Bushwalk Australia

Hi everyone,

I was wondering: does anyone have any experience with any Arc'teryx products? I am particularly interested in the Alpha jacket or Alpha parka.

Thanks.

Not cheap, but the quality is top notch. Even with their "made in china" stuff.

I had a few bits of gear here sold for about half the US retail price but few people here seemed to know what they're all about.
My favourite is the Gamma AR pants. they are cut somehow that makes it really comfortable at its articulated knees like them special Levis models. when you bend the knees you dont feel the restriction. its got a hook at the bottom of the pants, so you dont need a gaitor for most conditions.

They give special greek symbols to certain range of clothing, EG,
gamma = softshell polartech
sigma = softshell gore windstop
delta = mid layer insulation
alpha = goretex hardshell
beta = climbing hardshell
theta = skiing hardshell
atom = insulators
kappa = insulated windstopper
etc etc (its all on their website)
Then they use letters after it to denote its strength:
LT (light) AR (all rounder) SV (severe)
SL = superlite, SK = ski, MX = mixed, Comp = composite etc..

You're probably aware of this, but Mainpeak have 50% off Arc'teryx at the moment.

Yes, Mainpeak do, but they do not have what I'm after. I'm looking for work use and suspect ill have to order from the US.

Grossly overpriced from my experience. There are equivalent products available at much, much more reasonable prices.
I bought a "Covert Cardigan", polartech fleece jacket from Mainpeak at a "special" price of about $150, normally around $280.
I thought I was buying a good, warm, durable quality product. Something special.
Hah !!!, what a joke. It is very thin. No insulative value at any temperature below about 10 Celsius. That's plus, not minus 10. The wind blows straight through it, but it just isn't warm, even on a calm day.
The material starts to pill badly within the first few wearings.
Good for indoor or street use, in mild weather. It does look good though, until the pilling takes over.
Don't waste your money.

their shells have a good reputation, well designed and made. but still overpriced, made in canada...
some people think by paying more they are getting something better, but unless you can get them for a big reduction, you're better spending your money on another brand

Best waterproof jacket i've ever had. Well worth the extra money.

check for best pricing overseas here

http://www.gearbuyer.com/bq/arcteryx/al ... ender=mens

i'm not a great fan of gore tex, unless you are in severe winter weather i think you're better off with the more breathable membranes like event , Mountain hardware's Dry Q, columbia's omni dry. neoshell.

I"ve got a columbia peak to peak omni dry jacket, beats the pants off gore tex for breathability. DWR is very good too, the membrane is a lot stronger than others so they can make it a lot thinner and lighter, so weight for weight the shell fabric is thicker compared to other jackets, better than the event jacket i've had as well but the DWR wasnt good on that.

oyster_07 wrote:I was wondering: does anyone have any experience with any Arc'teryx products? I am particularly interested in the Alpha jacket or Alpha parka.

I own a few of their products and find them fantastic! I do buy at discount prices though and couldnt bring myself to purchase full retail. A lot of their base layers have silver impregnated which is meant to stop them smelling as much, however, I find they are just as bad as any poly thermal at stinking up, evn after a days use gets that musty I havent showered smell...mmmmm yummo.

Shells are always fantastic so far and fleeces too

Good work ninjapuppet I always wondered what the heck those symbols really stood for

hmm
friend of mine just told me arcteryx have been made in china for the past couple of years, he believes the quality has dropped in their gear china made gear....

wayno wrote:hmm
friend of mine just told me arcteryx have been made in china for the past couple of years, he believes the quality has dropped in their gear china made gear....

So they are now in line with every other producer??

Currently, Arc'teryx products are also manufactured in nine other countries besides Canada: USA, China, El Salvador, Italy, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Bangladesh and Vietnam
http://www.arcteryx.com/manufacturing.aspx?EN

wayno wrote:Currently, Arc'teryx products are also manufactured in nine other countries besides Canada: USA, China, El Salvador, Italy, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Bangladesh and Vietnam
http://www.arcteryx.com/manufacturing.aspx?EN

O....K..........

just off the top of my head

I just posted a long post about how great I think Arc'teryx is and lost it for some reason.

Without re-writting the whole thing I think it's the poo. My Theta SL jacket is very highly recommened, Nice mid thigh cut and good pit zips. Gore-tex pro shell on hi wear area's, paclite on the low wear. Great design.

Long to short mine should be torn to bit but it ain't.
Not cheap but not too expensive compared to some. I picked mine up for new $250USD from ebay a few years ago

oyster_07 wrote:Hi everyone,

I am particularly interested in the Alpha jacket or Alpha parka.

Thanks.

They just released a new video today about the Alpha SV

forest wrote:I just posted a long post about how great I think Arc'teryx is and lost it for some reason.

I friggin hate it when that happens! Now if I write a post and Ive been at it for more than 5 mins I open a word document...saves me the frustration venting...

Common oyster mate.
You know you want one
You know how they say it; 'Buy once, Cry once'
And I bet you've already made your decision to the 95% confidence level to get one, and simply seeking public ageeance on your selection.

We've all been there.
Do it!

Ah, Ninjapuppet; quite astute! I pretty much have. It's a matter of getting something else for use with work, or paying a little extra for an Arc'teryx piece of kit that will serve me in work and play.

Ah, Ninjapuppet; quite astute! I pretty much have. It's a matter of getting something else for use with work, or paying a little extra for an Arc'teryx piece of kit that will serve me in work and play.

I decided on Wildthings instead.

Which one, Alpinist or Castlerock?

No, neither. I got the SO 1.0 hardshell from their tactical range.