Thread: Arcteryx Theta SV or AR Which is a better all around 4 season jacket

For a all season do everything jacket from summer to winter. Hiking, skiing, snowboarding, climbing, hanging out around town. Which would be a better jacket. Arcteryx Theta SV or AR?

I own both and i don't think you'd be comfortable with the SV in the summer. It's a much thicker material that works well in the winter months, but i think in the summer it would be tough. Just my 2 cents.

And they are excellent jackets, don't hesitate to get either.

Originally Posted by darkstar1974

I own both and i don't think you'd be comfortable with the SV in the summer. It's a much thicker material that works well in the winter months, but i think in the summer it would be tough. Just my 2 cents.

And they are excellent jackets, don't hesitate to get either.

Thanks darkstar
Now if you have to choose only one, which would you pick as your do it all Year rounder?

^^^ the AR.

AR = All around.

The AR depending on where you are.

Originally Posted by josef

The AR depending on where you are.

I live in NY and snowboard in VT maybe 10 times a year during the winter. I have for layering the Atom lt hoody and patagonia hoody down sweater. Will the AR be capable enough?

Originally Posted by Jtsang2000

I live in NY and snowboard in VT maybe 10 times a year during the winter. I have for layering the Atom lt hoody and patagonia hoody down sweater. Will the AR be capable enough?

The difference between these two jackets is almost nothing. 63 grams lighter material in parts of the jacket in the AR. At altitude with really nasty winter weather I would want the SV but for almost everything else the AR will be fine and I doubt you would notice the difference even if you had both and switched them back forth.

FWIW I like the Theta line of jackets because I am very tall but would not want to climb in them with a harness or back country ski in them. The extra length is great for resort skiing or walking around.

Are you saying you layer both the down sweater and Atom lt hoody under your shell? Personally if that is what I needed to stay warm I would switch to an insulated shell and only one of those layers. I also think 3 hoods would drive me nuts.

Originally Posted by JONG Q Public

The difference between these two jackets is almost nothing. 63 grams lighter material in parts of the jacket in the AR. At altitude with really nasty winter weather I would want the SV but for almost everything else the AR will be fine and I doubt you would notice the difference even if you had both and switched them back forth.

FWIW I like the Theta line of jackets because I am very tall but would not want to climb in them with a harness or back country ski in them. The extra length is great for resort skiing or walking around.

Are you saying you layer both the down sweater and Atom lt hoody under your shell? Personally if that is what I needed to stay warm I would switch to an insulated shell and only one of those layers. I also think 3 hoods would drive me nuts.

LOL...it would be one or the other, not two at the same time. Having 3 hoods would be a pain.

Would it be a problem for resort skiing with the lack of a powder skirt?

I have a powder skirt on my FlyLow jacket and I never even use it. I find them annoying but like most things YMMV.

Either of these jackets are going to be heavy in the summer. Not sure exactly where you are planning on using it but I spent a about an hour north of NYC and it was the hottest summer of my life. Something in Arcteryx's sl or fl line would be way better. Watch the online sites and you should be able to find both discounted so you may be able to pick up a winter and summer jacket.

If you have to only get one jacket for all year I would honestly say that I would rather go with one of the lighter waterproof jackets and layer up big time underneath than wear one of the pro shell jackets in the summer. Especially in a place like NY where it gets humid.

Originally Posted by josef

Either of these jackets are going to be heavy in the summer. Not sure exactly where you are planning on using it but I spent a about an hour north of NYC and it was the hottest summer of my life. Something in Arcteryx's sl or fl line would be way better. Watch the online sites and you should be able to find both discounted so you may be able to pick up a winter and summer jacket.

If you have to only get one jacket for all year I would honestly say that I would rather go with one of the lighter waterproof jackets and layer up big time underneath than wear one of the pro shell jackets in the summer. Especially in a place like NY where it gets humid.

Josef- Good point you made about the humidity in NYC, it does get pretty hot here during summer time but I would only wear it in summer if it pours. I was also thinking of picking up a Patagonia Torrentshell for the hotter summer months and have the Theta for the rest if the time. There are so decent discounts online for both jackets now.

You seem to have a decent budget, but if I were going to wear the jacket much in the warmer months and its only big winter tests were 10 or so days of snowboarding, I would get something nice but a bit cheaper than Arcteryx and make sure I had money for a nice light shell for summer rain use. Not only are the winter shells kind of warm, but if you're going to be using them for hiking, they take up a lot more space in a pack.

Edit: But yeah, if you can afford both the Theta and the Torrentshell, I'm sure that would make a good combo.

Originally Posted by MarcusBrody

You seem to have a decent budget, but if I were going to wear the jacket much in the warmer months and its only big winter tests were 10 or so days of snowboarding, I would get something nice but a bit cheaper than Arcteryx and make sure I had money for a nice light shell for summer rain use. Not only are the winter shells kind of warm, but if you're going to be using them for hiking, they take up a lot more space in a pack.

Edit: But yeah, if you can afford both the Theta and the Torrentshell, I'm sure that would make a good combo.

I prefer to stick with a quality brand nam like arcteryx for shells. Hoping to get the Theta AR at 30% off on eBay. I would never pay retail for it though.

Originally Posted by Jtsang2000

...Hoping to get the Theta AR at 30% off on eBay.

