Fission SL Jacket - Men's

Comments about Arcteryx Fission SL Jacket - Men's:

Up in northern Minnesota winter survival depends on top gear. This is my security blanket.

Comments about Arcteryx Fission SL Jacket - Men's:

Although it’s seen only limited use so far (winter hasn’t quite begun in NJ… or CT for that matter), I thought I would describe my initial impressions of the Fission SL for the benefit of those interested (my apologies for the long windedness, but I think it’s useful info). First, this is clearly a minimalist piece using the very best materials – the feel is reminiscent of your typical ultralight down jacket (but with somewhat thicker shell materials). I have yet to see how this insulation performs in really low temps, but if its as good as claimed (coupled with the incredibly light weight) I see this design as cost justified (especially for backpackers or climbers). Obviously overkill for dog walking ;) and I can’t understand why someone would trash this jacket over cost if they have little or no real use for it (not to mention very limited experience with it – this is a Fall 2008 release). Clearly such a person either refuses to acknowledge the basic concept, or simply lacks an understanding of what Arcteryx appears to have accomplished here. The 2L ProShell is extremely thin (but supposedly durable) and the nylon interior resembles ripstop silnylon (for breathability, this would not be silicone treated nylon – also, the insulation appears to have been laminated to this inner shell giving it a spotty pattern if you look closely). Anyway, it feels great against the skin. For the weight, ThermaTek is seriously high loft insulation and seems to drape pretty well (allowing it to fill in free volume to prevent convective heat loss). It is also highly compressible - in fact, the entire jacket can be rolled up and packed into the hood with ease – a bonus for climbers and backpackers (and, compared with down, synthetic insulation is typically much better about regaining its loft after being compressed for long periods). I’d guess it could be stuffed below 6”x9” with a compression sack – try that with the Fission SV (at nearly twice the weight to boot). Sizing seems to match other Arcteryx gear and I like the look, not overly technical (in black at least) or poofy (but you can tell this is an insulated jacket). Other details: hem falls just below the belt (drops in the back), lacks Arcteryx’s typical collar/hood separation (I miss this a bit, but it’s to be expected given the ultralight design), main zipper looks to be an improved waterproof design (a bit easier to operate than the one on my Theta shell, and looks like a normal zipper), has pit zips (thankfully), pockets are not raised and are minimally insulated (but seem warm enough so far), hem drawstring works, but given the short cut, plan to insulate your mid-section when the temps really drop. For general use around town (25-40F so far) I’ve found the performance of this jacket to be excellent – much like down, it appears to remain surprisingly comfortable in a wide range of temperatures. Laminated insulation is said to help the body’s natural heat regulation, and I think I’m now on my way to becoming a believer. My first (and only significant) test run saw temps in the mid-30s under a steady rain. After several miles (moderate pace on even terrain) I was still very comfortable and completely satisfied with the rain performance of the shell. I then picked up the pace on a brief 500 foot ascent and quickly heated up. A little sweat later and I was feeling clammy. As has been my experience with all waterproof jackets, drying perspiration in steady rain is difficult (can sometimes be accomplished by resting for a while). Didn’t have time for a rest, but I found that the jacket dried out within 20 minutes after returning inside. I look forward to putting this jacket through its paces in REAL winter weather. All in all, thus far, commendable performance for a jacket so lightweight and comfortable that you barely know its there.

Comments about Arcteryx Fission SL Jacket - Men's:

I use the jacket to walk the dogs,winter hiking, skiing in cold weather. It's a nice jacket, but no better than the fission jacket or even the easy rider soft shell for my purposes. It's way overpriced.