So, I tried to give this feedback direct to Arcterix, but they fobbed me off and said leave a review on the website, so here it is. To set the scene, I've skied for over 30 years, at about 30 different ski fields in over a dozen different countries, and I average about 3 weeks a year (or so) so I have a bit of an idea of what I'm talking about when it comes to ski gear.
Now, I like Arcterix - I like the fact they have a decent selection of shells (both jackets and pants); the quality is very good, the colours are great and I love that they use GoreTex (and GoreTex Pro) but their jackets (particularly) lack features. My first gripe is that the hood is not detachable. If you have a look at all the skiers, on any particular day, at any skifield in the World, nobody wears the hood - except if its snowing heavily, or raining. If it's raining, most people leave, and of those that keep skiing, most do wear the hood as it keeps rain from soaking through the vents in your helmet. But then, how often do you ski in the rain? If it's snowing heavily, my estimate is about 15% of people wear the hood - which means 85% (approx) don't wear it. And why would you? Snow doesn't soak through the vents in your helmet (like it does if it's raining). You don't get cold because you have a helmet on, and the hood restricts your peripheral vision. And when you turn you head left or right, the hood doesn't move with you so you can't see to your left (or right). And if you simply don't wear it (like 85% of skiers) it flaps around in the wind, and fills up with snow. For God's sake, make it detachable. I bought a new jacket this year, a Marmot jacket - with a detachable hood. It's brilliant. The hood re-attaches is about 30 seconds if you need it, and if you don't - no hood filling up with snow, or flapping around. Just fold it up and stick it in your side pocket in case you need it. Next, the pocket Arcterix puts on the upper arm, to store your pass. Really, on the upper arm?? I think every single manufacturer in the World puts it on your forearm (except Arcterix), so that to scan your pass on a higher or lower (than usual) pass scanner, you simply raise (or lower) your wrist. Very easy. However if your pass is in a pocket on your shoulder, because you own an Arcterix jacket, and the scanner is higher than your shoulder, you have to try to jump up and down (wearing your skis, or your board) to get high enough for the scanner to read your pass. Same problem is there's a lot of snow, so the scanner is lower than usual - ever tried bending down to get your shoulder low enough to scan your pass when you're wearing skis (or boards) and the scanner is at waist height? Not easy. Pleeeeeeaaase put the pass pocket on the forearm. It's just so much easier. On the subject of pockets, the inside chest pocket is not big enough to store most phones, especially if they have a case. Why do I want to take my phone out of its case everyday so it fits in my ski jacket, then put the case back on the phone when I take my jacket off? Wouldn't it be simpler to make the pocket just a little larger? And put a little insulation on the front side of the jacket, between the phone pocket and the shell, to make the phone battery last a little longer in the cold. And put two, inside chest pockets on your jackets - I need somewhere to put my wallet AS WELL as my phone. Oh, and I need two side pockets to put 'stuff' in, like a handkerchief (because my nose runs in the cold) and a chocolate bar to munch on when I'm hungry, and to put my car/accommodation keys in. It's all pretty simple stuff, if you think about it. My new Marmot jacket has all this stuff. And it's a shell - why can't you do this as well, Arcterix? I'd love one of your shells, and your pants, but until they're more 'user friendly' I'm going to keep wearing my new Marmot jacket. Yes, the colour is a bit boring, but the features are brilliant. And I don't have to jump up and down to scan my pass.
Originally posted on Rush Jacket, 2020-2022
48 Helpful (48)
95 Not helpful (95)
