shell jackets

Summary

Y'all know these are just my opinions... right?

• The best Arc'teryx ski jacket is the overachiever Sabre SV. The drop of this new (released for Fall 2023 - Winter 2024) absolute unit was shocking. No one was expecting 100d face fabric. In addition to the Alpha SV (Men's - Women's), now we have not one but two 100d hardshells. Sabre SV is the most breathable, durable and weather resistant Arc'teryx ski jacket. And the longest. All at the same time. 
  • https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-sv-jacket (revised fit)
• The second best is the stunning Rush. Can recommend it my eyes closed. Falls behind the Sabre SV in every department, but still extremely capable with lots of features and Gore-Tex Pro. Fills the bill without a hitch. Sabre SV can be overkill for most anyway. If Sabre SV is the Lamborghini, Rush would be the Mercedes of Arc'teryx ski jackets. 
  • https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/rush-jacket (legacy fit)
• Macai Shell, Sabre and Sentinel/Sidewinder aren't Gore-Tex Pro but Gore-Tex, unlike the Rush and Sabre SV. They're still extremely capable. If you have no plans of using your ski jacket for 20+ years, then you might not need a Gore-Tex Pro. Macai Shell offers DropHood, unlike the StormHood of other shells in here. Sabre on the other hand comes with a smooth flannel liner which provides a bit of warmth in practice. 
  • https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/macai-shell-jacket (revised fit)
  • https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-jacket (revised fit)
  • https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/sentinel-jacket (legacy fit)
  • https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/sidewinder-jacket (legacy fit)
• If you want an insulated ski jacket, then read this post and think again. Because I recommend having control over insulation. If you still want one; then take a look at Macai, Macai Lightweight, Sabre Insulated and Sentinel Insulated. I don't recommend the Rush Insulated because it doesn't offer pit zips. 
  • https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/macai-jacket (revised fit)
  • https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/macai-lightweight-jacket (revised fit)
  • https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-insulated-jacket (revised fit)
  • https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/sentinel-insulated-jacket (legacy fit)
  • https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/rush-insulated-jacket (legacy fit)
  • https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/womens/rush-insulated-jacket (legacy/revised fit)

Also see: https://outdoorcrunch.com/arcteryx-sabre-vs-rush/ 

• Fit

I'm 5'11", 165 lbs, athletic build. Size M fits me perfectly. 

My size is always the same. Arc'teryx, Patagonia, TNF, Salomon, Columbia, Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Zara... Doesn't matter. 

• Arc'teryx's 2024 men's fit revision

Straight from arcteryx.com on what's changed: 

Source: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/help/sizing/mens/tops/new

Not all jackets come with revised fit. Only the ones with following statement. 

• Poll

Which Arc'teryx fit do you prefer?

Legacy fit

Revised fit

• Poll

Which cuff type do you like more?

Stretch gusset cuffs

Stretch knit cuffs

Sabre SV: The absolute unit

Sabre SV kind of has a special place in Arc'teryx history. 

There hasn't been any other jacket that is manufactured with a N100p 3L Gore-Tex Pro throughout the entire garment while also providing the pit zips and a two way zipper all at the same time. 

Until the release of Sabre SV (Fall 2023), Alpha SV (Men's - Women's) has been the only jacket with 100d 3L Gore-Tex Pro outer fabric. But it didn't offer a two way zipper. 

As you can guess, the N100d face fabric is more durable than the N80p-X & N100p-X combination of Rush. It however can be an overkill, because the jackets of most average users do not experience that much abrasion.

Rush uses 80d thickness strategically, just in the right locations where you don't need so much resistance. 

In terms of breathability, the pit zips has got your back. A two-way zipper is always there for you too. But it's generally used for comfort reasons. Such as when taking the chairlifts. But still, it can have an impact on breathability too, so I rate its breathability a 10. Facts are facts. 

Compared to Rush, Sabre SV also has more pockets - offers 1 more external (on the chest) and 2 more internal pockets. I personally never have too many pockets so I love the Sabre SV in this regard. But the pockets in Rush are also enough. 

