User Review: Arc'teryx Men's Gamma AR Jacket

I remember the days of the classic Gamma SV. Awesome jacket and fit, Polartec fabric, good colors and exceptional warmth-to-weight. And now since it's gone, it's been replaced by a newer model that seems to be almost a clone.

Welcome to the Gamma AR. FORTIUS 3.0 is very comparable, if not better than PowerShield. Stretchy and durable, and warm as it could be. I have a Tibetan Red model. I was skeptical of the color at first, as I'm not very flashy (most of the soft shells in my quill are grays and blacks), but it's actually very muted and not that bright. Doesn't hurt the eyes at all and goes well with whatever.

The fabric outer is extremely durable and give no relevancy to the fact of whether Arc'teryx is using Canada or China for manufacturing. Who cares. It's more than quality. It's a Cadillac of a soft shell.

It's not as technical as others and lacks some bells and whistles like pit zips and chest or arm pockets, but it doesn't bother me. Not a deal breaker. I just wanted something quality built to keep me warm.

This, my friends, is what I chose, despite the hefty price tag.