Just be sure it's not a fake:
http://www.google.com/search?rls=en&...eryx+fake+ebay

Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper

Just be sure it's not a fake:
http://www.google.com/search?rls=en&...eryx+fake+ebay

Thanks. I try to buy only from reputable eBay sellers and the ones I looked at appears to be legit.

a lightweight shell with layers underneath is the do all, IME G-tex doesn't breathe enough for winter touring where I use a softshell/puffy combo and for riding at the hill/sitting on a chair I just use some old heavy insulated MEC gortex with big pockets for stuff

I like the Arcteryx Beta shell because it is lighjtweight/minimalist/high cut so it works with a harness, I use it as a seakayak jacket , packed it in a bike pannier or in a pack it is super light but I really only use it spring summer fall

Let me throw in the Beta AR into the mix here, it also seems to have very good reviews as a do it all jacket. What's the experience here with this jacket. It seems to have a nicer cut in the length but would the length be an issue for snowsports?

mtn hardwear DryQ stuff is so much better than G-tex. check out their stuff. Very breathable. I still like G-tex proshell but its not nearly as breathable as the DryQ. nice for very cold weather app's though.

Originally Posted by Jtsang2000

Let me throw in the Beta AR into the mix here, it also seems to have very good reviews as a do it all jacket. What's the experience here with this jacket. It seems to have a nicer cut in the length but would the length be an issue for snowsports?

Like I say I prefer other jackets for snow sports but I like the lightweight minimalist alpinist cut/packability for biking kayakin hiking the rest of the year, but its all really nice stuff, I just washed/treated with spray-on / thro in dryer and the shell is still beading water after 9 seasons and arcterxy fixed the zipper for free

The arcterxy jacket & softshell ski pants & gortex shells I own are all pretty slim cut, fit is probably more of an issue than if the piece covers yer ass or not

Originally Posted by Jtsang2000

Let me throw in the Beta AR into the mix here, it also seems to have very good reviews as a do it all jacket. What's the experience here with this jacket. It seems to have a nicer cut in the length but would the length be an issue for snowsports?

The Beta AR is my back country skiing jacket. Mine is older and it is lighter and packs better Then the longer Theta or heavier SV jackets which is why I use it for BC skiing. The Beta length works better with a pack or harness. I prefer the Theta SV for resort skiing because the longer fit works for my height and it is also a warmer and more wind resistant jacket. I ski at Loveland or A-Basin and it can get cold and windy.

One other thing is that the Theta AR and the Beta AR are athletic fit and the Theta SV is expedition fit. The expedition fit is baggier and I prefer that for resort skiing so I can layer under it. I also prefer the more athletic fit of the AR series for BC skiing since I would either take it off on the skin up or layer over it if I got cold.

In case you don't know Theta jackets are cut longer and SV jackets are the heaviest and most wind proof. The fit athletic / expedition etc. seams to very at random but is posted on the web site.

YMMV.

Originally Posted by JONG Q Public

The Beta AR is my back country skiing jacket. Mine is older and it is lighter and packs better Then the longer Theta or heavier SV jackets which is why I use it for BC skiing. The Beta length works better with a pack or harness. I prefer the Theta SV for resort skiing because the longer fit works for my height and it is also a warmer and more wind resistant jacket. I ski at Loveland or A-Basin and it can get cold and windy.

One other thing is that the Theta AR and the Beta AR are athletic fit and the Theta SV is expedition fit. The expedition fit is baggier and I prefer that for resort skiing so I can layer under it. I also prefer the more athletic fit of the AR series for BC skiing since I would either take it off on the skin up or layer over it if I got cold.

In case you don't know Theta jackets are cut longer and SV jackets are the heaviest and most wind proof. The fit athletic / expedition etc. seams to very at random but is posted on the web site.

YMMV.

I don't do any backcountry skiing or boarding. The only hardcore action it see would be maybe 10 to 12 times in VT resorts and maybe a trip to BC whistler for 5 days a year in the winter. So I'm really looking for that shell jacket I can use year round. Preferably, I like to use only one shell jacket year round instead of getting another lighter shell for summer.

The beta AR looks pretty nice because it has the athletic fit with the slightly shorter hem. I already tried on the Theta SV and AR in medium, the SV is very long and roomy on my
5'10 180lb frame. Theta AR seems to be better fitted but still pretty long in length. That's were the Beta comes in as it has the athletic fit of the AR and features but with a shorter length.
I'm also looking at getting the acteryx Stinger or Theta bib to pair up with the shell for winter resort riding. I think this might compensate for the lack of powder skirt if I decide on the theta or beta.

Originally Posted by Jtsang2000

I don't do any backcountry skiing or boarding. The only hardcore action it see would be maybe 10 to 12 times in VT resorts and maybe a trip to BC whistler for 5 days a year in the winter. So I'm really looking for that shell jacket I can use year round. Preferably, I like to use only one shell jacket year round instead of getting another lighter shell for summer.

The beta AR looks pretty nice because it has the athletic fit with the slightly shorter hem. I already tried on the Theta SV and AR in medium, the SV is very long and roomy on my
5'10 180lb frame. Theta AR seems to be better fitted but still pretty long in length. That's were the Beta comes in as it has the athletic fit of the AR and features but with a shorter length.
I'm also looking at getting the acteryx Stinger or Theta bib to pair up with the shell for winter resort riding. I think this might compensate for the lack of powder skirt if I decide on the theta or beta.

I would get the Beta AR for all around all year use for your size. Just make sure you size it put your puffy under it.

I also have the Stinger Bibs and Theta SV. The Stingers are very baggy and the Theta very trim fit. Thre is another post recently on these.

It the quality differ from China vs Canada made? Looks like the new Beta AR is now made in China.

You ever been to Vancover ? I would say Vancover or china they would still be made by chinese people