Why is Arc'teryx so Expensive? 

This video never got to the core question of "Why is Arc'teryx so expensive"? I must admit, I was excited by the strong start to this video, where you were setting the stage with an industry overview and obtained a couple of Arc'teryx jackets (that I assumed you would be performing some testing on, or even just detailed commentary at a minimum). However, you veered off into a directionless tangent of making the point that yes, Patagonia, Arc'teryx, The North Face, and similar brands are striving to make long lasting jackets in a fast fashion consumer environment, but never tied that to a "so what?". I was disappointed that by the end of the video you didn't end up looking into why Arc'teryx is priced higher than it's competitors aside from a vague statement about it's innovation and built to last quality, though your opinion without evidence is near meaningless given you've never owned an Arct'eryx product yourself. I just wanted to raise this as a piece helpful feedback point for your future videos, as taking your audience on a 9:32 journey without much insight is an unsustainable way to grow your channel. All the best!

I was issued their bags in the US military and used their LEAF stuff on missions in the Middle East. Love their prods. They stand up to whatever you throw at them. Worth it if you can afford it.

Arc'teryx on me

I bought a jacket from them in about 1990, I wore the thing for 10 years and it was the only jacket that I owned so I wore the hell out of it... and I did a lot of hiking in it as well. As you can guess after 10 years the thing was in pretty bad shape, still wearable, but the "waterproofness" of the jacket was faded and there were quite a few other tiny problems... I sent it to them to see if there was anything that they could do to fix it, I didn't expect them to do anything, it was almost a lark to send it to them... and they sent me back a new jacket for free... after going ultralight in my hiking equipment I stayed away from having a shell jacket for over 10 years and just used light weight ponchos... but this year I went hiking in the rockies for a week and decided to buy an arcteryx jacket again, got it on sale for $400 which is a hefty price for me, but I went for it. During the hike we had 3 days of torrential rain and hail that we had to hike through... It may sound exagerated to say that the jacket probably saved my life, but it did... and I will probably be keeping it for another 10 years... lastly in comparison, I have paid $300 for a Patagonia shell and $270 for an OR shell, both were completely useless against rain after 2 seasons... Arcteryx is expensive, but worth it.

9 mins of rambling completely unrelated to the click bait video title.

I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for, Acrteryx being a prime example of this. Family members and friends of mine are ACMG guides, all of whom have been using dead bird stuff since the company started and stand behind it. I have backpacks and pieces of kit going on over 10 years old that have worm well with the right care. These same items are used almost daily, to this day. Among this gear are items that were made off shore, I honestly cannot tell the difference in quality or fit of pieces made in Canada Vs out east. A good example of this is my Beta LT, a jacket I bought nearly 5 years ago. The initial cost is large, but it is an investment that will last you a long time. It is my one and only shell jacket. I wear it ski touring, around town, hiking and always have it on hand. It has holes, the cuffs are dark from wear but it is still as water proof as the day I bought it- as long as you do a yearly wash with tec wash ;) Bashing people in MEC for being posers is pretty rude. There is nothing wrong with camping in campgrounds or hiking on trail. It takes small steps to become more of a hardcore outdoors person. And honestly doing challenging accents or sleeping in a bivy while you and your gear gets soaked is an adventure. But it also sucks a lot at times and sometimes it's nice to do something that's more chill. Like tent in a quiet campground. We should be encouraging people to get outside and enjoy the scenery, even if it's only a couple times a year. We all lead busy lives! I think it is especially important in a place like Vancouver where so many people are disassociated with the outdoors and how things work. Many there do not even know where their food comes from yet ridicule those that choose to chase game. BC is an incredible province and if everyone got to experience it I think a lot more people would be proactive in taking care of it. /end rant hahaha

Arcteryx is a great company that does stand by their products. I owned a jacket from them for four years before the inner liner started to wear away. The seam that kept the outer shell and inside layer had come loose and I went to their store to have it repaired. Before I could even ask how much it would cost me, the store clerk said it was the companies fault and asked me to pick out a new jacket in the same price range as a replacement. This was after FOUR YEARS of already owning that first jacket. Built to last may be an overstatement, but customer service to last was proven to me.

