Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket

writing a review for the older gen alpha sv, the one with three front pockets and the laminated zipper. This was my second jacket from arcteryx before i became a full convert. My go to jacket for long summits and touring. It has probably gone though 12 or so climbs/touring sessions and how many or so wet hikes I have not kept track of. Of all this ownership the face fabric is still like new. The only real issue i have to date is part of the bottom hip drawcord tunnel is becoming undone, something i will address and send in to arcteryx but have not had the time to do so. Dont know how much better the old gore xcr fabric is to the new gore pro in the updated alpha sv but i can imagine it is pretty darn good. I dont think this jacket will fail or rip any time soon and might last till my retirement years. It certainly is a great investment to see it go this long. Glad to see these babies are still made in the good ol canada. The fit is pretty true to size, i upped to a medium on this one compared to the usual small i get in other arc jackets due to the fact that where this jacket travels I will most likely layer. It is well suited to severe weather and still performs well in prolonged rainstorms with proper wash and dwr care.

I got this jacket on advise from my daughter who lives in Denver. She loves her jacket doesn't leave home without it. She works for Army Corp of Engineers which takes her to military bases around the world. I told her about hating not being able to ride my Harley with the gear I had when temps reached 38 F. On her advice I spent the $$$ got this jacket then the pants to go with it. I ride a Fat Boy Slim Harley it has no fearing or windshield to block the wind. I have now rode in temps down to 26 F with no issues (other than I need to get the matching heavy duty gloves. I am a believer now and sure the $$$ was well worth it. Just don't let the pant leg close to the exhaust pipe. I commute 100 miles round trip to work into Austin Texas. This gear has worked getting caught in cold and thunderstorm rain. It is easy to carry with you and takes up very little room. Forget leather I have one word for you Arc'teryx.

NUCLEI FL 70

A minimalistic build and feel to the jacket, but it still got what you need on a jacket of this type. Although it's light and minimalistic, the Gore-Tex Pro in the N80p-X quality keeps the jacket strong and durable throughout the whole year in all seasons. I've been using this model as my main shell jacket for about a year on Svalbard, and I am very satisfied with it. Although I will be using a down jacket or a cotton jacket during the harshest and coldest winter days. The fit is very right, and for me, 186cm height and 85-ish kgs, the size M is just perfect. And that is with or without an extra down insulation layer. The jacket has been put to the test through my consistive and active use, and as for now I am very happy with this product. To underline that, I have access to many various brands through my field of work and have tried out many different brands and products in various places and climates.

Have only had this jacket for a few weeks but it fits well for my size (6'4" 250) and leaves enough room for layering. It provides excellent protection from the elements. If you have never had a jacket of this quality you should know that water just sheds off even in the heaviest of downpours. The pocket layout is perfect when wearing a pack. It's held up to the abuse from hiking well over 100 miles in the southern Arizona mountains through cacti and rough brush with out showing wear. Looking forward to many more "tests" of durability over the next several years!

I bought this jacket for tournament fishing is heavy rain. It has worked better than I could have ever expected.

This is "The" jacket which keep you warm and dry. Smart engineered hood with helmed or without it is very comfortable. I recommend the Alpha SV jacket for outdoor activities.

got this along with an Atom AR hoody for winter bike commuting in the northeast. I chose this over the new jacket Arcteryx has made for bicycling as the Alpha SV appears to have a much better hood for dealing with rain/snow and the 80 denier fabric will hopefully hold up when I eventually hit the ground (ride long enough in ice and snow and it will happen). So far all is well - great fit, easy adjustments, solid feeling and the hood can go over my bike helmet, though I may end up getting a new helmet as the aerodynamic rear flare on the helmet does make it a little tight. Very happy so far.

Fantastic shell, great quality, good materials. I wear this jacket whenever is rainy and/or windy, whether I'm hiking, skiing, or in the city. I try not to leave home without, it's always in my back pack. I originally bought a SL shell jacket that I really liked because it was light weight and packed small, but then the zipper busted and I didn't like it anymore. Upgraded to an Alpha SV and difference in materials, pack size, weight & quality is noticeable.

This is an all-around great jacket. I usually don't wear it in temperatures warmer than about 60F because my arms get hot. It keeps me very dry in the rain and is very well made. I like that the cuff velcro hasn't ripped out and I don't expect it ever will. Great quality and durability. Repels water very well.

