Overview
I own dozens of Arc'teryx items, primarily jackets. This includes all jackets under the Proton, Atom, Nuclei, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma lines. I also own a Cerium, a Thorium, and a Therme, and other Arc'teryx items like Gamma AR pants, Rho LT, Rho Hybrid and gothic gloves. All of this is to say that I know Arc'teryx products well, and I use them daily. So which is the best Arc'teryx jacket? Well, it depends ...
Our best Arc'teryx jacket overview is broken down by style (insulated vs shell) and use cases, and I include our detailed tables of Arc'teryx jacket models complete with temperature ratings and a slew of other jacket characteristics to help you find your best Arc'teryx jacket (or jackets).
If you're overwhelmed by the sheer number of Arc'teryx jacket choices, a great place to start is their jacket finder tool: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/jacket-finder/mens
And if you're here for Arc'teryx's ski and snowboard specific jackets, also check out our Best Arc'teryx Ski Jacket content. More good news: Arc'teryx just dropped its complete lineup of Winter 2024-2025 ski and snowboard jackets, pants and layers: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/c/mens/ski-snowboard
Best Arc'teryx Jacket: Insulated
Best items under each category
When choosing an Arc'teryx jacket, make sure the best/intended use of the jacket meshes with your use case. As long as you do this, I don't think any Arc'teryx jacket will disappoint.
Arc'teryx has a handy jacket-finder feature to help you narrow your choices by use case: https://arcteryx.com/shop/jacket-finder.
- Synthetic insulated jackets: Mostly preferred to down jackets. Wide variety of items with different best use cases. No insulation capability loss under wet conditions. Hoods are generally recommended unless you'll be using them as mid layers most of the time.
- Down jackets: Niche items. Extraordinary warmth-to-weight ratio, but they won't insulate once wet. None of them are breathable, either. Casual use in dry weather is the best, if not only, use case.
- Parkas: Extra long equals extra warm (usually). Recommended primarily for casual wear because of restricted mobility from the waist down due to parkas' extra length.
- Shell jackets: Not insulated. Used only for weather and abrasion protection. Pair with base and mid layers according to weather conditions and activity.
The Nuclei SV is a terrific jacket. This thing is an oven, with lots of pockets, a two-way zipper and a stunning, high-quality design.
- Nuclei (aka FL) and Nuclei SV: Stunning warmth and incredible wind resistance. Abysmal breathability and abrasion resistance. Belay jackets like these two are primarily meant to maintain your core temperature when you stop moving. But I wear them casually around town all the time - as long as my output is zero to very, very low (not even power walks longer than 5 minutes). Otherwise I sweat like a pig in them. Update: The Nuclei SV is available only for women as of August 2024.
- Proton Heavyweight and Atom Heavyweight (aka AR): Perfect picks for cold weather. I'd get the new Proton Heavyweight (better breathability, more pockets, and more abrasion resistance). If you want to maximize warmth and wind resistance and can sacrifice everything else, then get an Atom Heavyweight.
- Proton (aka LT) and Atom (aka LT): Absolutely the most versatile and popular picks. Both are perfect for high-output activities and casual use at the same time. The Proton offers a bit more abrasion resistance. The Atom offers a bit more breathability.
- Proton Lightweight and Atom SL: Perfect for high-output activities and casual use during chilly spring and summer mornings. The Proton Lightweight (not currently available) offers a bit more abrasion resistance and one more pocket. The Atom SL is more of an all-rounder, offers a bit more breathability and is very slightly insulated only in the body.
This is how Arc'teryx compares the above jackets: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/compare/X000006870/X000007302/X000008436/X000007487/X000006908/X000005409
The Proton Hybrid Hoody and Epsilon Insulated Hoody are synthetics, too, but I think they're crossover items, so I don't think they're directly comparable to the others in this list.
Read more:
- Arc'teryx Proton vs Atom: https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-proton-vs-atom/
- Arc'teryx Nuclei vs Proton: https://outdoorcrunch.com/nuclei-vs-proton/
- Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets: https://outdoorcrunch.com/synthetic-insulated-jackets/
Canberk likes his hoodless Cerium much more than his hooded Thorium. Neither models are good at repelling water, so he thinks the hoodless design is more comfortable and easier to pull off a more formal look when necessary.
