Getting soaking wet both from body heat on the inside and from snow and rain on the outside, I decided to retire the trusty old Berghaus jacket.

I wish I had done it a loong time ago. I have only had the Theta AR jacket for a month, but I have used it a lot, and I like it a _lot_. I have used it for backcountry skiing and a little mountaineering, and I lke it more and more.

SO far the jacket seems to breathe very well. I did notice a tiny bit of ice build-up on the inside of where the logo is sewn on, but that was after 5-6 hours of high activity in -20 degrees Celsius (-4F), so I can't really complain.

The other reviews say pretty much the same as I am thinking: It's expensive, but it is definately worth it. The excellent fit, flawless seams, waterproof zippers... everything on this jacket says Quality.

There are a few _minor_ comments though: the zipper on the arm pocket has a tendency to open by itself, and with little clothing under the jacket, the hood might be a little short (the jacket "hangs" a little on the hood, instead of on the shoulders - try it yourself to see how much too long your neck iss... :-). This doesn't bother me, though - I still think this jacket is the best.

Saving up for the Theta SK pants now...

Customer Service

None so far, but I talked to a guy who had a 10cm tear repaired and he was very happy with both the time it took and the quality of the work.

Similar Products Used:

Berghaus Extreme 7000 (heavy, doesn't breathe very well, rip-stop fabric gets fuzzy, soaks up water, pockets make it bulky, zippers hard to use with mittens on...)

I bought the alpha sv jacket at first but then decided I really wanted hand warmer pockets so I got this one instead. The "draw skirt" inside is actually also a nice feature that the alpha also does not have.

It is the "ultimate all around jacket"

If I were just doing heavy duty mountaineering, I think the alpha (AN awesome jacket also) would be perfect. But for all season, all around everyday walking the dog/ skiing/hiking/backpacking/snow
shoeing etc. wear, this jacket is great

Especially because on warmer rainy days when I don't want to carry gloves, I can put my hands in the pockets!.

Ditto what everyone else said about fit, style, elbow room... Once you try this jacket on, all other jackets will seem like a waste of money. I haven't found the collar or hood to be a problem. I have nothing to complain about

If you find this jacket on sale, buy it. If not, save up and buy it!
Before the whole world finds out about them and they go into short supply.

It'll inspire you to go outside and do things you never thought were possible

Customer Service

nice people.

Similar Products Used:

I think there is an arcteryx shell right for everybody. you basically decide short or long, thinner or thicker nylon, and what color.

Marmot- decent but why not spend the extra $50-100 to get a much better jacket

TNF- Very variable. High end is nice but again, not the best value

Patagonia- I like there fleece line a little better. I use the R3 under my arc teryx shell. It's really warm but not as bulky as polartec 200
capilene is nice too for underwear.
If I didn't buy a arcteryx shell, I'd buy a patagonia.

(arcteryx uses the same material as the patagonia R2 in one of there delta jackets. and polartec 200 in the other delta jackets. they are nice nice too but I found the patagonia slightly more comfortable.)

All the reviewers have done such an excellent job there is no reason to be redundant. There isn't a jacket on the market that comes anywhere near this garment - this is a no brainer. Don't let the price tag scare you , considering you can spend the same amount of money for North Face's "top of the line" jacket and get half the quality. I now own the Theta SK pant and Gamma SV Jacket ( great for road cycling with an expedition weight base layer, down to 20 degrees -lightweight and not bulky.)

Customer Service

Excellent knowledge of their products

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Don't need to anymore

Since I made the decision to buy this jacket in large part because of the reviews submitted before me on this site I figured I'd give back.

As the reviews said- this jacket is the bomb. I took my jacket out for the first time this weekend- two solid 9 hour days on snow (15 inches), rain, sleet, 30-40 mph winds, temperatures from 15 degrees to 40+, skiing, standing, and moving equipment. I was never wet, never cold (one midweight fleece underneath), and never hot. I felt like I was laying on the sofa in front of the fireplace watching football in a tee shirt inside this jacket.

The only criticisms I can think of are: the little map pocket on the sleeve doesn't seem to have a waterproof zipper (although I did have some papers shoved in there for at least part of one day and they weren't wet); the collars are batman style (good for going hardcore in a blizzard, bad for wearing to the movies- but if you're truly hardcore I guess you don't go to the movies).

At first I didn't like the hood not being zipped in like on the Theta LT, but after being out in totally variable conditions this setup is right on the money. You can tuck the hood away or get it on and cinched down tight without taking your gloves off.

The prices I've seen are kind of crazy but it's like going to the grocery store when you're hungry- when it's cold and wet outside you can forget all about the money. I suggest that right after you buy this jacket you find the coldest, wettest, windy-est conditions you can- it'll make you feel a lot better.

Also, between this and the Theta LT I heard both were extremely durable- but I called Arcteryx and they told me that for my purposes- ski patrolling with lots of days skiing and dragging stuff around in all conditions- the AR was the move.

Customer Service

I called Arcteryx- very helpful.

Similar Products Used:

None

This jacket is excellent. The body and shoulders fit well; the pockets are sufficient--no interior water bottle pocket, though; the hood is very adjustable (the best I've ever tried on for climbing/mountaineering); and the light weight and durability are, as promised by Arc'teryx, unbeatable. Of course, the price tag can be stunning (check mgear.com for deals), but I consider it a good investment. My only concern is the longetivity of the waterproof zippers--they're a useful feature, but will they leak over time? My feeling is that they will be fine, and Arc'teryx is willing to stand behind the product. Overall, you get what you pay for here...hopefully the company will continue to make the jacket strong, simple, and functional and not go the way of much outdoor gear toward gimmicks and frills.

Customer Service

Haven't needed it yet.

Similar Products Used:

North Face Mountain Light; Mont'Bell Tempest; TNF Middle Triple; Marmot Alpinist.

Simply a wonderful, elegant, thoroughly useful jacket. Expensive, but quality costs and I did find mine on sale. The only concern is with the hood, but it actually does fold nicely into a rather useful collar--I tend to think that this is intentional. Two other possible criticisms are (1) no powder skirt and (2) no internal water pocket. I can only say that if you have never seen this jacket it is a must for any serious back country skier. I think this is probably the single best designed article of clothing I have ever owned.

Similar Products Used:

None

I had an old Moonstone Tech for 5 years and the 2-ply near the shoulders had literally been rubbed away, go figure, so I decided to look for a new jacket.
The Theta AR is a surperb jacket. Unlike some other companies, Arc'Teryx really put a lot of thought into making the jacket as friendly as possible for the user, from the soft fleece that hugs your chin and neck when you first put it on to the waterproof zippers that make opening them a 1-step process. The elbow is very flexible and moves with me. Little round patches of velcro on the front storm flap eliminate that feeling of ripping half your jacket apart whenever you open the flap. The drawcord at the waist is sewn into a seperate piece of fabric so that it doesn't constantly rub against your pack. My only problem is that the heavier fabric of the AR makes it go crunch whenever I move around. And one thing that I haven't been able to figure out yet is the reinforced fabric that straddles your back at the lower portion of the jacket. When I'm wearing it with my pack, the hip belt area doesn't exactly reach low enough to rub against that area and when I'm sitting down, the reinforced area was just barely enough to cover my bottom so I'm not sure if it's there so you can sit on a wet log for a break or if it's there for the hip belt.
This is a great jacket despite the high price. $450 divided between 10 years yields 45 bucks a year for one helluva good piece of engineering.

Similar Products Used:

Moonstone Momentum Tech

The Arctreyx Theta AR is a superb jacket and the things which stands out most about the Theta AR (as well as other Arcteryx jackets)is its simplicity, innovative design features, and above all, a great comfortable feel.

Here are some things I didn't like about the jacket (but things which I really didn't need either.)

1) No powder skirt
2) No internal mesh water-bottle pockets (this feature is found on the Theta SV)
3) No glove/mitten clips on sleeve ends
4) EXPENSIVE! $450 is a lot of $$$. I found mine on sale (saved 30%)and so I had substantial savings. (four stars value rating for retail price, five stars for sale prices)
5) As a pervious reviewer noted, the hood does not stow away, but this really doesn't bother me a bit.

