Millet Aerial Max vs Arcteryx Alpha SL

By Ladson Webb Ranked #1313 - Men's Technical Shells December 17, 2009

I just picked up the Millet Aerial Max (18oz) and decided to get the ArcTeryx Alpha SL (12oz) at the same time to do a comparison. (Both size XL)

Please note, my comments are only focusing on the style and fit of each jacket. I have not yet tested either jacket in the field, but I will update this review after I long some time in the woods. (Aerial Only; returning SL)

About me, I am a slender 6’5 and 203lbs with long arms, long legs, short torso and broad shoulders. I prefer a more tapered, athletic fit to my clothing, in general.

Both jackets were on sale, priced within $20 USD of each other, and both use Gore-tex Paclite fabric. The first difference is the Millet (Aerial) uses a "stretch" version (think lycra) of the Paclite whereas ArcTeryx (the SL) uses the more common, non-stretch Paclite fabric. While unfounded, I would think the stretch Paclite would resist tearing slightly better than the non-stretch simply because it has some give to it. Again, I will know better after my two day hiking trip this weekend (12/18/09). The pocket and vent layout is slightly different between the two jackets, so personal preference will come into play. The SL has vents in the arm pits that are dual-zippered, so they can open from the ribcage or the bicep. Nice option when hiking with a pack. The Aerial main pockets are angled slightly rather than vertical and incorporate venting where the SL has separate vents (see above) and sealed pockets. (I see a potential issue with moisture being absorbed by whatever is kept in the pocket during a run or hike.) In the pocket category, the Aerial wins out in my opinion because it also has a single chest pocket. The only downside is that the zippered opening may seem a little tight if you have big hands, as I do.

In terms of cut and length, both jackets are too similar in my opinion and not noteworthy. Again, I have a short torso, so a shorter jacket fits me just fine, but I can see fitment issues for those with normal to long torso. Sleeve length is always an issue for me with any type of clothing given my freakishly long arms and legs, but I was pleasantly surprised with the 36” length on both jackets. The Aerial stops just above my knuckles, so that makes me think the sleeves are closer to 37” long. A positive IMO. Zippers work better on the SL, and the Aerial’s main zipper is more challenging to start each time. This is due in part to being a European-style setup, which zips up from the left. Once started, the zipper works great, but can be tough to disengage at the bottom, too.

Both jackets come with Velcro wrist straps and an elastic waist cord that can be cinched down, but the Aerial feels more substantial in this area. The SL hardware used to cinch down the waist and hood seems cheap to me for such an expensive jacket. Clearly, the effort was made to keep the weight down, but I feel Arc’teryx left something to be desired here, especially on the hood. The Aerial also incorporates reinforced shoulders designed to prevent premature wear from shoulder straps. Cool feature in theory, but have never had a jacket wear out in this area.

Both jackets have full hoods, but the Aerial hood design is what ultimately tipped the scale for me. The Aerial has a Velcro strap for when you want to roll up the hood. If you decide to run in the jacket on a cooler, breezy day you can do so without the hood flopping around. There is no separate compartment for the hood, but rather it simply rolls inward. At first, I thought this would be a nuisance and annoy the back of my neck, but it feels fine and not too bulky. The Aerial hood cinching design is far superior to the SL and allows for greater adjustment, especially if you want the hood tight around your face. The SL only has a two adjustment options: 1) behind the head for pulling the sides back toward your ears and 2) pulling down on the back of the hood to keep the visor from blocking your vision. Sadly, the range of adjustment and effectiveness in this category makes the SL’s hood hard to work with unless you are only using it with a helmet setup. Otherwise, the hood flops around to much despite the cinch cords. On the other hand, the Aerial allows for minor tweaking around the face, back of the head and top of the head. Honestly, when tightened down, you could easily withstand a torrential downpour expect NO WATER to works its way inside the jacket around your face. Meanwhile, the hood is still large enough to use with a helmet, which is a plus.

All in all, the Aerial looks and feels like a more substantial lightweight, waterproof shell. The SL feels more like a nice windbreaker/shell crossover and not durable enough to be used as a hiking/skiing (at least not in the trees) shell. Color was not a huge factor in my decision, but I did prefer the lime green of the Aerial over the Copper SL. In the end, I chose to spend the additional $20USD and go with the Millet Aerial Max.

View Details: Millet Aerial Max Jacket - Men's

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