- Alpha line: Highest quality down jacket out there. The warmer model, the Alpha Parka, is the warmest Arc'teryx jacket made.
- Thorium line: Lofty down jackets. The Thorium Hoody and Jacket have DWR treatments to offer protection against light precipitation. Although water resistance should never be one of your primary expectations from down jackets, this is a great advantage just in case. The Thorium won't stand up to truly wet conditions, but it still will offer better protection than the Cerium line.
- Cerium line: Ultralight down jackets with terrific warmth-to-weight ratio. Zonal reinforcements are noticeably thinner and the jacket feels noticeably lighter.
Alpha and Cerium lines offer 850 fill power (FP) down; the Thorium offers 750 FP down.
There's also the Cerium Hybrid Hoody, but I feel like it doesn't belong here.
And here's how Arc'teryx compares the down models of the Alpha, Thorium and Cerium lines: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/compare/X000007380/X000007250/X000007313/X000007467
Read more:
- Arc'teryx Cerium vs Thorium: https://outdoorcrunch.com/cerium-vs-thorium/
- Down Jacket: Hood or No Hood? https://outdoorcrunch.com/down-jacket-hood-or-no-hood/
- Arc'teryx Cerium LT vs SL vs SV: https://outdoorcrunch.com/cerium-lt-vs-sl-vs-sv/
- Arc'teryx Alpha Parka Review: https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-alpha-parka-review/
- Best Down Jackets: https://outdoorcrunch.com/best-down-jackets/
Best Arc'teryx Jacket: Parkas
The Therme is Arc'teryx's men's flagship parka line.
By parkas I mean jackets that are primarily meant for casual wear (around town or when traveling/commuting) when it's very cold. Parkas are longer than regular jackets, and that extra length equates to additional warmth for your body's core, extending down to your upper thighs.
Read more at:
Best Arc'teryx Jacket: Shells
Name | Activity | Temp (F/C) | Breathability | Weather Res. | Durability | 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 | 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 | 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 | Review | No | No | No | N30p-X 3L Gore-Tex | Trim | 300 g / 10.6 oz | 76 cm / 30 in | No |
Beta AR (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 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 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 | |
Beta Insulated (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 21/-6 | 9/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | No data | 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 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 |
Gamma (aka LT) (Men's - Women's) | All Round | N/A | 7/10 | 3/10 | 7/10 | 3/10 | 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 | Review | No | No | No | Fortius 2.0 | Regular | 555 g / 1 lb 3.6 oz | 74 cm / 29.1 in | No |
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 | |
Rush (Women's) | Skiing | N/A | 8/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 3/10 | 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 Insulated (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 | 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 |
Sentinel (Women's) | Skiing | N/A | 8/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 | 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 | |
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 |
Squamish (Men's - Women's) | Running | N/A | 5/10 | 4/10 | 7/10 | 9/10 | Review | No | No | Yes | 30D Tyono | Trim | 140 g / 4.9 oz | 77.5 cm / 30.5 in | No |
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 |
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 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 | |
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 | |
Beta SV (Men's - Women's) | All Round | N/A | 8/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 3/10 | 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 | |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 | |
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 | |
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 | |
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 (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 |
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 | |
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 | |
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 | |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Sabre SV (Men's) | Skiing | N/A | 10/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 1/10 | Review | Yes | Yes | No | N100d Most Rugged 3L Gore-Tex Pro | Regular | 595 g / 1 lb 5 oz | 85 cm / 33.5 in | No |
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 |
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 |
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 | |
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 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 | |
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 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 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 |
Gore-Tex Pro
Beta AR's collar is very comfy, as far as collars go.
If you're planning to use your jacket for, say, 10+ years, then a Gore-Tex Pro item can be a better choice than standard Gore-Tex. The Pro version won't experience any loss in breathability or wind and water resistance, even after years of heavy use (if properly cared for). Jackets with Gore-Tex Pro are kind of like buy-it-for-life items.
The Sabre SV, Alpha SV, Alpha (aka AR), Rush, and Beta AR (DropHood or StormHood) are your Arc'teryx options with Gore-Tex Pro.
Here's how Arc'teryx compares these three: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/compare/X000006488/X000006454/X000007319
Read more:
- Arc'teryx Alpha vs Beta: https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-alpha-vs-beta/
Gore-Tex
If you'll use your Gore-Tex shell around town more than half the time, then you really don't need Gore-Tex Pro. These will fit the bill.