Need a lengthier jacket to cover your hips? Sabre SV is the way to go. Standing at 85 cm / 33.5 in, Sabre SV is the longest Arc'teryx ski jacket of all time. 

The only downside of the Sabre SV is the price tag. 

Rush: The rational

If Sabre SV is the Lamborghini, Rush would be the Mercedes of Arc'teryx ski jackets. 

I've got a few non-negotiable things when it comes to ski jackets, and Rush ticks all of them. This is why it has always been my number one Arc'teryx ski jacket pick. 

The number one thing is mechanical breathability. This comes down to pit zips (or in some rare situations, mesh armpits) or two way zippers. 

Arc'teryx always uses either one of these in their ski jackets - except the Rush Insulated (biggest disappointment). 

Going back to Rush, it offers pit zips, but lacks a two-way zipper. From breathability perspective, the latter is less important. It would however be helpful for other stuff (more on this later). Wish Rush had that too. Still, not a dealbreaker. Some even dislike two-way zippers because it can break down more easily. Lots of Arc'teryx warranty issues stem from the zippers. And a two way zipper doesn't mean making things easier. 

Rush doesn't offer any insulation. Which is great. I've never been a fan of insulated ski jackets hardshells in general (with a few exceptions like the Beta Insulated (Men's - Women's - read review), but we all know that it's a hardshell that isn't being used as a hardshell...). Not being able to control the warmth would be a nightmare. Especially if you run warm like I do. 

If you're worried about the cold so much you can always under layer the Rush. It's the slimmest fitting men's Arc'teryx ski jacket, but still plenty of room to get a mid layer and/or a base layer. The air that gets trapped between different clothing items will work as an extra layer of insulation (because air is a stunning insulator by its very nature), and will heat you even more. 

Macai: The hood king

When it comes to StormHood vs DropHood, I'm always camp "it depends".

For most people, DropHood will feel more comfortable when the hood is not on, because the hood is separated from the collar. StormHood on the other hand mostly feels more comfortable when the hood is on, because the hood and the collar is integrated. 

Macai is the hood king. 

It is not only the only Arc'teryx ski jacket that comes with DropHood, it also provides you with the option to remove the hood. On top of those, you still have the option to opt for the Macai Lightweight, which comes with a StormHood. 

I still don't like the idea of an insulated ski jacket, because I like having control over warmth. But I do not dislike Macai as much as I dislike Rush Insulated, because Macai does offer pit zips, which gives you some control over warmth by dumping heat. 

It is, however, insulated with Coreloft AND down, instead of the sole synthetic insulators used in other insulated jackets in this review. Down is usually terrible when it comes to breathability, but luckily both Macai's contain less than 100 grams of down. 

Besides insulation, Macai is a solid item, but I still would probably get a Rush, or a Sabre SV. 40d face fabric of Macai is the least strong of all current Arc'teryx ski jackets. Check out the table for this. This is probably the biggest downside of this jacket. 

Other Arc'teryx ski jackets are usually around 80d and 100d with a few exceptions. If I'm paying buckets for Macai... I don't accept the half of the strength of others. 

In terms of fit, in addition to all the Sabre jackets in this review, Macai and Macai Lightweight, too, come with the revised fit.

Which means that the medium size remains the same but smaller sizes are now even smaller with the new revision and larger sizes are larger, compared to the legacy fit which is seen in the two Rush jackets. 

Sabre: The Rush alternative

When you can get a Gore-Tex Pro jacket at the same price range (which is the Rush I'm talking about in here) I feel you need to have a strong reason to get the Sabre. 

The comfort of flannel liner is a plus but it's a double edged sword. It's 50% heavier than the Rush. Also what if you overheat? You cannot remove it so you need to learn to live with it. It's a commitment you can't take back and I want full control over insulation, but still it isn't just as bad as the next one. 

Rush Insulated: The no-go?

Rush Insulated is an item that never really made sense to me. I think you need an amazing reason to get it. 

And running cold isn't one of them. 

Because you don't have the option to ventilate the Rush Insulated. You heard that right. No pit zips or two-way zippers. This is a deal breaker for me, especially when I'm looking at an insulated shell. 

