Arcteryx Alpha SV Jacket Review by Geoff Unger
The Alpha SV Jacket from Arcteryx is a high end Gore-Tex jacket for serious mountain travelers and outdoor professionals. As a climber and skier I have tried a lot of different jackets and tend to work them pretty hard. I took the Alpha SV out for over 20 days this past winter both ice climbing and skiing. I was impressed at how the jacket handled the toughest conditions. For me the jacket was more of a storm shell for skiing than an ice climbing piece. As is usual from Arcteryx all the details were very well thought out. The fit of the jacket gave ample range of motion and the Hem-Lock system kept the jacket from riding up while wearing a harness or pack.
Some of the key details of the Alpha SV that stood out were the Gore-Tex Pro fabric, the hood and the generous chest pockets for stashing tools or snacks. The Gore-Tex Pro 3 Layer fabric provided durable and stout protection against the elements. Though I found this great for skiing I didn’t like the way the fabric climbed when compared with a lighter or more flexible fabric. The hood was generous enough to accept a ski or climbing helmet, but also ratcheted down when it was time to wear a hat or headband. The chest pockets were positioned high enough to avoid complications with a harness or pack waist belt. They also provided ample storage for snacks and a VHF radio used for ski guiding.
The fit of the Alpha SV I found to be a bit boxy around the torso for climbing, but this allowed it to be generous enough to stack warm layers underneath for cold days out skiing. I think for climbing I would size down this jacket in order to have a more alpine fit. Make sure to try it on in the store in order to get the proper fit for your activity.
The bottom line is Arcteryx knows what they are doing when it comes to building quality clothing that will stand up to the elements. The Alpha SV Jacket is no exception. One thing consumers will note is the high price tag of this piece, but it certainly lives up to expectations and the pricetag.
Reviewer: Geoff Unger – American Mountain Guide
Dates Tested: Month of January 2016
Locations and Disciplines Tested:
Skiing in Telluride, CO
Ski Touring, Red Mountain Pass, CO
Ice Climbing, Ouray, CO
Ski Touring, Stanley, ID
Skitouring and off piste skiing: Chamonix France, St. Anton Austria and Courmayeur, Italy
Number of Days Tested: 20