SIZE AND FIT --- At 183 cm and 105 kg, I also have a stocky build, with heavy bones, and little in terms of a waist, though no large bumper -- just your regular polar bear of a man. And yet the XXL version of Alpha SV not only fits me, but I have plenty of space underneath. Until recently, I wore a very baggy fleece jacket (classic series 300), plus an Arctic special of merino wool baselayer with an extra mesh, altogether over 400 g/m2, and I still had room enough for the jacket to allow me for round movements, squeezes and turns. Nothing that I can buy in Norway from local manufacturers will ever come close. Due to my build, everything is either too short, too long, and always beyond cramped. Not so with this one, which after many years of usage sets the standard as to what a dynamic piece in size XXL should be. What I really love is the fact that when I have everything on, and I'm in for a bit of action, the jacket is tightish where it should be, at around my hips, while I get plenty of room upstairs, and can comfortably reach where I should. That applies even when I wear a transport backpack. Finally, the cut is really flattering, though I tend to get admired by arctic foxes only, as there is no company. DURABILITY AND STRENGTH --- This jacket has outlasted everything that Greenland has thrown at me, both in winter and in summer. I had two other hardshells before, but I had never felt as protected as in this one. My Alpha SV has been through hail blasted horizontally at very high speeds, through very strong winds way above beaufort 12, and through regular snow and rain. I never felt anything, not even on my head, which is totally protected by the incredible hood on the Alpha. I can cinch it just so due to the double system, and I appreciate the long front extension. Although I don't ever wear a helmet, I can fit two bulky hoods of my midlayer/base under it. In my opinion expensive gear is such that falls apart after regular use. You don't want to be at 77 degrees north and have your hardshell pants tear apart across the entire bum. Been there, done that. After over four years and many expeditions, the Alpha really took a lot of abuse, and doesn't show any kind of wear; it still looks like new. In fact, it is my oldest piece of gear, and I foresee many more years. POCKETS / LENGTH --- At first I found it hard to get used to the Napoleon-style front pockets, instinctively reaching down, but it didn't take me long to understand the reason for it: this is a dynamic piece, and the waist pockets are not particularly useful then. I think the longer cut of Theta SVX might have been better still for me, but at the time I didn't know about it. Then again, the other jacket has only one front pocket, and I tend to use both of mine all the time, so it's a tradeoff. Fission SV on the other hand would cover most of my usecases, more than the Alpha SV, but I would still need to carry the latter for dynamic action. I really have no choice but to marry this jacket forever ;) I know that the "tank top" phrase has a different meaning, but this is what I tend to think of my Alpha SV: it's a tank shell. Really cannot imagine not having it with me during winter Greenland outings, however long or short.

Just perfect. I've bought a BETA LT before I got this one. And, I must say, it is stunning good, compared to the previous one. More importantly, this is MADE IN CANADA (Vancouver Factory).

This jacket is everything you would expect of a pro shell. It fits great and is the pinnacle of technical shells. Like the title says, if the dark knight was to wear GORE-TEX, he would wear this for sure.

I recently planned for a friend and I to go on a three day hike through the White Mountains region in New Hampshire. The first day went well enough until about 2 miles from the spot we had planned to camp at (an old shelter along the route) when we discovered the trail had washed out. Light was running out, my friend had just injured her knee, and it had started to rain. I threw on my Alpha SV as I started searching through the brush to find a spot large enough to pitch the tent. We made a makeshift camp site and the night passed uneventfully enough until the next day when we awoke to nothing short of a monsoon. While the forecast had called for rain, this was one of the worst storms I had weathered. We decided to cut our trip short and head back down the same trail we had arrived. After a few miles, we hit a bit of an issue: the river we crossed to arrive was nearly flowing over the banks, due to the massive amount of rain. A quick check of the maps showed the only way to avoid crossing was to forge 10 miles through thick untraveled forest brush. For the next several hours we slowly moved our way through the dense region, driving rain, and 45F degree temperatures. As I squeezed between trees, ducked under limbs, climb and slid down hills, I had countless stumbles and brushes with razor sharp rocks and branches, most of them sharp enough to draw blood. We finally met back up the trail about a mile before the car, and can say with complete honest, I have never been as happy to see a blaze as I was in that moment. About 10 hours after setting out we returned to the car and I quickly tore off all my layers in an effort to get warm and dry. My friend, dressed in another brand's clothing, was soaked head to toe and near hypothermia. My boots, some of the best GoreTex lined ones made, pants, and virtually all of my gear (some of it even stored in waterproof stuff sacks) was completely soaked through. As I examined my jacket, the face fabric long since saturated, I unzipped it expecting to find the layer bellow wet as well, and was met with sheer amazement as I discovered not a single drop of water had made it though the jacket. After a quick wash and dry a few days later, I threw it back on and headed out to meet up with my friend who asked when I found the time to go out and buy a new jacket. Despite all the brushes and scrapes I encountered, sap and plant debris that covered me that day, there wasn't a single mark or scratch on the jacket anywhere; it truly looked brand new. Often times, you purchase expensive pieces of gear and go years (assuming you ever truly find out), if that extra little bit of performance and engineering you paid for is really worth it. It took me one day to find out the Alpha SV is worth every sent and more. I remember thinking half way through the return trip that even if the jacket was covered in small nicks and pulls that I would still be amazed at how well it held up. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that it would hold up as well as it did, and can only say thank you for designing and building a product that not only lived up to, but far exceeded my expectations.

