The 12 Best Hardshell Jackets of 2026

Bottom Line: The quintessential all-around GORE-TEX Pro ePE shell, balancing durability with a versatile feature set. It’s the top choice for those wanting one bombproof jacket for skiing, climbing, and mountaineering.

One metric was truly the deciding factor for landing the Arc’teryx Beta AR Jacket ($650) at the top of the heap, and it’s all in the name. All Round. In a pile of hyper-specialized hardshells, versatility is the name of the game, and the Beta AR balances the scales with ease.

Since my initial testing of the Beta AR, it now uses a new GORE-TEX ePE Pro membrane to replace the previous version, which utilized PFAS chemicals in the textile itself. GORE-TEX and Arc’teryx both claim the same impressive waterproofing metrics for the new flavor, with a slight ding to overall breathability. The biggest difference that most people will notice is the lower performance of non-PFAS DWR finishes — something that can be improved with more frequent washings.

The 80D face fabric used in the body of the jacket is more durable than most hardshells, and is only reinforced further by the 100D textile used in the yoke and arms. Previous versions of the Beta AR used to use an 80D/40D fabric mix, and somehow the new version weighs the same as the old (thanks to the lighter ePE membrane). This shift means you get a net more durable hardshell without any added weight — rare in this style of jacket.

One of my favorite features of the Beta AR was the tall protective collar, a 2.5-inch-tall barrier that allows you the choice of keeping the hood down during gusty conditions. I loved having the choice of a middle-ground option when weather started to kick up, and the microsuede lining on the interior of the collar makes for a comfortable cockpit.

To test the mettle of the Beta AR, I’ve ski-toured in Pacific Northwest storm cycles, dry-tooled at dripping crags, and explored the glaciers of the North Cascades National Park, and throughout it all, the Beta came out smiling. More in-depth testing of this shell came when our team used it to ski into a remote cabin in Alaska, where it shouldered stiff winds with ease.

While many alpine-focused shells like the Arc’teryx Alpha will sacrifice handwarmer pockets for chest pockets, this hardshell opts instead to retain the hand pockets and adds an additional pocket on the interior of the jacket for extra storage. Not every trip is going to be full-tilt, and having the ability to warm your hands certainly kept me out longer during testing. 

Though both the Beta AR and Alpha SV jackets reside under the regular fit label from Arc’teryx, I found the Beta to better represent the title, while the latter jacket was a bit roomier. Perfect for the mountaineer, alpine climber, or ice-aficionado who wants a jacket that’ll do it all, the Beta AR hits the spot.

Bottom Line: A minimalist alpine shell shedding every ounce for fast-and-light missions. It offers impressive protection, though the lack of pit zips limits aeration.

The Patagonia M10 Storm Jacket ($379) is one of the lightest alpine-focused shells on the market, weighing in at just under 10 ounces, and has a low price tag to match. Designed with minimalism in mind, the shell is constructed from 30D ripstop nylon, which is surprisingly light and supple, feeling more like a rain jacket than a hardshell.

While it may lack the durability of the higher-denier Arc’teryx Beta AR, I found the M10 Storm plenty rugged and appreciated the all-day comfort of the more flexible and less crinkly material. The women’s version is also made with plenty of room in the hem, making it a comfortable choice for anyone with larger hips. 

Despite the minimalist, lightweight construction, the M10 Storm still has plenty of features to keep climbers happy. A two-way zipper allows for easy belay loop access, while two chest pockets are placed well above harnesses and hip belts. The pockets are two different sizes, with the left chest pocket featuring a longer, 9.5-inch zipper versus a 9-inch one on the right. The different sizes make the front of the jacket look a little unbalanced, but I found it worth it for the extra storage space in the left pocket.

The hood is helmet-compatible with three-way adjustment, though the brim is significantly smaller than those on more storm-bunker shells like the Alpha SV. Inside the cuffs, polyurethane texturing aids in gripping gloves and keeps spindrift from sneaking in when swinging tools overhead.

The shell uses Patagonia’s in-house 3-layer H2No waterproofing, and it begins to fall short when it comes to breathability. I wasn’t overly impressed with the jacket during high-output missions and found it started to feel quite clammy inside on the uphill sections. This isn’t helped by the lack of pit zips; without them, there’s no way to dump excess heat.

