Teton Tested: Arc’Teryx Lithic Comp Jacket and Pants

SASS Global Travel Guide, Pete Connolly, tests Arc'Teryx's Lithic Comp jacket and pants while in Japan. Lucas Moore photo.

Check out Arc'Teryx's Lithic Comp Jacket and Lithic Comp bib pant at evo.com today!

The Arc’Teryx Lithic Comp Jacket and Pant combo is a set up that would typically fall into most backcountry skiers’ dream gear category. This is mostly due to Arc’Teryx’s reputation for producing outerwear at the highest end of performance, but on top of that, the Lithic Comp kit was designed specifically for backcountry skiers and “uniquely created for ascents, descents and transitions.” The combination of these three is rare in any design process, as one is usually sacrificed for another. 

As someone who spends a lot of time on the skin track but favors the descent, I was stoked to get a chance to rock gear designed for exactly what I do. Arc’terx definitely had the right intentions and I had an all-out praise-fest review written just a couple of days ago – and then, durability reared its head as the one piece of the puzzle that was sacrificed.

On my 26th day in the  Lithic Comp Pant and my 10th day skinning, the crotch ripped out at the seams. Nothing more than my stride and some friction seemed to be the culprits. A hole in the crotch is not something you want when standing on top of a line covered in a meter of the freshest Japanese snow ready to invade your junk, and it is certainly not something you want in a pair of pants that cost $375.00 and were designed for exactly what you were doing. 

On the way up, I had my gloves in the cargo pocket and I think it tightened the pants across my thigh and increased the stress on the crotch area. That’s not much of an excuse, as the pockets are meant for use. Opening the leg vents also would have reduced this stress, but sometimes it’s snowing and windy. Pretty surprising failure coming from Arc’Teryx, especially after being more than impressed up until this moment.

When reached for comment, the guys at Arc'Teryx considered this "an isolated case," but they'd absolutely repair or warranty a new pair for this, as "Arc'teryx stands by its lifetime warranty." So, for what it's worth, they're not going to leave you hanging.

Other than that, here’s the review prior to this durability issue:

Lithic Comp Jacket

The Lithic Comp jacket provides extra space for the face and neck even when fully zipped. Lucas Moore photo.

The first thing I noticed when putting this jacket on was the weight. There is not a single extra or unnecessary piece of material involved in the construction. This means that it is lacking a little bit in terms of pocket space, but when in the backcountry, most of my gear is in my pack and pockets are reserved for a goggle wipe and maybe some Chapstick. When the  Lithic Comp jacket is combined with its sister pair of bibbed pants, there is no need for a powder skirt, so they left that out as well. Instead, the synching draw string mechanism around the waist is simple and effective. There are no pit zips, but the light-weight, breathable fabric made it so I didn’t miss having them.

This thing is made of a composite fabric that combines Arc’teryx-developed Trusaro™ softshell stretch and air permeability with waterproof GORE® Fabric Technology, giving it both high-end water resistance and breathability, while also giving it amazing comfort and stretch. This comfort, without the compromise of protection from the elements, is what separates it from the rest. At $450, it is at the higher end of the price scale–as would be expected from all Arc’Teryx gear–but with its additional comfort and thoughtful design, it becomes worth the extra spend.

Pete guides his SASS Global Travel clients through beacon training in Japan this January. Lucas Moore photo.

There's a couple of little things that help to make the jacket even better. First, the additional space in the neck and face when fully zipped mean that this jacket gives a place to duck down into while the wind is blasting, even without having the hood up. Second, the tabs on every zipper are easy to grab even with gloves, making transitions and pocket access easier. Third, despite the lighter-weight fabric, I have taken numerous tree branches to the shoulders at high speed with no tears.

The overall simplicity of the jacket means that it fits any style. I typically try to avoid looking like a Skittle, but the bright color options don’t just make sure that you pop out in that Instagram photo, but also make it much easier to be seen by your backcountry partners when on the slope, or in the event of an accident. Europeans will love the Green Boa option (pictured), whereas hippy telemarkers might opt for the Thalo Blue if you ever decide to retire that one covered in duct tape.

Lithic Comp Pant

Pete skis "the powder" in Japan this January in the Lithic kit. Lucas Moore photo.

These are, without doubt, the most comfortable pants I have ever skied in. The same hybrid, soft-shell/GORE fabric as the jacket is used throughout the most important areas for water resistance (entire front, seat, and cuffs), whereas the crotch and backs of the knees are a more standard soft shell for increased stride. They are insanely lightweight and, in keeping with the Lithic Comp philosophy, there are no extra pieces of flair.

The comfort is derived not only from the lack of weight and the stretchy material, but also the form-fitting bib that hugs your stomach above the waist without any zipper clasp of any kind. This might be an issue for the more portly among us, but you can use this as motivation on the skin track. The bib straps are easy to adjust, and the metal synch mechanisms hold the quality elastic in place so you don’t end up feeling like you are posing for Maxim with one strap slipped off your shoulder. As a tall man, I did find the length of the straps a bit frustrating as the size “large” barely gave me enough room to avoid full moose knuckle. The XL probably is a better call for those over 6’2”. Just remember that the XL will be made for wider-waist sizes as well.

Pete transitions from a skin up in Hokkaido. Lucas Moore photo.

There are a total of three pockets. Two cargo-style pockets on the upper thigh, and one zippered pocked with a seriously water resistant (but not waterproof) zipper on the right thigh. This helps to keep bulk away from the hips, but some additional room in the cargo packets would make them more versatile and avoid adding stress to the crotch joints. Leg vents run from the knee to the hip on the outside only, and provided plenty of breathability. The thinner, breathable fabric overall means more options for layering underneath rather than being relegated to only the thinnest long underwear or nothing at all.

These are, without doubt, the most comfortable pants I have ever skied in. They are insanely lightweight and, in keeping with the Lithic Comp philosophy, there are no extra pieces of flair.

One of the greatest assets this pant has to offer is the thick durable material used for the inner portion of the cuff between the boots. It is a woven canvas-like barrier that shows absolutely no sign of wear thus far. I am not a snowboarder, so I would imagine that they are not quite baggy enough to fit over both the boot and your high-back if that is your style, but they’re definitely a skier’s fit. The actual inner cuff that hugs the boot is simple and gives you the ability to synch it as tight as you want. It is not over designed with a snap that always comes undone over time or a hook for your boot buckle that only seems to act as something to step on while barefoot and grabbing the laces of your Sorels and changing in a parking lot.

In terms of style, these are not going to fit the bill if baggy is still your steez. But, they are not full-on, French mountain guide skinny either.

The Bottom Line

Pete skins out from a long day of skiing in the shadows of Japan's Mount Yotei.

Overall, I was blown away by the comfort and ability to withstand the elements of the Lithic Comp kit, but the durability did not stand up to the reputation on which Arc’Teryx has built their brand, although they did promise to fix or replace my bib pants in accord

Check out Arc'Teryx's Lithic Comp Jacket and Lithic Comp bib pant at evo.com today!

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About The Author

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stash member Pete Connolly

Mountain Ops Director and Ski Guide for SASS Global Travel in Argentina and Japan. Brand Manager the rest of the time. TGR Contributor on the review side of things. Graphic Designer when it fits in the schedule. LET IT SNOW.