Arc'teryx Men's Alpha SV Jacket

What more can be said about this jacket? It is simply the best and worth every penny.
Let's get right to the sizing of this excellent piece of gear. This is an expedition fit jacket and is designed to go over multiple mid layers while still providing excellent freedom of movement. If you are only wearing a light base layer and a light mid layer this jacket will appear too big and too baggy. It is not designed to be worn as a generally purpose shell and if you don't plan on being out in the coldest and nastiest weather you should probably look at the Beta AR jacket or something else. You could size down smaller if you wanted, but you are really limiting the number of layers you can use with the jacket. In my opinion it is better to size up rather than down, for this reason.
I use the jacket with the Atom LT and Atom SV jackets, as a system, all are XL's and I'm 6'1 185 with very broad shoulders and long arms. With just a few light base layers and the Atom LT on the jacket fits loose and I need to really cinch it up at the waist and the torso. But when I put the Atom SV on over the Atom LT, the fit is perfect, and the jacket comforms nicely to the layering system. My advice is to stick with the same size for all the Dead'Bird jackets and mid layer pieces as they are designed and cut to work together like a system.
I will add that my Rab Endurance Neutrino fits under the Alpha SV like a glove. I'm a XXL in that jacket, given my long arms and shouders. I have excellent freedom of movement and no excess material in the Alpha SV with this system.

Over the past 15 years or so, I've owned more Arc'teryx gear than i would like to admit. From hard-shells to soft-shells and everything in between.
When i had to send my aging Scorpion jacket in for warranty work this past fall i quickly learned that waiting till fall to repair a shell i rely on in the winter was a bad idea.
so while i waited, i decided to buy a new one. when i discovered that the Alpha SV is still made in Canada i didn't waste a moment placing my order for one in black.
i cannot say how pleased i am with this jacket. every aspect of it reminds me why i left the other makers long ago and began giving my hard earned cash to the "dead bird". I've lived in this shell the past couple of months in miserable weather in both the cities and the mountains of china. all the while warm and dry.
i tend to "live" in my hard-shells. i use them all year long... so i buy them in black or nightshade, or some similar dark color. as they age the invertible dirt and stains don't show as much on the darker shells...
i was (am) so impressed with this jacket that i bought one for my wife in that beautiful Cayenne color... see my separate review for her response... Oh, OK; She LOVES it.
we both liked the red so much 'in person' that with [very] little coaxing from her, i purchased another for myself... excessive? perhaps, but i have no doubt in the quality of this garment. And on the off chance that economics eventually force Arc'teryx to eliminate or compromise their SV line, I'll have twice as long before i have to think about it again... and likely many years before I'll need to worry about another shell.

Over the past 15 years or so, I've owned more Arc'teryx gear than i would like to admit. From hard-shells to soft-shells and everything in between.
When i had to send my aging Scorpion jacket in for warranty work this past fall i quickly learned that waiting till fall to repair a shell i rely on in the winter was a bad idea.
so while i waited, i decided to buy a new one. when i discovered that the Alpha SV is still made in Canada i didn't waste a moment placing my order for one in black.
i cannot say how pleased i am with this jacket. every aspect of it reminds me why i left the other makers long ago and began giving my hard earned cash to the "dead bird". I've lived in this shell the past couple of months in miserable weather in both the cities and the mountains of china. all the while warm and dry.
i tend to "live" in my hardshells. i use them all year long... so i buy them in black or nightshade, or some similar dark color. as they age the invertible dirt and stains don't show as much on the darker shells...
i was (am) so impressed with this jacket that i bought one for my wife in that beautiful Cayenne color... see my separate review for her response... Oh, OK; She LOVES it.
we both liked the red so much 'in person' that with [very] little coaxing from her, i purchased another for myself... excessive? perhaps, but i have no doubt in the quality of this garment. And on the off chance that economics eventually force Arc'teryx to eliminate or compromise their SV line, I'll have twice as long before i have to think about it again... and likely many years before I'll need to worry about another shell.

This jacket is super duper. I've used it primarily for backcountry skiing and have found it to be all that Arc'teryx says it is. It is the best shell out there,in my opinion. The durability of this piece when doing a bit of survival skiing to get out of a drainae after a long day is great. It can take the abuse.
It is versatile. The Alpha SV is the one coat that I would recommend grabbing for just about any winter outdoor activity where the weather/conditions are going to be nasty. The zippers are excellent, glided well upon first use, which make ventilation simple when working up a sweat. Blocks all wind, rain, snow, trees, or anything that it might come in contact with.
A few tings that I love about this coat are the chest pockets, the hood, and the wrist cuffs. When wearing a pack over the top, the chest pockets are easily accessible, making life simple. The hood is as functional as they get. Most hoods get the job done when it is nuking conditions, but are a pain to wear when it isn't crucial. Not so with the SV hood, the fit is great once you get the adjustability dialed in. It works well over a helmet or just a beanie/your head. The wrist cuffs are different than other Arc'teryx cuffs in that they have an elastic closure opposite the Velcro. this allows the cuff to stay in place more easily and when it does slide below you glove-line, you don't need to re-Velcro it to get it back in place, depending on how tight you had it.
Bottom line, if you have the dough and want the best, look to the Alpha SV to keep you happy when things are nasty.

