4.74 of 5 stars
Arc'teryx - Alpha SV Jacket - Waterproof jacket tested
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Reviews overview
Advantages
Disadvantages
Recommended use
Praise vs. Criticism
Kristian
12.02.2024Yea, it is the best indeed
Very thick and durable. Went on a winter hike with 90 km/h wind. Felt nothing.
--- review of an older model ---
- Advantages
- Venting
- Lightweight
- Waterproof
- Breathable
- Windproof
- Good cut
- Robust
- Good details
- Recommended use
- Expedition
- All around
- Trekking
- Hiking
- Camping
- Mountaineering
- Winter hiking
Michael
04.10.2024Not like the old Arcteryx
I bought this jacket a few years ago. I'm from Vancouver and have been using Arcteryx gear for at least 20 years. I never had a complaint before. I didn't mind paying a bit more for quality, as the stuff was sooo durable and the customer service was incredible.
The quality of their gear now though, and I've bought a few grands worth in the last few years, is nothing like it was. What a shame. Even their top end gear like the alpha SV started to delaminate after only a few years of light use. I don't even mountaineer much anymore. The seams inside have also started to come apart. My old version of this jacket lasted for at least a decade of hard climbing and treeplanting before I retired it (though it was still in good nick!). Now they're just fashionistas charging a mint for their brand. All my stuff is falling to bits. Not worth the price anymore.
For the price this is a joke.
Sadly time to move on and find someone making good reliable gear again.
--- review of an older model ---
- Advantages
- Good cut
- Windproof
- Venting
- Disadvantages
- Not waterproof
- delaminates
- Recommended use
- Expedition
- Winter hiking
- Hiking
- Snowshoeing
- Mountaineering
- Trekking
What do you think about that?
This is what other customers say:
35% have found the reviews
by Michael helpful
I bought this jacket a few years ago. I'm from Vancouver and have been using Arcteryx gear for at least 20 years. I never had a complaint before. I didn't mind paying a bit more for quality, as the stuff was sooo durable and the customer service was incredible.
The quality of their gear now though, and I've bought a few grands worth in the last few years, is nothing like it was. What a shame. Even their top end gear like the alpha SV started to delaminate after only a few years of light use. I don't even mountaineer much anymore. The seams inside have also started to come apart. My old version of this jacket lasted for at least a decade of hard climbing and treeplanting before I retired it (though it was still in good nick!). Now they're just fashionistas charging a mint for their brand. All my stuff is falling to bits. Not worth the price anymore.
For the price this is a joke.
Sadly time to move on and find someone making good reliable gear again.
--- review of an older model ---
-
Advantages
Good cut Windproof Venting -
Disadvantages
Not waterproof delaminates -
Recommended use
Expedition Winter hiking Hiking Snowshoeing Mountaineering Trekking
Very thick and durable. Went on a winter hike with 90 km/h wind. Felt nothing.
--- review of an older model ---
-
Advantages
Venting Lightweight Waterproof Breathable Windproof Good cut Robust Good details -
Recommended use
Expedition All around Trekking Hiking Camping Mountaineering Winter hiking
Yes, the cost of this shell is in the sky, but if you want the maximal durability and waterproofness definitely the best choice!
I also recommend the Beta AR because the functional pockets, but don’t forget, this is the only shell with 100d nylon material!
--- review of an older model ---
-
Advantages
Waterproof Good details Lightweight Good cut Windproof -
Recommended use
Mountaineering Hiking Winter hiking Trekking Expedition
33% have found the reviews
by Catalin helpful
Very good quality for mounteneering - trustfull!
Just one winterhike 'till now.
The huge hoody is not easy to adjust - I hardly supported without helmet!
--- review of an older model ---
-
Advantages
Robust Breathable Venting Waterproof Windproof -
Disadvantages
Huge hoody -
Recommended use
Mountaineering Trekking Winter hiking Expedition Hiking
33% have found the reviews
by Catalin helpful
Very good quality for mounteneering - trustfull!
Just one winterhike 'till now.
