Arc'teryx Gamma AR Softshell Jacket - Men's

ABOUT ME: I'm 5'10 (180 CM), 180 LBS (82 KG), Athletic build. I purchased the Gamma in a Black size Large - which I find to fit quite nicely.

BACKGROUND: Over the years, I've owned many jackets from more companies then I can remember. I've always had an affinity for Arc'teryx, although the Gamma really "made me a true believer"

OVERVIEW: I purchased this softshell from backcountry some years back, and after "wearing it hard" and putting it through a very wide variety of conditions - I can honestly say that I wouldn't trade it for gold.

MY USE: This is my primary jacket for temperatures ranging from 20F-60F, or -7C-15C. If its warm and breezy, I wear it with a T-shirt half zipped. If its cold, I'll throw on some cold weather under armour and zip it to the top. Colder then 20F (-7C) I'll likely resort to my Steep-tech, hotter then 60F (15C) I'll likely wear either a light track jacket or no jacket.

WHY I LOVE THE GAMMA: This softshell does a number of things very well and without sacrifice. It's very fast drying - never be afraid to get this jacket dirty, because within 30 minutes, it can be clean and dry again. It does not limit mobility at all. It can be warn over a sweater if thats your thing. It can be folded into a very small size for travel. It can be warn in a variety of conditions (from sunny days to snow storms) quite effectively.

WHY I THINK THE GAMMA IS SUPERIOR: This softshell jacket has truly never failed me. From skiing in Vermont, to mountain climbing in Guatemala, to rainy days in Poland (where I'm working for the summer). I find the gamma to be very adaptable - it can pretty much be a go-to jacket for nearly any condition.

WHAT I DON'T LIKE: I wish the Gamma had a more tapered waist. Due to my athletic build (my sholders are disproportionately bigger then my waist), the waist of the jacket is a little "roomy", but to be completely honest, I have this problem with many clothes. While the Gamma is nearly perfect, I do wish it was 100% windproof - although this is a minor complaint and only really noticeable when a strong wind hits you.

CONCLUSION: Currently, although slightly faded (from so many washings + sun exposure?), my gamma is draped on my chair behind me. I use it nearly daily, and could not be happier. It's formal enough to be worn with nice jeans and a button down, yet informal enough to be warn over a T-shirt on a breezy day while climbing, running, or whatever you find yourself doing.

If I can be of any further help to anyone, feel free to e-mail me at jp3489@hotmail.com!

-JP

this jacket is awesome i just received it for christmas and i have already taken it backpacking in the smoky mountains. the temperature stayed around high teens to mid twenties. i kept the jacket on the entire time with out having to remove it for getting over heated or sweetie while hiking. i was exposed on the side of a mountain for most of the trip and the Gamma did a awesome job of keeping the wind from getting to me. as for casual wear i a have also found this jacket great for going out around town or wearing on campus if you are a student. Arcteryx in General is awesome and i would suggest this jacket for any one!!!

Been wearing this jacket for years. Bought another one to replace my worn out one. Old was says made in Canada, new one says made in China. No way am I paying Arc'teryx prices for China. No thank you, sent it back today.

The jacket is an excellent shell. Very good upgrade from the layering system using hardshells. I stayed warm with a t-shirt and this jacket at 10F, no strenuous activity. I can't imagine doing any activity in this since I would overheat in a heartbeat. It is a perfect shell and not very material is not very breathable. The chest pockets are ideal to keep your hands warm if you don't have gloves on . If you don't sweat a lot or overheat when exercising, then this will be good while hiking/backpacking. If you do sweat/overheat, you will be wet under the jacket with any activity and that is bad. For a wider range of activities I would recommend a lighter weight material for a soft shell. It isn't necessary to layer with this jacket; it is all the layering you would need unless the temp dropps down very low much lower than the 10F I tested it at, for a week. Excellent for casual use around town. It is very stylish. Show those TNF kiddies what a real jacket is. I wish I had a arm/bicep pocket.I picked up this jacket from SaC and think the SaC price is a good number. Full price, hell no...

ArcT does it again (as usual). This was my first Arcteryx piece and it instantly cemented my love affair with those design & quality fanatics from Vancouver.

It is full of stretchy, warm, breathable, water resistant goodness. Fabu athletic fit, and tough as nails. In addition to working great under a wide range of conditions, it never fails to garner compliments on it's looks.

I don't understand all of the hoo-ha about ArcT stuff made in China. My jacket was made there, and it's assembly is as close to perfect as any item of clothing I've ever owned (or seen, for that matter).

It would be even better if it had another pocket or so to stash my glasses, cell phone and other such miscellaneous cartage, leaving the hand warmer pockets for... er... warming my hands.

ArcT stuff is expensive, but well worth it.

I use it for rock climbing and it keeps me warm while I'm belaying (i.e. sitting still) when the temp is above 40F. Much colder, and I find it necessary to layer up. It truly shines when it comes to sports requiring high mobility. The stretchy fabric and breathability make it a superb jacket for climbing where it keeps you warm without making you sweat.

The jacket is water-resistant. Effectively this means that you can be out in a light rain for a little while and the jacket will whisk most of the water away. However, I know first hand that the jacket becomes a sponge after hiking for an hour in light/medium rain.

I've had this about a month now and overall its a great jacket.
Its very lightweight and has been keeping me warm in 30-40F weather just walking around town without any other layers. It vents really well, so I didn't overheat after some fairly strenuous hiking at around the same temperatures.
I did not get wet with light rain, but this would not be the jacket for heavy downpours.
It runs a little big. I'm 6'0 180lbs and size large felt a little loose, good with a fairly thick layer under it, but a little baggy over a t-shirt.
Overall I'm pretty impressed. This was my 1st arcteryx and based on my experience so far I'd do it again.

This was my first soft shell ever and ever since I've compared how jackets should fit to this Gamma AR. The athletic fit (wide shoulders, triangle cut) just made me feel at home. This jacket gives you room on the shoulders and it doesn't pull your sleeves when you raise you arm. It does not have windbloc or any gore-tex so it breaths very well. Its perfect for spring or fall days. It layers very well for winter excursions. Perfect climbing jacket since it is short so that the jacket does not get caught in the belay device. I'm 5'7' 170 and I have a Large. LOVE IT. Do understand the DWR does wear off so you may need to retreat it every other year.

sorry for the title but I couldn't help myself.... My Arc'Teryx is great for my longer arms (tall), the black looks stellar (dark), and the fit and finish keep my wife taking double takes (handsome). Not to mention my dogs hair brushes off sooo much easier than any fleece jacket I've owned. The only annoyance is the zippers and possibly the collar: I wish the zippers were reversed in that they zip down to close so that when you have you hands in your pockets there isn't huge openings and on my jacket the collar tends to want to stay straight up which is ok, but sometimes I just want it to lay flat. It has a slight bit of room in the torso but it's not supposed to fit like a glove there, it's a jacket! I appreciate the longer arms since my old MHW Tech was about 2 inches short when I would stretch out. Oh and for comparison I'm 6 foot about 185 lbs and the Large fits me great!

Picked this one up on SAC in large (I'm 6'3" and 170lbs). The cut is nice, similar to the backcountry shift softshell jacket, although I like the BC one better.
It's warm, stretchy, wind-blocking, and has long sleeves for tall people. The shell feels stiffer than the BC shift shell, I hope that will change over time because it's a bit too stiff IMO.
Finally I totally agree with NL: I would not buy this full price, hell no...

I just tried one of these from Steepandcheap, but sent it back due to fit issues. I'm 6'0". 175lb with long arms and am in reasonably good shape. I like my gear to fit somewhat trim so there are no drafty waist and arm issues. I ordered a large and found the current build of this jacket to be too big around the belly (not athletic fit) for me. I didn't like the flared sleeves with no velcro adjustment nor elastic, either. A more tailored body and better sleeve cuffs would make this a great jacket. If you have some girth or want the option of layering a lot, and wear gauntlet-style gloves with it, then it would be fine.

Breathable enough to wear indoors yet great at blocking wind outside. Received multiple compliments on it at work within the first couple days wearing it. Size Large was good for me (6'3" 195lbs, athletic build) jacket is not too short as I feared it might be, do understand this is a waist length jacket though. The softshell material seems very durable, hopefully it will hold up well for a few years use.

This is a great jacket- I have had mine for about 2 years (the Canadian made version). It's warm when it is cold outside, comfortable when it's not so cold, highly abrasion resistant, sheds snow without ever wetting out. I have only 3 minor complaints: The collar is not high enough and lacks an adjustment to cinch it up when the wind is blowing. The design of the MH Alchemy's collar is far better. The jacket is just a bit short, even when considering that it is fit to wear with a climbing harness- it tends to ride up a bit. An inch or 2 more would make all the difference. And it needs one more pocket, a small one either on the left chest or on the left sleeve. I need a place to stash a pair of glasses, chapsitck or a compass without it getting lost in the large Napoleon pockets.

I have taken this jacket everywhere. It performs every time. Whether at school walking outside or on Rainier it is breathable yet still holds its own against the wind. When combined with a good shell it shuts down the cold and wet weather.

I got this piece about 6 years ago and put it through the wringer of daily wear and trips. Stood up to the challenge. Power shield is a great material for softshells, my personal preference is that it is the best. Mine was made in Canada, not sure how much the China production has affected it. Arcteryx is the industry standard, every other company copies them to some extent. If you have the money it is a solid investment. But it is time for mine to be retired. But for 6+ years of service it had a good run.

pretty rock solid for transition month casual wear, winter activities, or layering whenever. low profile amazingness.

I was lucky enough to pick one up pre-china manufacturing switch + from my experience the first china run seems to be lacking in fit consistency. I tried them (canada vs china) on side by side + the china one seems to be much more baggy around the ribs + pits, which is not a good thing as far as I am concerned. Hopefully they will work thru this hiccup.

Performance-wise, it will stand up to wind + water with the best of the softshells, but I can't recommend it for a deluge (which is not what its for anyway).

The chest pockets are less cumbersome/awkward than I anticipated even without a pack on.

Got this to replace my North Face Bionic after it was stolen. This is a fantastic jacket. I'd even rate it ahead of the Bionic. The material is excellent but more flexible than the NF. It keeps me warm, keeps out the wind, but doesn't feel heavy or cumbersome. The athletic cut is very nice and fit close but not cramped. Could use an extra pocket or two but overall an awesome soft-shell for mild weather.

I guess the Gamma AR is the updated Gamma SV. Still wearing mine from 2001. Bomber. Will not let you down in any conditions and is ready for anything: snowsports, backpacking, travel, around town, cycling, etc. After 8 years, the material has frayed around the cuffs, but the jacket is still highly functional. Pricey, but worth it. I hope the China-made jackets last as long as my old Canada-made Gamma SV.

The old saying "you get what you pay for" isn't always true, but in this case it is. Sure you can buy a similar jacket for less that will perform the same function...but it likely won't have the same attention to detail (perfect stitching, nice zippers) and unmistakeable style of an Arc jacket. If you get the Gamma AR in your normal size it will be close fitting and have a tailored look which is awesome...if you plan on layering anything more than a base/sweater underneath you should size up. I found size M to be perfect for me (6'1 170) in sleeve length, but borderline short at the waist... it is a climbing jacket after all. If you must stick your hands in your jacket pockets, you should get a different style..the pockets on the Gamma AR are made to be accessible with a pack strap/climbing harness, but they do zip down far enough to be handwarmers as well. (but a little high) Overall, an outstanding jacket for it's intended purpose...my Marmot Maxima (similar style) has now been given to my brother. Just be aware that the colors shown in the pics are off (as usual for BC) and the "Teak" is darker brown than it appears but still very sharp looking.

If there was a four and a half star, I'd probably give it that. As far as a general soft shell jacket goes, it's awesome. I live in Mississippi, and the weather goes from mid twenties to high forties in a matter of hours. I've been able to wear this with no worries about either being cold or too hot, which is something I've had a hard time finding. I've taken up in the Smokies for a few trips, and it handles the cold and wind just as well there, especially with a layer or two underneath. It doesn't have a whole ton of insulation, so when it gets too much below freezing, more layers will definitely be key. One problem I have with the AR as opposed to the MX is the pocket placement. I know it's for easy access when climbing, but as far as wearing out, they feel a bit awkward. Actually, exceedingly awkward. The zipper pulls also contribute to this. However, don't let that deter you in the least. It's an awesome jacket, and should certainly be a key component in any lineup.

this is a fantastic softshell. Its combination of performance and style is perfect. The stretch of the softshell is amazing - if you compare this jacket to lesser models you can easily feel the difference. The no lift, gusseted underarms definitely make a difference - although im not sure if this jacket will "get you some spoonage" it will definitely turn some heads.

The last few weeks have been cold and windy in Northern California. This has been the go to jacket on my way to work in the morning. It is not waterproof, but provides more than enough protection to get from my truck to the office. The wind-blocking qualities are amazing. The collar is very comfortable, and super soft on the neck. If you are looking for a great softshell, and don't need a hood check out the Gamma AR.

First off, Backcountry was great. I wasn't sure what size to order and they made it very easy to order two and return the one that didn't fit. This is my third Gamma AR. The first one I wore out after 10 years and the second I lost. The second jacket fit small even though it was same size as the first (large). The one I just order fits like the first jacket so there must have been a hiccup in their sizing at one time. Anyway, I love this jacket. Same quality as the first and the fit is great.

My old SV got stolen (checked luggage :-/), got this AR.

Very similar except the cuffs are now 'flared' - anyone know why ArcTeryx made this change - it's a regression IMO.

That said, still like this jacket a lot and I guess I'll get used to the cuffs ;-)

I'm 5'8" 157lbs and I got a small. Small because I normal wear this as a casual jacket with a t-shirt or a light fleece. I have a different soft shell that's in a medium to make sure that I can have a base, insulation, and then the softshell. I do like this but now that I've had it for a few months, i would have opted for the Gamma MX which is lighter and has the option of coming with a hood. As a casual jacket, it is windproof for the most part. Of course I'm in LA and I tried it out in the Angeles Crest Mts. It was good. The zippers are hight to accomodate for the backpack and the waist band. I got merlot, beautiful color.

No really folks.. I bought this jacket in the Inca Blue.. Wow! I went for a run in 30 degree weather. Perfect for running in fall and with base layer (like the new LIFA dry tech. from Helly Hansen and nothing else.) And this is hot Casual! I have never had so many compliments. Here's the Gnarledge on it. I'm 6'0 185bls. Perfect arm length for you usual long armed lerp, perfect chest fit I where a 44/42 inch blazer. Super Abrasion resistance. The lining has small amount of fleece in it to make it soft to the touch, just enough to wear it really holds your heat in which is AWESOMEAGE! And they added new padding in the Collar that I think is better then a heath bar on a ice cream sunday! Perfect casual piece too! Super stretchy. Little thicker than the Gamma MX. great for climbing, backpacking, hiking, and around town. even looks great with a pair of slacks. Do your self a favor. make the girl rethink why she didn't date you before. When they see you in this. You might even get a little spoonage! I did!

Don’t know about “spoonage” but it’s a bomber jacket! Have used this on countless cold days well below 0C and no complaints. Not totally wind proof but pretty dang close! If you are going to be climbing this is the jacket for you if you don’t need something to work with a harness there is probably better options out there. I love this jacket for climbing in the cold.

I bought this softshell with an expectation of being able to use it for outdoor activities. I'm not disappointed at all. It's a little bit pricey, but hey...it's arc'teryx. This jacket is made in China, however, it retains the high quality that arc'teryx maintains.

I had to replace my Sharp Point jacket because it was lost so I went with this one. I am doing a direct comparison of my old jacket because they retail within $25 of each other.
It is fine if the wind is blowing. The wind seems to cut right through this thing.
The wrists openings are too wide. If I am wearing a soft shell in the mountains, I am also probably wearing my fleece gloves. The wrist openings allow a lot of wind to come right in. A velcro closure would fix this problem.
I think it was fine for regulating temperature though - probably because the wind cuts through it, I don't overheat. Taking it back though and replacing with old reliable.