The M10 Storm is a great option for light-is-right climbers and hikers who are looking for a lightweight, sustainable shell with most of the features of higher-priced hardshells. However, if you tend to overheat on uphills, you may want to shell out a little more money for something like The North Face Papsura FUTURELIGHT, another sub-10-ounce shell that leans more to the breathable side.

Read Review: Arc’teryx Alpha SV Review: Last Shell Standing After Alaskan First Ascents

Bottom Line: A 100D fortress built for the most abrasive environments. While it’s the most durable shell available, its $900 price is overkill for anything short of an expedition.

With almost 25 years under its hem, the Arc’teryx Alpha SV Jacket ($900) makes no excuses for itself when it comes to big terrain, rough weather, and the prospect of an extended stay. Arc’teryx has a well-worn groove in the hardshell game, and with its pinnacle Alpha SV offering being near archetypal at this point, it had little effort in proving itself the best for extreme alpine pursuits in my testing.

The Alpha SV (“Severe Weather”) truly shines when the sun doesn’t — thriving on the spindrift, driving rain, and howling winds that can turn an alpine route into a sufferfest. A true ‘to-the-hilt’ build means this jacket is hewn from a 100D(!) GORE-TEX ePE Pro material, which, in my experience, isn’t much different compared to the older PFAS membranes, but will benefit from more frequent washings.

The cut is pure alpine, tailoring overhead ice tool swinging, ski touring, and the occasional chimney grovel. This articulated design is brought together with minimal stitching and uses narrow seam tape that both cuts down on bulk and increases available membrane for vapor relief. Smart.

While the jacket lacks hand-warming pockets, it makes up for it in other storage for things like belay mitts or a V-thread tool. The twin Napoleon pockets on the chest are slant for easy access and guarded by highly water-resistant zippers, which, in my own testing, take their job seriously. No water penetrated through during an alpine storm I experienced on the flanks of Kulshan this summer.

I’m still puzzled by the lack of a two-way front zipper (in fact, none of Arc’teryx’s hardshell jackets feature such a zip), which typically can be a boon for belaying while under cover. A bit of tucking makes it manageable. 

Compared to a more all-around hardshell like the Beta AR, the Alpha SV feels like an idea taken to its natural (and rugged) conclusion. At only an extra 2 ounces of weight, the bump up to a 100D weave, and the inclusion of a few other alpine niceties mean the SV is the top dog in my book when the weather truly turns for the worse.

Bottom Line: A 3-layer GORE-TEX shell with full-length TorsoFlo zippers for customizable mechanical venting. It offers a more flexible face fabric while maintaining standard alpine protection.

Built around the new GORE-TEX 3-layer ePE membrane, the Outdoor Research Headwall ($540) ditches forever chemicals while maintaining the waterproof integrity required for high-altitude use. This sustainable shift is the backbone of the jacket, offering a cleaner footprint for the mountains we’re trying to protect.

The challenge with more sustainable, PFAS-free DWR finishes is that they degrade faster than we’re used to and can prematurely reduce breathability when the jacket wets out. More frequent cleaning can prevent this, but Outdoor Research solves it with its TorsoFlo ventilation: hem-to-pit zippers that let you effectively roll down the windows, even while wearing a harness. In my breathability challenges while ascending the Easton Glacier on Kulshan this spring, this mechanical venting outperformed every other shell.

Beyond its green credentials, the Headwall is a rugged workhorse. The 75-denier 100% recycled textile is impressively burly, just about matching the durability of the 80-denier Arc’teryx Beta AR, while offering a more functional four-pocket layout. None of these pockets share space, meaning you can fully load the front of the shell without creating uncomfortable bulk against your mid-layers.

The helmet-compatible hood is a standout for climbers and skiers alike, easily swallowing both low-profile climbing helmets and larger ski buckets. The cut is intentionally generous, accommodating a standard mountaineering layering system without feeling restrictive. For those seeking a sustainable, PFC-free value winner that doesn’t compromise on durability or airflow, the Headwall is the clear front-runner.

Bottom Line: A ski-first hardshell built with both resort and backcountry riding in mind. It’s pricey, but worth it for those looking to knock out two jackets in their closet.

The Mountain Hardwear Mythogen Jacket ($800) earned the title of Best Skiing Hardshell after splitboarding testing in the Cascades this season. Designed with input from Chamonix steep skiers to blend alpinism with freeride performance, it handles frequent backcountry transitions between uphill effort and downhill riding exceptionally well.

