User Review: Arc'teryx Men's Atom LT Jacket

Summary

The Atom LT Jacket is my favorite jacket for all kinds of anything. Great for kicking around the city or hitting the trail.

The Atom LT is awesome. I bought mine on sale for a great deal at Whole Earth Provision Co.* in Dallas late in the winter season. I already had a Nitrous down hoody from Mountain Hardwear that I love, but I was looking for a synthetic fill jacket for those times when down is less practical. The Atom LT delivers!

The jacket is warm. Coreloft is light and compressible; its not as compressible as down, but good for a synthetic and stuffs into its own sleeve for a 32oz-Nalgene-sized bundle. The Coreloft also feels better than other lesser synthetic insulation.

The shell is wind resistant and performed beautifully in intermittent gusts and misty drizzle atop the coastal mountains of northern Chile. The DWR and tight weave of the shell beaded water like a dream and shook off with no wetting. The side panels, made of Polartec Power Stretch, breathe very well, and are a blessing during a hike to avoid overheating. A bit of wind can penetrate the Power Stretch, but not enough to cause a chill, and this could be avoided in high winds with a hard shell over it.

The cuffs have a very smooth, stretchy material that is cut in a v-pattern on the medial side of the wrist and hugs very well without binding, keeping the sleeve in place perfectly. The neck has a soft fleece lining and feels great while keeping my neck warm.

There are two fleece-lined hand warmer pockets which are welcome refuge to wind-chilled hands. The inner chest pocket is the perfect size for a cell phone or wallet or even a passport. The zipper on the inner pocket sometimes snags when moving the carriage, but has not damaged the liner fabric at all and is a minimal annoyance. The liner is neon red, looks awesome when the jacket is open, and accents the maroon color of the shell.

The zipper pulls on the outer pockets and main zipper are large and easy to grab with gloves, but the main zipper sometimes snags on the fabric. A little bit of abrasion has occurred on the placket, but nothing very noticeable. The shell fabric is stretchy and has avoided signs of abrasion or abuse very well.

I like the drop hem; it offers just enough coverage for my backside. I fit well into the small, but I went for the medium for a little bit more arm freedom, midriff coverage when raising my arms, and a more casual fit. The medium is also great to layer under and still layers nicely under my Alpha SL. I wish the Atom had a hem drawcord to seal in the warmth, and the larger size doesn't help, but it's not a deal breaker.

Overall, this jacket is fantastic. I recommend it to everyone. I'm going to get the hoody too!

*I am an employee at Whole Earth Provision Co. in Dallas. My views do not necessarily represent the views of Whole Earth Provision Co. or its employees. I pride myself in providing unbiased reviews of products I purchase for my personal use.