 Poster: A snowHead
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General opinions....is it worth the money?
Quite like the designs of some of their gear, was wondering what people though. How does it compare to say the likes of Norrona?
Cheers.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Basically the best option you can get, better than Norrona in my opinion, absolutely awesome gear!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Legend. wrote: |
| General opinions....is it worth the money? |
The gear is good quality and entirely practical, but I wouldn't usually consider paying the price premium over other brands which also offer excellent kit. Same for Norrona. If you're willing to pay big bucks for their fit and finish, then I'm sure you'll be happy enough, but their kit isn't magic.
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What brands would you consider to be equal in terms of quality of product?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Lets ask a more important question here, which is "what are you actually looking for?"
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Everyone and their dog have a lightweight small-baffle stitch through down top these days. I personally rate PHD and Mountain Equipment for down gear, but there are literally dozens of interchangeable manufacturers when it comes to this particular kind of item, and Arcteryx are not really any better or worse than anyone else.
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I swapped my Arcteryx Sidewinder SV for a Norrona Trollvegan last year. Arcteryx edge Norrona for out and out quality and clever design. Norrona gear is also excellent quality gear, but with super cool Scandi styling. Arcteryx can tend to be functional, but a bit boring.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Arcteryx is also pretty bomb proof in my experience very hard wearing.
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Patagonia and Rab also make some very good down jackets
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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IMO Arcteryx and Norrona are worth the money for the extra attention to detail and design. TNF, Mountain Equipment etc are very similar in terms out technical specs, but don't aren't cut quite so well, and things like cuffs aren't so beautifully perfectly designed.
You can usually pick them up at significant discount around June...
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| clarky999 wrote: |
| ...very similar in terms out technical specs, but don't aren't cut quite so well, and things like cuffs aren't so beautifully perfectly designed. |
There's limited scope for perfect design on the Cerium's (or indeed any of their down jackets') cuffs 
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I got my arc'teryx sidewinder on here for £100 brand new... 4 years later and after a lot of abuse it's good as new. Have been looking at norrona recently and find that the scandi brand fit my tall slim body much better... The arc'teryx is a bit baggier made and shorter arms.
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You know it makes sense.
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I have found that ME's cut recently is really good and suits me well. Of course you may find one brand fits you better than another so try various, I don't think it's as simple as "Arc'teryx has a great fit". You'd struggle to find a bad jacket from any of the top brands.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Same as above, really. AT certainly have the edge on out-and-out quality. Norrona/Haglofs a close (but noticeable) second. I prefer the fit of the Scandi kit - Norrona jackets are cut slightly longer than AT and seem to fit me better around the chest. Horses for courses though I guess.
I'd ignore the mega-expensive brands for mid layers: Rab are significantly better value IMHO at 20% - 30% cheaper than AT et al. Their synthetic down mids are excellent - well featured and well cut. Perfect, that is, unless you're after uber-mega-mega lime green schizzle 
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Poster: A snowHead
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I long for the first sighting of Arcteryx in TK Maxx
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| red 27 wrote: |
| I long for the first sighting of Arcteryx in TK Maxx |
I suspect they work quite hard at preventing such things from occurring.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Serriadh, I suspect you are are right. But I still long for it - oh the schadenfreude...(sp)
It's been quite sweet to hear of Marmot and Spyder in there this year so I live in hope
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I am a Haglofs gal. I just like their colours and designs (or I did when I bought my jacket-this season the colours are pants). Not seen anything by arcteryx that I like more-think they're a bit boring!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Serriadh wrote: |
| red 27 wrote: |
| I long for the first sighting of Arcteryx in TK Maxx |
I suspect they work quite hard at preventing such things from occurring. |
Reminds of the rumour that Abercombie and Fitch paid The Situation clown from Jersey Shores not to wear their clothing. 
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Arc are hemp sandals.
Norrona are Skittles.
Patagonia are hemp sandals made by Gucci.
I could go on but at this price point it's about cut, style and colours more than there being any real difference in functionality.
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Serriadh, I've been told that they occasionally get Arc'teryx for really cheap in Costco in the US... be nice if we got that to.
