This is simply the best shell out there. No wind or weather can get at you wearing this one! Extra room for layering for the cold days, even in the arms! ( which is a problem for some of their other shells...the Scorpion to be exact.)Helmet compatible storm hood is a real plus when the temps drop, although it only seems to stay on when riding the lift. Great construction, great performance, and GREAT LOOKS! I LOVE IT!

it was coming down cats and dogs and whatever other animals it comes down yesterday and I had to walk a half mile back to my car. Take God I had my stingray! I put on some cheap waterproof pants and my arcteryx and headed out! I thought I was the baddest mother just thrashing through the rain without missing a beat. Then it happened. It was "picture perfect" and I was in the right place at the right time. A giant truck was flying down the road and with it came a giant "picture perfect" wall of water that crashed me! if I wasn't already wet from the rain now I was covered from head to toe. It stopped me in my tracks and all I could do was turn around and look at the trunk with a shrug. Then it happened again. Another "picture pefect" wall of water hits me in the back while I am still looking at the first truck. True story I swear! I finally got back to my car, then back home and I couldn't wait to see if any water had gotten through. As to my excitement I was dry as a bone!
the jacket is bigger (wide) than I would have thought, but length is perfect. It is made to have more layers under it and this jacket by itself wont keep you warm. at least not on an extreme cooled day.
it packs very small considering its a real jacket. but thats expected from Arc'teryx. Over all, best jacket hand down I have ever owned. well worth the money!

Forget about bowflex and jenny craig, this jacket will change your life. I would take a bullet for this jacket and i know it would do the same for me. Hate to contradict the other reviewers but I am 5'8 and 150 and the small was a great fit for me. Regardless, one thing I know we can all agree on is that unless scud missiles start falling from the clouds, nothing can get to you in this jacket.

This is my third Arc’teryx jacket. I have the Sidewinder as well and now alternate between the two for skiing. This jacket is very well made and will keep you dry under any conditions skiing. The fit is great around the arms/shoulders, but this jacket is a little snug when compared to the Sidewinder. You can’t go wrong with this jacket.

Well, I'd been lookin' for love in all the wrong places, at least when it came to jackets. That is, until I found this gem. It may not be perfect for everybody or every occasion, but this thing was flat awesome on the hills this past winter. Whether it was snowin' and blowin or the blue birds were singing this jacket provided the protection needed and the ventilation desired to constantly remind me of how great gear makes for great days. And, I really appreciate how well-built this jacket is. So, for those of you considering going with a softshell and you have the funds to buy it, then do just that: buy it.

Great jacket. Wow. I love this jacket. I don't know what to say. About the only improvements i could possibly suggest would be to make the powderskirt and the hood removable (zip off). Not only was it great for skiing the Swiss Alps, but I've been wearing it as a rain jacket here in STL. A zip off powderskirt would certainly extend the seasonal range of this shell.

If I don't buy a new digital camera, I would suggest enlarging the size of the one of inner pockets. (Just enough to fit my camera.)

Arc'teryx is my new favorite. If you are going to spend the cash for a great jacket, this is the brand to buy!

Great jacket, read all the other reviews. The only thing to add is that unlike a lot of other jackets, the hem on the Stingray is quite boxy, and does not drop much in the back at all. It makes it great for skiing, but for snowboarding, if you want butt coverage, look elsewhere. That being said, it looks snazzier and cleaner for it's shorter length.

Construction, style, function...all Arc'teryx typical excellent. Can't go wrong with the brand, just watch that you get the jacket for it's purpose.

and as if that weren't enough....
when you don't seem to notice your gear you know it's doing it's job right. With this coat you never notice the wind getting through, never notice you're getting too hot, never notice it's too heavy, never notice it's too restrictive, never notice the pockets are in the wrong place, never notice how noisy it is below zero, etc. Over 6 months I've used this coat running in the rain (talk about moisture management), skinning/touring, and resort skiing. In all cases it's never been clammy on the inside during or after. The fit is superb, low profile, but I can easily wear light and mid weight layers underneath. I had to look the other way when paying for it, but for the number of times I've bought the wrong coat for 200 balloons, I have to say it's worth it.