The Beta and Beta SL (formerly Beta Lightweight) are your options. I own both.
The Beta jacket and the Rho LT Zip Neck, both in the Edziza colorway. The streamlined Beta is the perfect streetwear.
How Arc'teryx compares these two: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/compare/X000009681/X000007726
Read more:
- Arc'teryx Alpha vs Beta: https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-alpha-vs-beta/
- Arc'teryx Beta Insulated Jacket Review: https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-beta-insulated-jacket-review/
- Arc'teryx Beta LT vs AR: https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-beta-lt-vs-beta-ar/
- Arc'teryx Beta AR vs Beta SV: https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-beta-ar-vs-beta-sv/
- https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-zeta-vs-beta/
- https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-beta-sl-hybrid-review/
- https://outdoorcrunch.com/beta-fl-review/
Softshells
The key upsides to softshells are their stretch, flexibility and comfort. They're also quieter than hard shells (less crinkling and rustling).
If this sounds like what you're looking for, check out the Gamma line. I own three of the four.
The Gamma Lightweight (aka SL) is incredibly comfortable and fun to wear. But don't expect it to shed more than the lightest rain. As you can see, it soaks through after any sustained exposure to moisture.
How Arc'teryx compares all four Gamma jackets: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/compare/X000007485/X000008485/X000007465/X000009141
Read more:
- Arc'teryx Gamma comparison: https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-gamma-sl-vs-lt-vs-mx/
Best Arc'terys Jacket: Ski and Snowboard
Read this post: https://outdoorcrunch.com/best-arcteryx-jacket-for-skiing/.
- How Arc'teryx compares all of its men's ski jackets:
- How Arc'teryx compares all of its women's ski jackets:
Best Arc'teryx Jacket: Running
There are three jackets available for men and five for women.
- Squamish (Men's - Women's) is the most balanced Arc'teryx running jacket and the closest to fitting a standard running jacket anatomy. It's hooded, comes with average weight, stuffs into itself and offers pretty good wind and water resistance, But, no Gore-Tex.
- Norvan Shell (Men's - Women's) is the strongest and heaviest of all. It doesn't stuff into itself. But it offers Gore-Tex, so it's far superior than the others in terms of weather resistance. If where you live is cold and you often experience precipitation, this is your jacket.
All of these running jackets are considered ultralight.
- How Arc'teryx compares these two:
Hybrid
A "hidden" way to pack the Proton Hybrid into itself.
By hybrid I mean crossover products that combine elements of shells and insulated jackets. I exclude the insulated ski jackets and some parkas from here because I don't think they belong.
In that case, the Proton Hybrid and Cerium Hybrid are your options.
Read more at:
- https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-beta-insulated-jacket-review/
- https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-proton-hybrid-hoody-review/
Poll results
View full poll results here: https://outdoorcrunch.com/poll/
For polls about favorite colors, visit https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-colors/
Arc'teryx Manufacturing Facility Locations
Find the manufacturing facilities and locations of all Arc'teryx jackets below. Data extracted from arcteryx.com.
Read more: https://outdoorcrunch.com/where-is-arcteryx-made/
FAQ
- Which are the most popular Arc'teryx jackets?
The most popular Arc'teryx jackets are the Beta AR, Alpha SV, Gamma MX, Therme, Rush, Atom (aka LT) and Thorium (aka AR). However, it might make more sense to consider the popularity of lines instead of products. For example, the most popular flagship series would be the Atom, Proton, Nuclei, Cerium, Thorium, Alpha, Beta and Gamma.
Arc'teryx likes toying with their catalogue - discontinuing some products, then bringing them back, and then discontinuing them once again in a year's time isn't out of the ordinary. These flagship series, however, are protected. I don't remember a single time where all products under one of these series were discontinued at the same time.
- Do Arc'teryx jackets run big?
No. I always wear size Medium regardless of the brand, including Arc'teryx. And Arc'teryx mediums fit me perfectly.
- Where can I see all temp ratings in one table?