Okay, i usually dont comment on videos because i feel like i wont make any difference, but i have to say something i feel like the video missed out on. I am 23 year old male, have around 200 days outdoor on trips each year. I love spending time researching gear and i work in a small, expensive high end alpine store which profit from the fact that customers get great advice on gear. For this to be possible we all have to test the gear we sell so we comfortably can stand behind the product recommendations. From what i have experienced so far, the high end part of Arc'Teryx has a much higher standard than most other brands in same price range. The differences are not something you will see right away, atleast not most people, but rather what comes to sight after some time. Here we are talking about small details like how often they change the needle on the machine during production. When you use a needle over a periode of time, the tip will wear out, and therefore leave a slightly bigger hole. The difference is extremely small, but can be enough to compromise the jackets properties after it has been used for some time. My point with this is not at all to sell the most expensive gear to everyone, but rather buy gear for what you are actually are going to do with it. You wouldnt buy a winter jacket for the summer because it is a "better" jacket, so why would you have a jacket that can scale mount everest when you are walking around in some city with 0 degrees celsius. So before you enter a store, be honest with yourself about what you are going to use the gear for, and then buy something that suits those needs. Then you could rather spend the money you have just saved on one more trip with your kids. (This post does not only apply to Arc'Teryx)

"How will I use this?" and "Do I already have something similar that serves the same purpose?". Such important questions we should be asking ourselves before consuming.

Because it’s hard asf duh

this is why i love shopping the pre loved market these items last forever and i can find them for half the price with plenty of life still in them

Every time I try on something made by Arc'teryx, I'm surprised by how well it _fits_ me and by how comfortably I can move in it. In my eyes, that's always been the feature of Arc'teryx clothing that distinguishes it from the baggier, boxier clothing I've worn from REI, Columbia, The North Face, etc. that bunches up in awkward places. To me, that alone makes it worth about 50% more. It's like Arc'teryx is the only outdoor clothing company that has figured out how the human body is shaped and how it moves.

You have a Beta SL Hybrid jacket (the black shell) and an Atom LT hoody (the blue jacket), NOT a Beta AR jacket OR a Proton LT hoody. You clearly didn't do your research because you don't even know what you actually have in front of you and you don't know what you're talking about. Many people buy Arc'Teryx because of multiple factors such as the fit of the jacket is much better than any North Face/ Eddie Bauer jacket/ Fill in the blank brand are. Arc'Teryx also pays incredibly close attention to detail in their jackets and they are designed in superior ways to other brands, they offer clothing that is more like equipment and that equipment can't fail for some people or it could be life or death, they are genuinely built to last, and they have a superb warranty system where people frequently send in a 20 year old jacket that has been used and abused and they receive a brand new jacket in the mail from Arc'Teryx. That's buying a product that's meant to last - and last for life. Also, Arc'Teryx frequently goes on sale at places like Moosejaw, REI, etc. so you don't need to ever pay full price for an Arc'Teryx item. I've seen people pay full price on an Eddie Bauer jacket that is inferior to an Arc'Teryx jacket I have and I paid way less than they did. If you want the best, buy once and cry once, and buy Arc. If you don't need it/ don't want the best, spend your money elsewhere. There are other brands that are sufficient for most people. Not hating, just saying you need to actually do your research before you make a video making it seem like you know the product, company, and industry when its obvious you don't and you don't even use outdoor gear.

Most people in the film industry in Vancouver I work with wears Arc'teryx. Everyone LOVES THEM for their quality. Since when filming outside in the rain and cold for 12 hours/day or more, you really want to keep dry and warm.

I bought a crazy expensive Arc’teryx jacket after having to be saved after 24 hrs in a snow blizzard by Search and Rescue and all my clothing gear failed. I would gladly do it again. Most all of my backpacking clothes are Arc’teryx now. It is a complete hit to my budget, but their clothes are extremely well made (and a lot of research /technology goes into their design). I will not skimp on gear that could possibly save my life out their on trail.

As a big fan of Arcteryx (fit, durability, design & also sticking to the 'we will fix it' promise), I'll buy Arcteryx over virtually anyone else. We visit Iceland regularly (we also live in Switzerland... more mountain sports) and go for many days into the back country. It's one place that will kill just about any gear. I've had gear damaged there and when I sent it to Arcteryx for repair, they commented that it was long past the warranty period but fixed it anyway. Sure, Patagucci does a lot for the planet but, for me, their on again/off again love/hate affair with various sports, colors, etc., not to mention the way it fits me.... or not (usually a lot like a plastic bag).... again, score one for Arcteryx. If you don't want to buy Arcteryx, fine, don't buy it. Buy what you like or what works for you. In any case, I've got many pieces of Arcteryx gear that are over a decade old and still get a lot of love and use.

Love their kit and have several bits BUT I've never paid full price, only brought stuff when its been on sale, this is the advantage to a company that often brings out new models! Definatly daft for the wannabes in the high street but in an Alpinism setting where weight is actually a big issue (bivi kit, rope, rack etc) Arc' is worth the extra pennies IMO. Also the quality is important in an environment where a stuck/broken zip or ripped open seam could realistically kill you. But for anything less it is kinda overkill.

