I picked up an Alpha AR to ski with/use as a shell in summer.

What do you recommend for layering underneath for winter?

If you're on a budget, my bf and I have an everyday winter jacket from eddie bauer for only $120. keeps you warm up to -15 degrees. I believe it's 700 down. Keeps me warm no matter where i go. It's discounted at the mills since it's an outlet. Best investment i've made. Almost feels like one of my arcteryx jackets.

Men's Ignitelite Reversible Hooded Jacket | Eddie Bauer

Mine has white zipper lining.

for special occasions and when im travelling out east i wear mackage/moncler

Depends on what type of activities you’ll mostly use it for, but just for your daily winter wear around town, probably a Cerium LT or SL (if you’re only considering Arcteryx). The SL seems expensive for what it is, but I love mine. It’s weightless, and from October until now I’ve just been wearing a t-shirt or long sleeve underneath. If I throw a light hoodie on under, I can probably get through Vancouver winters... if I didn’t already have a whole collection of gear lol

But having said that, any high rated down jacket under a shell will do for most Vancouver winters. I also have a cheaper $160 down jacket from Mountain Warehouse that’s just as warm as my $400 Arcteryx Cerium SL. The Mountain Warehouse one just weighs 10x more (probably literally... I should weigh them)

I don’t recommend down for snowboarding because it gets way too warm. And moisture (snow, sweat) is down’s worst enemy. For snowboarding, snowshoeing, etc, I usually wear my Atom Lt or Atom AR underneath a shell and I’m good.

Not really looking for around town use, I have a couple of other insulated jackets (Helly Hansen, Mountain Hardwear) that I use for general purposes. Looking to use this for more outdoors activities, such as hiking, snow shoeing, skiing, and camping. I figure a synthetic fill such as an Atom LT or AR would be my best bet, but was wondering if there were other alternatives I could look at that might be cheaper.

The Arcteryx Atoms are their top selling jackets, probably because there’s nothing else in the tech wear market that’s quite like it. They kind of fit perfectly in this tiny little section of “not too light, not too heavy, warmer than a hoodie but lighter, not as bulky as a jacket, can still get wet unlike down”.

If you’re not picky about color, keep an eye out on Altitude Sports and Live Out There. They have good deals especially around Boxing Day with leftover stock. Lucky for me, I personally like the fun crazy colours. Getting bored of black lol

MEC, Mountain Warehouse, and Columbia probably have cheaper similar alternatives, but I’m not too familiar with them. (... because I worked with Arc and know people there.. not because I’m a brand whore.)

I'm definitely not picky about colour, I ordered this https://www.sportinglife.ca/p/246946...lpha-ar-jacket in the Blaze Orange :P Not looking to hide out in the woods, I think a bright colour is better in case you need to be spotted!

https://www.sportinglife.ca/p/245408...loft-60-jacket What do you think of this Norrona jacket? It seems to be a good value.

Damn, that’s a killer deal on the Alpha. Great buy!

I don’t really know much about Norrona to be honest. For that price I’d personally rather check out Columbia or Mec or Mountain Warehouse. Also their claim of it being “windproof” irks me, as nothing that light can really be windproof unless it’s goretex or something. But again, I don’t know that brand well and can’t really speak for it

Edit: it’s probably not a bad choice if you’re wearing it under a shell. Also check out North Face Thermoballs. You can catch them on sale for around the same price

I'm going to keep an eye out for the Thermoball jackets as they seem very interesting in design and material, but I just realized that Eddie Bauer makes some nice stuff as well - and often they have a 50% discount code running around.

Men's Ignitelite Reversible Jacket | Eddie Bauer this has a 40% discount currently.

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5052-2...rn-Lite-Jacket this is also looking pretty good as a deal from MEC. Though 100g insulation seems to be too warm, perhaps.

Oh yeah Eddie Bauer stuff is great. After all, they were the ones who invented the down jacket!

The only reason I stuck with Arcteryx (other than the fact that I worked with them and got discounts), is that for other jackets of comparable quality, it’s not a huge price difference, especially with their lifetime warranty.

