is Arc teryx worth it?
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- Опубликовано: 26 фев 2022
- Arc Teryx, the ultimate piece of outerwear. But is it worth it?
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Being new to paddle sports myself, I enjoyed seeing you discuss your not wanting to show up to a class to teach novices while wearing an expensive garment that would most likely be outside of a student's budget, and instead choosing something more affordable that works just as well and is more obtainable for the students. I feel it speaks volumes about your capabilities as an educator, and I think it makes you a great one! It makes you more relatable to the students, and shows them that their goals are achievable on a more friendly budget, which is likely to be a key issue for many entering into these activities.
Thank you, that means a lot to me - essentially it means that at least that plan of mine is working! My mission is to get people outside, having fun adventures and doing it safely. If there is anything I can do to help you on your journey let me know. and thanks for your comment!
@@AdventureOtaku Just keep making these great videos!
If I can make a request for a future video, I'd love to see one that's basically a "newbie's guide to used equipment," going over what to look for, and what to look out for, when considering buying used gear like kayaks, paddles, drysuits, etc. There is a lot of great used gear out there in decent, serviceable shape, for significantly less than the cost of buying new, which may be a big hindrance for someone new to the spor. For example, spending $1500+ on a new kayak might be a deal breaker, but finding the same model a few or more years older for half the price or better might be more manageable, but they might not know how to check if the kayak is safe. $1,200 for a new Kokatat drysuit might be out of reach, but is that $500 used Kokatat drysuit on Craigslist worth looking at, and if so, how do I determine if it's serviceable, needs a simple gasket replacement, or is at the end of its usable life? With Spring being right around the corner, many are going to start selling off their used equipment and many more buyers will be looking for these deals.
And if you find yourself in New Hampshire, I'll gladly take you up on buying you that cup of coffee 🙂
this is a great idea! Ill work on that...
@@AdventureOtakuhats off to you for that.
Here in BC, Arc’teryx is essentially a fashion/class statement. It also helps that it was found here. I love liking and have used Outdoor Research products throughout. It serves the purpose. I absolutely do not need Arc’teryx products. However, I got a few products from them recently at a steep discount. So I’m in the camp of I buy it because I can, not because I need.
Like your attitude about the perception of an educator wearing an excessive expensive outfit in front of novices.
I think it is a fashion/class statement a lot of places. BUT it is also a very good piece of outerwear. Thanks for stopping by. BC is beautiful I would love to get back there.
I bought my first 'proper' jacket as a store second (end of line stock) and saved quite a bit but it was still a lot of money. It was a Berghuase Pro-shell Gortex and served me well for over 10 years before it delaminated and that was that. When it came to replace it I didn't go for any particular label but looked hard to find the jacket that suited what I needed. I don't like taylored fitting jackets and I do like pockets and something that will come below my waist - that ruled out 95% of what was on offer. In the end I went for a Paramo for winter and have been pleased with it - but it suited me, it was what I wanted and not what fashion tried to dictate to me.
Personally, the reason I pay for Arcteryx besides the quality and service of the brand is the fact that its the only outdoor brand (in my opinion) that makes stylish gear, while also being the best at what its built for. I dont want to use the word fashion, but it kind of fits my point. It looks slick, lowkey, but also fits better then any other jacket ive worn. that to me is easily worth the price on top of the quality.
And I am sure that is important to a lot of people. When I lived in lower manhattan it would have (somewhat) been important to me. And it is why they have a store in Soho. But at this point in my life I don’t need that aspect.
Thank you. Loved the honesty. One thing to add. I was given a Beta AR about 18 years ago. It has been mended twice, by Arcteryx at no cost. It has only finally given up the ghost for hill use but I still wear ir for washing the car. Sentimental . It was a very very good jacket.
Thanks for sharing! They are beautifully made and you get what you pay for. Great jackets.
My father buys Arc'teryx for the exact reason you said in the end: because he can. He just really enjoys having the nicest stuff available, even if the most he's going to use it for is resort skiing in the spring once a year. That said, the Arc'teryx climbing harnesses are absolutely amazing and worth the money. Super light, perfectly functional, very comfortable.
I actually haven't tried their harnesses, but I am not surprised. I don't think they make a bad product. thanks for stopping by!
I have a very light weight harness, (Beal) very similar to Arcteryx but not at madness price......You do not need to pay to much to be a good climber, or even an elite climber......Buy Arcteryx is make charity
Very well said. And I did stick around till the end. I’m sure that it’s true that some people buy Arcteryx “because they can”. But you forgot to include a very important detail, which is why I bought my Arcteryx jacket. The after sales care.
