When a soft shell just won't cut it

By Adam Lewis Ranked #1058 - Men's Ski Jackets September 29, 2009

I'm a complete soft shell convert, but there are some trips where you only have room for one shell and it has to be bomber. For those trips, I highly recommend the SV line from Arcteryx and particularly the Sidewinder for it's versatility. The Sidewinder doesn't have a liner so you have to insulate it with layers, but it's completely downpour proof, windproof, not to mention highly resistant to snagging and tearing. Note that the Sidewinder AR does not have pit zips like the SV which are key for preventing overheating (big complaint about hard shells).

The two main drawbacks to this piece are far from deal breakers, but I'll point them out anyway.
1) The curving zipper seems gimmicky at first, but then you realize it's nice not having a frozen piece of metal in your mouth when waiting out a storm. Arcteryx lines the inner zipper flap with an ultra-thin, soft fleece material, but only the zipper flap. The rest of the collar holds no warmth and gets wet and chilly in high activity. Adding in a small piece of fabric the size of your face to the collar would be worth it's weight in gold.

2) The powder skirt and waist cinch have really tiny plastic closures that don't hold very well. I have experienced this issue with Arcteryx soft shells, but it's understandable since their designers tend to focus on minimalism. If you plan to use this jacket primarily for resort skiing (especially in POW), I would go with something more ski-centric. This jacket is bomber, but it was designed for the backcountry where lightweight is king.

In terms of sizing, it runs big, but that's good for when you need to throw it over a bulky fleece or down sweater. I am 6'3", 185lbs and the large is roomy but the sleeves and torso are just the right length. Over the past 3+ years I have used and abused my Sidewinder while mountaineering, BC touring, winter resort skiing, trekking and just keeping dry in rainy Portland. After all the abuse, my jacket is still in great shape and has never failed to keep me warm and dry which is why Arcteryx is worth the price for something as important as a shell.

View Details: Arc'teryx Sidewinder SV Jacket - Men's

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