It is not a great jacket for backcountry skiing. It is more like a rain coat and doesn't breathe well when skinning up. I get sweaty and cold super fast especially when hiking in snowy weather. Nice for a light rain coat on sunnier days though.

I always take the Arc'teryx Alpha LT with me on backcountry trips. It seems like a rain coat, but the face fabric is super tough, without being stiff, and it breathes better. Also, it rolls up to about the size of a sub-sandwich. It's the best BC skiing coat I've owned.

This jacket would be excellent for backcountry skiing. The 3-layer Gore-Tex ProShell will keep you dry and the pit-zips will keep you cool while you toil uphill. The hood is listed by Arc'teryx as helmet-compatible as well. What this jacket doesn't have that you might want is a powder skirt.

Because this jacket is Arc'teryx's lightest 3-layer Gore-tex shell, it's designed for light-and-fast travel and doesn't have every bell and whistle on the market (eg. a powder skirt). It is, however, very versatile: skiing, climbing, mountaineering, backpacking...it'll work for them all without having extra features that are ski-specific.

The sizing between the Arc'teryx Alpha LT and Alpha SL will be the same. You'll get a better performing jacket in the Alpha LT due to the Gore Pro-Shell being much more durable and a bit more breathable. I just had a good friend take my Alpha LT to Nepal for a month, and he said it worked perfectly in a wide range of conditions, and loved that it packed down so small.

Hi--just ordered this jacket after being soaked on a couple of trips--excited for the waterproof shell capability that can be layered up for winter sports. I already have an Arcteryx beta jacket and it is great--present from my boyfriend. Light, with a fleece lining--perfect for the gym, hikes, etc. etc. Note--these jackets run BIG--I usually wear a small and I went for an extra small--I like things form fitting and non-bulky, the beauty of these jackets.

SMALL:
Center back length: 26"
Waist: 37"
Chest: 44"
Sleeve length: 34"

MEDIUM:
Center back length: 27"
Waist: 39"
Chest: 46"
Sleeve length: 35"

I have an Alpha and I find it very tight around the waist, and bulky up top. I do have wider hips though, so maybe it just doesn't really work well on me.

The Alpha LT will be slightly smaller diameter in the waist, but not a big difference. The face fabric is lighter, so it will feel more supple. Both Jackets use watertight zippers, and thereby, don't need extra seam taping. These zippers may not look like the traditional Arc'teryx watertight zips, but are equally water resistant, but more durable, and easier to pull than the original versions.