What's up with Arc'teryx???

[deadheadskier]

I had never heard of their products until getting into the whole steep and cheap thing. The cost of their clothing is OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive. I mean I kind of find it hard to believe that their $550 ski jacket is going to THAT much better than something from Columbia for $150ish.

Something like Bogner I get as you are paying for the 'stylist' :roll: Is Arc'teryx sort of the same deal?

 

[tcharron]

Hence the reason why there is overstock. :-D

Personally, I perfectly happy with 686 gear. I actually prefer it.. :-D

 

[thetrailboss]

Way too expensive. I see very little of it...don't know much about it...

 

[severine]

I believe quite a few of the Ski Divas are huge fans. But all I know is they tend to size small and theirs is supposed to be high quality stuff. What that translates to exactly I don't know... I don't spend big bucks like that on ski clothes. My last ski jacket was around $100 on clearance (North Face) and my softshell was under $40 from SAC.

 

[deadheadskier]

I paid $120 for my Columbia before the start of the 03-04 season. Still going strong and never felt the need for anything more 'core' than it.

I have splurged this summer on 3 pairs of fancy smartwool socks, an Ice Breaker base layer and Patagonia mid layer, the latter two from SAC for around 60% off.

....just need new pants and gloves and I'm fully re-stocked on soft goods and probably won't buy any new stuff in that catagory for a couple of years.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

They are really nice jackets and look to be just about 100% waterproof and breathable. The most I ever paid for a ski jacket is my current Oakley which is $240...paying $500+ for a jacket seems a little overboard. In Jackson Wyoming they have a Cloudveil store and that's what most of the locals use out there. I'd pick up a Cloudveil shell or fleece if they were on sale..

 

[madskier6]

They are really nice jackets and look to be just about 100% waterproof and breathable. The most I ever paid for a ski jacket is my current Oakley which is $240...paying $500+ for a jacket seems a little overboard. In Jackson Wyoming they have a Cloudveil store and that's what most of the locals use out there. I'd pick up a Cloudveil shell or fleece if they were on sale..

I really like the Cloudveil stuff but there is no way in HELL I would pay full price for it. I have a great Cloudveil soft shell that I ski in most days & I really like it. I got it on sale at a pre-season tent sale for $100 whereas the list price was something like $300 +. Ridiculous prices.

I think it's the same thing with Arc'teryx. High quality stuff but way overpriced.

 

[tjf67]

There stuff is very good. I use some of it. My marmot jacket cost 400 or so buck back in 2000. Still going strong other than the broken zipper which is guaranteed forever. I have to send it in.

Its made in BC. Its really cool looking as well. Very popular up here in LP

 

[drjeff]

Basically, Arc'teryx as I'm told, was founded by a couple of ice climbers who wanted some REALLY technical gear to keep them warm and dry in just about any condition that mother nature could throw at them.

They developed a small following at first, and then some of their gear's popularity first spread to the back country crowd and now more mainstream. From what one of the shop owners at Mount Snow told me, is similair to other high end super technical gear companies(Cloudveil, Marmot, Mountain Hardware), they don't cut ANY corners in the design and construction of their clothing. It's not for everyone, but for those that have it, it's apparently great stuff.

I'd bet that the owners real dream would be for their popularity to explode one day, and then they could do what Spyder + The Northface has done over the last 20 years or so, which is start off as a clothing company that makes exclusively really good, technical stuff and then go mainstream and make, ALOT of "okay" stuff and only a small amount of really good technical stuff, but make a bunch of $$ by branching out a selling their "okay" stuff at big box sporting goods stores.

 

[drjeff]

There stuff is very good. I use some of it. My marmot jacket cost 400 or so buck back in 2000. Still going strong other than the broken zipper which is guaranteed forever. I have to send it in.

Would you ever go back to a "lesser" coat now that you've had a high end one?? I know I wouldn't. You just don't realize how much of a difference the really good wind/water proof fabrics actually make for your comfort until you've been able to ski/ride in a coat made with them on days like they were designed for.

 

[cbcbd]

As with other gear companies, the more manufacturing in house vs overseas, the better the quality and the higher the price.
They are based off of and manufacture mostly in Vancouver, BC. No shortcuts are taken and you are paying for Canadian manufacturing.
If you are a technical climber and you are using their stuff then you are probably sponsored, work at a shop and get pro-deals, or can just afford it since climbing (especially ice) ain't cheap anyway.

 

[BigJay]

Let's just use a car metaphore...

A Columbia is like a GM car... It gets you from A to B... does the job... nothing special about it... design is not the force behind columbia... but value is... Same with GM cars

Arc'Teryx is more like an Audi or BMW. Class. High tech. Keeps it's value because the technolgie about it is stronger. Design is also a key element of the jacket but yet conservative enought that you'll keep the jacket for more then a year!

I've had 686 jackets in the past... Great value... but it doesn't compare to a high end jacket... I never tought i would own one... but i found a Burton AK jacket at 50% off two seasons ago... and now i can't think about owning anything else... the jacket keeps you warm... no wind goes through... and is also breathable enough that you'll stay dry on the way down. It's also pretty compact... so carries great in the backcountry when you take it out on the climbs.

An Arc'Teryx jacket is no way different then any other high end jacket out there... price-wise they compare also... A Gore-Tex 3-ply will cost about 500-600$ in most quality brands out there... And even tought i have an Arc'Teryx store across the street from my office, i'll probably never buy anything in there... but they look good no matter what...

my 2 cents...

 

[deadheadskier]

Let's just use a car metaphore...

