![]() I find this especially frustrating on the more minimalist shells on which both the inside and outside pocket are on the left side. I think it’s fairly safe to assume we could access a pocket with our non-dominant hand. I get it, most people are right-handed but these are supposed to be alpine climbing shells and every alpine climber I’ve ever met is admirably ambidextrous - we all swing tools, place gear, clip ropes, and perform any of the myriad other climbing tasks with either hand. All of them also have Arc’teryx’s superb StormHood which, as I’ve written before, is one of the best helmet-compatible hood designs on the market, allowing complete protection with unrestricted movement.Īll the Alphas also share one of my continued frustrations with jacket design: overlapping pockets. They all have an embedded Recco reflector, which is located at the back of the hood in all except the SV, which locates it in the left bicep pocket. (This piece has replaced the Alpha FL as of Spring/Summer 2021.)Īs one would expect, the jackets range in features from most to least, following their respective design philosophies. All of this combines to be called Hadron 3L Gore Tex. ![]() This is new for Spring/Summer 2021 and uses an Arc’teryx-exclusive version of Gore Tex that is paired with a proprietary 20-denier face fabric, which in turn is reinforced with a 25-denier Liquid Crystal Polymer ripstop grid. (This jacket has been replaced by the Alpha AL Anorak as of Spring/Summer 2021.)Īlpha SL Anorak - “ Super Light” use emphasizes light weight and packability over long-term durability. Both fabrics are a lightweight 40-denier. The FL uses Gore-Tex Most Breathable for higher breathability through the body and Gore-Tex Most Rugged over the hood, upper back and shoulders for extra durability. It also uses the new Gore-Tex Most Rugged fabric but at a significantly lower weight: 40-denier through the body, with more durable 80-denier reinforcements on the hood, shoulders, and the outer side of the sleeves.Īlpha FL - “ Fast & Light” use designed with light weight and minimalism in mind. The SV uses a heavyweight 100-denier face fabric to create what Arc’teryx says is “the most durable product we know of.”Īlpha AR - “ All a Round” use makes this probably the most versatile of the climbing hardshells. It has undergone continued refinements and updates and this latest FW20 version uses the new Most Rugged version of Gore-Tex Pro. They are, from heaviest duty to lightest:Īlpha SV - “ Se Vere” use, this is the jacket that started it all for Arc’teryx as a garment company when it was introduced in 1998. In Arc’teryx-speak that means an Alpha, but which one to choose? There are three, possibly four, models to choose from, depending on your aversion to past-season models. Given that you’re reading this website, I will assume you want a climbing shell. ![]() ![]() Maybe need isn’t the right word - want? Desire? Covet? Regardless of motivation, let’s say that Arc’teryx is your chosen brand, but which alphabet soup shell do you choose? Alpha? Beta? Zeta? Cassiar - this one isn’t even part of the Greek alphabet, it was all making sense, but now I’m so confused!? Overhanging mixed is a great test of breathability. So you’ve decided you need a new Gore-Tex shell for all your climbing endeavours.
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