As you know, a new Arc'teryx Sabre shell scored around two years ago: Sabre AR Jacket.
Actually, it might even be a little bit inaccurate to say that Arc'teryx released a new jacket. Because, this is actually an update to the jacket previously known as Arc'teryx Sabre (without any two letter modifier) before.
- Arc'teryx Jacket Finder: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/jacket-finder
With this update, Arc'teryx now decided to add the AR modifier and ultimately name it Sabre AR.
They have 2 main differences:
- Internal flannel liner of AR: Increases comfort and warmth, but compromises breathability. LT doesn't come with one and instead is equipped with Gore C-Knit which offers a very pleasant, smooth internal surface
- AR comes with a baggier cut: More room around the torso helps with under layering and mobility
...which is why it's called the AR. Stands for All Round. Like hauntingly dark yet brilliantly brilliant electronic music? Check out my Hidden Electronic Gems playlist at Spotify.
You can see this in Arc'teryx's Naming Scheme Page here as well - for both "LT" and "AR".
Performance data axis of synthetic jackets (table above) and shell jackets (this table) are different. Don't compare them.
Name Activity Breathability Weather Res. Durability Temp (F/C) Bottom line Review Pit zips? Two way zipper? Stuffs into itself? Hood? Face Fabric Fit Weight Length Alpha FL (Men's - Women's) Climbing 7/10 No data No data 10/10 N/A No No Yes Hadron 3L Gore-Tex Trim 209 g / 7.4 oz 76.5 cm / 30 in Yes Alpha SL (Men's - Women's) Climbing 5/10 7/10 No data 9/10 N/A No No Yes N40p 3L Gore-Tex Trim 326 g / 11.5 oz 77.5 cm / 30.5 in Yes Alpha (aka AR) (Men's - Women's) Climbing 8/10 9/10 8/10 4/10 N/A Go-to climbing harshell. 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 8/10 10/10 10/10 3/10 N/A Strongest climbing hardshell. Review Yes No No N100d Most Rugged 3L Gore-Tex Pro Regular 510 g / 1 lb 2 oz 78 cm / 30.75 in No Alpha IS (Men's) Climbing 7/10 5/10 No data 8/10 23/-5 No Yes Yes N40p-X 2L Gore-Tex Regular 610 g / 1 lb 5.5 oz 78 cm / 30.75 in Yes Beta (Men's - Women's) All Round 6/10 7/10 7/10 8/10 N/A Streamlined all-doer shell. Review No No No N30p-X 3L Gore-Tex Trim 300 g / 10.6 oz 76 cm / 30 in No Beta Lightweight (Men's - Women's) All Round 8/10 7/10 7/10 6/10 N/A 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 7/10 7/10 8/10 6/10 N/A Review Yes No No N40d 3L Gore-Tex Fitted 395 g / 13.9 oz 76 cm / 30 in No Beta AR (Men's - Women's) All Round 8/10 9/10 9/10 4/10 N/A Go-to all-round harshell. 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 8/10 9/10 9/10 4/10 N/A 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 6/10 5/10 No data 5/10 N/A No Yes No 3L Gore-Tex Regular 320 g / 11.3 oz 88 cm / 34.5 in No Beta Insulated (Men's - Women's) All Round 9/10 7/10 8/10 No data 21/-6 Go-to hybrid jacket. 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 7/10 No data No data No data 16/-9 No Yes No N40d 2L Gore-Tex Regular 600 g / 1 lb 5.2 oz 86 cm / 34 in No Beta Down Insulated (Men's) All Round 9/10 7/10 8/10 No data 0/-18 Yes Yes No 2L 40D Gore-Tex Regular 760 g / 1 lb 10.8 oz 79 cm / 31 in No Beta Long All Round 4/10 9/10 No data 3/10 N/A Review No No No N80p 3L Gore-Tex Regular 441 g / 15.6 oz 85 cm / 33.5 in Yes Beta LT Hadron All Round 7/10 6/10 4/10 5/10 N/A No No No Hadron 3L Gore-Tex Fitted 255 g / 9 oz 76 cm / 30 in Yes Beta SV (Men's - Women's) All Round 8/10 10/10 10/10 3/10 N/A Strongest all-round harshell. 