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If fancy jacket features only weigh you down during your sweet struggle on the mountain, then the durable, no-frills, and impenetrable Arc'teryx Alpha FL Jacket is your much-needed solution. New for Fall 2011, the Gore-Tex Active Shell is a lightweight, packable, and dependable fabric that blocks out the harshest alpine weather ... and when you have that, you don't need all those bulky pockets and gadgets.
The guaranteed waterproof and highly breathable Gore-Tex Active Shell features an incredibly durable nylon outer shell to keep any amount of snow, rain, or rime out
Fully taped seams mean no drops can get through and send you back to base camp
A helmet-friendly, adjustable hood features a laminated brim to keep it from flapping in the wind as you climb in Alaska or Asia
The trim e3D anatomical fit includes room for layers but doesn't impede your axe-swinging or anchor-building
Ultralight laminated WaterTight zippers allow access without vulnerabilities
Reflective striping around the entire jacket boosts your visibility as a partner belays you after dark
Bottom Line:
That minimalist mountaineer fortress you've been searching for.
I'm looking for a new mountaineering hard-shell and wear
I'm looking for a new mountaineering hard-shell and wear a 40R suit jacket. With insulating layers (nano puff, etc), would a small or med be a better fit?
This jacket really is exception. Used it today in 40 degree torrential downpour. Bone Dry. The new Gore-Tex active shell really gets the job done quite well. Also, the quality of creation in this jacket is exceptional, I am quite glad this jacket is still made in Canada. I am 6'0 and 175 lbs and I went Large, i do tend to like looser fitting jackets though. The squid ink color is really quite exceptional. You will not be disappointed with this jacket.
-One note: this jacket DOES NOT have hand pockets, i knew this and liked this feature on purpose, if you are someone who enjoys hand pockets, the Beta FL is what you are looking for.
gotta ask being from a tropical climate in northern australia
gotta ask being from a tropical climate in northern australia i want to know if this would be good for a month long snowboarding trip to canada (big white) any suggestions to gear would be kindly appreciated!!
I'd say it can be done (with proper layering of course), but couple of things to consider. The Gore-Tex active shell is being marketed as a lighter and more breathable (but still waterproof) garment targeted for high aerobic, "done in a day" activities, such as trail running, mountain biking, and fast alpine ascent. Traditionally, the Pro (most rugged) and Soft (soft and warm) shells have been used for ski/snowboard outerwears (I for example use Arc'teryx Sidewinder AR, the pro shell, and Orage Retallack, the soft shell for skiing) if Gore-Tex is indeed one's choice of garment for such things. So one question to ask yourself is what kind of skiing are you planning to do? Will it be mostly front side, backcountry, park/pipe, combination of? I'd recommend your final choice should rest on the level of "wear and tear" you plan to put on the equipment and how much you care about the longevity of the equipment. Additionally, the alpha fl is a pretty spartan jacket with only 1 pocket on the chest (which is why I bought it for trekking/backpacking in an effort to keep my total load as light as possible), so the question is whether that is enough or will you need/desire some additional amenities from your jacket? Lastly, this jacket is cut trimmer (including the arms) than other Arc'teryx shells I've had in the past, so for layering, may want to size up.
There are a couple differences in performance. As Dave stated there is a weight difference. A couple other considerations- The Alpha FL is more breathable and packable than the Alpha LT, but the tradeoff is that the Alpha LT is significantly more durable, both in face fabric and backer.
The FL is 2.1 oz lighter. It's constructed of Gore Active Shell, which is Gore's newest and most breathable laminate. The LT is all Gore ProShell. You also get one extra pocket in the LT.
The Gore membrane itself is guaranteed waterproof. In this case the new Gore-Tex Active Shell receives a DWR treatment to help prevent saturation of the exterior fabric. Saturation or wetting out can lead to conductive heat loss and the fabric taking on water weight.
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