"Excellent, but overpriced shell" - Review of Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket - Men's

Arcteryx has a slavishly devoted flock that allows them to charge ridiculous prices for some of their pieces... and I myself am vulnerable. I bought a used one and am happy with the deal, but no way for list price. I have other jackets by Mountain Hardware, Montbell, and Marmot, and there is no way that this is 2-3 times better than those (whereas the price is 2-3x more). I have the XCR model (made in Canada). The differences with the new pro-shells are: laminated rather than stitched seams, slightly more vertical front pockets, got rid of the bulky plastic tabs attached to zipper cords to save weight. The whole breathability of Gore-Tex like fabrics is overrated. Yes they do breath more, but if you really want to have a big effect on breathability, partially unzip the jacket and open the pit zips! The thickness of the fabric is a little more durable than other Arcteryx models for durability. Arcterxy looks fashionable for gear, which is nice. The front pockets are nice and tend to work better when wearing a pack than side pockets. But for the cost of replacing this, I have to think twice about glissading in it. Also, sincle late 2007, Arcteryx has moved most of their production to China. The MBAs have figured a way to increase profits without dropping the price. Don't even try to explain it as offsetting the high price of gas!
View Details: Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket - Men's >