Arc'teryx Theta SV Jacket - Men's - 2007 BCS

Starting off-This is my favourite Arc Shell (currently own-Alpha SV, Sidewinder AR, Alpha SL, have owned Beta, Theta AR's, Stingray,insulated jkts and various softshells). 5'10" and a smidge- 170lbs and the medium is a great fit. Extra long length in front and back, well articulated arms, great pocket placement. Wide collar so it will not restrict with layers underneath and when the hood comes over the helmet. Great overall cut and fit. Could use the soft gromments like Alpha SV as well as the harness hemlock. Otherwise 5 stars!

This is an absolute beast of a jacket. Thickest material arcteryx offers and while gore pro won't breathe as well as event it is a mighty step up for someone like me who had been using a 10 year old classic 2 layer north face mountain light jacket which had characteristics of a trash bag. Very durable as well, rubbing against brush doesnt even leave a mark or anything of the sort.

Pros: almost everything, the fit is spot on. Well cut with a bit of extra room in the shoulders tapered down to the waist, 2 drawstrings (not one like some jackets have) across the waist and bottom of the jacket. back is a bit longer to cover the butt if you so desire but not too long. BIG BIG pit zips. 2 chest pockets and 2 littler chest pockets for a compass or something small. Hood has 4 adjustment points...not 3 but 4. there is the traditional horizontal volume adjuster in the back but also a vertical volume adjuster in the back.

Cons: Let me preface this by saying i am nitpicking every little thing I can think of.
1. no 2 way zipper. This may deter some buyers, i had it on my old jacket and honestly it was more of a novelty than anything else. I guess some climbers may not like it but the jacket should work fine under a harness.
2. cost - as always arcteryx is over the top here. However, this theta sv is still MADE IN CANADA not china like the theta ar and has a better cut for backpacking than the alpha models. The price here on sale (30% off) is pretty good but still high. But if you order from departmentofgoods .com (used to backcountryoutlet - same owners, same stock) you can get an additional 12% off the current price bringing down the cost to 335. That is pretty fair for a canadian shell. Other good shells that are available at this price include the marmot exum and or mentor - both bombproof pro shells from excellent companies that will no doubt serve as well as this jacket but both are made overseas.
3. Weight - a little heavy but not for the durability and use of this shell. Compared to an ultra light Integral designs rain jacket or thru hiker with event it is heavy. But the few extra ounces give more durability and a jacket better suited for very harsh conditions vs. a rain jacket for folks who leave it in the pack 99% of the time. The ID thru hiker is an excellent option however for a light weight rain jacket, ID was just purchased by Rab so hopefully the upcoming shutdown of the Canadian factory and move to colorado will not include a move of manufacturing overseas. The marmot exum is a bit lighter as well but uses a thinner fabric.

Well thats all I could nitpick this jacket, its a beast. Well constructed.

The Arc'teryx Theta SV Jacket jacket totally rocks. I got this jacket right before this winter to use as my shell for ice climbing. It is amazing and fits me like a glove. I am 6'3" and weigh 190lbs and have longer arms. I went with a size large. It has a very nice technical fit and still gives me room to put a few layers under it and the sleeves are plenty long. I have even warn the Patagonia down sweater under before. When wearing this jacket you don't have to worry about getting wet. It was a little more money then I wanted to spend at the time, but now that I have it, I know I have a keeper.

This jacket is the answer to my outerwear dreams. All the features I want, none that I don't. I love the stowable hood, pockets that work with a backpack on, a longer cut then most other arc'teryx jackets and a hood with 3 adjustments. No frilly gimicky crap either. Nowhere on this jacket will you find any BS about quantum-space-age anti-gravity technology. Just a damn solid piece of engineering. Simply amazing. The first thing I did when I got it was take my pants off and hop in the shower with it on. Perfect, no leaks what-so-ever. The high denier nylon fabric is tough, like, bullet-proof tough. I like it much better then the alpha SV because of its long cut, intuitive pockets, (what is up with those alpha pockets anyway??) higher denier nylon shoulders and elbows and stowable hood.

The jacket fits a little on the big side which I like, it enables me to fit a big puffy down jacket underneath without popping any seams, but still looks stylish enough to wear anywhere. The hood is indeed helmet compatible, even with my huge XL skiing helmet, it still fits. The only downside I can see about this jacket is that it may be too much for most. If you're looking for a jacket to wear in the rain around town, save yourself a couple hundred bucks and checkout something else. If you need something to keep you dry for long treks in snow and rain, where a failure in your jacket would be a serious risk, this is the jacket for you. Arc'teryx stands up for quality, uncompromisable quality. I consider this jacket an investment, tough enough for years of hard-core use.

I've had this jacket for about 2 months and love it. Its November in New England and although I have not seen any snow yet i've seen some serious rain and have never felt so protected. Between two jobs school and no vehicle I walk almost ten miles a day and wear this shell constantly(not to bulky for everyday use). Oh and the hood is no holds barred the best I have ever seen, and I sell gear for a living.