Overall I did love the fit of the jacket and the soft shell feel was quite nice. I used to own an Arc'teryx Sidewinder with the XCR Gortex and then I switched to the Stingray. I thought I would get the same performance however a better fit and softer feel. I loved the jacket however the only area were it didn't perform was warmth. I know it' s a softshell but it just couldn't hold it's heat. People always told me the Stingray should be warmer than the Sidewinder as it is a similar Gortex and it has a fine liner. There was a noticable different between the two. I would take the Stingray on day tours and just skiing at the resort and found i needed to add another layer. Maybe the Jacket is too breathable? I'm not sure why. When i would hike the jacket would breathe.

So to conclude i would reccommend this jacket for around town and maybe skiing in a location that's not very cold however I would caution the prospective buyer who is looking for a shell with high performance. I went back to the Sidewinder and feel the difference again (Sidewinder has the new proshell Gortex however seems quite similar to my old one).

Good luck and just a quick comment on Backcountry.com. They let me return my Stingray after a year as it took me that long to finally realize I didn't like it compared to the Sidewinder. They are definitely a store that is focused on getting the right product in the hands of their customer rather than the bottom line. So thank you.

Picked up this jacket on sale in a XXL (6'2" 210 with a baggy fit) It is definitely the highest quality jacket that I have ever owned. The jacket seems to run a little short with the sleeve lengths being true to size. This jacket is simple with two inside pockets and three outside pockets. This jacket is a pure ski jacket, meaning it lacks hand warming pockets and a removable powderskirt.

I've read these reviews carefully, and I think they are pretty accurate from what I can tell. Yes, the Stingray is warmer than a standard 3-ply shell, but it isn't a 'layer' like your fleece would be--it's still a shell. The Goretex Softshell is superb material: quiet, highly flexible, and very breathable. I've worn it in several backcountry ski storms (0F, 50mph winds at most) and it was fantastic. This coat really could save your life in such conditions. It's probably the best of a dozen jackets I've tried for backcountry skiing; I'd rank it above anything from Patagonia, North Face, or even Marmot. The waist seems short to me, but pull in the drawstrings, snap up the waist skirt, and let her rip--you won't even notice the difference between this and a parka. The stingray is baggier in front, but that is a boon for wilderness work because it lets you store frozen gloves, skins, or water bottles in there without getting in the way of the pack straps. In short, I'm well on my way to loving this jacket, with maybe a 5-star rating coming up...

Hands down the best ski jacket I've ever owned. I've snagged it pretty hard on a few trees while skiing and not a scrath on it. Perfect fit (for me at least), loose enough for a couple layers on those real cold days, but not at all too loose. The snow skirt is very grippy and almost never rides up on me. One drawback is that the hood is quite clumsy if you're not wearing a helmet, but that's part of the reason I bought it: to force me to always where a helmet. The pitzips are also fantastic. I've found some jackets' pitzips to be hard to open and shut since the jacket tends to wrinkle when you dont a second hand to keep it taught. This has not been a problem at all. Also, the vest pockets are set up high so that you don't have to unclip the waist belt of your backpack in order to open and close them. All in all, a very well-thought-out and well-built jacket.

This thing rocks...not as many silly features as other brands, but is the best in weather protection you will find. The soft shell is soooo quiet and nimble, and I have been in blizzard and pouring rain and haven't gotten touched by even a drop of water. It is the best jacket i have ever owned.

I don't blame anyone but Arc'teryx for having to return this jacket. First, there is no description on how this thing fits. But, more importantly, ALL of the pix make this look like a "slim or athletic" fit. It is definitely not that. I wouldn't describe the fit as oversized because in the shoulders, chest, and arms the fit was about right. But, in the body of the jacket, it was "relaxed". To be more accurate, I would say that it might compare to fit in Burton's "AK" series of jackets (at least from the pix).

I realize you need some room for layering and to be able to move comfortably (especially, if you plan to where this for snowboarding). But, this jacket has as much room as my North Face Mountain Light jacket. I could wear a couple of base layers plus a healthy fleece jacket and still have some room.

