Arc’teryx Gamma jacket review: a hard-wearing softshell that's at home on the mountain and around town

Meet the reviewer

Julia Clarke

Julia Clarke is a staff writer for Advnture.com and the author of the book Restorative Yoga for Beginners. She loves to explore mountains on foot, bike, skis and belay and then recover on the the yoga mat. Julia graduated with a degree in journalism in 2004 and spent eight years working as a radio presenter in Kansas City, Vermont, Boston and New York City before discovering the joys of the Rocky Mountains. She then detoured west to Colorado and enjoyed 11 years teaching yoga in Vail before returning to her hometown of Glasgow, Scotland in 2020 to focus on family and writing.  

Arc’teryx Gamma jacket: first impressions 

Climbing is at the heart of Canadian brand Arc'teryx, and they're also well-known for designs that are decidedly stylish as well as pricey. The Gamma line comprises softshell jackets and pants, and the brand describes this one as their most versatile softshell. We recently put it to the test while hiking and climbing with Arc'teryx in the Lake District to see if it lives up to its reputation.

On the light end of softshell, this jacket has an extremely durable face fabric made using 220gsm woven recycled nylon that can easily withstand the demands of abrasive rock as well as rubbing backpacks and harnesses. The lining on the collar is brushed to be nice and soft against your skin, while the front lining panels are mesh to improve breathability. The result is a jacket that isn't as soft or light as some in the same genre, but is extremely hard-wearing.

This jacket isn't intended to keep you dry in a deluge – check out the Arc'teryx Beta LT Jacket for that – but it is treated with DWR so that a light rain beads on the surface, and it is wind-resistant so it's best for cool hiking when there aren't too many clouds.

Lots of stretch and breathability makes this a good choice as an outer layer for climbing, belaying and hiking, while it's slim-fitting enough that you could wear a waterproof jacket over the top. However, it's not designed to provide loads of insulation so for cold weather, a fleece jacket is still a better choice.

The elasticated cuffs, adjustable hem and high neck increase coverage (it also comes in a hooded version) and it's not so long so it's easy to wear with a harness. It's easily flattering enough to be worn around town too, which is a good thing because at the price, you'll want to get your money's worth.

Arc’teryx Gamma jacket : in the field

I recently joined Arc'teryx at their annual Climb Academy down in the Lake District where I got to test out this jacket while I went hiking, roped scrambling and bouldering. Since coming back up to Scotland, I've had it out on a few more hikes and I've been wearing it around town, too.

Here’s how it performed:

Sizing, fit and comfort

I typically wear a small and that's what I tested and I think it fits perfectly. It's flattering but there's enough room to wear it over a light fleece when I want a more robust outer layer but don't need a hardshell jacket.

The cut is slim and not too long which does mean less protection around my hips, but it made it much easier to wear comfortably with my climbing harness. The high collar keeps a cold breeze off my neck, which is much appreciated, and looks nice too.

This isn't your super soft softshell jacket, but the collar is lined with brushed fleece so in the places where it matters, it's comfortable, and the added stretch and breathability help with comfort. 

Weather protection and breathability

Softshells aren't built to provide rain protection, but this one is treated with DWR so it's been fine for a light, soft rain. The real protection is from the wind, and this provides a nice buffer between myself and a breeze whilst being more durable than a windbreaker.

Things are finally warming up here, and while I wouldn't wear this on a warm hike, it's definitely got decent breathability for those shoulder season adventures where you need a layer but a fleece is too much. It doesn't have any pit zips, but if you were that warm I think you'd just take it off.

Weight and packability

This isn't the lightest softshell on the market, but it's on the lighter end of the scale and I'm happy to wear it on the mountain as well as around town for that reason. I took it on a hike in Scotland last week where it turned out to be too warm to need it, and it easily rolled up and packed neatly away in my backpack.

Pockets and sustainability

Two deep, zipped handwarming pockets are great for carrying my phone and gloves, but they can be a pest when I'm wearing a backpack or harness, so I'm extra pleased with the inclusion of a chest pocket that I can always reach.

As for sustainability, the brand states that this jacket contains materials that meet the bluesign criteria and uses raw materials that contain at least 30 percent recycled fabrics, which isn't the most eco-friendly jacket I've tried on, but it's a start.

Arc’teryx Gamma jacket: the bottom line

This sturdy jacket will definitely meet the demands of a climber or hiker who's anticipating rugged conditions and it looks great on, meaning you might find yourself wearing it all the time. It's certainly not the cheapest jacket out there, however, and if you're only looking for something to wear at the crag you can find a lighter and cheaper jacket in the Rab Borealis Softshell. 

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