Good video, I like the point about “Weekend Warriors” I’m in no way Gatekeeping but I live in The middle of nowhere Northern Canada, most of the rugged trappers, hunters, and farmers favour hard use cheap items like Walmart coats, and Military surplus. The most expensive piece of gear these people typically buy is a jacket or pants from Carhartt. (We typically call Carhartt gear “Farmer Gucci”)

Interesting video concept. Nice to see a review of a product by the type of person that most products are used by (unless you’re also a Mount Everest scaling adventurer). I’ve used Arc’teryx, Patagonia, TNF, and MEC. I’ve lived in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands. I can say living in the Netherlands taught me that Arc’teryx is worth it. In most North American areas people drive for their commuting. But in the Netherlands it’s mostly by bike and train. There is not a day that it rains that I can avoid being outside for an extended period. TNF has only lasted a few years in that climate, for example. But the Arc’teryx is still going strong. So it also depends on lifestyle, not necessarily if you’re going to go on an expedition. To be comfortable and dry showing up to a concert after riding a bike with a cello for 5km, I am glad I have the 20% of clothing that goes beyond what someone needs on average. I got my Arc’teryx Andessa Jacket from the previous season brand new on eBay. So while Arc’teryx is expensive it’s worth it for some people and there are ways to make it more affordable.

Watching this on a $70 used smartphone wearing a $900 Arcteryx shell. Priorities. I work in some NASTY weather and arcteryx has never let me down.

Bought an Arc'teryx jacket about 7 years ago. Can't remember the exact model, but while it was expensive, their prices have gone up significantly since then. It has been on around 10 week long backpacking trips and is my daily rain jacket on my weekday bike commutes to work through Vancouver rain. Just finished a month long hiking trip with it in September. Through all of this it has performed amazingly. It's even held up to the numerous bike accidents I've had over the years. Two years ago, after a long hiking trip with a lot of rain, I noticed that the material where my pack shoulder straps sit had started to show a just barely visible amount of wear. I mentioned this while visiting the Arc'teryx North Van outlet with a friend and was overheard by one of the staff who told me that I should make a warranty claim. It was so small that I was a little dubious, but I showed it to their warranty guy and he said that it would definitely be covered, so I left it there to see what they could do. A couple of days later I get a phone call saying that they can't fix it but that they'll give me a new jacket instead and that I can get anything off their site that is $700 or less (or pay the difference), which is around twice what I paid for my jacket. So that's how I ended up with my current Beta AR (as shown in this video). And at least IMO, rain jackets have all looked the same for a long time so I can't see myself getting bored of this one and buying another. It does make me laugh a little seeing how many people wear these jackets in Vancouver that have likely never hiked more than a few hours in their lives.

And then you have military gear, that just doesnt look very good (but then again outdoor gear looks horrible as well, and costs a ton), that is simple and works. And is cheap, and it REALLY lasts, because its made for government, so not someone who falls for cheap advertising.

In the UK Arc'teryx are having to lower their prices due to other brands such as Mountain Equipment offering jackets of equal to above quality of Arc'teryx at a much lower price, sometime Mountain Equipment costing half as much. I've had a Gore-tex Pro Mountain Equipment jacket for 10 years and it has never let me down. Winter mountaineering in Scotland, Ice climbing and cross country skiing in Norway, Hiking in the Lake District in England, mountain biking in Wales, multiple canoeing trips and many more outdoor activities. I would choose Mountain Equipment over any other brand when it comes to waterproof jackets, their patented hood design is simply the best on the market.

Worn Arc'Teryx for over 14 years. The hipsters, techie nerds and soy bois have ruined the brand. They still make the best stuff and I still wear it. But, it has sadly become a status symbol and this guy proves it.

Hey, nice video. I've been subbed ever since the Patagonia video popped up on my suggestions a few months back. I have an Arc'teryx jacket. You're right that they are geared towards extreme sports enthusiasts. I have to say though, that segment when you were in MEC was quite pretentious. I bought an Arc'teryx jacket because I wanted something that would last the harsh Vancouver Island winters. I was in college when I first bought the jacket, a couple of years later I noticed that my backpack had worn a small area through the Goretex layer of the jacket. I sent an email to the company, they asked for some pictures and the next day I got an email saying a new jacket was being shipped off. That's why I buy jackets like Arc'teryx, knowing they will be able to keep you dry when they say they will. If they don't, the company goes above and beyond in fixing the issue.

Show IG pics of operators wearing your stuff = all outdoorsmen and survivalists want it, and will pay anything for it. My army issue field jacket was made in the US, works great, survived 15 years, and goes for about 100 bucks. 700 for a jacket? Never 🤣

You sure talked a lot and said a bunch of nothing, especially about the actual Arc'teryx jackets.