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| red 27 wrote: |
| I long for the first sighting of Arcteryx in TK Maxx |
Bought a Patagucci Powder Bowl jacket in there for £100 3 years ago - then it got nicked!!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I don't know why exactly, but I'm not keen on Arc stuff.
Fit wise; I guess tall and skinny; go scandi gear. A bit more porky; go for US gear.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Haglofs #1, Arc #2, Sweetprotection #3..........not sure about Norrona, some quality issues
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Markymark29 wrote: |
| ....not sure about Norrona, some quality issues |
Really? I've not heard such. We have a few pieces of Norrona, I can't fault any of it. In fact, my Narvik Warm3 jacket is the defo the best fleece jacket I've owned. 
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| Mosha Marc wrote: |
I don't know why exactly, but I'm not keen on Arc stuff.
Fit wise; I guess tall and skinny; go scandi gear. A bit more porky; go for US gear. |
Big difference between Patagonia and Arcteryx cut though. I love Patagonia kit, but it just doesn't fit me at all; cut like a box.
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You know it makes sense.
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I'm guessing a lot of opinions on here reflect fit rather than quality?
I have a 10 year old Gamma xx softshell that has seen guess 200 days skiing plus being worn for everything else for maybe 500 days. It still doesn't need replaced. Doesn't look quite new but does what it's supposed to.
I don't think anything else I own, clothing wise, has that mileage.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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My Arc Stinger shell has seen maybe 200+ ski days and still in perfect nick. It is black and does not seem to have faded much at all. No problems with zips or seams. Great to wear and the da' bomb in bad weather. Is it worth the money? Yes, for me it definitely is worth it.
I bought a pair of Norrona Narvik shell pants last year. Very comfortable. No gripes about performance. Too early to rate longevity, but am I happy with the purchase. Yup!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Just an afterthought, Mrs uann has an Arc shell which she loves that has about 120 ski days in and which actually does still look like new.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| andyman wrote: |
| The attention to detail on the cerium, not just the cuffs but the strategic placement of down/synthetic is what sets this apart from many other brands offerings. |
Strategic placement of synthetic? Ahh, marketing
Combining synthetic and down seems like a silly idea. Treated well, down will last for a hell of a long time. Synthetic microfibre will not, no matter how much you baby it.
Arcteryx do interesting things with their softshell and hardshell offerings, but their down gear is pretty middle-of-the-road, bar the pricing and branding, of course. Also, did you just enthuse about elastic cuffs? Seriously? That's going beyond brand appreciation and turning into Stockholm syndrome...
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I have an Arc'teryx Sabre jacket and pants that has seen active service most winter/early spring weekends for the last 4 seasons. It is still as good as new, has a great fit and flexes in all the right places. The sizes are on the large size though......I'd normally be a Large (5'11", 90 kgs) or even an XL on some clothing, but for Arc'teryx I'm a medium.
I made use of the Snowheads EB discount and tax free export to drive the price down a bit, but even so I'd say it has been excellent value for money.
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£260 is a lot for pub wear that, as Serriadh says, is offered by every brand under the sun for a cheaper but comparable product.....
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I think this has already been said but there will be no functional improvement buying an Arcteryx down jacked (like the one you described) over any other alpine brand, but it will be more expensive. For this specifically I would consider Haglofs or Rab.
I rate Arcteryx ski gear in general, and own several shell jackets/trousers. I've found them to be very hard wearing; I've skiied 100 days in them and they still look good, they resist tearing when I've invariably got carried away in the woods and had run-ins with the trees/branches, and have washed and re-proofed very well. They're nicely designed with well thought out pockets/hoods/cuffs/powder skirts and they will last you a long time if you look after them.
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One more thumbs up for the brand. I'm very happy with the Arcteryx items I've got. Yes they're expensive but are very robust ... as others have said. Sizing is a little on the large side but then so am I
If you ever find yourself in the Vancouver area they have a factory store where it's possible find some amazing bargains. My gf picked up a nice softshell for $40. You probably have to get lucky though as a lot of the stuff wasn't that heavily discounted.
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FAQ
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