Arc'teryx Theta AR

I found a jacket and I got it the theta AR by after it has the most advanced cortex purling, both which makes it insanely water-resistant, but as well...

I can still do it up and that's nice and secure. So if I'm sat down in front of the belay or I'm stretching up the North Face of driven and it's pouri...

When spending so much, and given the longevity, would be more versatile one size up, even considering a slight loss of function. I do need a jacket to keep warm in the fall every day, but being honest have yet to climb Everest. Know a lot of people downsize shells, but have a light rain jacket (Montbell Versalite) for summer and love my roomy old Theta AR for a layer or two in the winter.

While it uses the same fabrics as my Beta AR, the Theta AR feels thicker and more robust, perhaps due to the more extensive use of stitching instead of lamination. The additional pockets make it easy to store gloves, cards, chapstick, etc at a quick reach, and the extra coverage protects the down jacket I usually layer underneath from any precipitation. While this jacket wasn’t a necessity for me, I’m happy to have found it as it taught me some new skills in exchange for being saved from thrown out.

Theta AR. My favorite hard shell from them ever.

Leaning towards the Theta AR for the durability which is a bonus considering my aggressive ski style, though I am concerned the heavier face fabric will make it uncomfortable to wear in less demanding environments. I have the impression the packability of the Theta AR is also significantly lower than the Beta LT.