That jacket you posted actually looks like a great deal with 40% off. I might actually pick up a few things with that discount for Christmas gifts. Thanks for that!

recently side-graded from my nighthawk blue arctyerx shell to the matador colour simply for visibility

I can ride at night without having to bring a visbility jacket/vest, and heaven forbid if SAR ever needs to find me in the bushes

when I did glacier-trekking in argentina... inside the shell I wore a Patagonia down vest with a fleece...worked pretty well

sorry i'm a brand whore through-and-through ahha

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...84&oe=5AD5DA5D

Bro. Your matador can't step to my madras. :lawl: :alonehappy:

https://images.arcteryx.com/F17/1350...ket-Madras.jpg

jk this color wasn't my first choice but I got it for next to nothing. Also. Fashion points don't apply when you're playing outside :nyan:

Ill give my opinion on the Atom LT.

When I want something easy, comfortable, packable, and versatile, I grab my Atom LT. I'm well into my 3rd year of wearing this jacket, doesn't look like it will be falling apart anytime soon. Works 10/12 months here in Vancouver as your go to jacket. On the mountains Ill use it as a layering piece.

I'm looking to get a hoodless Cerium LT as my next purchase.

may have said this already but Atom LT isn't warm enough for me in Vancouver during winter

the breathable sides loses too much heat...but obvs great when you're moving about

for just getting around town in the jan-mar stretch I prefer the marmot isotherm hoody...imo it's uglier than the atom lt though

yeah the LT needs another layer because of the sides. I have the AR as well, and the AR does fine. For the worst of winters, I layer my LT with my Cerium SL and it's almost too warm.

Agree with the above posters about the lt not being warm enough for Vancouver winters. I've had it for about 3 weeks now and find it not warm or wind proof enough.
Granted the first week I had it we had a wind storm. And lasts weeks fog made it feel extra cold when walking outside. But each time I had to switch back to my Costco down sweater and it performed better then then lt.

I'd probably get the cerium if I could do it again

To be fair, the Atom LT isn't really designed to be used by itself unless you're layering your tops.

Ended up getting the MEC Uplink jacket for $109 - Primaloft Gold 40g/sqm, so a bit lighter than the Northern Lite one I posted earlier (100g/sqm! way too hot), but it is very nice, soft feel, thin and slim-fitting. I am naturally warmer, so I think underneath the Alpha AR shell this will be just fine.

Will use it out skiing and report back.

this, the atom LT isn't nor shouldn't be considered anywhere near a winter jacket. it's a layering item in the winter at best. in the summer and fall though it's perfect with just a tshirt under but you'd definitely need a few more layers to be warm in the winter

Which one of you here is named Paul and wears a yellow Arc'teryx jacket?

https://www.straight.com/isawyou/171...arcteryx-asian

what do you guys think of the brand "peak performance" ?

I see some nice jackets they have

if you're speed walking its one of my favorites for not burning up & sweating...but yeah its not very great for windy days,those sides are just crazy breathable in high winds

if on a tight budget,the Gap Down puffer jackets on sale selling for 50 dollar's are quite warm,but not breathable at all compared to these other higher end winter jackets once you get moving..

Another vouch for the Atom LT hoody. I bought one for myself, one for my mom and one for a coworker when I had a 60% off coupon a few months back. Been my favourite jacket thus far, and I'm still wearing it in this weather right now. Add a scarf and a pair of gloves and I haven't felt the need a thicker jacket. It's the perfect jacket for Vancouver where it gets cold but not quite cold enough to need something warmer. Works great most of the year as other users have stated. I also bought a goretex shell for the rainy days or for layering on top if needed.

anyone own any "peak performace" stuff ?

I saw a light jacket at Winners but it was very pricy like $249.99 and the people working there says its a high end outdoor brand

Very expensive stuff, browsed some of their jackets and wares in Sweden. Stylish, and work appropriate, but man their prices were Canada goose level if not higher.

yes indeed but I can tell the quality is very good when I tried it on.

a very light jacket at winners cost $249 at winners, not sure who is going to buy that at winners...maybe if they sold it at atmosphere, It would have been sold