We're glad you asked. Right here:
Name | Est. Temp (F/C) | Review | Pit venting? | Two way zipper? | Stuffs into itself? | Type | Fill Power (in3/oz) | Fill Weight (g) | Fill Volume (in3) | Synthetic Fill | Synth. Fill Weight | Face Fabric | Activity | Fit | Weight | Length (CB) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arc'teryx Alpha Parka (Men's - Women's) | -18/-28 | Review | No | Yes | Yes | Down | 850 | 296 | 8,875 | Coreloft | 90 g/m² | N30r 2L GoreTex Infinium | Climbing | Regular | 805 g / 1 lb 12.4 oz | 86 cm / 34 in |
Arc'teryx Alpha Lightweight (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | No | Yes | Yes | Down | 850 | 117 | 3,508 | Coreloft Compact | 40 g/m² | Hadron 2L Gore-Tex Infinium | Climbing | Regular | 540 g / 1 lb 3 oz | 79.5 cm / 31.25 in | |
Arc'teryx Atom (aka LT) ( Men's - Women's) | 43/6 | Review | Yes, mesh | No | No | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Coreloft Continuous | 60 g/m² | 20D Tyono | All Round | Trim | 375 g / 13.2 oz | 74 cm / 29.1 in |
Arc'teryx Atom Heavyweight (aka AR) (Men's - Women's) | 18/-8 | Review | Yes, mesh | No | No | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Coreloft Continuous | 120 g/m2 + 80 g/m2 + 60 g/m2 | 30D Tyono | All Round | Regular | 475 g / 1 lb | 74 cm / 29.1 in |
Arc'teryx Atom Lightweight (aka SL) (Men's - Women's) | 52/11 | Review | Yes, mesh | No | No | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Coreloft Compact | 40 g/m² | 20D Tyono | All Round | Trim | 270 g / 9.5 oz | 72 cm / 28.3 in |
Arc'teryx Beta Down Insulated (Men's) | 0/-18 | Yes | Yes | No | Parka | 850 | 126 | 3,778 | Coreloft | 80 g/m² | 2L 40D Gore-Tex | All Round | Regular | 760 g / 1 lb 10.8 oz | 79 cm / 31 in | |
Arc'teryx Beta Insulated (Men's) | 21/-6 | Review | Yes, zips | Yes | No | Parka | N/A | N/A | N/A | Coreloft Continuous | 80 g/m² | 2L 40D Gore-Tex | All Round | Regular | 680 g / 1 lb 8 oz | 78.5 cm / 31 in |
Arc'teryx Beta Insulated Coat (Women's) | 16/-9 | Review | No | Yes | No | Parka | N/A | N/A | N/A | Coreloft | 80 g/m² + 120 g/m² | 2L 40D Gore-Tex | Around Town | Regular | 600 g / 1 lb 5.2 oz | 86 cm / 34 in |
Arc'teryx Cerium (aka LT) (Men's - Women's) | 26/-3 | Review | No | No | Yes | Down | 850 | 113 | 3,388 | Coreloft | 80 + 100 g/m² | Arato 15 | All Round | Trim | 335 g / 11.8 oz | 72 cm / 28.3 in |
Arc'teryx Cerium Hybrid (Women's) | 44/7 | No | No | Yes | Down | 850 | 44 | 1,319 | Coreloft | 40 + 100 g/m² | Arato 15 + Fortius Air 50 | All Round | Trim | 260 g / 9.2 oz | 70 cm / 27.5 in | |
Arc'teryx Coelle (Women's) | 14/-10 | No | Yes | No | Parka | N/A | N/A | N/A | Coreloft | 98 g/m² | 40D 2L Gore-Tex | Around Town | Regular | 435g / 15.3 oz | 70 cm / 27.5 in | |
Arc'teryx Liatris (Women's) | 5/-15 | No | No | No | Parka | 850 | 93 | 2,788 | Climashield | 80 g/m2 + 60 g/m2 | 70D 3L Gore-Tex | Around Town | Regular | 890 g / 1 lb 15.4 oz | 75 cm / 29.5 in | |
Arc'teryx Liatris Parka (Women's) | 2/-17 | No | No | No | Parka | 850 | 136 | 4,078 | Climashield | 80 g/m2 + 60 g/m2 | 70D 3L Gore-Tex | Around Town | Regular | 1.093 kg / 2 lb 6.6 oz | 109 cm / 43 in | |
