Gamma Lightweight Hoody Hombre

My reviews of Arc'teryx gear share a common theme: range. That's what I look for in gear. I live in the Rocky Mountains and can experience every possible weather condition in a single day, with a temperature swing of 11º C (20º F) between shadow and sun. I do a lot of physical work in the mountains. This lightweight hoody is good for cool mornings, around 7ºC (45º F), with light activity and a sun hoody underneath. This comfort zone extends into the high teens (C) (mid-sixties F) with moderately vigorous activity. Working up a sweat underneath isn't a major issue as the material is breathable enough to allow some refreshing air to enter, so you won't get much more soaked in sweat than you would without it. Keep in mind, this hoody isn't going to cut the cold of a sharp wind. If the sun's going down and you've got a light sweat going, when you stop, you might want to throw a layer on underneath. It improves the warming ability of inner layers by limiting the wind, but it definitely doesn't stop it. It's no replacement for a hard shell; it's an entirely different piece of gear. Increasing the warmth of mid-layers while maintaining some breathability is why I got it, and it's why I'm writing this positive review. It does that well. Another thing it won't do: keep you dry. However, nothing keeps you dry when moving in the rain, so the next best thing is gear that dries out fast, which this does. A benefit of how it limits wind without blocking it is that after you've gotten wet in the rain, you won't freeze when it stops raining and the sunshirt you're wearing underneath dries out. Well, you won't freeze as much as you would without it, which is plenty of reason to consider it a pleasure to have after a light summer rainstorm. But, in a storm so bad that you need to stop moving, you want a hard shell. The cut is ...roomy in the belly. The shoulders, chest, arms, articulation, and length are perfect. But, the belly does not flatter like other Arc'teryx gear. In winter gear, this would be a source of a bad review because the bellows-effect of so much additional room in the waist would make a jacket pointless. In the summer, however, the bellows-effect is unnoticeable or may actually add to the feeling of breathability and transpiration. Besides, there are cinch cords at the hem to lock in a little extra warmth when needed, and it hangs pretty well on the body with a slight cinch. The Stone Wash blue is :chefs-kiss:. There's something very comforting about this color, like a favorite childhood hoody. It looks nice with everything, and if you have blue eyes, your special someone will notice and say it looks good on you.

Too baggy. A different cut to any other Arcteryx I have, although that's not my main gripe. I returned the jacket over a month ago, and still haven't been reimbursed. Arcteryx keep saying they are investigating, the courier stipulates an investigation takes 6 working days, but won't go any further as the account belongs to Arcteryx, I have tried multiples times to resolve via email, to no avail. There is no clear policy on lost/returned items, which is crazy for such a large company. I have had to contact my bank to query the transaction. Really disappointed with Arcteryx

I like Arcteryx stuffs in general but this jacket is not one of them. I was baffled with its fitting. Compared to other Arcteryx jackets I have this one was so baggy. I returned it and got Gamma Jacket instead, which has better fitting.

I love this jacket. A lot of people seem to be saying that it’s too baggy but comparing it to the previous Gamma lightweight (gamma SL) it’s only slightly looser. the shoulders are broader and the waist is slightly wider but it’s still cut better than %95 of competitors jackets. The cut is now more designed for layering. It’s by no means a bulky jacket and appreciate the added chest pockets. For reference I’m 6’ 200 lbs and lean due to constant cycling, hiking, and skiing. The large fits me very well. Again, I do have broad shoulders and that could be why it fits me so well. I also have a high ape index so the sleeves are near perfect. I still wish the wrists and hem were stitched instead of glued. Maybe someday I’ll get my wish. The chloris is a very interesting and unique green that looks better in person than on the website or in photos but ultimately I sent it back and kept the black jacket. I think it will work well for winter mountaineering as I run very warm. I use it as a first shell and If needed I add a hardshell over the top and then belay. I hate shedding layers and this will work slightly better for me in the cold than the gamma SL has. I’ll keep the SL for cool weather cycling. I do feel that it’s too loose to use a summer shell (again it’s not baggy) unless you’re wearing it casually.

Excellent jacket for light, warm weather activities. More relaxed fit than my older, regular Gamma jacket. One issue on my new jacket to note. One of the chest pocket zippers is upside down. It still works, but this shouldn’t happen on an Arc’teryx product. Not worth the hassle to return.

I was initially hesitant to order the new Gamma Lightweight because of some reviews stating the fit to be too boxy. To be honest for me the fit has improved drastically. I'm at the upper limit of Large in almost all Arc'teryx jackets that I have tried on. I bought the previous version of this jacket and it was slightly too tight for me, but this one is absolutely perfect. For me the chest pockets are also welcome improvements. For reference I'm 181 cm and 96 kg.