Arc’teryx produced this excellent video demonstrating how to care for your Gore-Tex garments. It’s great advice for all of your waterproof breathable outer garments, regardless of material.
Archive for the ‘Arc’teryx’ Category
Arc’teryx Demonstrates How to Care for Your Gore-Tex Gear
Thursday, October 16th, 2014Atom LT Hoody from Arc’teryx LEAF
Thursday, September 18th, 2014I was walking around an REI yesterday during a visit to Phoenix, AZ and couldn’t believe how many winter jackets were on the floor and then I realized we’re halfway through September and Winter will be here soon for many SSD readers.
Serendipity or not, Arc’teryx LEAF just released a video of the revised Atom LT hoody that they unveiled during January’s SHOT Show. The video gives you a great look a the features of this jacket.
I’ve owned an Atom LT for years. It’s remained my go to Insulation layer and I can wear it alone without a shell most of the time in my home area of the Tidewater of Virginia. It gets cold, wet and windy but the Atom LT keeps me very comfortable. I’ve long said that the Atom LT remains the best value for the Arc’teryx LEAF customer and if you can only afford one piece, this is the one to buy.
The Atom LT consists of three main materials. The 60g Coreloft insulation that keeps you toasty, Gossamera™ fabric softshell that is both comfortable and quiet and the Polartec® Power Stretch® underarm side panels that offer stretch and breathability while on the move. These components all work together to offer a jacket that’s not only comfortable but also looks great.
To sum up the updates to the Atom LT from earlier models:
-Two large hand pockets with media ports to allow for internal routing of communications cables; one internal chest pocket
-Vertically routed hem drawcord minimizes interference with duty belt
I prefer the hoody model but LEAF also offers a standard jacket version without a hood as well as the heavier SV model which incorporates 100g weight Coreloft for additional insulation.
Available in Black, Crocodile and Wolf sizes Small – XXLarge. Sizing is generous enough to layer.
My Impressions of the Arc’teryx LEAF Combat Pant (Gen 2)
Friday, July 18th, 2014I’ve been around long enough to have been issued (yes, issued) the original Arc’teryx LEAF Combat Pant. When they came out almost 10 years ago to complement to the Combat Jacket, they were awesome; a very durable, sofshell pant in Black or Crocodile that had pockets where you needed them. But, over time, we all (including Arc’teryx) felt that the civilian-derived design was dated and they began to fall out of favor.
At SHOT Show 2014, Arc’teryx unveiled a completely redesigned Gen 2 Combat Pant. The don’t really look like a “Combat Pant” and some have criticized the name for that reason. But the name has legs, going back 10 years to when there weren’t a plethora of “combat pants” on the market. In fact, it’s only been in recent years that all weather models have come out to fill the void of the LEAF pant during the period it wasn’t available. This new Gen 2 Combat Pant doesn’t scream tactical and, like its predecessor definitely has it’s genesis in the mountains.
Last month, Arc’teryx LEAF invited me and a few of my fellow tactical writers to a media event in Chamonix, France. For several days we were immersed in all things Arc’teryx including an opportunity to try out several products for ourselves, while applying basic mountaineering skills on the Mer de Glace, a world famous glacier. One of those items was the new Combat Pant (Gen 2).
My experience was excellent. I am a warm person so I kind of expected to overheat in the high summer temps on the ice but my legs remained comfortable even though I was in a T-shirt for much of the movement. Once the gusty, rainy weather moved in and I put on an Alpha LT Jacket, the Combat Pant’s Tweave Durastretch helped me remain plenty warm, and dry, head to toe. I haven’t worn the pant in hot, humid weather yet but if you look at the photos you’ll notice that some guys were wearing Atom LTs while I was in a ventilated, short sleeve running shirt. Everyone wore what made them comfortable. One of the reasons I didn’t overheat may be that the interior of the pockets are half mesh which helps with ventilation as well as keeping the pockets from filling with sand and dirt.
Another advantage of the Durastretch fabric was its abrasion resistance. We climbed and scrambled over a variety of obstacles and despite a short fall right into the rock, knee first, not a scratch on the pants. They also held up very well to the crampons we wore, despite not having a reinforced section at the ankle. I appreciate the bungee at the ankle hem which allowed me to close the pant over the top of my mountaineering boots so that I didn’t need gaiters this trip.