Bought this for my husband - and can I tell you, he is on cloud nine! Not only did he love this jacket, he insisted that we buy another one so he can have it on the shelf in case anything ever happened to this one - and that in 10 years he can have a brand new crisp one ready for him. Cheers out to Tanja P for helping my discerning shopper find the perfect jacket for him. This marks the 6th jacket have have purchased for ourselves or gifts - We are Arc'teryx fans for life.

Hello!! This is a staff review. I work for the company, but I'm also a climber and adventurer. The Alpha SV is my price piece! I like it so much, I even wrote a review about it on our blog. Check it out: http://blog.arcteryx.com/prize-piece-alpha-sv Have fun, and be safe out there! --Robbie

light weight, storable, rugged .....superb hood and collar from rain forests in New Zealand to Alaska met my requirements

Im 5'8 150, and the medium fits great. I have had this jacket for a couple months now, and i can't say there is anything that I don't like about this jacket. The pockets are fantastic, the cut is great, the length is perfect and the colouring is great! I went with the cayenne, and I get so many second glances because of the bright colour. The thing that I love most about this jacket is the abbrasion resistance. I have used the Alpha SL pullover the last couple years, but since purchasing the SV, as soon as you put it on there is no going back. I can't say I am the most avid ice or rock climbing because I live on the praires (I have used it rocking climbing accouple times) but this jacket has so many great advantages still. It is fantastic for hiking because of the accessible chest pockets, and the abbrasion resistance when going through thick brush is amazing. I use this jacket mainly for fishing, mostly on stormy days. It is absolutely the best feeling to come in after 10+ hours on the water in a heavy downpoor, and be completely dry. Another HUGE advantage is the ability to layer with this jacket, Living in the praires with -50 windchills, this jacket is fantastic. I can fit two relatively large softshell jackets underneath, and still have no restriction in my ability to move I garentee that you will be 100% satisfied with this jacket, don't look at the price, just buy it, it is so worth it PROS everything CON .....nothing Spend your money - do it

I feel like I'm just going to repeat what others have said, but I'll go ahead anyway. I have had many top-tier jackets from the top-tier brands, but none come even close to this jacket. Yes, this jacket is more expensive than any other jacket that I have ever even looked at, but I would gladly buy this jacket again, again and again, however, I don't feel I'll have to for a very long time. Looks I don't think the images do it justice. Its just beautiful. Just by looking at it, you know that you're good to go into the unknown. Size I have a 42/43 inch chest and the medium fits absolutely fine. Its like a freakin' tardis, it doesn't look baggy, yet I can fit even my biggest down jacket under it, comfortably. Cut Perfect. If I had asked my tailor to design a jacket, I'd be lucky to get such a wonderful, athletic fit. Function Its like your body is in a totally different place to the rest of you: There is no chance that the outside world is getting to you. I've worn this jacket in freezing, biting winds of up 100Mph+ with no problem (other than wanting more weight to weigh me down), I've spent hours and hours in heavy, relentless rain, with not a spot of rain getting through. Durability I've slid down rocks without any sign of damage. The only thing that has succeeded in damaging it was a poorly placed crampon. Yikes. Goretex repair patch fixed that little slit. Weight I don't notice it. So, Pros - Light - Durable - Weatherproof - Looks great - Packs well - Great athletic fit - Couldn't ask for anything more from it Cons - None Many would say price, but I'm more than happy with the price, as it performs so well. If the image comes up: A pit stop at the top of Snowdonia, during 60mph winds with 90mph gusts, bringing with them plenty of airborne ice during a blizzard - I wasn't a bit phased thanks to the Alpha SV. Its the one bit of kit that I would never consider changing for any other. At all. Ever.

