Arc'teryx Alpha AR Jacket - Men's reviews and deals for sale

First impression

I bought an extra small due to people reviewing it running large. A size down from what I normally purchase fit incredibly well as if it were made for me. I have a lean build but not absolutely skinny but once I added a couple layers it fit fairly tight. I sent it back for a small.

Good shell

I do like this shell a ton, it has treated me well in the winter skiing, to the fall and spring climbing. I have never had a problem with it, Arcteryx always knows the perfect ratio of gore-tex, this shell is very water, and wind proof, but also breaths great. I would recommend to anyone needing a good tough shell.

all around great shell

I have worn this shell often since I bought it 4 1/2 years ago, and it is the best performing and most satisfying shell jacket I have owned or tested (spent some time guiding trips, do winter hikes in New England/Adirondacks most winters, test outdoor gear for a website). Durable, very light for a bad-weather hard shell (my size XL is 14.5 ounces), absolutely stops rain and wind,… read more and great combination of gore tex fabric that breathes and large armpit openings for extremely high output. Huge hood with great adjustments, so equally good over a beanie or a helmet. Relatively roomy fit that is good for layering. Downsides - Arcteryx's most durable gtx jackets are noisy in the wind, and it's very pricy at full retail (and arcteryx rarely goes on sale). also, arcteryx sells a somewhat dizzying array of shells. try them on - because some are more tailored than this one, and this might not be a fave for people with a narrower frame. I have worn this in the worst weather - 75 mph and higher winds during winter trips to the white mountains, freezing rain, summer deluges. There are many great waterproof/breathable shell jackets out there. this one, or the equivalent arcteryx in a configuration that fits you well, is one of the best.

Not the Arc'teryx of old

Sadly, Arc'teryx is in good company when it comes to wasting materials these days. First, the shell sounds like a trash-bag when you put it on. Over the years, Arc'teryx, unlike Westcomb, has stuck to GoreTex, which does produce good materials from time to time, but seems to have forgotten that usability is just as important as being waterproof. Second, the design changes seem… read more to be made for the sake of marketing rather than dialing in of the product's function. Having owned a Theta AR (Canadian-made) for years in Medium and the Alpha AR (Canadian-made) in Large, I was always wondering if I should step down to Medium in the Alpha AR. A couple of years ago I tried one on and it seemed as if that would be my next Arc'teryx purchase. This year Backcountry, which always goes above and beyond, had a great sale on Arc'teryx and so I pulled the trigger. Side note, I also tried the Beta SL Hybrid in Medium and Large and started to notice a rather foolish decision in the tailoring of the shoulder/armpit area - not enough room, i.e. the sleeve just seemed to be of a straighter cut where it mates to the body panel. Yes, some of the "angel wing" material was integrated, but overall the sleeve was just constricting. "Well, surely Alpha AR will fit just as it did that day in the store a couple of years ago", I thought. Nope. Similar problem - something was changed in the cut of the sleeve where it meets the body panels. Especially, toward the front - the pivot point is significantly higher on the chest panel. So a jacket that, otherwise, still has the good-old perfect medium cut for those of use who do have athletic build with wider shoulders and narrower waste has the sleeve cut for those of use who don't need any room around the shoulder/armpit it seems. Disappointing. I guess I will be squeezing a few more miles from the Backcountry shell which for about 1/5th the price had more attention put in to the cut of the jacket. Can't really say that the Alpha AR runs "small" or "large" - it runs an improperly cut fit. A shame all around since, even though it is an overpriced, made-in-China, relic of what Arc'teryx used to be as a brand, the shell still is up there compared to other, made-in-China, overpriced shells out there. Paying premium for Arc'teryx used to mean that you will get something nor North Face, nor Marmot, nor OR, etc. would ever offer. Now it's becoming just another expensive piece of noisy Gortex. It’s not all made in China, though; other Arc'teryx models (Thorium, with a similar poor fit in the shoulder/armpit area), are now made in Burma – the country know for ethnic genocide. Yet, even those models come at a hefty premium. So much for ethical and quality craftsmanship for a premium price. The attached photo, sort of, demonstrates the problem - Alpha is on the left and the Theta is on the right. While harder to notice in picture, the sleeve on the Alpha is straighter and comes in higher on the chest, while the one on Theta AR has more room at the armpit, with more thoughtful tailoring to provide a bit a of ramp in the panel at the front as well. It's frustrating as this model could've been the great all-around jacket for a variety of activities at a lighter weight than the Alpha SV or the Theta AR.

