Trajectory of Arc' Teryx

Jeff Stephens wrote:...My Atom LT Jacket is a super climbing piece.

Yup absolutely a great jacket and so is my Miura 30 pack. Misc other fleece items seem well made but not necessarily outstanding. So just like the other companies that make climbing/mountaineering oriented gear, they've hit a few home runs. Not sure why expanding their product line is a bad thing?

Back to further develop my "rant"

Most of your comments just contain the same slander from the same people.

Yes I can afford Arc' and have had four packs from them:
(Miura 50, Silo 18, Aerios 14, and the Cierzo 18)

Along with the packs I've owned two soft shells, 1 hardshell, as well as a dozen other items.

Quality: Some of the highest if not THE highest in the outdoor industry.

I have been satisfied with almost ever piece from Arc' besides a zipper issue on the Silo.

Peter is absolutely correct and really didn't understand what I was trying to say.

What my main concern is with Arc' Teryx is that since they were purchased by Salomon they're emphasis has turned away from designing top of the line climbing gear and into different markets which in the end I feel may lower the overall quality of every line. I truly am a bigger fan of my older Arc' apparel than some of the new products I've seen and used. One of my favorite aspects of Arc' gear is the cut. That has obviously decreased in my opinion.

This is just a rant and you free to disagree but the truly pathetic comments are:

• They can't make money off poor schmucks like yourself
• Spending money to look cool

Edit to add: Arc' Teryx has been my favorite backpack and apparel company for a long time now. I guess expanding isn't a bad thing I'd just ideally like to see them remain true to their roots.

What my next rant should be about is the decrease in quality of the MP forums.

milfred wrote: What my main concern is with Arc' Teryx is that since they were purchased by Salomon they're emphasis has turned away from designing top of the line climbing gear and into different markets which in the end I feel may lower the overall quality of every line.… I guess expanding isn't a bad thing I'd just ideally like to see them remain true to their roots.

I think your assumption here is unfounded.

The Miura line is relatively new, and they're fantastic crag packs. Likewise, the NoZone looks like a solid foray into mountaineering. The Kata packs look like great all-around winter solutions. The Altra line (incl. the more basic Axios) have gotten mixed reviews from hikers. Cierzo packs were just redesigned, and filled in a gap with a 25L pack.

There isn't much for Arc'Teryx to do with their hardshells. They're sticking with Gore. They just started using mixes of fabrics, which I estimate will be more popular than useful.

The new baselayer line is just as good as anything else out there. They've also expanded a bit into trail running, with a different cut. Good.

Softshells have come down in price to be more competitive, and they're still innovating. The Acto piece is sweet.

The insulated garments are again, price competitive, and different (re: better) than the other stuff flooding the market. Climbers the world over rave about the Patagonia Nano Puff, but the Atom LT fits better, looks nice, is just as warm, and can be used on the move thanks to its vents.

Packs are better across the board. Clothing is keeping the mainstays and adding pieces that are market leaders and not priced more than the competition. It looks, to me, like you're crying wolf as Arc'Teryx "waters down" their brand, believing quality will suffer. If that does happen, then I'll join you, but until then, I'll continue, as I always have, to pick up a select Arc'Teryx piece that is flat-out better than anything else.

Back to further develop my "rant"...

...What my main concern is with Arc' Teryx is that since they were purchased by Salomon they're emphasis has turned away from designing top of the line climbing gear and into different markets which in the end I feel may lower the overall quality of every line...

Ok, now that you've explained it better, I would tend to agree with your concern but not necessarily with the fact that it has already happened. I don't see a big saturation of products in the New England area so outside of Boston and the few token pieces REI stocks there's not much chance for hands-on evaluation. But from the pieces I have seen and from what the specs say, most of the new pieces they seem to be taking a design-forward technical approach to typically more fashion oriented standard products.

I guess time will tell which way this works out - more money could mean greater R&D effort or they might conclude there's more money in the fashion-at-the-expense-of-performance (TNF), which would be a shame.

i owned a cierzo 25 for about 2 months ... blew out the side on moderate multi (no chimneys or offwidth), they need higher denier fabric on the sides of that pack, or stop listing rock climbing as a recommended activity for it ... fortunately MEC gave me the money back

the no zone looks good except for one thing ... there isnt a full hipbelt on the 35s ... with a frame in there id want more than a webbing hipbelt if i was to load it up on approaches ... to compare the cilogear and my osprey mutant have an actual hipbelt ... for something comparable for much cheaper (uses a stiff foam backpanel instead of alum frame and has more durable fabric) i know plenty of people who use this happily for $45 ...

mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Packs/Da…

TNF, Patagonia, Prana, Arcteyrx, Marmot, Mammut (sorta).

I am pretty sure they have all seen a rise in popularity. Most of the users don't need super technical gear and want to pull off that "outdoor/professional look" that just happens to be in style and pulls in money. more so than the climbing community in ways. So that is what they focus on to expand business. No matter how much you want to turn away from business all companies make sacrifices which in the end help or hurt them in the end. Or maybe they just haven't been able to deal with merging well with existing employees which led to the change?

anyone who says TNF stuff is shit is pretty far off. they do make some very good stuff. but they also make very shitty stuff. But that is most companies. No one company is perfect.

I love ArcTeryx..... Their stuff is super high quality and lasts forever. Well throughout designs that are just right. Now with that said, yes it seems like most outdoor clothing companies are also aiming towards the city outdoor enthusiast, to the folk who feel the need to drive a Hummer in NYC. But think about it.....they want to make a buck just like everyone else. Good marketing strategy.

Now if they could only make their high performance bibs (alpha) in an XS!!!!!!