This was the thing that got me hooked on Arc'Teryx products. Heavy, durable Pro Shell means I'm not worried about getting wet or damaging the fabric, and there are plenty of pockets to go around-all well inside pack straps and above the waist belt. I'm 5'10" 202 with a 43 inch chest, so paying attention to the sizing was critical. (Thank you BC customer service!) Arc's sizing chart says that a 43 chest should go with a large, but that's only if you want to go with a couple of thin layers (R2 fleece/Down Sweater/R4 fleece over Capilene 3). I went with an XL, and it's perfect. I can even stick my Fitz Roy Down Hoody under, and not look like the Michelin man. Stow hood is great, and the cinch cord at the back lets the hood stay tight on whether I've got a helmet on or just a beanie. And the back hem comes down far enough that if you sit down to take a break, your rear end won't get wet. Sure, even on Backcountry sale it wasn't dirt cheap, but I know that I won't have to buy another hardshell for a really long time. Durability, longevity, and excellent design, that's why I bought it, and it's become my go to in wet weather.

Well, I finally settled the Theta SV for a new shell. I'm 6'5" and weigh about 260 w/ an athletic cut. The XXL fits me quite well except for the midsection which was tad baggy. The waist adjustment fixed this nicely however. Pockets are intuitive and usefull and adjustment cords work quite well. Length is great, fit and finnish seem to be outstanding. I like the option to store the hood in the collar if I want, but I mostly leave it out since this leaves the collar less stiff and more comfortable. The jacket is very light but so far has been very durable. This is very important for me since I'm kinda clumsy and tend to fall while skiing or walk into things while hiking. Wind and waterproofing is excellent, a definite requirement in Alaska where I'll stack the crappyness of our weather up against that of any other state in the union. If I had one minor complaint it would be the noise. The material crinkles quite a bit, especially when cold. This is a pretty hard-core technical shell however, and I'll deal with noise if it comes with this level of protection any day of the week. Overall this is a top notch piece of gear I'm looking forward to using for a long time.

I'm a big guy (6'3'' 255 lbs) and the XL fits perfect. It is long enough to cover my bum and there is plenty of room for layering. I can wear long underwear, a slim-fitting softshell, and a 800 fill down jacket underneath when it's REALLY cold. Despite this, it is not so big that I feel like I'm swimming in it when not layering. I'm naturally a sweaty guy and the pit zips are large and keep things nice and cool. The Gore-Tex Pro seems pretty breathable, yet it is totally waterproof and TOUGH. I'm not worried about bushwhacking in this jacket. There are four large pockets on the outside, but they are all chest level. This may seem awkward at first, but I have found that I prefer them this way. It means that stuffing things in your pockets does not add girth to your waist, which is great for unrestricted arm movement as well as being better for a backpack's hip belt. The smaller internal pocket is perfect for an iPod. I also love that the hood is stowable (I hate having a hood flopping around when it's not being used). It should be noted that is is a shell only - don't expect it to keep you warm in frigid weather and wind. However, with the proper layering, this is as versatile a jacket as you will ever find. Perfect for every outdoor adventure, yet stylish enough to wear around town. My one and only complaint: the price. $550 is a lot of money to spend on a jacket. That being said, I don't regret spending the money on what I consider to be the perfect jacket. I consider it to be a sound investment and I expect that because of the build quality it will last for many years to come.

Pros: The very best in hard shell garments for extreme conditions. Impeccable attention to detail/weatherproofing. Athletic cut; optimized fabric panels, minimum no. of seams with outstanding freedom of movement in a baselayer/midlayer, extra room across shoulders. Gore-Tex fabric is very abrasion resistant and breathes very well. Hood has a great design, cinches down tight for foul weather and can accommodate a helmet. Bottom hem of jacket has a snug fit around upper thighs (good weatherproofing). Kept me dry in a Southwestern monsoon downpour with 40 mph gusts. No clammy feeling working hard uphill for some backcountry freshies. Cons: slight noise from fabric when moving (typical of hard shells, would not hear in a blizzard or downpour). Bottom hem of jacket has a snug fit around upper thighs (may restrict freedom of movement if you have on too many bottom layers -depends on individual build).

Buy it if you think your life may depend on it.

JB

If you want something comfy and tender, don't get this jacket. if you want a bomb proof piece of equipment that looks good and performs, this is it. great material, good design, and windproof and waterproof as hell. this thing is also SUPER light for its size, it has no lining other than the slightly softer material on the other side of the shell, and this is part of the reason for the light weight. hood looks smoking good, and has a small brim on the front, making you a pimp, not a baseball fan. two front check pockets on both sides, but none on the front bottom where most jackets hold their pockets. one large interior pocket on lefthand side. the large trim on the body makes little difference to appearance, and is barely noticeable when wearing.