You're incorrect, Arcteryx has nothing to do with improving GoreTex or any other fabric. GoreTex is made by Dupont Chemical who doesn’t need Arcteryx in any way. The reason GoreTex garments are expensive, are due to two factors, 1. it’s impossible today to obtain a GoreTex license and 2. a license originally cost millions of dollars which is reflected in pricing. There are many newer fabrics that are actually more desirable and technically better but GoreTex is a household name-brand and they are not. Arcteryx is expensive due to materials used, which are GoreTex and Canadian Goose down, Coreloft and ThermaTek insulations which are the most premium and Schoeller Textiles, a Swiss company who make stretch soft shells like Wb-400 and Keprotec, a Cordura like fabric used it high wear areas like inner ski pants cuffs. Arcteryx uses these same materials year and year. Arcteryx spends the majority of time engineering garments for fit and maneuverability more so then other brands. They have a lot of innovation like gusseted armpits and crotch in pants for a more comfortable fit and range of motion. But they also had setbacks, when Arcteryx was made in Canada, they had frequent problems with sizing accuracy from batch to batch. When Salomon bought them, they moved manufacturing to China which is not a sign of lower quality, most top-end manufacturers produce garments in China. Just for the fun of it, If you want an example of high-tech versus old tech GoreTex, look at Toyota’s Gelanots, which is a series of different nano-coatings that encapsulate fibers to make fabric completely waterproof, highly breathable and stain proof. Most people hate that GoreTex is so noisy, so Gelanots coatings and membrane offer the same performance but are more expensive. As the price comes down we will see more of it. It’s very exciting. Ref. RU-vid videos for Okstal nanotech shirts, Nanoparticle shirts.

Am I the only one who think this "made to last" mantra is all a lie. Exhibit A: I bought a freakin expensive waterproof jacket. Over a few years, it has holes in it, the outer layer is abraded and water saturates the outside of the jacket in a matter of minutes. Washing it in DWR "refresh" product will renew the DWR for one use. The warranty does cover the holes in the jacket, but now my jacket have a bunch of patches all over the place. The warranty service also took 3 months and it cost me close to $50 for shipping to and from. I think you can probably patch it yourself for less than $50 and it'll take less than 3 months. I know they are trying their best, but performance and durability are conflicting requirements a lot of the time (e.g. light but durable). Who has a really good warranty repair experience with recently with a manufacturer? A lot of them just replace it, which defeat the purpose made to last.

i live in sweden and spend most of the day out side i had my cheap jacket for 5 yers it was completly destroyd now i got a new expansiv jacket i will haw it for more then 10yers.

They're jackets are unreal for climbing thoooooo

I'll take the affordable less "worried about the planet" jacket any day... then when it craps out in a few years I just get another one with more modern features... a lifetime jacket is eventually worth way less when the technology is no longer relevant... were in a fast moving society... now that does not mean I want to leave the largest carbon footprint... but $1000 for a jacket... get a grip...

I've had cheaper Columbia and North Face jackets wear out on me (pockets ripping, tears on the backside from wearing a backpack). I have not had these issues with my Arcteryx products yet. I learned not to buy cheap crap anymore that becomes useless after a few years.

If their making a jacket every year then they aren't really trying to save the planet from having more clothes

I used to buy new but for the last while I’ve been looking for used outdoor gear, it’s amazing how much is out there at a fraction of the price!

Just found one of these jackets mispriced at a thrift store for 10 dollars in great condition , so pumped , even fits perfectly

I love Arc'teryx. I work in industry, and the industry discount makes it cheaper to buy them compared any other brands. They make it worth it to buy their gear. I have a 3 year old Arc'teryx shell with no signs of wear with year round use. That's 50+ days of back country skiing, and 40+ days of outdoor climbing every year, in addition to daily wearing it for 3 years. If I didn't have that discount, I still wouldn't hesitate to buy it assuming it was on sale. Their gear is bombproof for the right user. Once you wear a harness over top of your jacket, load up your harness with gear, throw on a backpack and do up the belts - you will notice the difference in designs of jackets/pants very quickly. Obviously, if you're using their gear in the city as a $700 raincoat it's overkill I'd rather have a $10 umbrella that covers my legs too. A lot of people think that their "Lifetime Warranty" mean that they never have to buy a jacket again. No that's just wrong. Nothing lasts forever. If you get a hole, rip, etc in it that's your own fault, you're not getting a new jacket for free. They cover any manufacturing defects associated with the item, like seems coming loose. It doesn't cover wear and tear. Any lifetime warranty is for the useful life of the product. A jacket is going to look very different after a year of use when you look at an urban commuter vs. a mountain guide, any company would go broke if mountain guides were coming back every year for new jacket warranty replacements. Hell if they did that a $2000 jacket would be worth it after a few years. Granted if you are using it for commuting it should last forever if you take care of it. Some of their gear is just mumbo jumbo over priced garbage, but the tried and true'd gear is worth it. If you want to buy it, then buy it. If not then just buy something else. At the end of the day, any Gore Tex shell from any manufacturer is just an expensive garbage bag.

what??? just wasted my time

Don't over look Outdoor Research, great gear for the money.