Arc'teryx Nuclei (aka FL) ( Men's - Women's) | 32/0 | Review | No | No | Yes | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Coreloft Continuous | 65 g/m² | Arato 10r | All Round | Regular | 325 g / 11.5 oz | 75 cm / 29.5 in |
Arc'teryx Nuclei SV (Women's) | 5/-15 | Review | No | Yes | Yes | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Coreloft Continuous | 190 g/m2 + 90 g/m2 | Arato 15 | All Round | Regular | 600 g / 1 lb 5.2 oz | 81 cm / 31.8 in |
Arc'teryx Patera (Women's) | 21/-6 | Review | No | Yes | No | Parka | 750 | 67 | 1,773 | Coreloft | 60 + 80 g/m² | 2L Gore-Tex | Around Town | Trim | 867 g / 1 lb 14.6 oz | 99 cm / 39 in |
Arc'teryx Patera Long (Women's) | 0/-18 | No | Yes | No | Parka | 750 | 204 | 5,397 | Coreloft | 60 + 80 g/m² | 2L Gore-Tex | Around Town | Regular | 1.1 kg / 2 lb 6.8 oz | 117.5 cm / 46.25 in | |
Arc'teryx Proton Lightweight (aka FL) (Men's - Women's) | 48/9 | Review | No | No | No | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | Octa Loft | 94 g/m² | Fortius Air 20 | Climbing | Trim | 343 g / 12.1 oz | 75 cm / 29.5 in |
Arc'teryx Therme Parka (Men's) | 5/-15 | Review | No | Yes | No | Parka | 750 | 120 | 3,175 | Coreloft | 60 + 80 g/m² | P75d Polyester | Around Town | Regular | 991 g / 2 lb 3 oz | 85 cm / 33.5 in |
Arc'teryx Therme SV (Men's) | -11/-24 | Review | No | Yes | No | Parka | 750 | 211 | 5,582 | Coreloft | 60 g/m² | 2L Gore-Tex | Around Town | Regular | 1.072 kg / 2 lb 5.8 oz | 96 cm / 37.75 in |
Arc'teryx Thorium ( Men's - Women's) | 12/-11 | Review | No | Yes | Yes | Down | 750 | 140 | 3,704 | Coreloft | 80 + 140 g/m² | Arato 30 | All Round | Regular | 517 g / 1 lb 2.2 oz | 71.5 cm / 28.1 in |
Arc'teryx Thorium Parka (Women's) | -2/-19 | Review | No | Yes | No | Down | 750 | 209 | 5,529 | Coreloft | 80 + 140 g/m² | Arato 20 | Around Town | Regular | 610 g / 1 lb 5.5 oz | 115.8 cm / 45.6 in |
Arc'teryx Thorium SV (Men's) | 3/-16 | No | Yes | Yes | Down | 750 | 169 | 4,471 | Coreloft | 80 + 140 g/m² | Arato 30 & 2L Gore-Tex Infinium | Around Town | Regular | 645 g / 1 lb 6.8 oz | 73 cm / 28.75 in | |
Arc'teryx Thorium SV Parka (Men's) | 0/-18 | No | Yes | No | Down | 750 | 195 | 5,159 | Coreloft | 80 + 140 g/m² | Arato 30 & 2L Gore-Tex Infinium | Around Town | Regular | 685 g / 1 lb 8.2 oz | 85 cm / 33.5 in | |
Black Diamond Access Down (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | No | Yes | Yes | Down | 700 | 155 | 3,827 | N/A | N/A | 30D ripstop nylon | All Round | Regular | 442 g / 15.6 oz | 76 cm / 29.75 in | |
Feathered Friends Eos(Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | No | No | Yes | Down | 900 | 105 | 3,333 | N/A | N/A | Pertex Quantum | All Round | Regular | 306 g / 10.8 oz | ? | |
Feathered Friends Khumbu (Men's) | -17/-27 | No | No | Yes | Down | 900 | 378 | 12,000 | Primaloft Gold | 200 g | Pretex Shield XT | All Round | Regular | 960 g / 2 lb 2 oz | ? | |
Mountain Equipment Exo (Men's) | -10/-23 | No | Yes | Yes | Down | 800 | 265 | 7,478 | N/A | N/A | Nylon | All Round | Regular | 770 g / 1 lb 11.2 oz | 79 cm / 31 in | |
Mountain Equipment K7 (Men's) | -13/-25 | No | Yes | Yes | Down | 800 | 300 | 8,466 | N/A | N/A | 30D Drilite | All Round | Regular | 820 g / 1 lb 13 oz | 76 cm / 30 in | |