What I liked (lots):

1) Excellent finishing: The seams are tough yet supple and flawless. Seams are trimmed to 3/16" and use narrow Gore-Tex seam tape (11/16") which reduces the taped surface area of the jacket (results in more breathable surface area.) Narrow seam tapes also reduces the bulk and weight of the jacket making the jacket more supple and easier to move in. After years of wearing "other" brand gore-tex jackets in which I had to either sacrifice weight and durability or performance I'm glad I found something which effectively addresses both. Arcteryx is one of the few companies which is allowed to use "narrow" Gore-Tex seam tape and still hold an "extreme wet weather" rating. The jacket feels extremely light and easy for a 3 layer jacket yet doesn't sacrifice any critical protection.

2)"WaterTight" laminated zippers on underarm vents and pockets! No flaps to fumble with. This not only makes vent and pocket zips waterproof, efficient, and easy to use, but it saves weight as well. The are also moulded zipper garages to "park" the sliders in when zipped up (more H2O protection!)

3)Waist is hip length (longer on your back side; perhaps for sitting) and has P.U. laminated stitchless drawcord + welded construction spindrift draw skirt. This prevents puckering of the fabric when drawing the waistcords tight and so reduces abrasion at this critical area where jackets tend to wear out quickly. The internal draw cord gathers in the back leaving the front trim.

4) Well engineered design gives plenty of room for shoulder movement. The form fit articulated elbows move with you very well. Laminated hood with infinite adjustments helps hood to move with your head (the best hood I've tried.) Hood is large enough to adjust over a helmet.)
Shoulders/elbows/waist areas are abrasion fabric reinforced.

The Theta AR is a great all around, easy to use, no-nonsense jacket. It is very sturdy but is still exceptionally light. It has a variety of innovative features which will make life easier, keeping you dry and warm in a variety of wet conditions from winter to summer.

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Mountain Hardware Ethereal FTX (Excellent Jacket)
The North Face Mountain Jacket (Never Again!)

The first time I saw one of Arc'Teryx' new line of jackets, I was impressed. After having trekked this jacket across Germany and the Polish Tatra Mountains; slogged through rain in the Texas Hill Country; and just worn it as a windbreaker while taking the dog for a walk; I have to admit my admiration grows with time.
The fit of the hood is supurb, wrapping around my head--with or without a hat or helmet--as though made for my oblong dome. The articulated elbows make for unbinding, unrestricted movement, the shoulders are cut with the same level of freedom-without-bulk as the elbows.
The neck, waist and hem all adjust with drawcords, though the neck doesn't pull down tight enough to actually mold to my neck unless I have some pretty thick layers--not a frequent thing in South Texas, so the fit is a bit too loose.
I really like the "unflapped" waterproof zippers, though the pitzips have to be placed just so when closed, so as to not catch when swinging my arms while walking. Also, lacking a "hood" over the pitzips means being far more careful when venting during rain; though, to be fare, my previous jacket had these hoods, and they were either closed enough to be water resistant, or open enough to let rain in.
I sometimes wish I'd gotten the LT, since the AR hood does not fold away into the collar, remaining exposed at all times, and the heavier material of the AR means there's no stuffing this jacket in any pocket other than Capt. Kangaroo's.
But, this is the price I decided to pay to have an excellent, All Round jacket, of meticulous construction and innovative design. I wouldn't trade it for any other jacket on the market, and I say this not to justify spending $450, but because I believe it--since this jacket was free to me.

This is by far the best jacket on the market. Its designed with the precision of a fine automobile and fits like a glove. The waterprof zippers are great because they make opening them much easyer, especially with gloves on.
I actually just got it, and was so anxious to try ot that I took it in the shower(I am strange like that) and it was awseome. The hood design is perfect so no water goes down the collar and the hood is extremely adjustable. I was thinking of getting the LT because the hood zips into a pouch but AR's hood folds down perfectly and doesn't get in the way at all. The pouch is just extra weight. Overall this the the best jacket there is for any outdoor activity!

Customer Service

REI's coustomer service is great.
First Arcteryx product I have baught so I can't say.

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Columbia Titanium jacket.