What a waste of time... no answer to the actual question, no testing, one big tangent...

Arc'teryx garments are just status symbols for urban pretenders. Save your money.

Used to be made in Canada was hi quality built a name then moved production to China now it’s crap with no more lifetime warranty...thanks Arc’teryx

almost 10 minutes and so little information!

Great video that I always come back to, which had me wondering if you have done and can do a video comparing other competitive jacket companies like Patagonia, Arc’teryx, and a new company Montbell? I am looking for a really good down jacket that I wouldn't mind hearing your thoughts on the matter. thanks as always

I’ve had this question since the day I saw Arc’teryx. But I fell in love with their products at first sight. I bought a sweater made of Polartec fleece but the outer material was in a knitted design. I travelled with it for one year. After a year, the material had quite significantly deteriorated. The ability to provide warmth was much lower. And it had so much of those woolly balls all over. I removed the balls and wore it for almost another year. After that it was practically not warm any more. I gave it away to charity after that because it could no longer serve my needs. So... built to last? I wish.

So basically video was bullshit. More of a promo .Plot twist. Eddie Bauer guarantee 4 life.

Love wild camping and hiking. I like to vary my brand choices which mainly include Rab, Mountain Equipment, Montane & Fjallraven. Not many are super cheap but all are of a high standard and serve me well 👍

REI is a cool store, but the kind of people they're marketing to is a bit of a disgrace to the outdoors ;p I've been camping and hiking since I was a tiny child with my family using only cheap ass Walmart gear. It's just about getting outside and spending quality time with people, unless you're mountaineering up an icy mountain I guess..?

Last year I bought an Arc’teryx Sabre ski jacket and pants for ski touring, for a total of 1000€. I do not regret the investment! I was baffled by the quality of these pieces of gear. The construction is flawless and the finishing ridiculously amazing. The fit is near to perfect too (just large enough for layering but just slim enough and stylish). Perhaps it’s too much for me, I’ll admit it. I’m a regular guy and skiing is just a hobby. However in the middle of the storm, when snow turned into rain and harsh winds started to blow I kept enjoying it. Wearing Arc’teryx GoreTex products is like having an armor, watching the elements go wild on you and still feeling comfortable! While I would have normally returned to the hut to take shelter, with my Arc’ jacket and pants I was able to continue enjoying the mountain and skiing much longer. If you have to face the elements and have a sufficient budget, Arc’teryx should be your go-to company. They simply make the best of the best mountaineering gear out there.

Unless you are regularly climbing 6000+ meter peaks, performing antarctic expeditions, or some similar level of outdoor expedition Arc'teryx is completely overkill and unnecessary. Outdoor Research, Rab, Mammut, Black Diamond etc. make similarly engineered products at a 20-50% discount and have similar customer service and quality. I have never seen the point in spending 50% more money for 5% more quality (which is usually put in dubious places anyway). Then again I'm not doing any of the previously mentioned hardcore adventuring; but neither are 90% of hardcore Arc'teryx fans. I see a lot of people mentioning guides wearing almost exclusively Arc'teryx and that is pretty warped. I have climbed Rainier, Hood, Adams, Shasta, Orizaba, and other peaks along with numerous colorado winter 14er's and have seen a pretty good mix of companies. Sure there is a large representation of Arc'teryx but it is intermingled with about a half dozen other great companies as well. To be honest I see the most Arc'teryx on rich noobs that you can tell bought $3,000 of gear the night before and barely have the tags off. Overall, people should wear what they like and what keeps them safe and warm on the mountain. To say that Arc'teryx is the only gear "serious mountaineers" use is bull. It is high quality gear no doubt but it's price tag is more of a reflection of great marketing than superior quality.

I've use my beta shell for four years in the swiss alps and it's never let me down. I consider the purchase worthwile IF you take care and hadle it properly

I think you meant to say analogy not metaphor

I own a fair few items by Arc'teryx and Norrøna. I love all of them and do not regret the investment. Some of them I've been wearing for over 5 years now and they still perform as if they were new. I would say that these items are only worth the expense if you are genuinely serious about your outdoor pursuits. And I don't mean day hikes down your local nature trail, I mean mountaineering, ski touring and expeditions in remote parts of the world with extreme weather. If you spend at least a month or two in the wilderness each year, you will not regret the investment. You will not notice the benefit of these items if you use them to go to Starbucks or to walk the dog... a less expensive item would feel exactly the same.