Mountain Hardwear GW/2 (Men's - Women's) | 28/-2 | No | No | Yes | Down | 800 | 85 | 2,399 | N/A | N/A | 10D Ripstop Nylon | All Round | Trim | 250 g / 8.8 oz | 70 cm / 27.5 in | |
Outdoor Research Sup. Alp. (Men's - Women's) | 3/-16 | No | Yes | No | Down | 800 | 182 | 5,136 | N/A | N/A | 30D Pertex Quantum Pro | All Round | Regular | 825 g / 1 lb 13.1 oz | 85 cm / 33.5 in | |
Patagonia AlpLight (Men's - Women's) | 36/2 | No | No | Yes | Down | 800 | 100 | 2,822 | N/A | N/A | 0.8 oz 10D polyester | All Round | Slim | 270 g / 9.5 oz | 74 cm / 29 in | |
Patagonia AlpLoft (Men's) | -10/-23 | No | Yes | Yes | Down | 800 | 295 | 8,325 | N/A | N/A | Pertex Quantom | All Round | Regular | 680 g / 1 lb 8 oz | 81 cm / 31.8 in | |
Patagonia DAS (Men's - Women's) | 10/-12 | Review | No | Yes | Yes | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco | 133 + 40 g | Pertex Quantum Pro | All Round | Regular | 555 g / 1 lb 3.6 oz | 84 cm / 33 in |
Patagonia DAS Light(Men's) | 34/1 | Review | No | Yes | Yes | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | PlumaFill | 65 g | 10D Pertex Quantum Pro | All Round | Regular | 320 g / 11.3 oz | 77 cm / 30.5 in |
Patagonia Down Sweater (Men's - Women's) | 23/-5 | Review | No | No | Yes | Down | 800 | 150 | 4,233 | N/A | N/A | 1.4 oz 20x30D polyester | All Round | Regular | 428 g / 15.1 oz | 67 cm / 26.25 in |
Patagonia Downdrift (Men's - Women's) | 18/-8 | No | No | No | Down | 600 | 279 | 5,905 | N/A | N/A | 4.2 oz polyester | Around Town | Regular | 1.014 kg / 2 lb 3.8 oz | ? | |
Patagonia Fitz Roy (Men's - Women's) | 14/-10 | No | No | Yes | Down | 800 | 128 | 3,612 | N/A | N/A | 20D Nylon | All Round | Regular | 632 g / 1lb 6.3 oz | 74 cm / 29 in | |
Patagonia Isthmus (Men's) | 36/2 | No | No | No | Parka | N/A | N/A | N/A | ThermoGreen | 60 g | 4.2 oz polyester | Around Town | Regular | 895 g / 1 lb 15.6 oz | 70 cm / 27.5 in | |
Patagonia Jackson Glacier (Men's - Women's) | 12/-11 | Review | No | Yes | No | Down | 700 | 141 | 3,482 | N/A | N/A | 3.6 oz 50D polyester | Around Town | Regular | 880 g / 1 lb 15 oz | 79 cm / 31 in |
Patagonia Jackson Glacier Parks ( Women's) | 7/-14 | No | No | No | Parka | 700 | 218 | 5,383 | N/A | N/A | 50D Polyester | Around Town | Regular | 1.142 kg / 2 lb 8.3 oz | ? | |
Patagonia Micro Puff (Men's - Women's) | 37/3 | Review | No | No | Yes | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | PlumaFill | 65 g | Pertex Quantum | All Round | Regular | 298 g / 10.5 oz | 75 cm / 29.5 in |
Patagonia Nano Air (Men's - Women's) | 39/4 | Review | No | No | Yes | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | FullRange | 60 g | 33D nylon ripstop | All Round | Trim | 401 g / 14.14 oz | ? |
Patagonia Nano Air Light Hybrid (Men's - Women's) | 50/10 | No | No | No | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | FullRange | 40 g | 20D nylon ripstop | All Round | Trim | 335 g / 11.8 oz | ? | |
Patagonia Nano Puff (Men's - Women's) | 41/5 | Review | No | No | Yes | Synthetic | N/A | N/A | N/A | PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco | 60 g | 22D Polyester | All Round | Regular | 363 g / 12.8 oz | 71.5 cm / 28 in |
Patagonia Silent Down (Men's - Women's) | 26/-3 | Review | No | No | No | Down | 700 | 109 | 2,691 | N/A | N/A | 2.2 oz polyester | Around Town | Regular | 585 g / 1 lb 4.7 oz | 74 cm / 29 in |