Damn nice Jacket

I have to admit I am an Arc'Teryx nut. I purchased this shell to replace my older Arc'teryx rain jacket that I bought about 4 years ago. The reason I bought this one was because the older one didn't go low enough for me on the backside, I like a jacket that covers my butt a bit so when I sit down on a wet chair lift or have rain drip off at the end it goes on the ground not down… read more my pants! I am in college so I've grown a little (Now about 6'1 180lbs) I have a lean build and this jacket fits great. I have only used tit in the heavy rain and so far so good, it hold to the high standard Arc'teryx has. I have quite a few jackets and puffy's from Arc'teryx and this one is my favorite so far! (In part because of the color and potential for versatility) I haven't used it in the snow yet, but I am looking forward to giving it a try and compare it to my current backcountry jacket which is the Arc'Teryx Rush.

great jacket, little large

got this shell for fairly hard alpine pursuits (winter in the Whites in NH, climbing several volcanoes in Mexico). Breathability and comfort is excellent -- warmer days ran with just a wool baselayer and the shell and was perfect temperature the whole way through, never felt the wind. The fit is slightly off though -- I've got the Dorito build (40" chest, 29" waist, 5'9"ish)… read more so medium did alright, though the sleeves were a little long and the waist area was a little loose, since I sized for the chest to maximize mobility for ice climbing. Nothing problematic, cut was fine with a pack hip belt or harness over the shell -- and the extended length and hem, plus the pocket layout, meant it sat very well under a harness. By comparison I thought the beta shells were cut far too short to wear under a harness. Would buy cut again for sure (though maybe in another weight like the FL for variability)

Try Arcteryx first. Save some time

I've had an Alpha SL for 4 years; it's my go to shell when it's snowing or just really cold. A great,light shell that's Seen a lot of use for four years; zippers still work, Velcro still holds. So I ripped a small hole in it skiing trees, washed it, repaired it, noticed it is slightly faded from the sun. I decided to upgrade. I shopped around and decided on a very nice Millet… read more shell (from Backcountry.com), ordered it, it arrived, I really liked it. Alas, a French XL is not a Canadian XL. A side by side comparison with my Alpha SL confirmed this. I also tried each on with all my layers on and my helmet. The Arcteryx allowed so much more freedom of movement I reluctantly sent the ( very nice) Millet shell back (thank you for making returns so easy, Mr. Backcountry) and ordered the Arcteryx Alpha AR. I've got around 10 days skiing in it so far and I highly recommend Arcteryx to anyone. You won't be disappointed.

Not Too Long

I am short, with a long inseam for my height (5'6", inseam of 32") And it is miserable to find a jacket that is not too long. Fortunately the cut of this jacket is not super long and fit me quite well (although it would fit better if I had a longer torso) Super breathable so I don't swamp myself out, excellent quality construction that you would expect from a jacket in this price… read more range. This isn't a crazy slim fit, so I can see why some people say it runs large, but I am not a slim mountain climber type, so I felt that it fit quite true to size. I have only used it a few times, but I totally love this jacket, as the weather gets nastier, the jacket really shows its potential.

Good jacket. Wish for a better fit.

I bought this Alpha AR along with the Beta AR. I ended up keeping the Alpha over the Beta only because of the collar on the Beta. The collar is stiff and didn't want to lay down to me it was very annoying. I wish the Alpha had the fit of the Beta. The sleeves of the Alpha are a little baggy. The chest fits very well and the length is good. I'm just under 6 feet and 165 lbs. I wear… read more a small as I find this jacket to run large. Backcountry recommended a medium but glad I went with a small. I can fit a down light jacket under it completely fine. I've recently had the opportunity to use this on a rainy hike. The hike was about 5-6 miles. It was not a strenuous hike, mild uphills with switch backs. The weather is typical southeast summer weather. Humid with the temps about 67-70. Rain was heavy at times but always falling steady. I was wearing a quick wick t-shirt and the same in hiking pants. The pace was about 2.5-3 miles per hour. This information to me is important to understand if the jacket really is breathable and well ventilated. At no point in my hike did I feel hot, and at the end I was not sweating. I never opened the vents however I do feel that on a more strenuous hike the vents would have needed to be used. The rain never reached the inside. It also did not show any signs of wetting out. Overall good jacket, breathes well, waterproofing works as designed. The fit could be slightly better. I would recommend that if you want a more athletic fit size down. Happy with the jacket.

Great jacket, soso fit.

This is my first Arc'teryx product and I've eagerly awaited it's arrival. It's clearly a superior product in materials and craftsmanship, and it's light as a feather! The only downsides I can seem to find are the fit, and the length of the sleeves. As other reviews have stated, there is a lot of extra material in the shoulder areas, which is really a bummer. I'm 5'9, lean/athletic,… read more 150lbs, and after pouring over the internet and getting help from a backcountry rep,I went for M size. I wasn't able to try one on beforehand because I'm currently living in Japan. I had to order it to the US and have it forwarded due to international shipping restrictions on the Arc'teryx brand. The extra material in the shoulders only furthers the extra bunched look thanks to the length of the sleeves. I'll have more room to layer than I really need... The length of the jacket itself is great, the hood is a bit roomy, but that's easy to fix with the strap system. I am confident that even the Japanese rainy season will be no match for this jacket, and it will be a great companion in my winter trek through Hokkaido's national parks later this year. I only wish I had gone with an S size and wasn't stuck with a M due to international shipping/forwarding. Don't make the same mistake I did!

I wanted to love this jacket...