Il y a trois ans, aprs avoir pass au travers d'une veste Alpha SL packlite, j'ai dcid d'investir dans ce qui sera possiblement ma dernire coquille...puisque elle semble indestructible par un usage normal! Veste extrmement bien fait (la mienne a t fait au Canada...le sont t'elles tous?) Impermable souhait, mme au niveau des zips, qui sont aussi trs robustes. Sa vocation premire est pour l'escalade, alors les immenses poches avant sont inverses. Une priode d'adaptation est ncessaire pour s'habituer si vous n'escaladez rien! Deux autres poches sont situ i'intrieur...idal pour son iphone! Seul point ngatif: la poche sur le bras gauche est difficile a "dzipper" en portant le manteau. Considrez son prix comme un investissement & choisissez bien sa couleur puisque que vous l'aurez longtemps!!

Je ne ferai pas un review complet car de toute faon le manteaux est hallucinant! Vraiment le meilleur sur le march. C'est mon deuxime...j'avais vendu mon ancien pour acheter rabais un Beta AR neuf et finalement j'ai vendu mon Beta AR car je m'ennuyais trop de mon ancien Alpha SV. Ct couleur : ce n'est pas la premire fois que je lis des commentaires comme quoi les couleurs sur le site de Arc'teryx ne rfltent pas la ralit. Je n'avais jamais t d'accord jusqu' ce que je recoive mon Alpha SV. J'ai pris la couleur CAYENNE. Avant de continuer lire allez voir ce que a a l'air et revenez lire. Bon oui c'est rouge. Erreur! C'est plus orange que rouge. Pas que je n'aime pas la couleur, elle est trs belle. J'aurais prfr rouge comme sur le site web. Et avant de terminer oui c'est la meme version j'ai confirm avec le service la clientele de Arc'teryx. Donc ce n'est pas une ancienne version ou quoi que ce soit. C'est vraiment la couleur cayenne qui est montre. Donc ceci dit je donne quand meme un 5 toiles malgr la couleur car c'est trs subjectif la couleur. Le reste du jacket est tout simplement parfait!

Although this review is for the previous 3L Gore-tex Pro version, I have no reasons to doubt the "new" Alpha should be anything less. This jacket has kept me dry during at least 7 days of continued rain in Tibet. And I mean RAIN. Pouring down for hours on end. Fellow travellers were getting wet shoulders, but I was dry. And I mean DRY. I also used it when Climbing in Nepal and in the Alps. Never had any problems and the jacket performed just as advertised... Which is pretty remarkable nowadays.

Alpha SV Fits Very Nice, Only thing i can say is.... AMAZING JACKET!

My wife said It is great and smart outlook. The fitting is excellent. When it is stand alone. It looks trim and very fit. The length is just fit. When i add layers (can be 4 layers!!!) under it, it is roomy and does not hinder mobility. I have tried beta AR , but the it is not as smart as the Alpha SV. The fibre is not only smooth but also strong and warm. It is really waterproof and windproof. Amazing product. However, one thing should be aware of. Oil or greasy substances will be stained on its surface and is not easy to eliminated completely

I give this 5 stars but, personally, I have some problems with this piece. The Good: The jacket is wind and waterproof and packs surprisingly well for how chunky it is. Excellent layer over the Arc' Atom SV for the cold days and goes well over a sweater for the mid-weather days. It will always end up in my packing pile wherever I am going and has held up well through backcountry, bike commutes, field work, and general wear for 3 years. The Bad: My normal jacket size is an XXL (including in the Arc' Atom SV, Epsilon AR, Gamma MX). I got the Alpha SV during the 1 year stretch when Arc' actually made "Tall" jackets (i.e. 38" sleeve on the XL and a bit longer on the XXL). I ordered both the XL and the XXL (my bank account took a major hit until the return was processed) and I ended up torn between the two. The jacket tapers excessively to the point where my chest and arms were swimming in the XXL but my waist was a bit constricted in the XL. I ended up going with the XL and I'm happy with it, still use it, and like it. Just wish I had about 2 inches of room at the bottom. Side note, I recently tried on the non-Tall version and the sleeves were too short for my liking (I like to cover at least part of the hand). I wish that Arc' would go back to making tall jackets.