Overall, the fit is comfortable. They almost seemed oversized when I first looked at them but the fit was great. The articulated design and gusseted crotch is better than the original model and I was able to move a lot better in them as we negotiated the frozen terrain. Don’t forget, the Durastretch fabric has some inherent mechanical stretch as well. If you don’t plan to layer and are on the edge size-wise, I’d round down.
These pants boast 10 pockets and they are situated so that you can wear a harness with the pants. In fact, we wore the E220 Riggers Harness with its removable leg loops. You may notice in the photos that we used the stowable flaps on the cargo pockets to retain the excess material of the leg loops while not in use.
Offered in Crocodile and Wolf Grey, sizes Small – XXLarge. Sizing is generous if anything, with room to layer.
Bottom Line
I like them and recommend them to those that are looking for a high quality, all-weather tactical pant. They’ve definitely earned a place in my kit bag.
Pro
Comfortable, generous fit
Extremely durable
Unobtrusive pocket layout
Con
Haven’t tried them in humid weather yet
Need more colors!
I’m not going to get in the weeds over price. Yes, they are expensive. You get what you pay for and these are worth every penny. I know, I ended up buying a pair. Buy once, cry once!
To order yours, visit leaf.arcteryx.com.
You Never Know Where They’ll Show Up – The Alps
Sunday, June 29th, 2014
It’s Dave Reeder of Recoil magazine sporting a KCRF T-shirt as he negotiates the glacier of the Mer de Glace in Chamonix, France during the recent Arc’teryx LEAF Media Camp.
Some Studio Shots of the New Arc’teryx Footwear
Wednesday, June 18th, 2014I wanted to give you a couple of candid photos of the new Arc’teryx during my launch coverage last week of this new line of technical performance footwear. After all, what’s the point of flying all the way to France for a product launch and then only sharing studio product photos? I could have done that from my couch here in the States. But now, I thought it would be a good idea to share some of those Arc’teryx studio shots with you.
Models
Essentially there are two basic types (Alpha = Low cut and Bora = Mid cut) made into eight shoe models with five for men and three for women. These are ‘Arc’teryx Adaptive Fit’ (pronounced A squared) model is the top of the range combining a stretchable liner and single-piece, seamless laminated outer shell that are manufactured separately but worn together for improved comfort, climate management and durability. There are also Gore-tex models of both the Alpha and Bora as well a mesh variant of the Alpha approach shoe.
Here are some additional photos:
I also wanted to give you a peek of what the Alpha 2 FL looks like with the liner inserted and removed.
Colors and Styles
This graphic shows all of the styles as well as colors and sizing.
Price
Finally, the price. I don’t normally talk pricing but so many have commented that they are worried about high cost due to the brand name that I felt it was imperative to share this once. These boots are very reasonably priced. All are MSRP: Alpha² SL $270, Alpha GTX $220, Alpha FL $190, Bora² $320, Bora GTX $270. Additionally, there is an insulated liner available at $95. Sure, they’re made in China, but that makes complete sense as these are a commercial product and not part of the LEAF line. Additionally, production in China leverages construction techniques and lower production costs. The Bora GTX is the best value in the bunch and I am sure you will see these on LEAF customers once they hit the street in Spring 2015.
In Case You’ve Been Wondering Where I’ve Been
Sunday, June 15th, 2014I’ve been in Chamonix, France attending the Arc’teryx LEAF media camp. Make sure you check out my article on the new Arc’teryx footwear, unveiled last week during Alpine Academy here in Chamonix.
But that’s not all I did. Here, I am on the Mer de Glace glacier, taking a moment for Shady. Look for more coverage soon.
Arc’teryx Launches New Technical Performance Footwear Line for Spring/Summer 2015
Friday, June 13th, 2014Literally minutes ago, Arc’teryx officially unveiled a new technical performance footwear line for the Spring/Summer 2015 season, to a packed house here in Chamonix, France. You are getting to see a first look now, right here on SSD.
The natural building block for introducing new footwear is to understand the foot. Once Arc’teryx had sufficiently studied that, they moved toward an actual footwear design. They spoke with their pro athletes and others to determine what was most important. They found that fit, improved climate management, and weight vs durability were key to their customers.
This whole project started a couple of years ago with a single LEAF designer who is also an avid climber. Since then, Arc’teryx has brought in some real rockstars to make this happen, including footwear Product Line Manager Federico Sbrissa. Federico hails from Montebelluna, Italy, the place where the rubber truly meets the road in outdoor footwear development.