Built with a 3-layer GORE-TEX PRO ePE membrane, the Mythogen uses expanded polyethylene to reduce PFAS exposure. Its durable 80-denier recycled nylon face fabric easily withstands tree branches and abrasive rock scrambling. While it shares a membrane with my top overall pick, the Arc’teryx Beta AR, the Mythogen hosts a longer, more relaxed fit. This provided excellent skin-track articulation in my testing and leaves plenty of room to add insulated midlayers on cold days without feeling restrictive.

The jacket’s venting options are a major practical benefit for splitboarding. High-output uphill efforts require dumping heat quickly. Unlike minimalist shells like the Patagonia M10 Storm that omit pit zips to save weight, the Mythogen includes large, unbacked underarm vents. It also incorporates a perforated front collar, letting you keep the jacket fully zipped against the wind while still breathing through the fabric. This prevents goggle fogging while working hard on the ascent.

The pocket layout is heavily mapped for backpack and climbing harness compatibility. While dedicated alpine shells like the Arc’teryx Alpha SV place pockets high on the chest, the Mythogen remains harness-compatible while offering five exterior zippered pockets. These include two chest pockets, two waist pockets positioned below a backpack hip belt, and a sleeve pass pocket. Internal keeper straps prevent heavy items from bouncing, and lower pockets feature clipping leashes for securing critical gear. A removable powder skirt adds deep-snow protection.

At $800 and a few ounces over a pound, the Mythogen is an investment and slightly heavier than ultralight alpine shells. However, for dedicated splitboarders and backcountry skiers, its durability and riding-specific details make it highly effective. Ultimately, it is a highly functional, purpose-built option for the winter backcountry.

Bottom Line: A sub-10-ounce hardshell with exceptional breathability for high-output efforts. It’s an excellent bet against ‘low-percentage, high-consequence’ forecasts, where moisture movement from within is more important than weather protection.

The North Face Papsura ($390) is the hardshell I reach for when conditions look fair, and I’m looking to move quickly and light. The breathability-first FUTURELIGHT membrane pumps out perspiration better than pretty much any other hardshell out there, and while it does give up some weatherproofing to get there, when conditions call for it, this 8-ounce shell shines.

That FUTURELIGHT membrane is really what makes the Papsura possible, and the open pore structure means that, unlike diffusion-based technologies like GORE-TEX, air can actively pass through FUTURELIGHT, making the breathability very impressive. I’ve previously used this waterproof membrane in the brand’s Torre Egger jacket, but the difference here is the super-lightweight textile layup, which uses a super-thin 7-denier face fabric.

In the hand, this jacket feels whisper-thin and can be compressed quite small for deploy-when-you-need carrying. The fit is all-around trending toward active, with minimal adjustability points: the hood only hosts a single cinch point, and the cuffs are elasticized instead of hook-and-loop closures. All this aims at keeping bulk and weight down

Using a hardshell while ski touring is the ultimate test of breathability, and here the Papsura performed better than almost any other shell I’ve tested this winter, easily staying fully zipped up on full approaches. The tradeoff for all of that breathability is overall waterproofing, where the Papsura taps out quicker than jackets made from GORE-TEX Pro membranes.

Anyone considering the Papsura ought to also take a good look at the Patagonia M10 Storm, a ~10-ounce hardshell that balances the waterproof-to-breathable equation a bit better (read: not as breathable as the Papsura, but waterproof for longer). The extra weight is due to a thicker 30D face fabric and more adjustability points. You’ll pay a bit more for it, but only just.

The breathability on the Papsura is really what sells it for fast and light adventures, however, which are typically quicker-paced, and thus need to vent off some additional perspiration. If you’re after the lightest hardshell, you’re looking at it.

Bottom Line: This shell utilizes a Hadron LCP fabric and GORE-TEX Pro reinforcements in high-wear areas. It provides a high strength-to-weight ratio for climbers, though the high pocket placement limits its ability to warm your hands.

After expanding the legendary Alpha line to include a rainbow of different specialized cuts, Arc’teryx has recently undergone a distillation to just three highly capable hardshells, and while the new Arc’teryx Alpha Jacket ($700) is said to have previously been the Alpha AR, I see it as an amalgamation of multiple of the best features of the previous shells, all mixed into one burly climbing-ready hardshell.

