At a glance
- Suitable for:
- Recommended use:
- mountaineering, alpine climbing
- Main material:
- 100% polyamide
- Membrane:
- 100% polytetrafluoroethylene
- Material type:
- hardshell
- Technology:
- GORE-TEX Pro Most Rugged, 3-layer laminate
- Fabric treatment:
- taped seams, DWR treated
- Fabric properties:
- windproof, waterproof, breathable
- Shop consciously:
- contains recycled materials, fabric certified as bluesign APPROVED
- Closure:
- full length front zip
- Hood:
- helmet-compatible, adjustable
- Venting:
- armpit zip
- Pockets:
- 1 sleeve pocket, 2 zipped front pockets
- Torso length:
- 78 cm
- Weight:
- 510 g
- Reference size:
- Size M
- Fit:
- regular
- Extras:
- water-repellent zips, drawstring in the seam, hook-and-loop fasteners on the sleeves, integrated RECCO reflector
- Item No.:
- 002-2900
Very thick and durable. Went on a winter hike with 90 km/h wind. Felt nothing.
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
- Winter hiking
- Trekking
- Hiking
- Expedition
- Mountaineering
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 ---
There are 18 more threads!