“From the very beginning, our goal was to bring a fresh perspective to footwear that enhances the overall mountain experience. We have a rich history of thinking beyond current materials and construction and everything about these shoes reveals the Arc’teryx genetic code of understanding what a products needs to be at its most essential level.”
– Footwear Product Line Manager Federico Sbrissa
But now on to the shoes themselves. The line consists of eight shoe styles for men (five) and women (three), separated into low-cut approach shoes (Alpha2 FL) and mid-cut Hiking and light trekking boots (Bora Mid). Regardless of model, the first thing that strikes you is that there is no tongue and that’s by design.
This new liner is constructed from a Gore-Tex Performance Comfort Stretch membrane which is removable for cleaning. This liner conforms to the shape of the foot, does not absorb moisture and also functions to cushion impact. Think of it as an inner boot that also can be worn as hut/camp shoe. It is available in different options for higher insulation and protection. For example, there is a mid-height liner that offers insulation higher up the leg.
On the other hand, their new outer laminate features four different layers:
• a non-woven DWR-treated microfiber for smooth internal surface
• a textile woven with PU coated Nylon yarn for air flow and abrasion resistance
• 0,2 mm TPU film build integral upper support
• 0,35 mm high abrasion TPU film reinforcement on more exposed areas
Notice there’s no leather here. It’s all synthetics.
That outer laminate is a single piece so there are fewer seams and larger breathable surface areas. Naturally, this also means less tape and adhesive which equates to less weight.
“By incorporating techniques like lamination, we developed shoes that offer unprecedented durability, comfort and precision performance in the most breathable mountain footwear construction on the market.”
-Footwear Product Line Manager Federico Sbrissa
They’ve minimized gluing points to fix the Gore-Tex® booty (on those models) which improves breathability and the absence of a bulky tongue maximize its waterproof/breathable surface area.
This two-piece construction of the A2 Adaptive Fit models reportedly also has the benefit of facilitating air flow between the inner and outer boot to minimize moisture buildup. It’s thin design also conforms to the shape of your foot and can be rinsed out when needed.
In addition to the Alpha FL, there are also mesh and Gore-tex versions of this low top which don’t feature removable liners. The mid height Bora is also offered with a removable liner as well as Gore-tex versions.
No matter the model, Arc’teryx has really gone all out with the sole design. The one-piece upper wraps around the midsole. The boots also integrate a new Vibram® Arc’teryx Approach outsole made with the new Megagrip compound. Also, individually shaped for every size available, three-dimensional rubber components protect heel and toe area from rock contact. Finally, an Ortholite-insole rounds up the outer shoe construction.
While some of the colors in this initial launch are bright, there are also options available for the LEAF customer including Black and Greens.
Look for these new technical performance footwear with adaptive fit technology next Spring.
Arc’teryx Announces Rebranding to Archaeopteryx
Tuesday, April 1st, 2014Vancouver, B.C. – April 1 2014 – North Vancouver based outdoor apparel manufacturer Arc’teryx today announced it is rebranding.
Arc’teryx, or rather the brand formerly known as Arc’teryx, has undertaken a major rebranding effort in order to unburden the tongues of outdoor enthusiasts around the world. Effective April 1, the Company is switching from the condensed word, Arc’teryx to it’s easier to pronounce root -Archaeopteryx.
“The name Arc’teryx is a key part of our history and we will always be proud of that. But as our products enter markets around the world, we want everyone to enjoy saying our name as much as they do wearing our products; that’s why it’s important to have a name that will be easy to pronounce across the globe,” said Vincent Wauters, GM & CEO of the company. “Authenticity is central to our brand and it always felt like we were betraying ourselves with the abbreviated word. Now, we can move forward, confident that we are true to our core users and the core of our name.”
Beginning immediately, all products will have the full word updated under the logo. In Burnaby, where the brand has its own factory, the intense reprogramming of machinery and positioning the full name has already started. A redesign of the new logo was unveiled today along with the two year multi-million dollar plan to entirely erase the previous name.
The company is asking for patience from its customers. An online registration, for those wishing to have their products rebranded, will be in place shortly. When asked if the cost of the new look was going to be reflected in future pricing, Vincent Wauters had “no comment at this time.”