I have used TNF, Marmot, and Patagonia shells with gor-tex, H2No, membrain and e-vent materials. I have been very pleased with the weather protection all of these provide, but one thing or another about each of these jackets lead me to look further. The Arc'teryx SV's arm articulation is phenomenal. The jacket does not ride up when raising your arms overhead in climbing. There is also a thin foam roll sewn inside the hem of the shell that prevents the shell from riding up under the hip-belt of the backpack. There are also no front pockets by the hips that will interfere with the hip-belt and this also allows a clear view of your ropes and your feet in climbing. The zippers are easy and very strong. The multiple hood adjustments are great. The shell material feels very durable. Weighs seventeen or so ounces. At a little over six feet and one hundred fifty-five pounds I chose the medium. Perfect. Drop the chunk of dough if you dislike re-buying gear that falls apart or wears out too quickly. I'm training for the PCT next summer on the OCT on the So. Oregon coast doing ten miles a day five days a week, where winter rain and winds routinely blow at seventy-five to a hundred miles an hour. With two lightweight Patagonia baselayer shirts and a Montbell BC mid-layer jacket or vest (depending on the cold), hat, gloves, poles, water, etc. and the Arc'teryx SV there's no such thing as no training day! This jacket is better than I imagined and more than hoped for!

The Alpha SV is simply the best goretex shell on the market, bar none. The NEW goretex pro shell is soft and flexible in ways that previous generations lacked, and yet it is waterproof beyond compare. The jacket is durable enough to get dragged up a mountain, rubbed on a rope-tow, or skidded down the pavement should you fall off your fatbike. I know; I've tried; it survived without incident. If you're looking for hand pockets, this isn't the jacket--but that makes it more compatible with backpacks and climbing harnesses. The hood is the BEST hood I've ever used--easily accommodates a helmet, without becoming a sail to pull you around in high wind. More interestingly, the softness of the Pro shell lets the hood turn with you, when you turn your head. If I could give 6 stars to this shell, I would do so. There is nothing--literally nothing--that I would change about it. I'm 6' and ~150#; a medium is perfect for me. Perfect. PERFECT. I can't imagine ever replacing this...except with another one.

first off, chances are this jacket is more than you need. i bought it for ice climbing in new england, because the weather can get nasty fast. 90% of the time i would be TOTALLY fine with a cheaper jacket.
but MAN, the other 10% of the time, this thing is worth its weight in gold. ive topped out in huntington ravine in single digit temps with 90mph winds on the summit plateau (literally getting blown over) and this thing did not let ANY wind through. i was totally comfy. the handful of times i've needed it (plus the fact that its bombproof and will last forever) more than justify its cost IMO.
so if money's a major factor in your decision, look elsewhere... but if that's the case, you're probably not here anyway. if you're down to invest in top of the line shell, this jacket is it.

Got this in the mail today from BC. For those that are curious my tag shows made in Canada like all my older Arc'teryx gear. This shell is super soft with this new material. It does have lots of room to layer under. I purchased a Black XL and I'm 6'2 and 235lbs and have plenty of room to run layers. This jacket is so nice I plan to wear this around town as well since we get wind gust in Oklahoma well over 50mph and temps ranging from 0-20 deg
Oh this jacket is much longer in the back than my stingray. I have read some reviews that state they wish the jacket was longer. If it were any longer I would be wearing a parka length
I plan to try it out on the slopes in two weeks. Will report back.

I have the Alpha sv made of gortex proshell. I have used this jacket several times!Trips to moab, rainer, puerto rico, ecuador, florida, it works amazing in cold wet weather as well as cold dry weather. It does a great job in warm humid climates. But what surprises me the most,is its ability for multi sports!! I use this jacket for mountaineering, mountain biking, kayaking,hiking, backpacking,boating and over my wetsuit after freediving!!oddly enough it is still in good enough shape to wear out in town! It still repels water like the day I got it, Although i did buy nixwax techshell waterproofing for it, I have not had to use it. This jacket, once you get past the price is an investment you wont regret!

I'm loving the jacket and enough to put out some kind words about it. My super cool sister gave me this as a gift to replace my North Face Shell from 1992 and... my how things have changed! My favorite gear is the kind of stuff that's gonna serve me well for many years and this Jacket feels bomb-proof.
I've tested it out in some crazy cold stuff this Winter (one day with -20F wind chills) and it blows away any thing I've tried. I love winter backpacking trips and I'm really enjoying the light-weight packability of this serious shell.
So... Yeah I'm a fan.