I’m someone who is very hard on my gear. This usually means that I am replacing it every year or two because my jackets rip. I mountain bike all year round and snowboard in the winter. Arcteryx claims that they will repair or replace my jacket due to….get this…. manufacturers defect, hard use, or NEGLECT. The upfront cost that I spent on this jacket is nauseating. But when I think of how much I spend on a regular basis just replacing jackets, not to mention the environmental impact that has, it’s actually more cost effective, and better for the environment to buy one jacket, (manufactured the way I need it to perform) and have it for many, many years. Anyway, great…objective video!
I didn’t mention it in the video but it has come up in the comments and it is a great warranty but they aren’t the only company to offer it. And they are great jackets! Thanks for stopping by.
I liked the video specifically for the end story. It made a lot of sense.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!
Over the years I have slowly been phasing out every brand I have out with Arc'teryx. The Gore-tex itself isn't better, but the fit is unmatched (for my body)
After hiking in the mountains, setting up tent etc. - I want to feel comfortable. I'm as dry with my Patagonia jacket, but the fit feels odd on me when wearing Patagonia, Fjallreven or Twentyfour. Fjallreven and Twentyfour both didn't keep me dry when it was pouring down, Patagonia did.
For me, fit is super important. Arc'teryx every day for that reason alone.
yup. they put a lot in to fit. No argument from me.
I wear ArcTeryx, Patagonia, North Face, and RAB jackets. I think they all are good quality and it's a matter of specific features and fit. I tend to like the ArcTeryx and Patagonia products just because they have great durability.
I agree with everything except the North Face. I think the quality isn’t as good, and the warranty service isn’t as good.
I love my Arc'Teryx stuff, but your point about teaching classes and not wanting to show students that you need expensive gear to be serious about the outdoors really rang true for me. When I started exploring the outdoors, I did it in military surplus gear. It worked absolutely fine. There is a pervasive elitist attitude in outdoor sports communities around gear and brands, and I've found even as someone who's been involved with it for years and has all the nice gear, it can really be pretty off-putting. Hats off to you, you're doing things the way they should be done.
Thank you sir. I will add, that last night a friend sent me a video of a Marine LT breaking down everything in his pack and I was amazed how if you just changed out the camo for a solid color all the camping gear and clothing is the normal stuff… He even had a Jetboil in his pack. Use what works. Thanks for watching.
I think your perspective is spot on. I am an arcteryx enthusiast. I have been purchasing their products for a good 15+years. I’m an adrenaline and outdoor junky. While I do believe Arcteryx creates some of the best gear for our weather here in the Pacific Northwest. Not everyone (commoners) need it. I think their (for a lack of a better description) lower end/simple merchandise would suit the majority. And their Alpha/Beta lines are geared for the active enthusiast/pros. I do agree their pricing is steep but all my arcteryx gear with the exception of one (gamma mx jacket 2010) is still functional to this day.
I just discovered that another channel calls people that use expensive gear when they don’t really need it, “the arc teryx effect.” Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
if you consider the Alpha beta for active pros, what would be for the commoners? The gamma atom?
@@HDBnB1to answer your question, yes. the cheaper shells and insulated jackets they make around the 300-500 dollar range are for the average joe so to speak. when you start talking about the SV models (severe weather) thats for people who actively use their gear year round and use it very hard in extreme environments.
I’m pretty stoked about finally getting my hands on an Arc’teryx shell (through SAR), and since the weather’s too nice yet to wear it, I’ve been geeking out on videos like this one… 😅
I’m really curious if it’s going to be a major departure from all the other shells I’ve used throughout the years.
You made some great points about how a good fit is arrived at with these jackets. That’s something I didn’t know. Also, I don’t know if I would have such composure in the presence of such a great pro-deal. That discernment is a strong sign of professionalism.
Well, keep in mind the big difference is construction and fit. It is the same gore-tex available in other jackets. But the people I work with who have them, swear by them, so i think in general you will have a good experience. Enjoy!
I liked a lot your reason not to use it. It’s a great approach in order to be a teacher concerned on the resources of the students. That said I think you missed saying that Arcteryx has a strong and solid warranty of 10 years. If the jacket doesn’t perform you’ll be able to have a new one. This is a big plus as well for Patagonia.
Yeah I didn’t get into warranty for a couple of reasons. I want the quality of the jacket to stand on its own. Most of the big companies have similar warranties (Arc, Patagonia, REI, to a degree TNF…. The list goes on. Thanks for commenting!
I bought a Arcteryx fleece on sale at REI and it was the best fleece I ever owned…Never heard of them before I bought it on sale.
Arc is great, they make great stuff. And on sale is the best way to do it.
Two brands in my closet that stand out above the rest for outdoors, Arcteryx and Mammut. Arcteryx is king of making you look good while protecting you from the elements, veilance line has some great city options. Mammut makes the best technical outerwear in the world in my opinion, build quality beats Arcteryx, they use the best materials, made in Switzerland.
I have to admit I don’t have a lot of experience with mammut. I need to give them a shot. Thanks for commenting!
i have worn and tried a bunch of mammut products - and in my opinion they are not as thoroughly designed as arcteryx. However come at the same price.
(This does not count for their sleepingbags however, they are stellar.)
Mammut has inferior quality for the same price, but good warranty and a extremely wide range of different items. If you have the money, either of them is going to be fine for whatever you are going to do imho. It's just the details that might be missing.
My personal choice in line of quality is:
Arcteryx > Norrona > Direct Alpine > Mountain Hardwear > Mammut > Other Brands > Patagonia
In terms of pricing Direct Alpine offers insane quality.
My wife and I bought our first Arc’teryx back in 2005, I think. Jackets and rain pants for a Hadrian’s Wall walk. My wife was appalled at the cost, but, I said hey, we’re going to walk the borders, we’ll need decent rain gear, besides, we have dogs and we live in Nova Scotia, it’s not like we won’t use it. I still have the pants, although I completely wore out the jacket. My wife still has both. I’ve got two other Arc’teryx jackets, and I need to replace one of them, but I’m not sure I’ll spend the money. If you think they’re expensive in the USA, you should look at the Canadian prices. Some of them cost almost as much as a dry suit!
I think they are great but you really have to decide if based on how much you are outdoors, is it worth it. thanks for the comment.
Oh! On that Hadrian’s wall walk, we only had about a day and a half of rain, so from that perpective, spending the money lead to brilliant weather, because that’s how it works, right? Three years later in Orkney, we saw some torrential downpours and were very glad to have the Arc’teryx. Still, not sure I’ll spend the money this time. I find that the glued hems fail over time and the main zippers as well. I’ve also noticed that availability is way down as well, possibly because of supply chain difficulties, but also because it’s expensive for small businesses to stock it?
@@brucebabcock9147 "spending the money lead to brilliant weather..."
That really IS how it works. We were hit HARD two winters in a row, with snow banks on either side of my driveway becoming several feet high, and all I had was a shovel. So for the next winter I bought a snowblower. That first winter with the snowblower, our biggest storm dropped an inch and a half of snow...
Funny how that works lol
im actually pretty surprised by this lol, i always expected arcteryx in canada to be cheaper since it's a canadian brand
@@jolp9799 well, so are Canada Goose and Lulu Lemon…I think they’re like most brands, and mostly made “offshore” these days.
I really want to buy one but I think for that price if should have a very good warranty and from what I've read all they will do for you is give you a 40% discount for the next one if you have issues with it.
Their warranty is similar to most other major brands - which I would call “very good”, but a couple of things I would point out. If you aren’t satisfied with quality or design, you should return it to whoever you bought it from, that is why I generally recommend buying something like this from REI, which makes it easier. If you need a repair - then you should send it to the manufacturer, and I have heard great stories about people getting the Arc teryx gear repaired at a reasonable price. It may not be as good as Patagonia… but it’s pretty good. Thanks for comment.
they replaced my 10 years old jacket that I got from my dad.
That’s what I’m talking bout!
I recently bought a jacket from arcteryx on vinted for 80 euros. The jacket was really damaged so I send it out for repair. Arcteryx told me they weren’t able to repair it. Arcteryx gave me a brand new BETA AR jacket for free because they weren’t able to repair mine! I think the main part that Arcteryx is so expensive is because they offer a very good lifetime warranty.
That is part of it, but as I said, a big part of it is how much work they go through manufacturing. But this comment would hav been right at home on another video of mine - what to do when good gear dies - because this illustrates the point of “the gear companies will take care of you!” At least the reputable ones. Thanks for stopping by!
EXACTLY what they just did for me!!!!!!
Interesting - and glad to hear - earlier today someone commented that their customer service was no longer any good and they weren’t replacing/repairing things. Glad it worked out for you.
Their customer services are hugely disappointing for the price of their apparel. The reflective badge fell off after 5 washes. Wouldn’t change or repair. When pushed offered a 20% discount off a new one. I rejected that. Finally said they would repair it but I had to pay postage. This whole process took around 5 weeks
Have a Patagonia T shirt. Seams split. Free repair, free postage and fixed in a week!
Keep in mind if you’re going to pay hundreds for Arcteryx gear and there’s a problem it’s incredibly unlikely you’ll get a replacement if there’s a problem.
That is a very surprising story, I know other instructors who have raved about repairs - though they did have to pay for shipping. I am equally surprised - though I don’t doubt it - that Patagonia covered the postage. I suspect you Arc teryx service was out of the ordinary. But thanks for the info, Ill dig deeper.
@@AdventureOtaku I suspect post Covid customer care just isn’t as generous as before. Definitely seem to have reduced employees. It took around a week for them to even look at it. (3 days for them to acknowledge my email, and a further 3-4 days from someone from the repairs department to contact me)
If you look at the online reviews and comments about faulty gear I’m not alone unfortunately, there are more reviews now on their own website saying some jackets have less filling compared to say pre 2021 but prices are the same or more.
I totally get the post covid reduction in staff and delayed response times, everyone is having trouble with employee retention. Which I am okay with and willing to make allowances for - as I am someone who decided shortly after lock downs ended to separate from a great (and safe) employer. the “less filling” I am skeptical of. This is assuming the buyer had two jackets to compare to? Insulation is done very precisely by weight… If a company like Arc did that there would be hell to pay, and unlike non-technical outerwear (where no one would notice) I think Arc buyers would. there is a RUclips channel that is nothing but comparisons of Arc teryx jackets, the guy is obsessed. Ill will check out his channel and see if there is any mention.
I wear a woolly rain jacket. They it’s made from merino wool and it’s waterproof
Ive read about those, but never seen one. Happy with it? Is it expensive?
When does that 75% off deal come about in the year? My application just got accepted.
That may only be for REI employees, but if I recall correctly it was in March….
They just dont stand by the product the way patagonia does. Its not even close
No one stands my their products like Patagonia does….
Amen
@@AdventureOtaku Jansport does.
Good to know. But not really a cutting edge outdoor company.
When is this pro deal sale
If I recall, the big arc prodeal season is March? But of course you have to have access to prodeals in the first place.
Arcteryx clothing is a well made product, and the company’s target group is in a higher income bracket. The only people who complain about the brand are those who can’t afford it. I see the same attitude towards Apple Inc.
There are cheaper brands like Patagonia. I’ve explored their offerings, and I find them less attractive than Arcteryx - Outdoor Research as well.
People need to stop knocking companies for targeting higher income brackets, and learn to live within their own financial means. $5 to a rich man is not the same as $5 to a poor man. It ain’t the $5 fault.
I never knocked them. Their stuff is as good as it gets. The only thing I said was I didn’t want people to think they couldn’t take part because they couldn’t afford a piece of gear. Thanks for stopping by.
Arc’teryx feels like it’s modeled for my shape. Their designs are as edgy, as they are functional. Colors are always fresh and remarkably compatible for mix and matching. Everything feels light, flexible, and not bulky. But more than anything, the Arc’teryx product lines are made to serve a specific purpose. Extreme activities require more durable products, and they cost more. For trekking, hiking, light snow sports, I dare you to compare Arc’teryx prices to Patagonia and others, however boring and basic those brands are.
Arc teryx definitely fits a certain body type, which is athletic and trim (as does Patagonia) i would never debate that they are edgy ( I may not use that word but i get what you are saying) I don’t think their colors are noticeably different than other brands, but honestly its been a while since I looked, as to light flexible and not bulky, maybe slightly more “flexible” because they give people a better fit but really they are using the same materials as everyone else. Nothing ground breaking going on there, as to their designed for extreme use? So is Patagonia, So is Marmot, So is any number of other outdoor brands. the north face used to be…. But you don’t have to dare me to compare prices, i am pretty sure I did? Arc is more money. Hands down. But as i said in the video they are beautifully made and designed and probably worth it.
@@AdventureOtaku as a younger 45yr old, I can tell you this - we think Patagonia, Marmot, HH, are too basic, but the price-point is very close to Arc’teryx. We cant compare Arc’teryx SV and Alpha products to anyone else you mention. Those are reserved for super extreme activities and most of us don’t summit mountain peaks on a regular. If you look at Beta line and lighter, you will see the price point is close to the brands you mention.