So what’s new? Plenty. Most notable will be the new Hadron LCP face fabric used across the jacket. The torso is covered in a 20D weave that incorporates ultra-fine threads of liquid crystal polymer into the ripstop (think a tough fishing net overlayed into the fabric). This greatly enhances durability, allowing for a much lighter fabric to be used overall, and improves breathability (and reduces weight, too).

Complementing that is a 50D GORE-TEX ePE Pro (which also utilizes the Hadron fabric) across the hood, shoulders, and sleeves — everywhere on a hardshell where mountaineering becomes a contact sport. It’s no 100D brick wall like the Alpha SV, but we found it well up to the task of thrutching around on ice and snow. 

The Alpha cut is decidedly longer in the rear and shorter in the front compared to the Beta line of jackets, which allows for easier high-stepping and protection from the elements while facing into a wall. In terms of feature set, the new Alpha Jacket sticks with the same setup as the previous AR, incorporating Napoleon chest pockets, long underarm zips, and a broad protective hood that is helmet-compatible. 

Compared to the do-it-all Beta AR jacket, the Alpha is more climbing-focused, and is both lighter (13.1 ounces to the Beta’s 16) and packs down smaller thanks to the Hadron panels. The twin chest pockets are also better poised for access while on route, and the added RECCO reflector makes sense in deeper backcountry scenarios.

Similar to the Norrøna Trollveggen Pro Light or Rab Latok Mountain, the Arc’teryx Alpha Jacket is an excellent all-around climbing shell — primed for ice cragging one day, and ski touring the next. If your alpine adventures require you to be discerning about weight, this is a shell that’ll serve you well into the future.

Bottom Line: A multi-sport hardshell that puts articulation and fit first, and packs down impressively small. The pit zips are a bit minimal, but the shell’s versatility helps make up for it.

It’s rare to find a shell that transitions between entirely different sports without feeling like a bad compromise. I took the 7mesh Guardian Apex Jacket ($600) on early-season alpine scrambles, muddy mountain bike rides, and choppy sea kayaking trips around the Puget Sound to see if it could handle it all. Built in Squamish, British Columbia, this jacket is tailored specifically for those multi-sport days.

The jacket uses GORE’s latest 3-layer ePE membrane with a 40-denier nylon face fabric and a soft C-Knit backer. At 11.5 ounces (in the measured men’s medium), it’s light and packable but surprisingly tough. It easily brushed off alpine rock and low-hanging trail branches. Unlike stiff, crinkly mountaineering shells, the fabric is quiet and feels comfortable even over a short-sleeve shirt.

The articulation is where it shines, which makes sense given the brand is full of ex-Arc’teryx designers. The hem and sleeves stayed perfectly in place whether I was hunched over bike handlebars, reaching for handholds on a ridge, or paddling. Instead of standard pit zips, 7mesh used forward-facing side vents that catch the breeze to dump heat while you move. When the rain stopped, the whole thing packed down into its own pocket and strapped straight to my bike frame using the built-in loops.

Downsides? It costs $600, and the fit runs a bit large to accommodate layers, which can feel baggy if you only use it for cycling. There’s also no powder skirt, so you’ll want bibs if you take it into deep snow. But if you want one lightweight, highly packable shell for high-output, multi-sport adventures, the Guardian Apex is tough to beat.

Bottom Line: Built with a 3-layer Toray 20K/20K membrane, this jacket offers a softer interior than most hardshells. It hits competitive technical specs for the price, however, the pit zip system may require practice.

The Himali Monsoon Hardshell ($460) is a bit of a newer kid on the block, but that doesn’t mean it can’t hang with the best of them. We found the shell to be thoughtfully designed, durable, and shockingly weatherproof — exactly what you’d expect from a company co-founded by Tendi Sherpa, a 17-time Everest summiteer and IFMGA guide.

The Monsoon uses a Toray 20K/20K membrane, a part of Toray’s Dermizax line of fabrics, and a PFAS-free DWR. The result is a membrane rated 20,000 mm (the upper end of the waterproofing scale) that is also impressively breathable, at a standard 20,000 g/m². This breathability is only increased by the generous pit zips, making the Monsoon a great option for high-output alpine days. 

One of our favorite things about the Himali Monsoon was how high-quality it felt, particularly for a mid-tier priced harshell. The shell is not only on the upper end of waterproofing and breathability, but the fabric is also supple and silky on the inside, with soft fleece cuffs and collar. GearJunkie tester Chelsey Cook is a diehard Arc’teryx Beta AR fan, but even she had to admit that the palatably-priced Himali Monsoon offered more in the way of comfort than the scratchy-by-comparison Beta AR. 