The only "justified" reason to get a Rush Insulated I think would be if you get ski jackets often and don't mind using it no more than a few times a year.

Rush Insulated is the only Arc'teryx ski jacket that comes with a stuff sack (i.e is packable). Packability can make it the ideal pick for some certain situations, but there really shouldn't be many of these conditions. 

On top of the lack of ventilation, unlike Rush and Sabre SV, Rush Insulated isn't equipped with a 3L Gore-Tex Pro. It's equipped with a 2L Gore-Tex Infinium. A noticeably inferior alternative. 

If you don't want to get Rush or Sabre SV for some reason... Maybe take a look at Beta and Alpha. They're not ski specific but I'd even rather get them instead. 

Sentinel: The best for women

I wish this had a men's counterpart. Arc'teryx keeps switching the women's counterpart of Rush on and off. If they don't bring it back for a long time, Sentinel has got your back. 

Sentinel doesn't offer any insulation, but it does come with a flannel liner. It provides minimum warmth and is pleasant to touch. 

Sentinel Insulated and Theriss Down are the two other Arc'teryx women's ski jackets. As you can tell by their names, they're both insulated. I'm not going to roast them like I roasted the Rush Insulated. Because they both do offer pit zips just like Sentinel does. 

A word on Theriss Down: Don't worry the down losing its insulation power when it's wet. This problem doesn't arise for hardshells like all these jackets because the Gore-Tex fabric of the outer face won't let the water in. But it can hinder breathability noticeably. 

I would put Sentinel above the other two my eyes closed. One thing is the non-insulated structure. Like I said, I never liked the idea of an insulated shell jacket. I personally like having multiple options. I can always under layer very easily. And when I prefer, I'd like to be able to ditch the insulation. 

The other thing is the face fabric. Sentinel offers a 3L Gore-Tex face fabric, compared to the 2L Gore-Tex of the other two. This is important and plays out as a noticeable difference in practice. 

In terms of center back length, Sentinel Insulated is the longest at 79.8 cm (31.5 in). Which it's questionable. It might be too long for most users. Freedom of movement is crucial when skiing and a long jacket preventing that can be a buzzkiller.

At 63 cm (24.8 in) Theriss Down is super short. It allows for maximum movement and looks better to some people. But wait until you take the chairlift. The cold creeping under the jacket can get you quicker than you think. With longer jackets this is less likely. 

Sentinel I think is perfectly fine here at 73.7 cm (29 in). Unless you have personal preferences (too long/short torso or something else), Sentinel I believe is sitting at the sweet spot in here. 

Although Arc'teryx is horribly guilty in terms of men's ski jacket fitting, that's not the case for women's. All three jackets fit true to size. 

• https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/ski-and-snowboard-product-guide/mens/
• https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/ski-and-snowboard-product-guide/womens/
• Also use this: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/jacket-finder/

Types of skiing: 

• 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. 
  

Now let's take a look at how these 3 types differ from each other. 

What difference does the backcountry vs resort skiing make?

Backcountry Skiing (a.k.a Touring)

Hiking your way up to the peak and carrying relatively more items with you gives breathability a larger factor when skiing in the backcountry - so shells are usually preferred more than the insulated jackets.

There are also some small design details here and there.

Rush is a perfect example for this - its internal stash pocket is designed to be shallower in order to store items such as goggles or gloves, to make transitioning in the backcountry as seamless as possible.

Resort Skiing

Resort skiers, on the other hand, are divided into two groups. Generally speaking, those who prefer non-insulated shells usually either;

• don't ski when it's below 30 deg F (0 deg C), 
• tend to overheat a lot they can sacrifice warmth to maximize breathability in return,
• or more leaned towards comfort and flexibility side of the balance rather than the warmth.

If these don't apply to you, then I'd recommend most of you to forget about getting one of these shell jackets laid out in the table above. You'd probably do better getting yourself a breathable, insulated jacket instead. 

Freeride

This is somewhere between Resort and Backcountry Skiing settings.

• Arc'teryx Jacket Finder: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/jacket-finder