I thought that the quality of the jacket was fine: plenty of nice features and it looked well constructed, if somewhat plain. My only other disappointment was that for this price-point, I feel that there should be some "wow" factor. As I only tried the jacket on, I can't really speak to its functionality. All that said, I would have kept the jacket had it been more "fitted".

Local ski shop had a 35% off sale a few weeks ago. Picked up the Stingray (was between it and the Sidewinder). This jacket is a dream to wear. Super light and flexible. 100% waterproof. Was caught in several white-outs last week in the Summit area, CO. Jacket kept me warm on the lifts (-17 F wind chills), and I stayed cool/comfortable while bombing. Wore a Capilene 2 base, t-shirt, and Patagonia fleece vest underneath. Had plenty of room and didn't feel restricted. The hood performed well during the downpours. Couldn't be happier with my expensive purchase. HIGHLY recommend it.

I've had my Stingray for 3 seasons now, and still love it as much as I did on day 1. Perfect fit, great looks, super durability, and, most importantly, the Gore-Tex Soft Shell material has never let me down with respect to waterproofing and wind protection, whether on the groomers or in the back country. This year's model is even better (tried one on at a local REI), as the powder skirt is much improved and the Soft Shell material is softer and more supple than on my jacket (which I think was the first year of production for the Gore-Tex Soft Shell fabric).

I bought this jacket after I returned the Alpha LT. While I'm sure the LT has its uses, it also seems a size bigger so my usual small was a medium. It also had to much noise during movement. This jacket is everything the Alpha isn't. Plus it comes with a little fuzz for some insulation. Great constructed jacket. There ain't nothin comin through this one.

I've been looking for a replacement downhill jacket and the Stingray had the detail and fit to meet my needs. Not cut overly large but enough to effectively layer. Sufficient pockets,...pit zips and the snow skirt round out what may be the perfect jacket for me. Too bad I needed a second job to pay for it.

Well I'm over here in the sandbox aka A-stan. Damn the weather up here is rough. As such I need a tough jacket. I must say this gear does the trick. Yes it may be a pretty penny but you get what you pay for. Well worth the duckets,lol. Life in the sandbox you gotta love it. Hooha

I love Arcteryx Shells.. The stingray is another great product from a great company. $500 might be a stretch to pay but for $400 worth it. Again I am 5-10" 180 lbs and I got the large, loved the fit of the med without layering but there was no way to get more than a long sleeve t-shirt under the medium for me. Love the pocket placement, and powderskirt! Must have!

I have been researching Arcteryx for a long time now looking for a jacket that would last me the rest of my life. My friend purchased the Stingray and I fell in love with it right away. I recently purchased the jacket and it has changed my life. You can not feel the wind at all or the rain. It is always a great feeling knowing the recco detector is with you no matter what. The look of it keeps people commenting on it style. By far the best jacket to buy. A little pricey, but google the jacket and make sure to check ebay and find the best deal possible.

This jacket is well worth the $$$$.

This jacket is very well designed and tailored, well made, and exceptionally functional. My only complaint is that the hood is not removable (apparently this is a design feature of all Arc'teryx jackets). A men's small fits my frame (5-8, 150 lbs) very well; plenty of room for movement and underlayers.

This is an awesome jacket and is water-proof enough for 99.999999% of all situations you will encounter on the hill.

This jacket is an amazing wind stopper and very water proof. I was curious to see how water proof it is so I held it under the shower for a minute or so and the jacket never got wet inside.

Sizing was a bit of an issue; I normally wear a medium in things, but I had to get a large for this jacket. I'm 5'10", 180 lbs, and have a 42" chest, so the medium felt great until I put layers on underneath it. I had to step up to a large to have enough room for layers and the sleeves are just a little too long now, but not enough to be any kind of a detriment to this jacket.

I highly recommend this jacket.

I use this jacket for skiing on warm days and for kicking around town. It has been completely water proof for everything I've used it for (dumping snow to sleet) and it hasn't torn or worn out at all. I usually wear my Arc Gamma MX under this shell and haven't gotten cold yet. It is a great outer layer for touring because it is easy to get on and off, is really light and packs down well. At 6' 0" 180 the large is a great fit, with plenty of room to move around, though like most Arc jackets it's just a little shorter in the waist than I would like. All around a comfortable and functional shell.