A Columbia is like a GM car... It gets you from A to B... does the job... nothing special about it... design is not the force behind columbia... but value is... Same with GM cars

Arc'Teryx is more like an Audi or BMW. Class. High tech. Keeps it's value because the technolgie about it is stronger. Design is also a key element of the jacket but yet conservative enought that you'll keep the jacket for more then a year!

I've had 686 jackets in the past... Great value... but it doesn't compare to a high end jacket... I never tought i would own one... but i found a Burton AK jacket at 50% off two seasons ago... and now i can't think about owning anything else... the jacket keeps you warm... no wind goes through... and is also breathable enough that you'll stay dry on the way down. It's also pretty compact... so carries great in the backcountry when you take it out on the climbs.

An Arc'Teryx jacket is no way different then any other high end jacket out there... price-wise they compare also... A Gore-Tex 3-ply will cost about 500-600$ in most quality brands out there... And even tought i have an Arc'Teryx store across the street from my office, i'll probably never buy anything in there... but they look good no matter what...

my 2 cents...

Interesting analogy with the cars

For the record, I went from an Audi A6 to a Hyundai Sonata. I like the Hyundai better accept for in deep snow driving.

to each their own I guess with cars and ski gear

 

[Hawkshot99]

Would you ever go back to a "lesser" coat now that you've had a high end one?? I know I wouldn't. You just don't realize how much of a difference the really good wind/water proof fabrics actually make for your comfort until you've been able to ski/ride in a coat made with them on days like they were designed for.

I dont have the brand you are all talking about here, but I do have several real nice jackets. Predetor, and Helly Hanson. They keep me extremely comfortable in all conditions. Before I had them I just wore whatever was on sale. Always got a insulated jacket to keep warm. Now all my jackets are shells, and all I wear under them is a UnderArmour shirt, and usully open up some vents too. This is on days when it is down near zero. And talk about waterproof. Ever sat on a broken lift for over a hour in the rain? I stayed completly dry.

 

[tjf67]

Would you ever go back to a "lesser" coat now that you've had a high end one?? I know I wouldn't. You just don't realize how much of a difference the really good wind/water proof fabrics actually make for your comfort until you've been able to ski/ride in a coat made with them on days like they were designed for.

There are only a few hobies I have. I am not going to skimp on something that I enjoy doing. I am getting a kick out of how long I can get my marmot to last. I dont ever want to give it up. My Marmot ski pants finally broke down. I replaced them with the acer stuff and am not upset about it. So I would say yes. They are better quality, look better and last longer.

 

[ZOG]

Basically, Arc'teryx as I'm told, was founded by a couple of ice climbers who wanted some REALLY technical gear to keep them warm and dry in just about any condition that mother nature could throw at them.

They developed a small following at first, and then some of their gear's popularity first spread to the back country crowd and now more mainstream. From what one of the shop owners at Mount Snow told me, is similair to other high end super technical gear companies(Cloudveil, Marmot, Mountain Hardware), they don't cut ANY corners in the design and construction of their clothing. It's not for everyone, but for those that have it, it's apparently great stuff.

I'd bet that the owners real dream would be for their popularity to explode one day, and then they could do what Spyder + The Northface has done over the last 20 years or so, which is start off as a clothing company that makes exclusively really good, technical stuff and then go mainstream and make, ALOT of "okay" stuff and only a small amount of really good technical stuff, but make a bunch of $$ by branching out a selling their "okay" stuff at big box sporting goods stores.

They've already sold out. Part of Amer Group, parent of Atomic, Salomon, Wilson, Precor, Mavic and others

 

[Beetlenut]

... but i found a Burton AK jacket at 50% off two seasons ago... and now i can't think about owning anything else... the jacket keeps you warm... no wind goes through... and is also breathable enough that you'll stay dry on the way down. It's also pretty compact... so carries great in the backcountry when you take it out on the climbs....

I have a pair of Burton bib-overall snowboarding pants that I ski in, that I bought back in 1994 before a trip out west. They're just like the day I bought them. Extremely well made and engineered!!

 

[drjeff]

They've already sold out. Part of Amer Group, parent of Atomic, Salomon, Wilson, Precor, Mavic and others

I'd guess then that the plan is to have them producing multi-million units per year and available in Dick's Sporting Goods and The Sports Authority by 2010 then

 

[Grassi21]

I've only had my Arc'teryx jacket for one season. My Spyder jacket (that I still wear on sunny cold days cause it has ample room for layering) did nothing in terms of repelling water. The Arc'teryx keeps me bone dry, I love the cut of the jacket, and is well crafted. Well worth the money IMHO.

 

[drjeff]

I've only had my Arc'teryx jacket for one season. My Spyder jacket (that I still wear on sunny cold days cause it has ample room for layering) did nothing in terms of repelling water. The Arc'teryx keeps me bone dry, I love the cut of the jacket, and is well crafted. Well worth the money IMHO.

That's the thing with Spyder nowadays. Definately an iconic brand in the ski wear industry, but most of the stuff they brand nowadays isn't anywhere close to the quality of the stuff that the made back in the mid 80's through early 90's that got them the reputation of being really good stuff. Nowadays with most Spyder gear, unless its from their world cup line or the highest of their freeride/back country line, the products they produce are generally mid-level performance gear interms of their technical features. But what still sells them a ton of jackets and pants each year is that you'll see the US Ski Team(less Bode) wearing the web prints in media adds, and the same thing goes in Europe too, where the fact they got to outfit the Austrian Team starting a few years back was a HUGE deal. Problem is, most of the stuff they sell, for the price it's sold for isn't really that good technically.

Generally I've found that if you find a lesser known brand, in a real ski shop that seems way overpriced compared to a brand that you'll regularly see on people in liftlines on crowded days, that's more than likely to be a very technical coat made without cutting any corners.