User Review: Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket

Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket
Above: The current Alpha SV Jacket, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed July 29, 2004 by Mike

Rating:

I'm the equipment co-ordinator for a Search and Rescue team.

We bought 50 of the Alpha SV jackets three years ago. Our members use these jackets for their personal recreation, and for search and rescue tasks. We end up going out in the middle of the night in weather where you wouldn't want to be out, sometimes for 8 to 10 hours at a time in snow, sleet and rain, sometimes bushwacking off trail in thick coastal bush.

In the three years we've had these jackets and put them through their paces we have not had a single warranty issue. None of my members has complained about the fit, leaking, worn out zippers, tears, or any other kind of reasonable wear and tear you would expect from a jacket that is used so extensively.

My own personal experience with the jacket has also been good: ice climbing, skiing and mountaineering for thee years has only produced a single very small rip from an altercation with a tree (in the bellows area of the chest pocket). There is some minor wear near the seam seals, and what appears to be delamination also near one of the seals on the back and shoulders. I consider these areas of wear and delamination to be par for the course considering what I put it through. Since the jacket is still fully waterproof, I find it to be completely satisfactory.

This is by far the best fitting and best performing piece of gore-tex I own, only equalled by the Alpha SV Bib pants.

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