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 Lw. (aka SL) (Men's - Women's) All Round 7/10 2/10 6/10 5/10 N/A Review No No No Fortius 1.0 Trim 310 g / 10.9 oz 74 cm / 29.1 in No Gamma (aka LT) (Men's - Women's) All Round 7/10 3/10 7/10 3/10 N/A Go-to softshell. 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 - Women's) All Round 6/10 4/10 8/10 3/10 N/A Strongest softshell. Review No No No Fortius 2.0 Regular 555 g / 1 lb 3.6 oz 74 cm / 29.1 in No Sabre SV (Men's) Skiing 10/10 10/10 10/10 1/10 N/A Strongest ski jacket. Review Yes Yes No N100d Most Rugged 3L Gore-Tex Pro Regular 595 g / 1 lb 5 oz 85 cm / 33.5 in No Sabre (Men's) Skiing 8/10 8/10 7/10 2/10 N/A Review Yes No No N80p-X 3L Gore-Tex Regular 705 g / 1 lb 8.9 oz 79 cm / 31 in No Sabre Insulated (Men's) Skiing 7/10 No data 6/10 No data No data Review Yes No No N80p 2L Gore-Tex Regular 815 g / 1 lb 12.7 oz 76 cm / 30 in No Rush (Men's) Skiing 8/10 9/10 9/10 3/10 N/A Go-to ski jacket. 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 (Men's - Women's) Skiing 3/10 5/10 5/10 9/10 16/-9 Review No No Yes Hadron 2L Gore-Tex Infinium Regular 515 g / 1 lb 2.2 oz 79 cm / 31 in No Macai Shell (Men's) Skiing No data No data No data No data N/A Review Yes No No N80p-X 3L Gore-Tex Regular 775 g / 1 lb 11.3 oz ? No Macai (Men's) Skiing 7/10 7/10 6/10 1/10 5/-15 Review Yes No No N40p-X 3L Gore-Tex Regular 990 g / 2 lb 2.9 oz 75 cm / 29.5 in No Macai Lightweight (aka LT) (Men's) Skiing 7/10 7/10 6/10 2/10 8/-13 Review Yes No No N40p-X 3L Gore-Tex Regular 855 g / 1 lb 14.2 oz ? No Theriss Down (Women's) Skiing 7/10 6/10 7/10 2/10 No data Review Yes No No N80p 2L Gore-Tex Regular 709 g / 1 lb 9 oz 63 cm / 24.8 in No Sentinel (Women's) Skiing 8/10 7/10 7/10 2/10 N/A Go-to ski jacket. 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 8/10 No data No data No data 21/-6 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 No data No data No data No data N/A Yes No No N80p 3L Gore-Tex Regular 655 g / 1 lb 7.1 oz ? No Sidewinder (Women's) Skiing 8/10 8/10 7/10 2/10 N/A Yes No No N80p 3L Gore-Tex Regular 570 g / 1 lb 4.1 oz ? No Andessa (Women's) Skiing 10/10 No data No data 1/10 8/-13 Yes No No N40d 3L Gore-Tex Trim 869 g / 1 lb 14.7 oz 67 cm / 26.4 in Yes Andessa Shell (Women's) Skiing 5/10 No data No data 3/10 N/A No No No N70p 3L Gore-Tex Trim 560 g / 1 lb 3.8 oz ? Yes Micon Heather Skiing No data No data No data No data N/A Yes No No NP100-d 3L Gore-Tex Regular 685 g / 1 lb 8.2 oz 83 cm / 32.5 in Yes Micon (Men's) Skiing No data No data No data No data N/A Yes No No N80p 3L Gore-Tex Regular 685 g / 1 lb 8.2 oz 83 cm / 32.5 in Yes Cassiar (Men's) Skiing 8/10 7/10 8/10 3/10 N/A Review Yes No No N70p 3L Gore-Tex Trim 820 g / 1 lb 12.9 oz 74.5 cm / 29.3 in Yes Cassiar LT (Men's) Skiing 6/10 6/10 6/10 5/10 N/A Review Yes No No N70p 3L Gore-Tex Trim 605 g / 1 lb 5.3 oz 75 cm / 29.5 in Yes Ravenna (Women's) Skiing 8/10 7/10 8/10 3/10 N/A 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 6/10 6/10 6/10 5/10 N/A Review Yes No No N70p 3L Gore-Tex Trim 540 g / 1 lb 3 oz 69 cm / 