Very average, very expensive

Arc'teryx Alpha SL Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 2 June 24, 2010

PROS:
- great color (blue)
- great fit
- hood protects well from rain and can be adjusted
- large pockets
- very light
- packs small

CONS:
- Watertight lining on the main front zipper began to peel off after a few uses because it sometimes got caught in the zipper. This may be my fault because I would zip the jacket very quickly sometimes but it's an intrinsic design fault too (one I didn't expect from a $300 jacket).

- The jacket is NOT waterproof. Small amounts of water leak through the gore-tex fabric (not the seams) in heavy rain. At first I thought it must be my sweat but I tested the jacket at home without wearing it and yes, it does leak. The leaking is like condensation forming on the inside of the jacket; you will feel it on your bare skin and your clothes will get damp.

- it's probably more breathable than other rain jackets but I still sweat a lot in this jacket and don't really notice any extraordinary breathability to justify the $300 price tag

BOTTOM LINE:
Hefty price tag for nothing special. Sure, the Alpha SL does a lot of things right but so do other jackets at a much lower price. A mountaineering store clerk who owns the Alpha SL ($300) and a Marmot Aegis ($150) told me he can't tell the difference in breathability between the two and even recommended the Marmot to me... I should've listened.

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