Patagonia Stormshadow (Men's) | 0/-18 | No | No | No | Parka | 700 | 259 | 6,395 | N/A | N/A | 75D Polyester | Around Town | Regular | 1.182 kg / 2 lb 9.7 oz | ? | |
Patagonia Tres 3-in-1Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 (Men's - Women's) | 8/-13 | Review | No | No | No | Parka | 700 | 118 | 2,914 | N/A | N/A | 5.5 oz polyester | Around Town | Regular | 1.307 kg / 2 lb 14.1 oz | 85 cm / 33.5 in |
Patagonia Vosque 3-in-1 (Women's) | 10/-12 | Review | No | No | No | Parka | N/A | N/A | N/A | ThermoLite | 100 g | 65% nylon, 35% polyester | Around Town | Regular | 1.360 kg / 3 lb | 90 cm / 35.5 in |
Rab Electron Pro (Men's - Women's) | 5/-15 | No | Yes | Yes | Down | 800 | 180 | 5,079 | N/A | N/A | 20D Pertex Quantum Pro | All Round | Regular | 525 g / 1 lb 2.5 oz | 74 cm / 29 in | |
Rab Infinity Alpine (Men's) | 5/-15 | No | Yes | Yes | Down | 800 | 175 | 4,938 | N/A | N/A | 30D & 13D Gore-Tex Infinium | All Round | Regular | 551 g / 1 lb 3.4 oz | 76.5 cm / 30.1 in | |
Rab Infinity Microlight (Men's - Women's) | 19/-7 | No | No | Yes | Down | 700 | 146 | 3,605 | N/A | N/A | 13D Gore-Tex Infinium | All Round | Regular | 452 g / 15.9 oz | 74 cm / 29.1 in | |
Rab Microlight Alpine (Men's - Women's) | 7/-14 | No | No | Yes | Down | 700 | 153 | 3,778 | N/A | N/A | 30D Pertex Quantum | All Round | Regular | 466 g / 1 lb 0.5 oz | 72 cm / 28.5 in | |
Rab Neutrino Pro (Men's - Women's) | -2/-19 | No | Yes | Yes | Down | 800 | 212 | 5,982 | N/A | N/A | 20D Pertex Quantum Pro | All Round | Regular | 585 g / 1 lb 8.6 oz | 77 cm / 30.3 in | |
Rab Positron Pro (Men's) | -13/-25 | No | Yes | Yes | Down | 800 | 300 | 8,466 | N/A | N/A | 40D Pertex Quantum Pro | All Round | Regular | 740 g / 1 lb 10 oz | 85 cm / 33.5 in | |
REI Magma 850 Hoodie 2.0 (Men's - Women's) | 14/-10 | No | No | Yes | Down | 850 | 120 | 3,598 | N/A | N/A | Pertex mini ripstop nylon | All Round | Regular | 340 g / 13.75 oz | 74 cm / 29.25 in |
- 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
Archive
Below belongs to Arc'teryx recommendations before 2022. Some products that take place in there are discontinued. But that write-up helped many people in the past few years so I'll just leave it here.
Press on the icon to unfold.
I'd like to start by disclosing that giving these recommendations is difficult.
Because, not only the terms such as "extreme cold", "comfortable" or "weather resistant" are highly fluid and subjective, but also almost everyone has different intended uses.
This is not to say that there aren't some facts apply to the vast, vast majority of us. And this is what I'll try to provide you with in this post.
IMPORTANT: Typical settings correspond 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 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
There's almost nothing you can't do with the extremely versatile Proton (aka LT) (Men's - Women's - read my review).
- 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 the Thorium SV (Men's) or Thorium (Men's - Women's - read my review). Ceres SV (Men's - Women's - read my review) and Firebee AR (Men's - Women's - read my review) would be perfect alternatives but they are discontinued.