I can relate to another review in this post regarding the sizing and fit of this jacket. First, I am a huge Arc'teryx fan and love the quality of their products. After doing much reading/research I took the plunge and purchased the Medium Alpha AR. No local retailer carries it, so I did not have a chance to try it beforehand. This is a sharp looking jacket (on the hanger). The… read more materials, construction and finish of this product were spot-on as you would expect for a ~$500 jacket. The issue arrises with the fit, there is entirely too much space/fabric around the shoulder areas of this jacket. At first I thought perhaps I just need to layer up and see how it fits. I put on a fleece and the Thorium AR jacket as base layers and tried again. Unfortunately, there were still bunches of material around shoulder area of this jacket. There is a fine line between having enough material for unimpeded movement in the shoulder/upper arm area versus it being excessive - for this jacket it falls in the later. I have a lean/fit climbers build - the body fit seems on par, the arm length is on the long side (and I have long arms) but I would expect this with this style of jacket, but the shoulder "situation" is just excessive. I cannot think of a good design reason for there to be so much room/fabric in this area of the jacket. If I turned into the raging Hulk is might be good fit(?) I am returning this jacket and will likely get the Alpha SV. I am familiar with the Alpha SV and it does not have the baggy shoulder situation going on. As another reviewer pointed out, the Alpha SV has a more true athletic fit then this jacket. Sharp, well made jacket, just seems to have a "wonky" fit. Now I just have to wait for another 20% coupon to get the SV!

One hickup but a great shell

I’ve had this jacket for a little over a year and I love it. I’ve used it for everything from downpours to blizzards in the mountains and it’s kept me dry for just about all of it. When I first got it I wore it in a storm in Dutch Harbor, AK after about an hour I noticed the water had stopped beading up and it just looked like the melted snow was soaking into the top layer… read more of the Gore-Tex. I was still dry inside the shell but I was a little puzzled. The next time I wore it in the rain I watched the top layer soak up the water again. I wasn’t ready to give up on it and just figured I got the 1 in a 100 jacket that makes for a 1 star review, so I treated it with Nikwax. After treatment the water beaded right off the jacket and I have only wet out once but that was on a backpacking trip in Seward and it was pouring the whole time. Other than that speed bump this is a great shell. It breathes well, has room for layering while not being too bulky, all the futures are well thought out and perform great, and if you’re like me and run hot the pit zips are indispensable.

Finally a technical jacket for a big guy

I am broad shouldered, short [5'11"], stocky [220 pounds], with thick legs. Finding technical clothes that work well with me has always been a challenge. Love Arc'teryx but as a rule, they have seemed to run 'small' on me for whatever reason. The Alpha AR XXL really works well for me. The caveat here is I have not yet used this jacket for its intended purpose - as a hard shell… read more during winter mountaineering. Time will tell if it will vent and breathe the way I hope it will when putting out a lot of effort. By the looks of things, I would say it will perform very well. Plenty of vent zips, Gore-Tex Pro, lightweight yet durable. Will keep you posted on how it does later this fall/early winter

Amazing

This jacket is super lightweight, tough, and extremely waterproof. This my main mountaineering jacket and holds up in any weather without being too hot. I worn it through a few blizzards and with a good insulating layer underneath its perfect. The hood is easy to adjust to keep it out of your way also.

Exceeded my expectations

I'm not sure why kko is so critical of the size cut when the product description states clearly that it is an athletic cut, not trim. To give others reference, I am 5'9" with a 44" chest and broad shoulders and found the L to fit me almost perfectly. An extra inch or two in the chest would be nice for my torso, but it would not be worth the extra sleeve or waist lengths in the… read more XL. There is zero restriction in the shoulders when moving my arms in any manner. Also, there are definitely 3 hood cords for adjustments. Overall, this is as close to a custom fit jacket as I could probably ask for. I choose the Alpha AR after doing online research only (no local retailers carry this), and it has exceeded my expectations. The new GoreTex Pro fabric is incredibly lightweight and bomber in the elements...the exact specs I needed for the demands of hiking in the ADK's year-round. In recent -20 F wind chills, the icy chill didn't come through the jacket at all. Snowflakes are brushed off the shell with a quick flick of the hand. The Alpha AR seems up to the challenge of whatever the mountains can throw at it.

Not quite

When I ordered this jacket i had high expectations. I really liked the idea of a light weight hardshell that could still take a beating. I had used an older alpha SV from arcteryx for many years and it was superb. The cut, features, and detail were all spot on. Unfortunately I can not say the same of the Alph AR. Here is why: First, the cut is not the same, "tailored" fit the… read more Alpha SV, and almost all other arcteryx pieces have. It is a bit too baggy in the arms, creating extra folds, while being a bit too constricting in the shoulders/upper chest area. At the same time, the area from the chest down seems to be a bit too baggy. This cut, doesn't really help layering, while adding a lot of material. Second problem: the hood only has 2 way adjustability! No 3 way fore-aft adjustability! At this level I thought 3 way adjustability was a foregone conclusion. Overall this is probably still a good jacket for most people. But for everyone who is going to be using this jacket day-in and day-out these things will get annoying real fast. Overall I'd give this a 3.5 stars, but since I can't I''m going with 3. BTW, I tried on a new Alpha SV, and the cut, features, and finish, were even better than my old one. I went with that instead.

If I have an Arc'teryx Thorium AR Jacket size Large, should I get a Large shell or size up?