27.2 in Yes Procline (Men's) Skiing No data No data No data No data N/A Yes No No N70p Gore-Tex Infinium Trim 720 g / 1 lb 9.4 oz 76 cm / 30 in Yes Shashka Stretch (Women's) Skiing No data No data No data No data N/A Yes No No N70p Gore-Tex Infinium Trim 670 g / 1 lb 7.6 oz 71 cm / 28 in Yes Sabre AR (Men's) Skiing 7/10 8/10 7/10 7/10 N/A Review Yes No No N70p 3L Gore-Tex Regular 700 g / 1 lb 8.7 oz 79 cm / 31 in Yes Sentinel AR (Women's) Skiing 7/10 8/10 7/10 7/10 N/A Review Yes No No N70p 3L Gore-Tex Regular 590 g / 1 lb 4.8 oz 72.5 cm / 28.5 in Yes Sabre LT (Men's) Skiing 7/10 8/10 7/10 8/10 N/A Review Yes No No N80p 3L Gore-Tex Regular 660 g / 1 lb 7.3 oz 83 cm / 32.5 in Yes Sentinel LT (Women's) Skiing 7/10 8/10 7/10 8/10 N/A Review Yes No No N80p 3L Gore-Tex Regular 565 g / 1 lb 3.9 oz 73.5 cm / 29 in Yes Incendia (Women's) Skiing 8/10 9/10 9/10 3/10 N/A Review Yes No No NP100d 3L Gore-Tex Trim 610 g / 1 lb 5.5 oz 79 cm / 31 in Yes Indencia IS Skiing No data No data No data No data No data Yes No No N80p 2L Gore-Tex Regular ? 78 cm / 30.75 in Yes Squamish (Men's - Women's) Running 5/10 4/10 7/10 9/10 N/A Go-to running jacket. Review No No Yes 30D Tyono Trim 140 g / 4.9 oz 77.5 cm / 30.5 in No Norvan Windshell (Men's - Women's) Running No data No data No data No data N/A No No Yes Permeair 20 Trim 90 g / 3.2 oz 73 cm / 28.75 in No Norvan Shell (Men's - Women's) Running No data No data No data No data N/A No No No 13D 3L Gore-Tex Trim 190 g / 6.7 oz 73 cm / 28.75 in No Nodin (Women's) Running 8/10 5/10 5/10 10/10 N/A No No Yes 20D Tyono Trim 130 g / 4.6 oz 75 cm / 29.5 in No Incendo Airshell (Women's) Running No data No data No data No data N/A No No Yes ? Trim 105 g / 3.7 oz ? No Incendo (Men's) Running 7/10 4/10 5/10 10/10 N/A Review No No Yes Lumin Trim 125 g / 4.4 oz ? Yes Norvan LT (Men's - Women's) Running 5/10 5/10 8/10 6/10 N/A No No No N13p 3L Gore-Tex Trim 190 g / 6.7 oz ? Yes Norvan SL Ins. (Women's) Running No data No data No data No data 39/4 No No Yes Gore-Tex ShakeDry Trim 270 g / 9.5 oz 71.5 cm / 28.1 in Yes Cita (Women's) Running 7/10 4/10 5/10 10/10 N/A Review No No Yes Lumin Trim 120 g / 4.2 oz 67.5 cm / 26.5 in Yes Cita SL (Women's) Running 7/10 4/10 4/10 10/10 N/A Review Yes No Yes Permeair 20 Trim 65 g / 2.3 oz 61.5 cm / 24.2 in Yes Incendo SL (Men's) Running 7/10 4/10 4/10 10/10 N/A Review No No Yes Permair 20 & Canim Trim 80 g / 2.8 oz 73 cm / 28.75 in Yes Norvan SL (Men's - Women's) Running 7/10 6/10 8/10 8/10 N/A Review No No Yes Gore-Tex Infinium Trim 120 g / 4.2 oz 77 cm / 30.4 in Yes Trino SL (Men's) Running 8/10 5/10 7/10 6/10 N/A Review No No No Gore-Tex Infinium Trim 340 g / 12 oz 74 cm / 29.1 in Yes Trino SL Anorak (Women's) Running 8/10 7/10 8/10 7/10 N/A Review No No No Gore-Tex Infinium Trim 290 g / 10.2 oz 65 cm / 25.5 in Yes Solano (Women's) Around Town No data No data No data No data N/A Review No No No Gore-Tex Infinium Relaxed 355 g / 12.5 oz 72 cm / 28.3 in No Venda Anorak (Women's) Around Town No data No data No data No data N/A No No No Gore-Tex Relaxed 255 g / 9 oz 75.5 cm / 29.7 in Yes Zeta FL (Men's - Women's) Hiking 4/10 6/10 4/10 6/10 N/A No No No N20r 2L Gore-Tex Trim 221 g / 7.8 oz 76 cm / 30 in Yes Zeta SL (Men's - Women's) Hiking 3/10 5/10 4/10 5/10 N/A Review No No No 2L Gore-Tex Trim 310 g / 10.9 oz 77.8 cm / 30.6 in Yes Zeta LT (Men's - Women's) Hiking 5/10 7/10 8/10 5/10 N/A No No No N40P-X 3L Gore-Tex Trim 335 g / 11.8 oz 78 cm / 30.75 in Yes Zeta AR (Men's) Hiking 7/10 8/10 7/10 4/10 N/A Yes No No 3L Gore-Tex Regular 425 g / 15 oz 80 cm / 31.5 in Yes