As a 60+ YO lifetime outdoor athlete who has used gear by many of the major manufacturers, I can assure you that there are differences. Arcteryx gear has superior patterning, somehow a closer fit for less flapping while also providing better freedom of motion. The hoods fit and work perfectly. Materials are a good balance of light weight versus durability. Lots of thoughtful but subtle detailing, like bar tacking and reinforcing patches at stress points. 4 Arcteryx jackets have been essential and heavily used pieces for me - a rain shell (Sawyer), insulating mid/outer layer (Atom LT), 3-season aerobic shell (Incendo SL), and winter aerobic shell (Trino). These would be a waste of money if just worn to the mall, but they make a real difference on long days covering a lot of ground in tough conditions. High purchase price, but a $100 jacket that gets worn 20 times is higher “cost” than a $250 jacket that gets worn 200 times. On Cost: Goretex from any manufacturer is really expensive. Only buy where really needed. Just one of my Arcteryx pieces is Gore, and it’s a “value” b/c used very frequently, at work as well as play.

Arc'teryx is good kit, you can get cheap jackets and trousers but they don't last five minutes if you take them climbing or into the mountains. In response to a comment below about serious outdoor enthusiasts not buying 'arc'teryx or patagucci', my two favourite bits of clothing are a pair of arcteryx softshells and a patagonia midlayer, I've had both for 4 years, they've done hundreds of days on rock and ice, kept me warm, cool, and although the trousers have a few holes from crampons, both are still holding up really well. It's true that cheaper alternatives would do, maybe sacrificing breathability or weight, but I think it's worth the money when you're three days in, not covered in sweat and hauling around a couple of kilos less than your mate.

Arcteryx is so expensive because they like making a HUUUUUUGE profit! End of... Not saying their jackets are bad, they are very good, but there are other brands on the market that manufacture just as well, use more expensive materials throughout, and are cheaper! You are paying for a label, let's face it, a very fashionable label. Great product, great looks, great marketing, and completely overpriced. But there will always be a market for this type of brand. People with cash like to have the skellie logo on their stuff. And who am I to criticize that? Everyone can do what the hell they like with their cash. Many years ago TNF was considered THE most techy and best designed product for hardcore mountaineers and climbers. Then they became fashionable, brought out a huge cheaper collection for your average Joe and now who remembers all their heritage as a brand? They are a mainstream clothing brand that you can buy almost anywhere. The techy brand is now Arcteryx, TNF is for the commoner. It's all a cycle, in a few years some other brand will take over the top spot as the brand to be seen in (when you go to your local pizza joint or are hanging out drinking a beer).

Good job. Yep, I believe that one is better off buying a quality jacket that does it's job, even if it's 100% or 200% more expensive than a lesser jacket. That said, seems to me like Arc'Teryx, and other brands (Kanuk) are inflating prices by 600% to 800%. That's EXCESSIVE. They're counting on the snob factor. You can get very good quality for more reasonable prices. So... in essence you're paying too much for a good item.

It’s good stuff but the truth is companies can choose what they charge. People decide what they want to pay. The more expensive the item the more of a luxury signal it sends. This signalling is very obvious in Vancouver BC. Especially with the wealthy Chinese community. There are so many exotic cars in the city that they are as common as a Honda Civic. Now if everyone owned a Lamborghini, then no one would care about a Lamborghini. Scarcity breeds value. The more rare the more value. Arc’teryx fills a gap which could be considered the adjacent possible. They are expensive but if you really wanted one your mind would justify the purchase. The problem is that novelty only lasts so long. You’ll forget you spent $700 on a windbreaker and you mind will drift to another item. Get off the treadmill.

"Probably" the most hardcore? Hmm... How about some European (mostly, Scandinavian) brands like Norrøna, Haglöfs, Bergans, Fjällräven (for natural fiber lovers), Carinthia? By the way, their products cost as much as Arc'teryx stuff, but taxes and salaries in these countries (especially, Norway and Austria) are incomparably higher than in Canada. Snugpack clothing made in the UK is visibly cheaper. Another simple question: how many hard shell jackets made by Arc'teryx have a storm flap, not just an exposed "waterproof" zipper (say hello to wind and rain/wet snow)? That's a must-have thing for a "hardcore" expedition-grade jackets.

For something so expensive, don't understand why a lot of arcteryx's GoreTex jackets are currently made in China.

I think you got Arc'teryx and The North Face mixed up. Arc' doesn't market to urban millennials with clean finger nails. They just sell their stuff at REI and MEC. And very little of it at that. TNF is different. It's also an inferior product. Patagonia falls under that banner with some of their stuff too. People who spend real time in the wilderness, like me, have valid reasons for buying Arc'. At least one or two critical pieces. And "built to last" is one of those reasons. You're clearly not an outdoors guy but you can probably understand that gear failure can be a make or break. And if you do this shit a lot, 'breaking' has to be taken off the table as much as possible. Arc' is also pretty much the only gear company in North America that hasn't gone to "American sizing." They don't think it's important to appease fat people. Their stuff is for athletes. Where Arc'teryx is smart is they speak to that audience. The posers come along on their own. See someone with an Arc' piece with Tenacious Tape on it? That's a backpacker, climber or mountaineer. See a clean piece on the street? Feel free to giggle.

