There are a lot of Arc'teryx softshell and hardshell pieces on the shelves.
To clear this confusion, I've put together and connected the entire Arc'teryx shell jacket line in one list.
I'm sure you'll love this as it can be really helpful for most of you when deciding.
Another important thing is that many shells listed here saw complete revisions in recent years. The information given here do not apply to any previous revisions.
Lastly I'm not even near being an expert - so take my advice with a grain of salt.
Colors indicate design intentions:
- Red: All-round, general purpose;
- Green: Hiking, backpacking, trekking;
- Blue: Snow sports,
- Grey: Climbing & alpine activities.
Bold are my top picks for each category. Also see my Best Arc'teryx Jackets article to read more about this.
| Breath-ability | Pack-ability | Weather Resistance | Durability | Length | Bagginess |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7/10 | 7/10 | 5/10 | 4/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
8/10 | 5/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
8/10 | 3/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
10/10 | 8/10 | 2/10 | 3/10 | 6/10 | 5/10 | |
10/10 | 5/10 | 3/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | |
8/10 | 4/10 | 4/10 | 8/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
3/10 | 8/10 | 5/10 | 3/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
8/10 | 5/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
8/10 | 3/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 6/10 | 3/10 | |
6/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 3/10 | |
8/10 | 3/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 6/10 | |
7/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
7/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
5/10 | 3/10 | 8/10 | 6/10 | 10/10 | 6/10 | |
9/10 | 5/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
8/10 | 3/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 |
I've also just put together an Arc'teryx spreadsheet recently. Might help you out: https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-wiki/
I'll add the Alpha line and maybe also a few running specific pieces like Squamish, Incendo, etc.
I hope this post was helpful for you to learn more about the jacket(s) in your mind.
Feel free to ask me any questions or provide feedback and I'll be happy to respond in the comment section below.
Guide: Insulated & Shell Jackets
Start here:
Complete list:
Also see:
Thank you for reading!
To be honest you should be endorsed and sponsored by certain brands, your description on several Arcteryx products supersedes any marketing explanation provided by the brands it self
Glad you found it helpful Disce! Let me know if you disagree with anything and I’m happy to discuss further.
Also, actually, if you click one of my links that goes to Arcteryx.com before you make purchase, I do get compensated with a small commission with no extra cost to you. So I also make a little bit money on the side 😛
Thanks for the extremely thorough guide! I have read through most of it and it seemed to be super helpful information. I am now in the midst of pursuing a Proton LT. Also, do you have any opinion on the discontinued Theta AR? I recall them being much baggier than the Beta AR, even though the technical difference should just be the length (I think the Theta was just as long as the Zeta AR). Also, do you recommend layering something as thick as the Cerium SV underneath a Theta/Beta AR? Or would you rather pair the Cerium SV with the Beta SV?
Thanks again for your help!
Hey,
First off, I love you and this site. I have learned so much and found this so helpful it’s insane.
I’ve got my eyes on the Cerium SV as my winter coat. I know I need & should pair it with a shell. When I was at the Arcteryx store I was shown the Beta LT as a great shell to protect it and add a level if it was very wet or windy. I noticed on your ratings that durability is a 4/10. Is there a better shell by Arcteryx that you would pair with the Cerium?
Just saw this Schneur, sorry about that.
Beta LT was once a great item, and I’d recommend it to pretty much anyone – and its ratings were better too. But with the 2021 revision, it kind of sucks now. Arc’teryx decided to make it cheaper, unfortunately.
Did you end up buying it?
Glad to hear you found my site helpful!
I believe is rating of the Beta LT is out of date. It complains about the lack of pit zips when the 2021 Beta LT has them.
Most complete comparison available! – Thank you
How would you compare the current Arc’teryx jackets vs. the older, made in Canada models? Is it worth the effort to search for a good condition used, Canadian-made jacket?
This website is absolutely brilliant and I hope you can find a way to monetise it, while staying independent, so you can do it full time. I have decided to purchase the Beta SV based on your advice.