Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Atom SL Vest

The colour is different than on the picture and the vest has many wrinkles. Very different compared to a similar product (from a competitor) with similar or lower price point. Overall I expected a pretty white vest without wrinkles. I only kept it because I needed it for a company retreat.

I bought this in May of last year, and wear it on walks with an Osprey backpack in mostly spring and autumn, but the back panel is now bunching quite severely where the bottom of the backpack rests against the back. Whilst I love the fit and the design sadly long term it's not fit for the purpose I want it for.

As many have commented the collar is too high and more importantly why no XS size? The jackets and vest run larger when compared to Patagonia or others in small size...Generally Arcteryx XS = Patagonia Small. Need better sizing options.

I have to agree with the two recent reviews of the 2021 Atom SL vest. The redesigned collar is too high and the new fabric collar liner is unnecessary. I like to wear the vest as a layering piece and as a casual top over work shirt in chilly rooms. The new design is doesn't work for either of these uses because of the collar. Please bring back the older design!

Long-time fan of the brand. Everything they've done historically has been perfect or near perfect. Ethos of minimalism pervades everything they do, materials spot on, technical functionality exceptional, etc. However, some of the recent moves run counter to the brand's historical consistency. The Atom vests and jackets embody that disappointing change. On the vest, the collar is now MUCH taller than it used to be, probably by a factor of 2x. Its length in the past was perfect and ran ~half-way up my neck, now it rubs against by jaw and face constantly. How does this improve design? How is this minimalistic? Further, what historically doubled as an excellent base layer for outdoor activity whose beauty made it cross-functional to wear at the office on a daily basis, now simply looks goofy at work with the extended, excessive height of the collar. Worse, the collar now has a ridiculous lining on the inside of it. How is that minimalist? Again, how is that minimalist in design ethos? The beauty of Arcteryx was that the materials have been so nice historically, including the old collar on this vest, that gimmicky things like liners haven't really been needed. I expect design garbage like this from Patagonia, now These guys. The liner adds ZERO incremental design value or functionality to this jacket. Ax it immediately. A second change is the width of the side vents on the vest, which are significantly bigger than they used to be. The width now resembles the width of the vents on the Atom jackets. There was absolutely no need to widen the vents on the vest and because the vest lacks the additional sleeve and hood features found on the jacket, its vents look ridiculously too big in the context of its sleek profile. Go back to the previous design. Lastly, and this probably angers me off the most although it is purely vanity and aesthetic (but the aesthetic of this brand along with its functionality is what has always set it apart from the pack), they are now STITCHING the logo on the jacket rather than using that beautiful, high glare print/stamp they've always used. Perhaps the thought is the print would wear off over time and with enough washes, but that has NEVER remotely been the case or a risk with products that I've owned, despite heavy use. The stitched logo is ugly, dull and has absolutely zero aesthetic beauty or appeal too it. Revert to the print logo and improve the aesthetic to where it once was. Anyhow, I've grown so accustomed to loving Arcteryx right out of the box that I don't even try on or look at the jackets I buy before I wash and begin to use. I made that mistake with this vest and an Atom jacket I bought last week and of course found out how disappointed I was with the design changes after they'd already been washed. No recourse to return now, so stuck with these poor excuses for awesome previous designs. Arcteryx was that rare brand that despite having basically kissed the ceiling of perfection in design and functionality, somehow never felt compelled to alter the alchemy that helped them achieve that perfection, knowing all too well that even the most minor changes to minimalist design could destroy the whole thing top to bottom. I can't say they are exercising the same restraint anymore. Activity in design for activity's sake seems to be the ethos now.

I am a long time Arcteryx customer, and have many of their pieces in my kit. The atom SL vest in 2018-2019 was spot on perfect. Great windbreaK, and stretch panels on the side made is the ideal vest. The ideal layer for taking the chill off. The collar in the 2018 model, was/is the correct height, inside lining comfortable and materials were impeccable. The re-design, is a horrible alternative. The collar is too tall, the inside brushed material was totally unnecessary and annoying as this is intended to be a light piece of supplemental gear. The reviews were very positive for the older models. This new model is lacking, purchased and am returning, very disappointed. Kindly bring back the 2018 design. Thank you.