When the first tech bro wore their product to office, the brand lost the edge. ArcX is still holding out but nothing will stop the tech-bros and yoga moms with means picking up the trend and ruining it as they did Patagonia and north face.
As for materials, well, yeah. Cars are also all made from the same materials what makes them different is the design and user experience.
Yeah, there is an Arc Teryx store in Soho, right across the street from Patagonia. (Or there was the last time I was in Soho.) The folks in Soho have no problem spending $900 for an arc teryx jacket. The folks I work with in the outdoors love Arc, but couldn’t buy it if they didn’t get massive discounts because they work in the industry. They are great jackets you wont get that argument out of me. But Go to REI and put in “shell Jacket” and sort by price high to low. Yes, there is an $800 TNF jacket, but the rest above $600 are Arc. What I would like to know is what features are you finding on Arc jackets (that don’t cost $900) that are making them so cutting edge. You are obviously passionate about this, what are you getting besides better fit from your Arc Teryx jacket?
Unfortunately they don’t make BIG kid sizes.
Yeah, this doesn't surprise me. Does patagonia make your size? Im guessing not.
They do not, I have found that if I buy a parka it’s about the same length as a jacket for most people.
They are also choosing their clientele like Supreme with a limited sizing !
You did absolutely not buy a Gore Tex pro jacket for $250, unless it was on a discount. You just didn’t.
It wasn’t more than 300 (before my discount, I was an employee at the time so everything was discounted. But I don’t think REI has EVER offered a jacket over $300)
The Northface fabric Dryvent sucks really bad
I haven’t used DryVent, I have used the older version, Hyvent and it was good, not great. Every company has their version of gore, REI used to use Elements (not sure what they use currently) Patagonia has H2noStorm. I always like eVent… super breathable, not as waterproof…
Arc'teryx is overpriced, for sure you can pay an extra price for some features, but it can not be double.......It is cult trade mark for some few people available to pay an extra price.
Or outdoor pros who get 75% off! I get ya. Thanks for watching.
It’s absolutely price. But…. If I’m spending the same money, the Patagonia Triolet is a FAR better product.
I havent used the triolet (but do like Patagonia) but why is it better? Fit? Materials? Design?
I think I can put my money to better use than a $800 jacket.
They make a great jacket - and other products - but I agree. I know a lot of instructors who swear by them, but not gonna do it.
Gore-Tex is still the most durable breathable membrane regardless of what the other brands of fabrics say. ePTFE is basically stretched Teflon/Nylon/Kevlar sheeting and is bomb proof, if you want to know how tough nylon is simply take a translucent zip tie ...now that is nylon ! Other breathable fabrics like Sympatex, DryVent, Membram etc... are made from stretched polyester or polyurethane inpregnated with chemicals to make it breathable, once these fabric break down after frequent washings and their chemical agents disperse they are no longer functional.
No. Arc Teryx gear that uses laminated (glued) seams ALL fall apart eventually. And ever since Chinese company bought Arc Teryx their customer service and warranty policies have gone straight downhill and now they WON"T honor most warranty repairs. UNLESS the jacket uses BOTH waterproofing GLUE (lamination) AND mechanical fixing (sewing), then AVOID. Why? YOUR STUFF WILL COME APART. Will post pics of 7 different arc teryx jackets and points will be proven.
I’m not going to debate your experience, I don’t doubt it. The one thing I will correct is that they aren’t glueing seams they are using a heat process to weld the seams. It’s upsetting to hear that they aren’t standing behind their gear anymore. That’s a shame. Thanks for stopping by.
Goog and effective guerilla marketing using youtubers is not same thing as the best product.
No. the quality and design makes it the best piece of outerwear I have ever seen, and I have seen some amazing outerwear. And if you think Arc Teryx is paying me, or giving me free gear - other than the pictures of my friends, and one picture of me trying an AT jacket on, there are no Arc Teryx jackets in this video. I don't own one. they didn't give me one. they didn't pay me - I wish they did! - or I would have to disclose it. I give my assessment of gear on this channel based on my experience. You're free to disagree with it. But I am not working with Arc Teryx. And additionally, Arc Terry doesn't need the help from me, and my tiny subscriber base. But thanks for the comment, I appreciate it.
Arc’teryx was an expensive and highly sought-after brand of jackets way before RUclips was a thing. Heck, I’ve been wanting the Alpha SV since the 90s 😂
Arc'teryx = Yuppie-brand.
Well… I know a lot of outdoor educators who wear it who are definitely not yuppies. But I get your point.