N70p of Sabre AR should have been less durable against the N80p of Sabre LT, but the AR comes with an internal fleece in addition, so it competes.
Ultimately, LT is a little bit more breathable and lighter, and AR is a little bit warmer, but that's not noticeable for the vast, vast majority of us.
When you're stuck between the Sabre AR and LT, it really is a toss up, so I'd focus on their cut - the most noticeable difference between these two jackets.
- You can layer the Sabre LT with a low loft mid layer like the Proton or Atom LT.
- Whereas you can layer the AR with something loftier such as the Cerium LT, or a low loft mid layer PLUS a thick fleece.
Being able to under layer more isn't necessarily a good thing all the time. A trimmer cut like that of LT can feel better during high output activities.
Considering all these differences, I'd say the Sabre LT is more suitable for skiing & snowboarding, whereas the Sabre AR is more suitable for a more all round use such as hiking, skiing, casual outwear etc.
That said, I wouldn't recommend getting either of these jackets if you'll be using them for climbing because their sleeves are really too long for that. Instead, I'd recommend you to check out something like the Beta AR.
Lastly, both Sabre's come with a RECCO reflector. If you're unaware, it's a tiny, battery-free transmitter that helps the professional mountain rescue teams to locate your whereabouts in the event of an avalanche.
- Arc'teryx Jacket Finder: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/jacket-finder
Both are also DWR coated.
DWR is a coating. It's basically sprayed on to the surface of these jackets as a finish. It stands for Durable Water Repellent - which means that water will be repelled under wet conditions instead of soaking into the fabric. DWR also decreases dry time. It's a good thing these jackets are coated in DWR. But pay attention to the fact that DWR is a coating - meaning that it will wear off over time. Which is why you might want to invest in a DWR spray such as this one at arcteryx.com for after treatment. As you see, there's a strong correlation between FP x FW and temperature ratings, but not more than, say, 80%. I explained why this happens here in this post of mine.
Customer Service's take on Sabre AR vs LT
So I also contacted Arc'teryx CS about Sabre AR vs LT, and here's what they told me:
"The main fabric difference between the Sabre AR and Sabre LT is the backer material that is laminated to the inside of the jacket.
The AR features a lo-loft softshell backer that is warmer and softer to the touch, while the LT used a C-Knit backer that is lighter and slightly more breathable.
Because both jackets use a 70-80 denier nylon face with a Gore Tex laminate, abrasion resistance and waterproofness will be nearly identical.
If you tend to do mostly resort skiing in mixed conditions, I would generally suggest the Sabre AR. If you venture into the backcountry or are looking for a longer jacket, the Sabre LT may be a better choice."