- If you're looking for a multi-use synthetic insulated jacket in extreme colds, then check out Nuclei SV (Men's - Women's - read review). It's the warmest Arc'teryx synthetic. Fission SV (Men's - Women's - read my review) once was the warmest Arc'teryx synthetic. But it got discontinued.
Variable Temperature (& Variable Weather)
- Insulated: For literally any high output activity, I'd recommend the Proton (aka 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 (aka 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 the Proton. But owing to its side fleece panels, it's more breathable. Read more about Atom vs Proton in this article.
- For stationary use in wet weather, I'd recommend the synthetic insulated Atom Heavyweight (aka AR) (Men's - Women's - read my review). It's a fantastic jacket that will almost never disappoint.
Proton Lightweight (aka FL) (Men's - Women's - read my review).
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 Lightweight (aka FL) (Men's - Women's - read my review) and the Atom SL (soon to be called Atom Lightweight) (Men's - Women's - read my review) would be the top alternatives to this. Cerium Hybrid is the closest down jacket alternative to these (Men's - read my review).
- 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). It's currently discontinued but I'm confident they'll bring it back. Currently its alternative is Beta AR (Men's - Women's - read 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.
- Insulated: Absolutely the Beta Down Insulated (Men's). Just released for Winter 2024 and it's a stunning jacket.
Variable Weather
Beta AR (Men's - Women's - read my review).
- 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:
- Insulated shell: The new member Beta Insulated (Men's - Women's - read my review). It's one of the very few Arc'teryx 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 + Beta AR, but Beta Insulated Jacket is as closest as one can get on its own.
- The greatest alternative to Beta Insulated is the Beta Down Insulated (Men's).
Mild Weather
Gamma MX (soon to be called Gamma Heavyweight) (Men's - Women's - read my review).
- Shell: Gamma MX (soon to be called Gamma Heavyweight) (Men's - Women's - read my review), Gamma (aka LT) (Men's - Women's - read my review) and Gamma Lightweight (aka SL) (Men's - Women's - read my review) 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 Lightweight 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 (aka Heavyweight) if you want to maximize durability, want additional chest pockets and want helmet compatibility. If you want something in between, get the base (aka LT).
Severe Weather & Extreme Cold
- Insulated: Absolutely the Nuclei SV (Men's - read my review). 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...
Therme Parka (Men's - read my review).
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.
My girlfriend wearing my Thorium AR (pre-2021 Thorium) in Iceland.
- Top Parka: Therme SV (Men's - read my review) or Patera Long (Women's) would be the top picks in here. Therme (Men's - read my review) and Patera (Women's - read my review) are the most obvious alternatives, but I generally don't recommend the Patera because it's a bit of a risky item.
- Alessa (Women's - read my review) was a pretty good alternative but got discontinued as of Winter '24.
- In terms of warmth, the Thorsen (Men's - read my review) was the closest Arc'teryx has ever gotten to Therme SV. It was closer than the Therme Parka. But it's discontinued.
- Top Synthetic Insulated Jacket: Again, the Nuclei SV (Men's - Women'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: The warmest option is Alpha Parka (Men's - Women's). The top alternative is the new arrival Thorium SV (Men's). Ceres SV (Men's - read my review), Cerium SV (Men's - Women's - read my review) and Firebee AR (Men's - Women's - read my review) were once stunning absolute units but they got discontinued.
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 Heavyweight (aka 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 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: Alpha Lightweight (Men's - Women's) is your jacket. Thorium SV (Men's) or Thorium (Men's - Women's - read my review) are alternatives.
Cerium SL.
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
Alpha SV (Men's - Women's - read my review) in action. Absolute unit.
- Top Shell: Beta Down Insulated (Men's) and Beta AR (Men's - Women's - read my review) are perfect for this situation. Beta SV (Men's - Women's - read my review) is a stunning alternative but it has got discontinued like I said.
- One thing to consider is that if you'll also be climbing a lot on the side (spending, 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. Lots of people take it to hiking and it works just fine.
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), Beta Lightweight (Men's - Women's) or Beta LT (Men's - Women's).
Check out our other content on jackets:
Guide: Insulated & Shell Jackets
Start here:
Also see: