The Arc'teryx Review: Our Top Picks and Why They’re Worth It

Arc'teryx's entrance into high fashion begins with one jacket—the Beta LT, a mainstay within the Vancouver company’s assortment for over a decade and one of its most identifiable products. To put it simply, it’s that jacket––the one outdoor enthusiasts rely on to keep them dry and TikTok influencers rely on to get views. It’s constructed with a windproof, waterproof, and breathable three-layer (3L) Gore-Tex fabric for protection across a range of activities. 

The fabric is exceptionally lightweight and, as of this spring, completely PFAS-free––a huge step forward for the brand in its journey towards removing PFAS (“forever chemicals”) from their entire product line. Additionally, the jacket’s signature StormHood, a staple design feature across many of Arc'teryx's hardshell jackets, comes with maximum adjustability, a generous brim, and a secure fit whether going over a hat or helmet. No matter the climate, condition, or pursuit, the Beta LT will get you through it. Just don’t let its usage be limited to social media posts.

I once walked into an Arc'teryx store to find nearly all staff members wearing an Atom Jacket. That’s when I recognized just how large of a cult following it had. It’s an icon––and for good reason. On its outside is a silky, pliable nylon face with stretch fleece side panels for easy movement and ventilation. On the inside lies the brand’s in-house synthetic Coreloft 60, which retains heat when wet and withstands repeated packing and unpacking. Add these features together and you get one buttery-smooth zip-up that just works. 

For 90% of situations you find yourself in, whether you’re facing some heavy wind or a light drizzle, an alpine adventure or a downtown commute, the Atom Jacket has you covered. Oh, and it also comes in three other variations: Heavyweight, Hoody, and Vest.

The Rho series from Arc’teryx is a collection of their best base layers. With plenty of stretch comfort and thermal regulation, the Rho LT Zip is easily my favorite. It’s warm enough to wear on its own during Spring mornings, and light enough to layer underneath a jacket or hardshell in colder conditions. And compared to other half zips, it has both a deeper front zip that makes it easy to pull on and off as well as a taller collar that provides full neck coverage. 

If you’re looking for something warmer, opt for the Rho Heavyweight Zip. Prefer a crew fit to a half zip? Try the Rho LT Crew.

Your opinion on the Norvan Short is going to depend on your use case. This is not a pair that works as well going to the gym as it does on the trail. It’s a pure, no-frills running short made for racking up distance outdoors and scrambling tough terrain. Made from an exceptionally light, breathable, and stretchy recycled polyester, the Norvan Short’s best quality is that you simply forget about them when they’re on.

If there’s one thing that would improve this short, it’s more pockets. It has a generous back zip pocket that’s perfect for your phone or a few gels, but that’s it. While open side pockets aren’t an ideal design for running, internal pocket pouches have become popular and would have added a lot to this design. That said, pair these shorts with the Norvan 7 Vest, which will comfortably carry any and all essentials during a day out on the trails, and you’ll be more than prepared.

This spring, Arc’teryx unveiled their first footwear collection fully designed in-house. Having previously relied on design support from fellow outdoors brand Salomon, Arc’teryx started building a footwear-specific office back in 2022 to create a line of shoes from the ground up that better represented who they were as a brand. The lineup includes an approach shoe for steep, technical terrain (Vertex Alpine), a performance mountain running shoe (Sylan), and something for quick mountain access and recovery (Kragg).

The Vertex Alpine GTX is, in many ways, the perfect mountain shoe (read: hiking shoe, for all us non-climbers). It easily outperforms Arc’teryx’s previous shoes that tackled tough terrain, like the Aerios GTX, from a fit, support, and stability perspective. The shoe’s slim silhouette makes it incredibly nimble, while the knit collar gives it a sock-like fit that cradles the foot so securely that it feels like it’s been molded to your feet. What’s more, the Gore-Tex (GTX) liner ensures they’ll be up for the challenge no matter the conditions. Put simply: The Vertex is a swiss army knife for the mountains. If long summer hikes are in your future, look no further for a shoe that’ll go the distance.  

Whether intentional or not, Arc’teryx’s take on a more comfortable and versatile approach shoe also has consumers buzzing about its stylish applications off the trailheads. The Kragg at its core is a lightweight, technical slip-on intended to be worn as a camp, belay, or recovery slipper. The upper is crafted from a single layer of breathable, stretchy 3D knit, while the Vibram MegaGrip outsole ensures your feet have maximum support across a range of surfaces. 

Most distinct, though, is the Kragg’s collapsible heel that seamlessly transitions the shoe from slip-on to slide. It’s also what makes it the ideal travel, grocery, or dog-walking shoe for those who are more city slicker than outdoorsperson. This Kragg is simply another example of the unintended streetwear hype Arc’teryx can muster up by focusing on what it knows best: the outdoors. All the buzz that happens off the mountain is really just noise to them.

In 2019, Frank Ocean was bouncing around Paris Fashion Week in what would become one of the internet’s most talked about outfits of the year. He wasn’t wearing anything particularly controversial; in fact, quite the opposite. He was dressed in an orange puffer jacket, blue jeans, some hiking boots, and, on his head, an Arc’teryx beanie. Four years later, it’s still being talked about as a pivotal moment for outerwear evolving into mainstream culture. And, still four years later, that same bird head beanie (or “toque”––Arc’teryx is Canadian after all) that Frank Ocean was wearing continues to sell out whenever it comes back in stock.

Just as fragrance or small leather goods can be an entrypoint into a luxury brand, this beanie is perfect if you’re looking to get acquainted with the Arc’teryx tribe. It’s warm, comfortable, and does everything a great beanie should do. But let’s face it: as technical and well-crafted as Arc’teryx’s products are, you’re not buying this one for its features. You’re buying it for style points.