ok last question im lookin 4 a hardshell that will last probally 10 years shouldd i go wth this or the north face mammatus jacket.i want the best of the 2

I have both the mammatus and the alpha sv and i actually prefer my mammatus. I like the Gore Pro Shell Stretch better--its a much softer fabric, not so damn stiff. The mammatus is a touch lighter (apprx. 50 grams). I also use mine mostly for mixed alpine climbing, so I appreciate the extra stretch and less noise. The only thing that really bugs me abut the mammatus is the reflective taping around the zippers--it looks much better on the mens version, but its still ugly. Last comment, yeh, TNF makes a lot of showy, logo bearing "lifestyle" pieces, but most of the summit series line is pretty good...they dump all the profits from the denalis into development of technical wear. Anyway, thats my 2 cents on the mammatus, but try them both out and see what one fits better, etc...with backcountrys guarantee, plus lifetime warranties on Arc and TNF you really cant go wrong either way!

I'm not sure if The North Face has a video like this, and if they do, I can't find it. This link is a bit of PR by Arc'teryx, for Arc'teryx, and after trying out nearly all of the top line Hard Shells, few can come close to the overall quality and durability that exists within an Arc'teryx garment. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxIwwOEknmE

Maybe I'm stuck in the past, but I don't see TNF being on the same level as Arcteryx. I think you could make a strong argument for Mountain Hardwear, and possibly Marmot being close, and either of these are probably a better value. But if you buy the Alpha SV I don't think that you will ever doubt the quality of this jacket or your decision to buy it.

Not really a comparison. Go for the Arcteryx with the 480N Gore-Tex Pro Shell 3L you won't regret it.