doublediamond223

The Sigma SV is a great jacket with a few caveats. I buy Arc'teryx stuff because it fits me well. I am tall, but have a somewhat thin rock climbers build and long arms, so The North Face and Mountain Hardwear do not work for me. The Sigma SV is my do-everything jacket. I use it as my only layer to ride my bike around campus unless it is really cold, I use it to go rock climbing with, and I've skied with it. It performs well in every situation, blocking the wind completely and breathing WAY better than my Alpha SV hardshell. It seems quite water resistant, to the point that I hardly ever reach for my Alpha SV, but I have never tested it in a real driving rain, so it is hard to say. Problems: The armpit fit is abnormally tight for Arc'teryx. I own lots of their other gear, and this jacket is different in this regard. I can't fit my Monkey Man fleece under it, as it is too bulky in the armpits. Also, the pockets are a PITA to access while wearing a backpack, as the zippers fall right where the straps are. The hood is also a bit too large for my taste, although I appreciate the ability to get it around a ski or climbing helmet. If you use the various drawstrings to tighten it down it becomes more manageable. Overall, great stuff as usual from Arc'teryx, with a few quirks to this particular jacket.