In fact, she found the Monsoon and the Beta AR Jacket to be reasonably comparable despite the Himali’s cheaper price point. Both jackets feature three-way adjustable hoods with large bills that fit easily over a climbing helmet. The Himali Monsoon is also more comfortable than the Beta AR and has a two-way front zipper. We found that the women’s version had a more generous hem length and hip width than the Beta AR.

However, the Monsoon lacks the double zippers of the Beta AR’s pit zips and is not nearly as widely available as the Beta AR. If checking the fit of a hardshell before purchasing is a vital part of your shopping process, you may have a hard time finding the Himali Monsoon to try on in-store.

Bottom Line: A 3-layer GORE-TEX Pro shell designed with an athletic cut and 18-inch pit zips. It prioritizes a lightweight build for fast-moving alpinists, resulting in the omission of standard handwarmer pockets.

While the name may not be familiar to some, the Norwegians behind Norrøna certainly know harsh weather — and how to protect against it. Norrøna was the first company to bring GORE-TEX to Europe, and since then has been refining its use for high-end hardshell wear like the Trollveggen Pro Light Jacket ($699).

This jacket certainly lives up to the history as well. The shell is a more well-rounded version of the company’s straight-ahead Trollveggen Jacket, a storm bunker that uses 70D fabric throughout. In contrast, the Pro Light aims to be a more active and svelte version, opting for a 40D GORE-TEX Pro ePE across the jacket, in addition to 70D reinforcements on the hood, shoulders, and elbows.

Given a “technical” fit label from Norrøna, the Trollveggen Pro Light is a bit trimmer than the rest of the brand’s more ski-focused shells, but that isn’t to say it’s snug. I find that Norrøna is second only to Arc’teryx when it comes to savvy articulated cuts that anticipate the maximum of motion the hardshell might expect to see during use.

Rounding out the alpine-centric feature set is a pair of Napoleon pockets on the chest, asymmetric wrist cuffs with generous hand protection, a two-way front zip, underarm pit zips, and a long drop hem that provides protection for your backside. Set beside other jackets in my mix, this compares well to the Arc’teryx Alpha SV.

The hood, while generous and made to fit climbing and ski helmets alike, is only wrangled by a single cordlock at the rear of the head — which I found to be a bit light in the adjustability department. Without the further ability to batter down the hatches, this hood can flap a bit more than other hardshells.

Ultimately, the Trollveggen Pro Light finds itself between two very good hardshells: it’s not quite as light as the on-route-ready Arc’teryx Alpha (at 13 ounces), and it’s not quite as versatile as the Beta AR (which is $50 cheaper than this shell). If your needs land right between those shells, however, the Norrøna shell can make perfect sense.

Bottom Line: This vertical-climbing-specific shell includes an insulated gasket in the hood to block wind and spindrift. The articulated cut facilitates overhead movement for swinging ice tools, though the fit is intentionally roomy to accommodate heavy layers.

Made for a new generation of alpine climbers, the Patagonia Super Free Alpine Jacket ($625) makes some big departures from the typical recipe to brew up a hardshell jacket that’s ready to ascend into the high country — all while limiting your impact to the bootpack and some ice screw holes.

The big news here is the introduction of 3L GORE-TEX ePE, and while this is a huge advancement in the quest for a shell that isn’t so hard on the mountains we love to recreate in, it’s also not even half of the exciting new design functionality Patagonia brewed up for this jacket.

First up, an elasticized gasket at the top of the hood seals tightly to your helmet and is insulated with Patagonia’s synthetic PlumaFill. I’m gobsmacked that this hasn’t been thought of before, but its application in the Super Free Alpine is genius. Similarly, functional gaskets (non-insulated) seal both cuffs, and in practice, they both keep the sleeves in place while swinging tools and prevent snow from entering.

The hem of the jacket has been let in on both sides of the hips a few inches, in order to clear the landing zone for clipping your kit to your harness. Slick. Rounding out the feature set is a set of two-way underarm zips, hand-warming chest pockets, as well as two large drop-in stretch mesh pockets on the interior of the jacket for stowing gloves.