Levi, the ''Built to Last'' mantra is bollocks. I fell for the lie that is Arc'Teryx. It's a case of the Emperors new clothes (pardon the pun). I bought a bunch of their gear and even wear it in some of my videos and I honestly find it overpriced crap. Having returned two jackets and having chatted with the staff at Atmosphere, I believe Arc'Teryx has harsh quality tiers. The lower to mid priced items (which are grossly overpriced) don't come close to the quality of their higher ticket items. In fact my jackets were not made in Canada at all and have failed on me in the field. I will say though that Arc'Teryx has the best looking outdoor gear and I reckon that, coupled with the 'Cult of Arc'Teryx' mentality that Apple has enjoyed for years, is the reason why most people get fooled. I learned my lesson. Rant over :)

I was an early adopter of Arc'teryx, buying my first two jackets from them in the 1990s. This was before anyone had heard of them in the US. They rewarded me by denying repairing my jacket after it fell apart at the seams. They explained that their "lifetime warranty" was just "for the life of the jacket, not the life of the owner." I have Marmot jackets from the same period that are in great shape and don't have anything else that just delaminated like that. Marmot, Patagonia, and OR - among many other brands, would have all just fixed it. I am changing to OR going forward.

An interesting and thought provoking video which didn't give the answers I and others were hoping for. If you wanted an answer to "Why is Arc'teryx so Expensive?" all you had to do was research the answers to some very simple questions; What brands do mountaineers/climbers/arctic explorers etc. wear? What brands do people who work in the great outdoors on a daily basis wear? Is there any consensus amongst those individuals that Arc'teryx gear is better? Is the consensus amongst those individuals that Arc'teryx gear is not / is worth the extra money? Does Arc'teryx's sponsorship of mountaineers/climbers/arctic explorers etc. have any bearing on how the quality of their product is perceived? I think we all know the answer already.

Where did you but the red T-shirt

He is not even climber

People need to understand that when it comes to clothing, they are extremely different. I am from Iceland and believe me, the weather in the highlands can get pretty extreme. It is under these conditions the true quality kicks in. Brands like Arc´teryx simple stand out and literally can safe lives , in conditions so extreme that lower quality garments don't!

What’s the default standard Arc’teryx piece? Like with the north face I think of puffer jacket and when I think of Patagonia I think fleece

Can you do a video on Canada goose

I purchased a jacket for myself and my wife over ten years ago. When my wife's jacket having issues with its zipper, they replaced it with a new one. When mine had issues, they also gave me a new one. When the replacement after several years stopped repelling water, they gave me $500 voucher to use in store for something new.

Ummmh... the sweet smell of Marketing, i lived in Vietnam and had friends working for different clothing factories, you are usually rip off buying these fancy outdoors clothing. Buy in outlets or when massive discounts are available. 500 bucks for a jacket is the hamster running in the marketing wheel, and the worst thing its the hamster will feel gratified and convinced that the performance of that equipment justifies the price.

In Europe, we have a similar situation - be it with other brands; almost nobody wears Arc' here because they demand rather big import fees on top of their already sky high prices, so instead we have brands like Fjällräven, Norrøna or Ortovox (all three very nice brands I have only had positive experiences with, but all of them in Arc's price range if not above). However, there are a lot of people wanting to get into casual hiking or cross country skiing, so they buy €500+.- jackets, use it once or twice a year for easy Saturday afternoon strolls and let them rot away in the wardrobe for the rest of the season. In Austria, where I'm from, this is almost a cliché.

Can you do a video looking at MEC / REI and reviewing just how eco-friendly they are? :)

I've had the best luck so far with Fjallraven. Of note, while all these brands stand up for the quality of their items, it’s important you hold up your end of the bargain and take care of your products.

I feel like the video could have had some more specific info. I mean sure, outdoor gear is the race car of clothing, but among race cars, Arcteryx is often literally twice as expensive. The trouble is that arcteryx doesn't seem to have twice the performance? In some cases, their clothing is similar in materials to something 1/2 the price, so why is arcteryx so (much more) expensive?

I have an arcxterx jacket I’m 12

This video was 9 minutes of nonsense...you barely talked about the specs smh

Pretty much just said 'the jackets are really good and they'll last...'

LEVI---You SHOWED us everything and did not Tell us ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a reason why marketing people make lots of money.

In Norwaywe have something called Norrøna

Loved my arc terix jackets used it daily for close to 3 years until the zipper broke. Way better warmer form fitting than any of the competitors. Aside from the zipper I would highly recommend it

Over priced, I prefer to buy military surplus it does the job.

All I know is I have one of their products. A 5 y/o ski jacket for a twice a year middle aged skier. It keeps me so warm and dry, I have to unzip to get some cool mountain breeze. Still looks like new.

