![]() It’s true that you can go lighter with an ultralight windbreaker like Black Diamond’s Alpine Start Hoody (6.7 oz.) and Arc’teryx’s own Squamish Hoody (4.4 oz.), although both of those forego hand pockets. For comparison, the more technical Gamma LT and MX clock in heavier at about 1 pound each, while other lightweight softshells including the Outdoor Research Ferrosi (13.2 oz.), Patagonia R1 TechFace Hoody (11.9 oz.), and Arc’teryx’s own Sigma SL Anorak (9.3 oz.) also outweigh the Gamma SL. My women’s small weighed in at 8.7 ounces, which is just slightly more than the listed weight of 8.4 ounces. All in all, I was highly impressed by the Gamma SL’s ability to regulate temperature and keep air flowing, and the mosquito-blocking ability was just an added bonus.Īlong with breathability, weight and packability are two hallmarks of the Gamma SL’s design. By that time, we were well above treeline and in direct sun with temperatures in the 60s Fahrenheit, and one of my hiking partners was down to just shorts and a t-shirt. I initially threw on the jacket to fend off the incessant mosquitos and black flies in the Yukon, but I was pleasantly surprised after a 3,000-foot climb to realize that I was still comfortable and hadn’t overheated. The Gamma SL is intended to be worn during activity, and it really delivered in the breathability department. In this type of sustained moisture, there’s simply no substitute for a fully waterproof rain jacket or hardshell, although you’ll sacrifice a good deal of breathability (for more on this topic, see our article on Hardshell vs. I was surprised at camp when I removed the soggy Gamma and found only a few wet patches on my baselayer, but I wouldn’t recommend testing the Gamma’s limits in these conditions. As expected, the Gamma SL did wet out, and moisture made its way to my merino baselayer. Before we knew it, we’d been walking for 20 minutes in heavy rain. That said, while hiking in Tombstone, we were caught in a storm that quickly and unexpectedly turned from light mist to a full-on downpour. And arguably just as importantly, the Gamma is a solid barrier against the wind: the jacket was able to fend off the chill on blustery passes in Tombstone Territorial Park without ever feeling clammy, even when I was working up a sweat. The jacket has a durable water repellent (DWR) coating that helps moisture bead up on the surface rather than soak in, and it did an admirable job of keeping drizzle and mist from wetting out my baselayers. Unlike hardshell jackets, softshells aren’t designed to be the primary layer of defense against the elements, but the Arc’teryx Gamma SL Hoody repelled light water and wind just fine. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best softshell jackets. Below we break down our experiences with the Gamma SL. It’s undoubtedly pricey at $225 given the thin and streamlined build, but for mixed hiking and everyday use, the Gamma SL is a real winner. We brought the Gamma SL hiking in Canada’s Yukon territory and found it to be a great match for the level of activity and conditions: this jacket is highly breathable, effectively repels light moisture and wind, and has the typical Arc’teryx fit and finish that we love. Arc’teryx’s Gamma softshell line ranges from the warm, alpine-ready MX to the superlight SL tested here.
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