Arc'teryx Sidewinder SV

photo: andrew mccloskey

The +Arc'teryx Sidewinder SV I bought in 2013 is an updated version of the previous severe weather jacket. The major improvement is in the redesigned waterproof Gore-Tex pro laminate. Gore-Tex's 'pro' line of outerwear is known for its extreme durability and ruggedness against the worst weather. Before it was updated the old laminate was made up of a single layer of ePTFE which is essentially a polymer that is stretched a specific way (ePTFE is also known as plumbers tape). The new pro laminate is a two layer construction of ePTFE sandwiching a 'mystery-middle' making it more durable and giving way to add a heavier denier face fabric of 40-denier or more. I bought this severe weather jacket because I needed the durability for the long and intense winter seasons in the San Juan mountains. 

Gore-Tex - The original pro laminate was commercially released in 2006 replacing XCR and then modified again in 2012. According to Gore-Tex, they were prompted to rethink the pro fabric when a letter came in complaining of moisture build up in the burly shell. In the new shell breathability has increased by up to 28% and the company even updated the inner lining of the shell with a 'micro grid' backer technology that improves abrasion resistance and adds to the overall breathability of the jacket. Photo below on the left is the Gore-Tex pro inner fabric released in 2006 and on the right is the modified pro inner fabric.

                      

Specifically built for snow sports the Sidewinder has all the essential features. It has a non-removable powder skirt that can attach to my Sabre ski pant via two slid n' loc snap closures. It is a great system that really keeps out the pow. Inside the jacket on the right there is a sizable elastic mesh pocket for goggles and on the other side an internal zippered chest pocket. Equipped with an external chest pocket, sleeve pocket and two waist pockets there is plenty of room for all the things you need for a day on the mountain. The jacket also comes resort ready with a discreet loop for your lift pass and also has non-visible recco reflector. 

Overall, the jacket performed as well as I could have hoped. Most notably I never got clammy from moisture build up. I abused the jacket a lot this past winter but you can hardly tell its been used and after riding tree run after tree run and taking a few spills the face fabric has held up with no tears.  Strong yet light-weight and packable, the sidewinder weighs in at 585 grams.

The number one thing that sold me on Arc'teryx outwear is the construction. The industry standard for stitching is 8 stitches per linear inch but Arc'teryx opts for about 16 stitches per linear inch making the apparel tough and extremely resilient. 

Another reason why I think Arc'teryx outperforms a lot of other companies out there is due to the way they design their products. I work in outdoor retail and so I see lots of people try on the competitors products and then try on Arc'teryx. More often than not I will hear the customer say that the Arc'teryx piece fits so much better than the competitors 'boxy' style. Their e3D enhanced articulation provides additional range of motion and mobility for sport-specific activities.


The least thing I like about the jacket are the drawcords for the hood. I think they should be located on the outside of the jacket so you don't have to unzip to adjust. 

All things considered the jacket is a top-tier product and I'm happy to know that I'll have this jacket for quite a while.

pros: 28% more breathable, extremely durable, abrasive resistant, light-weight, space and pockets for gear. 

cons: drawcords, non-removable powder skirt.