When it comes to the membrane, I found it to function about on par with classic 3L GORE-TEX, which means it’s not quite as impressive as GORE-TEX Pro (namely in breathability), but still very good for most uses. The new fabric still sports the same 28,000 mm waterproofing as the classic stuff, but suffers a bit at a RET of >13. So: ideal for swinging tools up spindrift, not the best for high-output speed runs.

The Super Free Alpine also comes in a bit under the typical 1 pound for a hardshell at 14.8 ounces (the thinner ePE membrane is to thank, here). The $625 you’ll pay for it is about the most you’ll pay for a GORE ePE shell, so you’re paying for the novel features. If you’re willing to give up GORE Pro, this shell can be a great option.

Bottom Line: A robust GORE-TEX Pro workhorse constructed for sustained use in harsh winter environments. It feels noticeably stiffer than lightweight hardshells, but trades overall protection for it.

Trust the Brits to nail the idea of a hardshell jacket. With two weights of GORE-TEX ePE Pro, a two-way harness-friendly zipper, and one of the best hoods I’ve draped over my noggin, the Rab Latok Mountain ($595) hits all the high points I’m looking for.

With 80D ePE Pro across the shoulders and sleeves, and 40D elsewhere, this jacket aims to shore up the durability where it’s needed and cut the weight where it’s not. A YKK Vislon front zip brings it all together, and is two-way directional to accommodate easy belaying while maintaining good coverage. There’s even a snap to keep the jacket from flapping away while open.

While it does sport a generous opening for a gloved hand, the single chest pocket, unfortunately, shares volume with the left-hand warmer pocket, and in circumstances where both are occupied it can be a fight to get storage out of either.

We’ve always been fans of the care that Rab gives to the hoods of their hardshells, and the Latok Mountain is no different. The hood is three-way adjustable, with concealed cordlocks for the side adjustments tucked away near the chin of the hood. A wire-stiffened peak stays where you want it, and the whole hood can be stowed away when not needed. 

Rounding out the Latok Mountain are 15-inch underarm pit zips that feature two different types of zipper pulls — one plastic, one knotted cord — to help with differentiating which will open or close the vents. A smart design, which is actually something we could say about the whole of this jacket.

The only fault we can find is that this jacket is a little on the snug side of a regular fit, meaning that while we could layer baselayers with a fleece, wearing a synthetic midlayer got a bit trim. Worn side by side, the difference is noticeable between this shell and something like the Arc’teryx Beta AR, which has better articulation built in. That said, the fit will work better for some than others, so the jacket is still a great option.

Bottom Line: Utilizing an air-permeable membrane, this jacket emphasizes moisture transfer during high-output activity. It may not feel as bombproof as traditional GORE-TEX Pro, however.

With a classic alpine cut, tasteful feature set, and waterproof fabric that puts big breathability numbers up on the board, The North Face Summit Torre Egger Jacket ($590) is hard to deny. We’ve been big fans of the FUTURELIGHT membrane since it debuted in 2019, and it finds an excellent application in the Torre Egger, a hardshell that’s meant to be climbed in all day.

While most high-ranking hardshell jackets in our review utilize some form of GORE-TEX, The North Face has a distinct advantage with its FUTURELIGHT membrane, which boasts a breathability rate of 75,000 g/m². Unreal.

Adding to those impressive numbers is a hybrid fabric design on the Torre Egger, which uses a 70D recycled nylon across the body of the shell, and a 20D in the underarms to further increase moisture management. This cut is all sewn up with no shoulder seams to reduce wear areas, and gussets under the arms for full tool swinging ability.

So how does the Torre Egger stack up in the mountains? It can definitely hang. During my testing, I intentionally battened down the hatches and set about hiking up the hill, aiming to overwhelm the breathability. While no hardshell is magic, I can say that the Torre Egger held out the longest of any jacket in our review. The tradeoff, however, is in waterproofing, and while the official number isn’t shared, I’d estimate it’s between 15-20K — enough to notice water soaking under our pack straps.

The weight of the Torre Egger is also slightly more than comparable jackets, at around 1 pound, 4 ounces. The Arc’teryx Alpha jacket uses pretty similar weight face fabrics (a 50D/20D split), but it weighs 7 ounces less.

This jacket compares easily to the Arc’teryx Beta AR jackets when it comes to overall fit and function. Both utilize a premium waterproof membrane, similar prices, and features that put them in the middle-upper ends of their lines. The waterproofing on the Torre Egger gives us pause enough to recommend the Beta AR more often, but when you prioritize breathability over all else? Grab the Torre Egger.