Best Arcteryx Jackets

#Note: My full Arc'teryx review list is at the bottom. 

If you're like most people, then 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 the end, you ended up not getting anything at all. 

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. 

Simply click on the jump links below and they'll take you to the recommendations for that specific use. 

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

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

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

Because, not only the terms such as "extreme cold", "comfortable" or "weather resistant" are highly fluid and subjective, but also almost all the intended uses of the visitors of this post will be unique to their own.

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

Multi-Use

Extreme Cold

• Insulated: Alpha Parka (Men's - Women's) would be my recommendation. Ceres SV (Men's - read my review) would make a good alternative for men - because there's no women's counterpart.
  • For women who dislike the Alpha Parka for any reason, I'd recommend the Firebee AR (Men's - Women's - read my review). 

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. Along with Beta AR (Men's - Women's - read my review), it's one of my 2 Arc'teryx favorites. 
  
  • If you aren't expecting to experience any wet weather, then Cerium LT (Men's - Women's - read my review) can be a pretty good alternative - in addition to the very obvious alternative Atom LT (Men's - Women's - read my review). 
  • For stationary use in wet weather, I'd recommend the synthetic insulated Atom AR (Men's - Women's - read my review). 

Mild Temperature

• Insulated: Both the Proton FL (Men's - Women's - read my review) and the Atom SL (Men's - Women's - read my review) would be convenient options for 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. 

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). 
  • Beta SV and Alpha SV are Arc'teryx's two absolute units. They're extremely 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 become overkill. 
  • 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).
• Remember the Part I mentioned the Beta SV is likely to come as overkill to most of us? If you aren't happy with that, and looking for a more balanced alternative, look no further. I'm pretty sure Beta AR is what you're looking for.
  
• Further reading: 
  • Beta AR vs SV
  • Beta AR vs LT
  • Beta AR vs Alpha SV
  • Beta vs Alpha Series
  • Beta vs Zeta Series

Mild Weather

• Shell: Gamma LT (Men's - Women's - read my review) can mostly be a good option for this. 
  • There was a time I'd recommend the Beta LT here, my eyes closed. Unfortunately, with the Spring 2021 update, Beta LT now sucks pretty bad. Arc'teryx had discontinued the Beta LT in Summer 2020 and brought back its revised model in Spring 2021. I wish they will stop playing around with such an amazing piece soon and bring back its once beloved 2019 revision. 

Moving on to the next one. 

Severe Weather & Extreme Cold

• Insulated Shell: Absolutely the Fission SV (Men's - Women's - read my review). My warmest recommendation for folks in damp areas. The use of synthetic insulation is a huge plus here - and it mostly doesn't have any other alternatives (except the Dually Belay Parka (Men's - read my review) for men only - though it too has gotten discontinued in Spring 2021. 

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

I'll assume...

• Very little to no output activities, 
• Power walks at most, 
• That the style is almost as important as capabilities of the jacket,
• That layering is an option but not preferred since it's a pain in the butt because I'm assuming warm indoors.

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 (Men's - read my review) or Centrale (Women's - read my review) would be my picks here. Camosun (Men's - read my review) and Patera (Women's - read my review) can be good alternatives. 
  • Now you can also get the beast Thorsen (Men's - read my review), too. But be careful - it's really warm. So much that it might be even too warm under some (most?) conditions for most of you. 
• Top Synthetic Insulated Jacket: Again, the Fission SV (Men's - Women's - read my review) can be a pretty good option here. Dually Belay (Men's - read my review) was once a solid member of this group, though it too has gotten discontinued in Spring 2021. 
• Top Down Jacket: Ceres SV (Men's - read my review) and Cerium SV (Men's - Women's - read my review) are your best bets. Firebee AR (Men's - Women's - read my review) would also be a great alternative here. 

Variable Temperature & Weather

• Top Parka: My picks are Magnus (Men's) and Durant (Women's). Fortunately, unlike the other departments, you also do have many alternatives here: Koda (Men's), Radsten (Men's), Radsten Insulated (Men's) for men and Sensa (Women's) for women. I probably would go after the Magnus or Durant, 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. 
• Top Down Jacket: Thorium AR (Men's - Women's - read my review) would be great for this. As an alternative, I can recommend the Cerium LT (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. 

Mild Temperature & Weather

• Top Parka: Sawyer (Men's) or Codetta (Women's).
• Top Synthetic Insulated Jacket: Proton LT (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 has destroyed their hiking specific Zeta line in Spring 2021. 

The entire Zeta line (Zeta FL, LT and AR) except the Zeta SL got discontinued. I'd recommend the Zeta SL only to those who are looking for an emergency shell - and not to others. 

So there's not much left in Zeta line for most of us. 

As of Fall 2021, they did bring back the Zeta AR - but only the women's counterpart. 

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: Probably the Gamma MX (Men's - Women's - read my review). 

Mild Weather

• Top Shell: Nodin Jacket (Men's - Women's) would be my go to jacket for this. 
• Top Emergency Shell: I had recommended the Zeta FL (Men's - Women's - read my review) for this use before - but now it got discontinued and we're left with the Zeta SL (Men's - Women's). It would of course be nice to be able to get Zeta FL, but the Zeta SL is not THAT different either. I'd get it. 
• A more versatile alternative: 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. 

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. 

My Other Helpful Arc'teryx Guides & Data Sets

Arc'teryx Insulated Jackets

Insulated pieces warmth comparison:

Arc'teryx Down Insulated Jackets

Warmth comparison and fill details for down pieces: 

Down pieces performance comparison: 

As you can see, parkas are excluded since their design intention is different. 

Arc'teryx Synthetic Insulated Jackets

Synthetic pieces warmth comparison and insulation details:

Synthetic pieces performance comparison: