I don’t know, I was looking at Arc’teryx jackets a couple months ago, and they looked exactly like the quality in between of Uniqlo and Patagonia… except like 10x Uniqlo price.

I was ready to drop some bread and was quite disappointed.

Old Arc Teryx and Osprey packs were the gold standard. I wish i stocked up on more…if i knew then what i know now!

For me, the big difference compared to Patagonia is the cut instead of build quality. The Arc Teryx jackets all fit me perfectly without and restriction of movement. The hoods are perfect with helmets, and don’t restrict my view the way my Patagonia ski coat does.

Are Arc'teryx products not as good anymore? I was hoping to get one of their jackets once I get enough disposable income

The jackets are great and imo the best fit as well. They’re expensive but where I live it’s always raining and I’m willing to lay for the quality

Is that a made in Canada one? I had a bora 60 that I used for backpacking trips in the 2000’s. It was a workhorse and Arcteryx even changed one of zippers for me for free after 20 years. I sold it last year and I’m sure it’ll get another 20 years of service

That goretex tho

Out of curiosity, how old are we talking? What’s years/age is often considered the gold standard?

The conundrum is people want lighter. Lighter gear wears more quickly than all the sturdy shit that used to be the norm.

Apparently they were bought by a Chinese company and have gone downhill since.

Don’t have any personal experience but people say they focus a lot on being a luxury brand.

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Here's my personal take,

They're still good, their quality control is insane. I go to their factory outlet in North Van and see their factory seconds. Half the time I can't even see the cosmetic defects even when the tag points them out.

However, almost none of their stuff is made in Canada anymore. Exceptions being the Alpha SV, their military LEAF line, and their Professional line. Essentially "when life is on the line".

My personal take is their golden age was when they were owned by Amer, from mid 2000s to around the mid 2010s. And definitely before Amer was controlled by Chinese firm Anta. They have a lot more casual products now, and some high end fashion collabs. They're chasing fashion and mainstream instead of hard users. While I would say their stuff is well made and durable. Very few of their packs would I classify as indestructible.

The Alpha SK is a recent pack that was bomb proof, it's gone now.

The Naos and Arrakis, are long gone. And nothing they have come even close to those in terms of durability.

They used to make both.

But they've killed all their heavy duty bags. No more military LEAF Drybags, No more Naos, No more Arrakis, No more Alpha SK.

The only thing left is the LEAF Courier

I bought a Patagonia Pow Slayer; it’s a great, light rain shell— but it would be impossible on the slopes as there’s no room for anything but a very light fleece underneath.

They make the arms so freaking long you have to size down, whoch means a snug fit in the torso.

My jacket from 2 years ago is one of the best constructed piece of clothing I've bought in a long time. They are still worth it in my opinion.

I’ve heard similar things about their ski patrol gear (pro line)

Even some of their miliary leaf stuff was made in china last time I went to one of their dealers. Not sure if that has changed or not.

I’ve had my Patagonia black hole backpack for 10 years now with little signs of wear and tear. I hope it lasts as long as yours.

I have the same pack from the same time period. Use it every day almost. I also have the big one, the Bora 80. At this point, I bet I'll go my whole life with these two as my main packs.

I thought they were better in the 90s.

I had a Bora 40 in the 90s. It wore out in like 2005. One of the best packs I’ve ever had.

All the people I know who kept these packs still have them, and any of the bigger ones too. We all had climbing harnesses made by them too that lasted the life of the nylon. I've had lots of stuff since, but nothing has lasted.

Yeah, this is a Canadian one. You should have kept yours!

💯. If you want this level of sturdy, look into hunting packs. Cordura still exists, it's just getting harder and harder to find at REI.

The materials they are using, some of the tech and design elements have definitely improved over time.

For their packs, I think the best build quality is with their AC2 tech

They are fully waterproof, completely seam sealed bags.

I've got 3 made with this tech. Nothing else on the market seems to come even close.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52MtpCB_P_8

https://www.carryology.com/bags/arcteryx-leaf-drypack-25-road-test/

For the price, their shit better last long.

Damn, yeah Arcteryx has definitely changed. I sent back a hoodie hoping for a simple repair and they refused to do it. Same with the zippers on my partner's tights.

Harnesses are still made in Canada for climbing and they are phenomenal It is a shame everything else isn't.

I'm in the pacific northwest, it's raining here all the time.

I want a waterproof/seam taped pack with support structure of a hiking bag

You can do this with some Arcteryx bags

https://www.carryology.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Arcteryx-LEAF-DryPack-25-8.jpg

My Patagonia Blackhole backpack is 8 years old of at 3 times weekly use in the city. Still looks new. My Blackhole duffels have travelled the world and there is not an airline baggage handler that has killed them yet.

I have an old camping/hiking pack I pull out every now & then and give it a deep sniff. I love that smell. I wish someone would make a cologne that smelled like camping.

I have only had good experiences with every Arc'teryx product I've purchased. They are all expensive as hell but the quality is absolutely there. I think they make the best shells you can get.

Cool pack. My old Eastpak that I bought in college in the mid-80s is still my daily hiking pack. Doesn't have all those cool features, but I just load it up with water and snacks anyway. Do anywhere from 3-15 miles a day.

I had this exact pack, same colour and all, in the early 2000s. I used it for about 5 years until it got stolen out of my old 4Runner along with most of my camping gear and about 100 CDs. A loss that still saddens me many years later. I even saw the guy on security footage but there was nothing to do about it

That sucks. Some things can't be replaced!

I have had an arrakis for over 10 years and It travelled to a few places around the world with me. It looks brand new. Couldn't ask for a better bag.

Yeah some of that stuff it’s best to stalk the .mil gear sellers on IG.

I feel like this is always the way with this type of product: if you want to get the best version of it, you have to get it relatively early. Once they catch on and become popular, invariably they begin cutting corners and making other manufacturing changes to bring down production costs. It’s unavoidable.

I have one of those Swiss Army backpacks, and you might say so what, those are everywhere. But the thing is, I bought mine in 2002, when it was a brand new product. In fairness, maybe they all hold up this well, but mine essentially looks brand new. The piece of plastic helping to firm up the laptop part has started to disintegrate, but that’s the only sign of wear I can detect, and it’s not a necessary part anyway.

I have one of these bags. Bought it at a carboot sale not knowing about the brand, for £10. It has seen solid use for 10 years with no defects. It's been around the world multiple times, all sorts of stupid heavy weights in it and no issues.