The Allium Insulated Insulated Jacket was designed to be worn as a midlayer (far left) or standalone outer (second from left) when skiing and snowboarding. It obviously works for casual or apres wear as well.
Of all the Winter 2024 products Arc'teryx released this week, the brand new Allium Insulated Jacket is one of the most intriguing. Arc'teryx positions the hoodless softshell Allium as a midlayer or standalone option for skiers and snowboarders. Let's take a look at this new jacket and how it compares to stalwart Arc'teryx insulated layers like those offered in the iconic Atom and Proton lines.
Before we get any further, here’s how Arc’teryx compares the Allium to the Atom SL, the Atom Jacket, the Proton Hybrid Hoody, and the Proton Hoody: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/compare/X000009161/X000006731/X000005409/X000007349/X000008436
Allium Insulated Jacket at a glance
Men's and Women's versions
Men's Allium Insulated Jacket in Tatsu
Women's Allium Insulated Jacket in Black
A great ski and snowboard shell keeps you dry from the elements and protected from the wind, but it offers zero insulation. This is why proper layering is essential to being comfortable on the slopes, whether you're backcountry touring or pounding out resort laps. Arc'teryx has no shortage of synthetic insulated midlayer options, but for Winter 2024 it has introduced the new Allium Insulated Jacket.
See our article on Best Arc'teryx Ski Jackets: https://outdoorcrunch.com/best-arcteryx-jacket-for-skiing/
A regular fit means it's loose enough to wear over baselayers but not so baggy that it won't fit nicely under your shell. Arc'teryx says even its collar has been designed to comfortably accommodate turtlenecks and other high-necked baselayers. The Allium is hoodless, another indicator of its intended role as a ski-specific layer, and its Coreloft synthetic insulation won't lose warmth even if it gets wet.
We're excited to get our hands on an Allium Insulated Jacket and see how it compares to some of our favorite Arc'teryx synthetic insulated pieces like the Atom SL, Atom Hoody, and Proton Hybrid Hoody, especially for days on the slopes. We're awaiting the return of the men's Nuclei as well, which should be included in this list.
By the way, one of our favorite tools for doing an initial sort through Arc'teryx's extensive jacket collection is the Arc'teryx's jacket finder: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/jacket-finder
The relaxed fit of the Arc'teryx Allium Insulated Jacket help it work as both a midlayer or standalone. In theory, that means the Allium should work all season long - on frigid cold powder days and warm spring sessions alike.
Warmth / Insulation
Most Arc'teryx jackets that use synthetic insulation feature the brand's proprietary Coreloft insulation. This is what you'll find in best-selling Arc'teryx product lines like the Atom and Proton. Interestingly, the new Allium Insulated Jacket features a synthetic insulation called Comfortemp Stretch, a recycled polyester chopped staple insulation produced by Freudenberg Performance Materials. We've reached out to Arc'teryx about this particular insulation to learn more about the decision to use it in the Allium, and we'll update this review as soon as we hear back.
Similar to how Arc'teryx employs differing weights of Coreloft insulation in different areas of a jacket, so to is the case with the Allium. Arc'teryx uses a Comfortemp Stretch 40gsm, presumably in the core body area, and a Comfortemp Stretch 25gsm, presumably in the Allium's sleeves.
One of the biggest advantages of a synthetic insulation, be it Coreloft, Comfortemp, Primaloft, etc., is that it doesn't lose its insulating properties when it gets wet. This is why brands like Arc'teryx often employ synthetic insulators in their activewear clothing. So whether your jacket gets wet from snow, rain, or your body's perspiration, the synthetic insulation will continue to perform at a high level. This is not the case with down insulation, which is why it's less frequently used in jackets and layers worn during high-output activities.
Another note about the warmth of the Allium Insulated Jacket: it is cut looser than other popular Arc'teryx layers. That more relaxed fit makes it easier to comfortably wear baselayers under your Allium (important when skiing and snowboarding in a variety of winter conditions). But the looser fit also means more air is trapped between your body and the jacket, adding to its insulating effect.
If you want to learn more about the relative warmth of synthetic insulators and how we use their CLO value to assign temperature ratings: https://outdoorcrunch.com/clo-values/
Breathability & Ventilation
A jacket's breathability is typically determined by a few factors: the type of face fabric used, the type of liner used, the kind and amount of insulation in the jacket, and mechanical venting options like zippers, pit zips, fleece side panels, etc.
The Allium Insulated Jacket's face fabric is a 50-denier recycled stretch nylon in a plain weave. While nylon itself is not a very breathable material, the use of a stretchy plain weave will help with the circulation of air. The jacket's lining is a 20-denier recycled nylon, also stretchy and in a plain weave.
Mechanical ventilation on the Allium is limited. There are no armpit zippers to help dump heat, and the jacket's main zipper is one-way only. There are no fleece side or back panels, either. Stick with the Atom SL or Proton Hybrid Hoody if you want maximum ventilation at the sacrifice of warmth.
Considering the Allium Insulated Jacket's intended use - skiing and snowboarding - we don't expect it to be ideal for high-output activities like running or even ski touring, for that matter. The sweet spot will be for days riding lifts at your favorite resort.
Allium Insulated Jacket fit
Like we mentioned before, the Allium is cut for a more relaxed fit, which makes it easier to wear on top of baselayers without being so bulky as to not fit cleanly under your preferred shell.
We like that Arc'teryx skipped the hood on the Allium. A hood just isn't typically necessary - and often simply adds bulk without benefit - with ski and snowboard midlayers. Our shells almost always have helmet-compatible hoods, anyway.
The roomier fit of the Allium Insulated Jacket, for both men and women, allows it to be worn as a midlayer (left) and a standalone (right).
We also like that Arc'teryx made the collar on the Allium Insulated Jacket looser-fitting than collars on many of their other midlayers. Why? Because a looser collar makes it easier and more comfortable to wear high-necked baselayers when skiing and snowboarding.
