I have several Arc'teryx jackets; all either soft shell or wind/rain jackets. All I would score as "5's". The Alpha SL Jacket is great for morning hikes or walks and makes a perfect jacket for bike riding. The breathabilty is perfect as is the protection from wind and rain. I am 5'10" 180 pounds medium frame with wide shoulders and the Large is perfect size for all my Jackets.

If you want a jacket to be always carried with you in you mountaineering, backcoutry skiing and hiking this is it. Technical fit, minimalist design make this jacket a great peace of gear. Helmet compatible hood is the best I've seen on any PAC-LITE jacket, and this is for me very important for full storm protection. I pair it with a wind-resistant soft-shell for maximum breathability for ascensions.
I would suggest you an XCR jacket if you plan to wear it most of the time of your skiing, mountaineering adventures. PAC-LITE shells have generally the only drawback of being less durable and rip-resistant than a full XCRs.

Super light weight, phenomenal hood (seriously, the best hood design ever), very durable, and a perfect single pocket. Other companies that put 12 pockets on their shells are missing the point: it's a shell. It's supposed to be put on over layers in the event of nasty weather. If every layer you have has 12 pockets, then you end up with more pockets than a kleptomaniac would ever need.

I have yet to find something I dislike about this jacket. Wore this jacket for 4 days in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (northern MN)and it was absolutely perfect. It worked perfectly while portaging in a downpour, while paddling across windy, choppy lakes in the rain, and while hanging around camp in 50-degree, windy weather. The hood and collar on this jacket are fabulous and keep out wind and rain. It seems to be pretty tough, too - no problems while bushwacking. When I first got this jacket I thought the arms were too long, but it turns out they are perfect - the material hangs perfectly and didn't restrict me at all. It is extremely comfortable and breathable in a wide range of conditions. I was comfortable wearing this jacket in 70-degree sunny weather (occasional squalls all day long) with a poly t-shirt underneath, and also in 40-something weather in the evening with high-winds, while wearing a poly t-shirt and lightweight long-sleeve poly-blend shirt. Most of the time you can't even tell you are wearing the jacket, it is so light and comfortable. This is my favorite piece of gear.

This is a great light Gore-Tex jacket. I have worn it fishing and biking so far and can't wait to hike and camp with it. It is for summer weather.

What a great jacket! Right out of the box, this jacket fit perfect! It was easy to adjust and configure the jacket to fit me and protect me in even the most inclement of weather. And what great colors! Coupled with the Alpha SL pants, you have the perfect wet, cold, windy weather protection!

I took this to a Solak Mountain in east coast of Korea last month. It rained for three days with strong wind. Fortunately, I had Alpha SL Jacket on me. It’s super light and lined with Gore-Tex, this jacket is a heaven in earth. I also like the large hood. The side arm vent was also nice for removing heat and moisture from inside and preventing condensation forming.
Recommended.

In combination with a smartwool baselayer, and a polyester biking shirt over it, I NEVER got uncomfortable, cold, or too sweaty on the bike in the Alpha Sl. During short brakes, I didn't need to put on an extra sweater because my baselayers would never be too wet from transpiration, and I didn't cool of too much. Drying baselayers through the jacket was possible when resting or during moderate activity. Almost no condensation, even in conditions where my core temp would be way higher than the cold Andes air at other side of the laminate. I saw that other bikers had bigger moisture problems on the inside of their shell, and I always go as hard as I can. I went over hundreds of KM of Andes gravel roads with my 25 kilogram bike trailer, over mountain passes as high as 5000 meters (no we don't have those in europe and the states). I have gone through hailstorms, freezing winds, rain, EVERYTHING you can imagine, ON A BIKE! But this jacket is incredibly protective (good hood system with good adjustable protection in that razor-sharp hailstorm, could easily wear biking helmet underneath it, good adjusting of waist and hood with one hand, never leaked, even those zippers without stormflaps), super breathable, strong ( the paclite/shell laminate survived two wipe outs on a gravel road, only a few pinholes, material seems to have some strechability) and very light/packable. Anyone who can afford it and needs a highly protective/breathable jacket for aerobic activities in a "hostile environment", the Alpha SL is a proven choice. It did change my mind about long- distance bike traveling with "fragile gore-tex jackets".

this shell would warrant a 5 in my opinion if it were a bit longer in the front. the cut seems strange to me (slightly longer in the back) since whatever i am wearing underneath hangs out in the front (to get wet in the rain). i think most companies are making their lightweight shells like this, but i would sacrifice a few ounces for more coverage. otherwise the construction is bombroof, it's light as a feather, and overall a good choice.

I'm wanting the Arcteryx Alpha SL (Mens Large). Is this jacket ever available "Made in Canada"? All I've seen says "made in China" Does anybody know if the Canadian version is available and where? Thanks!

This is the greatest biking jacket there is! I live 6 months/year in the Odenwald hills near Heidelberg, Germany where it is often wet, and mountain biking includes lots of steep climbs. It keeps me dry in downpours, and all day misty rain, yet I don't overheat during the climbs. It comes down enough in the back to protect the butt and lower back from rear wheel splash too. My medium weighs in at 347 grams so it is always with me even on sunny days when sweating to the top of the hills, to stay warm cruising down the single trails. I'm 5'9", 155 lbs., slim and the medium is a perfect fit. Ride on!

With the superior technology of Arc'teryx,
This jacket takes top honors in the rain jacket category. It is Gore Pac-lite, it is extremely breathable and guaranteed to keep you dry in the wettest of Alaskan down pours. The only downfall, it only has one chest pocket. Designers? Overall, sick jacket!

I tested the jacket this summer in a terrible three day rain storm. It kept me completely dry. Very light and packable. Highly recommend it.

I had the alpha lt for a while and thought i would go lighter with this one. Super nice buy! I love how it doesn't have any pockets, it just makes so much since and the colors are totally weirdo. Great for the rain, snow, whatever, gore-tex paclite is a super nice fabric, don't think its not as durable as XCR.