You didn't analyse a single thing about the jackets you got... How can you judge a brand you've never tried ? Anyway I own some arc'teryx gear, but never bought anything from them that was more than say 150 €. I only buy their stuff when it's on sale. When I was living in Melbourne, it was the same thing with Aussie or Kiwi brands like MacPac, you had to wait until it was on sale, noone was paying full retail. Arc'teryx are very durable, the only thing I was disappointed with was their Spotter Pants, too fragile. On a lot of reviews, Arc'teryx is on top, sometimes Patagonia, The North Face or another brand can steal the show. Arc'teryx is always the best in a few areas : backpacks and jackets of all sorts. I hear they do some great climbing gear too. For gloves, they do great stuff too, but Black Diamond as well. For pants, I'd say it's a more even field, especially with Montane who do some fantastic stuff. It's hard to find a "best in class" review showing brands from all over the world... MacPac from New Zealand is doing some GREAT stuff. So are Salomon and Millet from France or Montane from the UK. But often websites who do reviews are American and it's always the same brands : Patagonia, The North Face, Outdoor Research, Arc'teryx, Marmot, REI, Black Diamond...

From Vancouver. I prefer fjallraven. Never had issues and still have many of their products from many many years ago that I still use today.

You should do Moncler

#IMHO2023

I live close to the mountain area in central Europe (Austria, close to the Switzerland border). Here they also sell a couple of brands really high priced, with the argument of durability. I usually buy the cheap discounter brands. They don't look as slick and fashionable, are more bulky, raw and not as light, but 1. when I go hiking I go hiking and not dating and 2. if you crawl under a fence and tear your jacket up, or if the bicycle chain get's into your clothes, or if the fabric doesn't live up to what is promised, or if an idiot causes a burn hole, or if you accidentally select the wrong program with the washing machine, and so forth, it's $25 vs $350.

Step 1. Make in Burnaby, make at Canadian Labor cost. Step 2. Make 90% in China, price as if with CDN labor cost. Use glue for stitches. Wait for cust complaints about unglued seam. Replacement is ok since it a $1(kidding) a jacket. Keep prices high because cust equate quality with price.

This guy has no idea of anything. Real zero info.

Swiss guy here, Used to live above 2000 m a.s.l. - and of course I own an Arcteryx. It's top notch quality. You have no clue.

You keep talking technology, but I see no proof. Just because they make products for say 'the military', doesn't mean their stuff will last. Goretex has been around forever. They improved a zipper, and improved some fabric. Oh, they design new clothes each season? Literally every fashion company needs new clothing each season to stay relevant.They set themselves at a higher price point to fill a demand of a higher paying audience. I don't see videos of bushcrafters or marines using Arcteryx because it's amazing function or 'long lasting materials'. Don't kid yourself.

ABSOLUTE WASTE OF TIME WARNING! The video seems to be more of an ad for Arc'teryx and pricy outdoor clothing in general. There is absolutely no time spent on actually looking at the features or technology on any Arc'teryx product or products in general.

Got an Arcteryx Rush Jacket, use it for skiing, resort and BC, in my experience, its well worth the money I paid for it.

I have own now two relatively cheap and one super cheap (british military issue) water proof jackets, none of them were gore-tex but something similar. And couple years back I got Arc'teryx Alpha bib pants and the jacket (next year) from discounted price at black Friday sales. And so far I've had no issues whats so ever. I can admit that those products are not worth of their full price and probably not even the -25% discounted price I paid for them. But so far every single feature in those products is though and made so well that even I as a very demanding and picky gear user can't point out anything that those garments would miss out. What comes to the "Built to last" thing, my opinion is that military gear is built to last and civilian outdoor gear is absolutely not. Like those my shell pants and jacket are Arc'teryx Leaf series (Law enforcement & armed forces) and I bought them 2017-2018 and the model is still the same when we go to 2020. At the same time in civilian side their products update every year with new color options and new styles. And if you want to sell those new products every year you can't make them to last forever. Also civilian products do need to be light, much lighter than military counterparts and that is also something that will shorten its life. And by saying that military is tougher blablablaa yes it is but it won't last forever either, it just last much longer in civilian hands than it would in the military use.

Considering most first ascents were made wearing wool and cotton I'd say we are soft and lazy and love expensive things more than each other.

The video didn’t even explain your premise “why is it so expensive?”. This could have been a deep dive into materials, manufacturing, etc as compared to an cheaper alternative but you didn’t really talk about anything of substance. I have the Arcteryx Atom LT and wear it almost everyday.

another point i’ve noticed/worth mentioning about the new consumers now purchasing techwear like arcteryx, it has become more of a status symbol than being used for what it is intended to endure.

Anyone else perturbed but how he's throwing his friend's jacket around at every other scene.