They are the only company out there who make a bib with a crotch zip. It doesn't make sense to make a bib without one, I mean really.... We all gotta go at some point and and the crotch zip is the only way to go while wearing a harness. Sigh!

milfred wrote:So I don't have much time to rant here but what the hell is up with Arc' Teryx these days. It seems like in the last year they've gone from making extremely high quality wear to designing shit that has nothing to do with climbing or practically anthing outdoors. Example A: Arcteyrx Blazer

$500.00 for a fuggin blazer?! Thats alot of gas money even at $5/gallon. I still have my Gamma MX hoody though, one of the best technical softshells ever made.

Ive had to replace a couple of items due to wear and tear and went with NW alpine. Nothing fancy, just good solid products at decent prices made in 'Merka. No urban foo foo to be found!

IDK any blazer that is gonna fit my 5-10" 135-140 frame and not have me looking like i am wearing my dads clothes is gonna cost a few $$$$

Would i but a Arcteryx blazer "hell no" Would i pay $500 for a blazer that fit right... "yes" if that is what i had to spend to get a good fit.

It is clear the market Arcteryx is trying to appeal to as any business interested in turning a profit and staying afloat would is broad ;)

I agree most everything they make is very well made and with a lifetime warranty is does not take a rocket scientist to figure out well better off spending $500 on a Arcteryx jacket than say any other brand other than Patagonia as at some point you are gonna need that warranty and it will no longer be in effect and that extra $100 spent 5 years ago is gonna be well worth it.

To be honest i only own three Arteryx products as i have found others brands to be more suiting to my needs and am not all that worried about warranty for whatever reason.

My Atom Lt is the most used piece of gear i have. I can wear it most days as a belay jacket ice climbing over my shell. I can also fit it under my shell on freezing ass cold days as a layer. I have worn it more than once riding my bike on a cold winters day. Shit yesterday i started off in it and was able to easily tuck it up under my jersey for the rest of my ride. I also own a Atom SV and those $300 gloves. The jury is still out on those gloves for what i use them for but for another i imagine they are a very well made thought out piece of gear. The Sv just as well made and useful as the Lt!!

APBT1976 wrote:I agree most everything they make is very well made and with a lifetime warranty is does not take a rocket scientist to figure out well better off spending $500 on a Arcteryx jacket than say any other brand other than Patagonia as at some point you are gonna need that warranty and it will no longer be in effect and that extra $100 spent 5 years ago is gonna be well worth it.

rei, mec, OR, eb, etc ... have just as good if not superior warranty ...

honestly, if you want a take it back for any reason just buy from the above... REI is legendary ... EB will take back a 20+year old coat and make you happy

people keep on harping about "warranty" about these $$$$$ brands ... the reality is that there are many "lesser" brands with a warranty that is as good, if not better

will dead bird give you a new jacket if yr dog destroys yours? OR did for someone, not that im saying you should make a habit of it ...

bearbreeder wrote: rei, mec, OR, eb, etc ... have just as good if not superior warranty ... honestly, if you want a take it back for any reason just buy from the above... REI is legendary ... EB will take back a 20+year old coat and make you happy people keep on harping about "warranty" about these $$$$$ brands ... the reality is that there are many "lesser" brands with a warranty that is as good, if not better will dead bird give you a new jacket if yr dog destroys yours? OR did for someone, not that im saying you should make a habit of it ...

Yes to some degree you are right. Purchase nay brand from Rei or Backcounrty and you have a warranty for life!

For me Arcteryx just happens to be very well made and fits my girly 135lb figure really really well.Something i am more than happy to pay top dollar for. Quality and fit = very important. At least to me.

fit is most important ... which is why i own a few dead birders ... purchased at the outlet for ~50% off of course ;)

quality ... meh ... i used to drink that koolaid till i blew out my 350a 3 times ... no better or worse than anyone else overall IMO

bearbreeder wrote:fit is most important ... which is why i own a few dead birders ... purchased at the outlet for ~50% off of course ;) quality ... meh ... i used to drink that koolaid till i blew out my 350a 3 times ... no better or worse than anyone else overall IMO

I am almost the exact opposite. I love the two arcteryx jackets I own for their functionality as well as build quality, they seem bomber and have held up to a lot of abuse.

On the other hand they have the worst fit out of any company. Generally too tight, too long of cuts, too big in the shoulders... Generally just a weird fit on me and I am a pretty normal 165lbs 5'11 guy.

Their jackets look weird on everyone and my friends and I have joked about that in the past. Just weird cuts, not sure who they are sizing these for.

Does anyone know if they're actually using their biggest brains for technical products on designing their casual products? The other brands that have very diverse lines such as TNF or Patagonia have completely different teams designing their 'urban exploration' vs their highest end technical lines. If they're following that trend (they probably are) this rant is irrelevant and you just need to recognize what's technical and what's not, then make your purchases accordingly, regardless of brand...

Peter Kaminski wrote:Does anyone know if they're actually using their biggest brains for technical products on designing their casual products? The other brands that have very diverse lines such as TNF or Patagonia have completely different teams designing their 'urban exploration' vs their highest end technical lines. If they're following that trend (they probably are) this rant is irrelevant and you just need to recognize what's technical and what's not, then make your purchases accordingly, regardless of brand...

+1

Not sure why you think diversification means a company is going downhill. Did you think Apple was going downhill when they started making things other than computers? I'm sure every iPod/iPhone/iPad/AAPL stock owner would disagree with you...

I don't know what the problem is. The additional products didn't replace any of the technical pieces. If you don't like it don't buy it. If you do buy it use it. Few people will ever use any of this gear beyond it's design intent.