The huge hoody is not easy to adjust - I hardly supported without helmet!
--- review of an older model ---
--- review of an older model ---
-
Advantages
Waterproof Venting Breathable Robust Windproof -
Disadvantages
Huge hoody -
Recommended use
Trekking Expedition Mountaineering Winter hiking Hiking
11% have found the reviews
by Joachim helpful
-
Advantages
Lightweight Breathable Waterproof Robust Windproof
9% have found the reviews
by Frank helpful
-
Advantages
Lightweight Windproof Good details Venting Waterproof Robust Breathable -
Disadvantages
Bad zip -
Recommended use
Hiking Leisure All around Trekking
9% have found the reviews
by Frank helpful
-
Advantages
Venting Breathable Good details Waterproof Windproof Robust Lightweight -
Disadvantages
Bad zip -
Recommended use
All around Trekking Hiking Leisure
93% have found the reviews
by Jörg helpful
-
Advantages
Good cut Venting Robust -
Recommended use
All around Mountaineering Hiking Winter hiking
93% have found the reviews
by Jörg helpful
-
Advantages
Robust Good cut Venting -
Recommended use
Winter hiking Mountaineering Hiking All around
-
Advantages
Good details Waterproof Windproof Good cut Venting Robust Lightweight Breathable
-
Advantages
Good cut Lightweight Breathable Waterproof Good details Windproof Venting Robust
66% have found the reviews
by Florian helpful
-
Advantages
Lightweight Good cut Windproof Waterproof Robust Breathable
-
Advantages
Waterproof Windproof Lightweight Breathable
33% have found the reviews
by Andrei helpful
I've switched from the Alpha AR to the Alpha SV because the AR just didn't seem durable enough to withstand the abuse of climbing.
I haven't used the SV for long enough to properly assess it's durability, but the fabric feels like I've made the right choice: thick (100 denier GTX Pro is, to my knowledge, among the thickest/most durable you can buy) and with a rubbery feel that just makes the jacket feel bombproof.
So far, I have used the jacket on a couple of ice climbing trips, as well as on a couple of days of winter hiking.
It has performed very well so far.
Yes, the high denier fabric makes it somewhat less breathable/more sweaty when working hard uphill, but when the wind is howling and the rain is pouring down. you'll be glad that you have the SV to retreat into. Plus, with the right layering system (I currently use the Mountain Equipment Redline long sleeve baselayer under a Polartec 100 Micro Fleece, with the SV on top), you don't get that clammy feel that plague hard shells.
So, the Arcteryx Alpha SV is very good at keeping the elements out, however, there are a couple of negative points to make :
- the hood is absolutely humongous: it's way too big and it's pretty much impossible to cinch it down tight enough when you're not wearing a helmet, so in high winds you'll get a lot of flapping
- the zipper is only single way: I understand that most users would put their hard shell on at the beginning of the day (so under their harnesses), but in the UK it's not uncommon for the weather to suddenly turn from blue skies to rain, so it would be nice if you could throw the jacket over your harness and still be able to belay
Other than those two points, I'm happy that I've switched to the Alpha SV and it will be my hard shell of choice for the foreseeable future
--- review of an older model ---
--- review of an older model ---
-
Advantages
Windproof Waterproof Robust Breathable -
Recommended use
Ice climbing Winter hiking
-
Advantages
Robust Good cut Waterproof -
Recommended use
All around
The thread was edited on 24.01.17
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Advantages
Good cut Waterproof Windproof Robust Good details Breathable Venting -
Recommended use
Ski tours Snowshoeing Trekking Mountaineering Hiking
Best jacket I've worn; cannot believe it has taken me so long to purchase one. Won't buy anything else.
--- review of an older model ---
--- review of an older model ---
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Advantages
Good details Venting Good cut Robust Lightweight Windproof Waterproof Price / performance Breathable -
Recommended use
Mountaineering
-
Advantages
Good details Good cut Breathable Lightweight Robust Windproof -
Recommended use
All around Snowshoeing Hiking Mountaineering Ultra-light Ski tours
What a Shame!