: Alpha Parka (Men's - Women's) is your jacket. Ceres SV (Men's - read my review) and Cerium SV (Men's - Women's - read my review) are your best alternatives. Firebee AR (Men's - Women's - read my review) would also be a great alternative here. 

Cold

• Top Parka: My picks are Ralle (Men's) and Coelle (Women's). Magnus (Men's) and Durant (Women's) are discontinued but they're still perfect alternatives to these. Other discontinued parkas in this department can be listed as the Koda (Men's), Radsten, Radsten Insulated and Sensa (Women's). I probably would go after the Magnus or Durant instead of these, though. 
• Top Synthetic Insulated Jacket: Atom AR (Men's - Women's - read my review). There is an alternative for men - the Kappa (Men's - read my review). Unfortunately, there's no a true alternative for women. 
  • Atom AR is kind of unbeatable. It's one of the longest living pieces in the Arc'teryx catalogue, and it doesn't seem like it's stopping any time soon. Its popularity has almost always been increasing and it never gets old. It's a fantastic all-doer jacket. 
• Top Down Jacket: Thorium (Men's - Women's - read my review) is the go-to jacket for this. As an alternative, I'd recommend the Cerium (Men's - Women's - read my review) with my eyes closed. 
  • I actually compared these two pieces to one another in another post of mine. 
  • These two has long been living under the names of Thorium AR (Men's - Women's) and Cerium LT (Men's - Women's). Their names have been changed for FW23, though all these live in conjunction as of now. I do see Arc'teryx discontinuing these older models in the future, though. 

Variable Temperature & Weather

• Synthetic Insulated Jacket: Absolutely the Nuclei FL (Men's - Women's - read my review). I took it to Iceland and tried it on during late March. Never ceased to fascinate me. An amazing jacket. 

Mild Temperature & Weather

• Top Parka: Sawyer (Men's) or Codetta (Women's).
• Top Synthetic Insulated Jacket: Proton Hybrid (Men's - Women's - read my review). 
• Top Down Jacket: Cerium SL (Men's - Women's - read my review). Wouldn't be that suitable for wet weather though. 

Hiking & Trekking

Arc'teryx used to have a line that is exclusive to hiking and trekking, the Zeta line. In Spring 2021, it has been discontinued and remains that way since then. 

Beta and Alpha lines will fill the bill even better than the Zeta line, though. So nothing to worry about in here. 

Severe Weather 

• Top Shell: Beta SV (Men's - Women's - read my review) is not just your best option but also probably your only option.
  • One thing to consider is that if you'll be also climbing a lot on the side (say, 30+% of the time climbing), then you might also want to consider getting the Alpha SV (Men's - Women's - read my review) as well. 

Variable Weather

• Top Shell: Beta AR (Men's - Women's - read my review) or Gamma MX (Men's - Women's - read my review). Depending on your preferences when it comes to hardshells vs softshells. 

Mild Weather

• Top Emergency Shell: This is the only department where Arc'teryx doesn't offer any jackets currently. That's why you must get one of the discontinued products.
  • The Zeta FL (Men's - Women's - read my review) or Zeta SL (Men's - Women's) are both great choices - if you can find them. 
• Softshell: Gamma SL (Men's - Women's - read my review) or Gamma LT (Men's - Women's - read my review). 
  • I had recommended the Squamish (Men's - Women's - read my review) for this before, but I don't like what they did to it with the recent revisions. Its breathability now stands at below average. Read more about this here in my Houdini vs Squamish post. 
• Hardshell: Beta (Men's - Women's) or Beta LT (Men's - Women's). 

Go to this post of mine to read more about Zeta and Beta. 

Skiing & Snowboarding

For details, read my Best Arcteryx Ski Jackets post.

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.

Regardless of the setting you're skiing or snowboarding; shell pieces will almost always provide more flexibility and comfort. 

Insulated jackets, on the other hand, can be a better option when it's below 30 deg F (0 deg C) out because it removes the need to layer.

Multi-Use

If you're familiar with my writing here in this site, then you're probably aware that I'm a devoted fanboy of the Rush (Men's - read my review) and Ravenna (Women's - read my review) and would recommend it with my eyes closed. 

The obvious insulated alternative to this would be the Rush IS (Men's - read my review) and Shashka IS (Women's - read my review) if you'd like warmth. 

Resort

Skiing / snowboarding close to the piste or right at the resort.

• Top Insulated: Macai (Men's - read my review) or Andessa (Women's - read my review).
• Top Shell: Cassiar (Men's - read my review) or Ravenna (Women's - read my review). Alternatives: Cassiar LT (Men's - read my review) or Ravenna LT (Women's - read my review). 

Freeride

Skiing at a little bit far from the resort.

• Top Insulated: Rush IS (Men's - read my review) or Shashka IS (Women's - read my review).
• Top Shell: Sabre AR (Men's - read my review) and Sentinel AR (Women's - read my review). Sabre LT (Men's - read my review) and Sentinel LT (Women's - read my review) are also great options.
  
  • Considering the differences between Sabre AR and Sabre LT, I'd say... the Sabre LT is more suitable if you'll be skiing & snowboarding with your jacket 80+% of the time.
  • Whereas the Sabre AR would be more suitable for those who are going to be using the jacket also for other purposes such as hiking and casual outgoings. 
    

Touring (a.k.a Backcountry Skiing)

• Top Insulated: Rush IS (Men's - read my review) or Shashka IS (Women's - read my review). 
• Top Shell: Rush (Men's - read my review) or Ravenna (Women's - read my review). 

Traveling to Ski

Packability becomes important in this situation. So you're left with lightweight options, and jackets like Macai and Cassiar go out the window. 

• I'd recommend the Sabre LT (Men's - read my review) or Sentinel LT (Women's - read my review). 

Running & Trail Running

When I say "insulated", I only mean lightly insulated. 

Severe Weather

• Top Insulated Shell: Norvan SL Insulated (Men's - Women's). Alternative: Argus (Men's). 

Variable Weather

• Top Shell: Trino SL (Men's - Women's - read my review). Alternative: Norvan SL (Men's - Women's - read my review). 
• A more versatile alternative: Gamma LT (Men's - Women's - read my review). 

Mild Weather

• Top Shell: Incendo (Men's - read my review). An even lighter (so-called superlight in Arc'teryx naming scheme page) alternative would be Incendo SL (Men's). 

If you'd like to see some numbers, don't forget to check the data sets below. 

Full tables

Arc'teryx Insulated Jackets

Full table: