Arc'teryx Kappa SV Hooded Insulated Jacket - Men's - 2008 BCS

I bought this jacket primarily for winter motorcycle riding because of its windproof and water-resistant rating. I have to say, I couldn't be happier with it. It is completely windproof. So far, it's gotten down to freezing here, and 65 mph on the highway is nothing! I would go so far as to say that the water-resistant rating is not considered "waterproof" only because the zippers aren't taped, and in a heavy downpour, at speed, it only leaked where water settled inside a fold at the front zipper. Also, the jacket is quick to dry after getting wet!

The only hangup I have with the jacket is the HUGE helmet-compatible hood. I knew that it was large before I bought it because of previous reviews, but I thought it would be something I could live with...and it is. It's not too bad. With the two drawstrings on the back kinked, it doesn't fall over your face when used without a helmet. It is, however, amazingly warm due to the same fill as the rest of the jacket.

Another great aspect of the Kappa SV (especially for motorbike riding) is the snug elastic cuffs. I say elastic, but it's not really elastic. It's much for comfortable, soft, and stretchy. It keeps the wind and water out, and keeps the sleeves from riding up in the wind. There is also this in the collar that keeps snow and water out.

All around, the Kappa SV is amazing! The price is steep, but the quality is high. This jacket will last forever, and it's as functional as they come for this style! If you don't want to spend full price, however, shop around for 20% off and BC will price match.

By far and away the best jacket I've owned! Stuffs down to a decent volume and I can pull it on and off all day in the blowing snow and it will keep me warm. The large pockets on the inside are great for keeping gloves warm and stashing skins for a quick turnaround. I additionally wear this one around town with a t-shirt on the coldest of days and have never get cold. The hood fits over a helmet and adjusts infinitely to keep my line of sight clear. The material has held up really well now for about a year of good abuse and repels water great, in fact I can't remember the jacket actually getting soaked (aside from sweat). Highly recommended, only downside is the cost?

This is the best jacket I’ve worn in 35+ years of downhill skiing - Great for cold & windy weather! I bought mine on sale last fall and had doubts about it – it felt too lightweight to keep me warm. But last week I finally got up to Mammoth for four days of pre-Holiday (crowdless) skiing and tested it out. Ended up wearing it every day. The temperatures ranged from 0-15F with some heavy high winds. I wore a very lightweight poly-pro T-shirt and my lightest fleece under it and stayed toasty. The insulating material works wonderfully and this jacket truly is completely windproof! The built in hood works great with or without a helmet. I am 6’2”, 215lbs, 51 years old. Fit is great, doesn’t constrict, great pocket & zipper design. My friends were totally jealous and kept wanting to try it on cause they were freezing their tails off. We went into the lodge so they could warm up and I kept it on – it was so light and comfortable, I just unzipped it and stayed nice & cozy. This jacket rocks!

The Kappa SV hoody is a nice jacket. It is soft and well constructed, It has an ergonomic fit and good length (both in front and rear). There is the perfect amount of pockets (both inside and out). The seams all all sealed with arc finishing tape. It is extremely toasty on those bitter cold days with the 200 gms/m2 of primaloft insulation. So why only 3 stars??? The jacket uses 2 different fabrics- a nice soft fabric on the main part of the body and a tougher fabric over the shoulder, arms and hood to cover the high wear areas. It has a slight shimmer to it and a much harsher feel. aesthetically I dont like the look of the 2 fabrics or the feel of the tougher fabric. My wife has the womens version which is made entirely of the soft fabric and it looks and feels fantastic. It has also held up quite nicely against abrasion. My other gripe is the zipper. If you are going to seal the seams on the fabric- why not use a waterproof zipper (like the waterproof vislon)? it would keep the inside for getting damp when the snow is wet and also is more windproof. The current zipper allows a small amount of air through it (even though there is a windflap behind it). This could be an amazing jacket- just falls a but short at this price point. If you want a warm jacket this is a great choice- but there are also other options out there you should look at....

this jacket is a great winter jacket, especially for resort skiing. very windproof and warm, with an athletic, comfortable cut. only needs a minimal layering even in cold temps. lack of pit zips may be a problem if you're planning on bc use and isn't as packable as other "puffy" jackets. Bomber helmet compatable hood also. only small grip is that the zippers close in the up position, but other than that small grip has exceeded my expectations.

My mission this winter was to purchase a new winter coat that one would not be bulky, and two would be warm. I finally found the right jacket in the Kappa SV. I literally tried 3 different jackets this winter and returned them all until I finally settled on the Kappa SV. This jacket keeps every ounce of wind out and keeps the heat in. The lining is thin but ample. The exterior is sturdy. I was just outside the other day and the temperature was 8 degrees, and with the windchill was well under zero. The jacket may not have some of the bells and whistles of other jackets (ie. pit zips, powder skirt), but the key for me was warmth...and I was not disappointed.
This jacket was a replacement for a North Face tri-climate coat, but I was tired of pulling and adjusting my sleeves every time I put my coat on...not a problem with this coat.
Great coat, good luck.

Just returned from skiing with this jacket this weekend. Temps were about 2 degrees F in the morning, warming up to about 15F in the afternoon. I wore just a mid-weight Icebreaker base layer and an Arc Tau shirt and the Kappa SV. This combo kept me warm all day, if not hot during some points. Even when just sitting outside in 9F in the afternoon, I was still very comfortable. I had brought my Arc Hercules, but didn't need to break it out! :-) Luckily, it was not too windy, but I know that's not a problem for Windstopper!

Awesome jacket. Bought one for my wife as well!

It's been nearly 7 weeks since I purchased this jacket and I'm certainly as pleased now as I was then. The weather in chicago is starting to turn and this jacket has been holding up quite nicely. It was 40 this morning, wind was blowing at about 15mph and it's raining. I stand outside waiting for the train for roughly 15 minutes, walk 13 blocks from the station and do it again in the evening. the jacket kept me very warm and dry and does so while standing and while moving at a good pace. It gets a bit steamy at around 58F but it's very comfortable during relatively harsh weather and much colder temps. It did hit the mid 30's a few weeks ago and I still felt comfortable; however, my bare hands did get a bit cold in the lined pockets. I'll write another review in February when I can count on 32 below zero wind temp.

Unbelievable jacket.
Unfortunately, I had to return the first one because I ordered a large, should have ordered medium - it is recommended to read the sizing chart. I'm 6'1", 33" waist and 33" inseam and weigh 180 +/- a few pounds. Too much room overall (arms, chest, hips) but I could certainly tell that this coat was one of the best insulated, windproof, severe weather jackets on the market (I've had a few). It's super light and provides more insulation than I thought - it's a good buy. The hood would be a bit strange for people not used to it but I've had hoodies for a while so it's not that bad.
Excellent jacket, I would recommend to a friend.

Best jacket I've ever owned and I've owned a ton of coats. It is so comfortable, very lightweight, no wind comes through it at all(even off lake michigan in the freezing cold) and it's so warm, and weight-wise feels like you are wearing only a sweatshirt. It's pretty pricey but for all the coats that ive bought and now hate it was worth the money.

Overall, a good jacket but I'm not sure it's the best jacket I've owned like others who reviewed this jacket. First, make sure you get the right size. I usually fit medium size for Arcteryx products but medium was way too big for me (5' 9", 150 lbs). Small fit nicely and looked nice. I like the design without the baffles and snug fit. I have to admit, it's not as warm as I thought it would be. It doesn't compare to 700 fill down jackets so you'll be disappointed if you're looking for a super warm jacket. As for skiing or snowboarding in it, I think it's too warm for that so not sure how others are wearing this on the slopes. It's good jacket to wear around town and I do wear it every day in 20-30 degree weather and I like it. The hood will keep you extra warm but it sometimes gets in the way behind your head since it doesn't fold down or lay down fully due to the primaloft filling.

It's a good jacket but for $450, you might want to consider other jackets or get a fleece and shell for more flexibility for the slopes or hiking.

I'm very happy with this jacket but I must say that I would not pay full price for it. I got mine fro $315 + tax on Altrec, although the prices seems to have gone up within the last week (back to $450). As fit goes, I'm 6'3" 180 pounds about, a slim but tall guy, and I wear a medium. In order to better layer I may trade it in for a large, I'd like to wear my R4 underneath it but this makes the jacket feel a bit constrictive when worn. The jacket's not bulky at all and fits like a glove, it's just that this fit doesn't allow for layering in my case.

Overall I've found the jacket to be quite warm and very comfortable. The "Made in China" label is a bit strange to read on an Arc'teryx jacket and I feel should warrant a lower price, hence my suggestion not to buy at retail but rather to wait for a sale price. Regardless, the jacket has performed well thus far and is very comfortable, the copper color looks sharp on top of it all.

This is the best jacket I've ever owned. Real warm, and unbelievable protection from the wind. When it's on, your in your own enviroment you cannot feel the outside air. I was skeptical that it didn't have pit zips and that I might get to warm inside, but the breathability of this jacket is unreal. I've been in bars and crowded warm places and kept it on, and have not overheated in it once. Great adjustability with the hood as well. Because of the athletic fit style, your usual size will fit perfect but if you like it a bit larger with more room for layering, I suggest getting a size up. Overall this jacket is awesome!!!!!!!

Look to be a nice Jacket but country or origin should read china, just to be fair. I guess most of their manufacturing is in china now. Does this impact quality, gee just don't know yet.

I bought this jacket, found it is over hyped.

engineering wise, it is fairly good and quality product.
But it is ugly design, especially the hood, it is enormous - ugly huge, I mean it.

dude, I was wondering who had such big head to be pocketed in such huge hood. For people think to by the jacket, pay attention to the hood when you receive it.

jacket returned.

Nice jacket, just would not stand up to the harsh New England weather! Would probably be a good option for moderate conditions.