Arc’teryx Alpha AR Gore-Tex Jacket Online Sale Review

Arc'teryx Online Store NextGen Climb Commitment Pledges $5M Towards Accessibility

For all the high fashion collabs, celebrity endorsements, and podcast cosigns, climbing remains the North Star at Arc’teryx. But climbing in 2022 isn’t the same as it was when the brand launched its first product (a climbing harness) in 1989. It’s changing fast. To keep up, and to ensure the Dead Bird remains relevant in the sport that spawned it, Arc’teryx has announced the NextGen Climb Commitment, an initiative to invest $5 million CAD in community-based organizations, leaders, and training programs across North America over the next five years.

“We believe in the value of people learning to climb and the impact the sport has on people's lives—it's more than just the technical side of the sport, there's a life evolution that happens, too,” Arc’teryx Vice President of Brand Karl Aaker tells Field Mag. “But accessibility to the sport is a direct problem. It’s access to expertise and knowledge as much as it is equipment and locations to climb… that’s where we're investing and moving resources.”

As such, the ambitious, holistic commitment aims to support newcomers and elite level climbers alike by building on existing grassroots activations and other elevated organization alliances already in place.

To help lead the charge in identifying opportunities to make a real impact, be it through physical events or financial support with operating grants, Arc’teryx will lean on community organizers on the ground in key cities like Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York.

“We know that our expertise doesn’t match their expertise,” Aaker says. “So our work as an organization is to move resources into the hands of people that are leading the change, leading the work that removes the barriers and helps achieve that level of equitability."

For example, expect to see community-led free climb nights for underrepresented and marginalized groups at local gyms, free certifications, discounted courses, and hosted gym-to-crag events to increase outdoor education.

Grants for diversity, inclusion, and equity-focused organizations like Flash Foxy, Color The Trails, and Brown Girl Outdoor World will continue to help create more safe spaces for new climbers, while the ongoing partnership with Climbing Escalade Canada (CEC) will ensure future Olympic climbers representing Arc’teryx’s home country are not just clad in the brand, but have been fostered by it too.

Now, if you’re wondering why a brand so deeply rooted in the alpine, in outdoor climbing and adventure, is doubling down on gym climbing and competition, so were we. To this, Aaker assures that the core of the brand isn’t shifting. But the industry is, and Arc’teryx isn’t blind to it. “We have roots in the Coast Mountains of Canada. We’ve built a brand and the product we offer in that outdoor space. That's not something to shy away from,” says Aaker. “But I think it goes without saying that the world of climbing, the industry, the sport, is changing rapidly. And to evolve our sport and see it grow in a way that's sustainable and productive we need infrastructure that introduces climbing to people. Gym climbing is an incredible part of that—it’s a driver behind the moment that climbing is in right now.”

All this said, there’s no concrete road map set in place for the NextGen Climb Commitment, beyond what’s been laid out for you here—a fair amount of gut following will guide the commitment. But that’s by design.

"Part of this being successful will be our ability to be nimble and respond to what's needed,” Aaker shared with Field Mag on the subject. “We don't want the money, the people, and the time to go to waste. So we're going to really watch where the impact is, where it occurs, and make sure we're supporting the right things."

In other words, keep an eye out for future news in your neck of the woods. Something might just be cooking.

GORE-TEX Reveals New ePE Membrane: Patagonia, Arc’teryx Online & More Buy In

GORE-TEX Expanded Polyethylene debuts for fall 2022, promising long-lasting durability, a lower carbon footprint, and lighter weight.

Outdoor industry giant GORE-TEX is so ubiquitous that even small changes to its patented weather-proofing technology reverberate across countless brands and products.

Because of that, details from an announcement made today by the Maryland-based textile leader regarding its all-new waterproof-breathable membrane — its hallmark technology — will send ripples across the industry and may change performance standards in outerwear.

Lofty claims, to be certain, but the unveiling of expanded polyethylene (ePE) already has other industry titans buying in — including Patagonia, Arc’teryx, and more.

“GORE’s commitment to launching ePE directly supports our initiative to reduce our carbon impact by about 65% by 2030,” Arc’teryx director of advanced research, Greg Grenzke, said.

Grenzke teased that ePE would debut in the Arc’teryx line in its Ralle (men’s) and Coelle (women’s) jackets for fall 2022.

We’ve previously reported on details about ePE’s tech. Here’s what we know about GORE’s latest wünder material, and how brands will use it for the fall 2022 season.

GORE-TEX ePE Membrane

GORE-TEX lauds ePE as “a key milestone in GORE’s ongoing sustainability journey.” And that sustainability element is a significant part of both the impetus behind the innovation and brands’ interest in it.

According to GORE, ePE boasts a smaller carbon footprint than its traditional waterproof-breathable membranes. This is thanks to ePE’s more diminutive profile — it has less mass and less overall material, which translates to less energy input, water usage, and carbon output.

Moreover, the ePE membrane is PFC-free, a goal that has rapidly become an industry-wide standard. This lighter membrane can also bond with selected backers and face fabrics — like recycled, solution-dyed, or undyed materials — to ensure the performance elements integrate with a variety of sustainable product constructions.

“This was an ask and a pressure we put on our friends and partners at GORE for a long time,” said Kristo Torgersen, Patagonia’s mountains brand and business lead. “We saw the future of waterproof breathables being in a non-fluorinated chemistry. We set out to eliminate PFCs from the membrane, but we got so much more.”

In addition to its environmental focus, GORE claims ePE possesses long-lasting garment life, fully windproof protection, high breathability, and durable waterproofing.

Where to Find GORE-TEX ePE

In addition to Arc’teryx’s Ralle and Coelle jackets, Patagonia will employ ePE on its Storm Shift ski and snowboard shell kits.

The new membrane will also appear in a variety of both performance and lifestyle products from adidas, Salomon, Dakine, Reusch, and Ziener.

Stay tuned, as GearJunkie will test GORE-TEX ePE in a variety of iterations to see how it stacks up. Learn more about GORE-TEX ePE.

LORENZ.OG BRINGS "PATENTED COLORSCHEMES" TO ARC'TERYX FOR SALE

Time and time again, LORENZ.OG has proven that he's an attention-worthy artist and designer. On his end, words are no longer needed, as his work rate, products, and "PATENTED COLORSCHEMES" speak volumes all their own.

Refusing to be put in a box, there's more to the designer's offerings than just sneakers. Sure, they may be his bread and butter, the work that got his foot in the door with the likes of Lil Yachty and the late Virgil Aboh, but they're only the tip of the iceberg.

Once we scratch the surface, there's a different gravy below. We saw it first with the recent unreleased Off-White '22 Burrow Bag, and now, Gorpcore gets flipped on its head with a series of light shell jackets.

While we've seen custom Arc' shells before, knocking about the wardrobes of Amine, Drake, and the rest, this is the first time that we've seen the globally desired outerwear look quite like this. That's the "PATENTED COLORSCHEMES" effect – take what you know and blow it out of the water.

Describing the creative process behind the collection of jackets that this Arc'teryx project has to offer in conversation with Highsnobiety, Lorenzo said: "I began sampling jackets towards the end of last year, and felt compelled to move away from the brands I am known for working on.

From the first sample I did for myself, I instantly saw huge potential to put my mark on a new medium. I wanted to present this to Arc'teryx but as a finished campaign, to show rather than tell. People often have to see to believe."

On the evolution of his work, he continued: "Based on my experience in sneakers and the impact I've had on the current trend and design aesthetics, I wish I was more patient in the beginning in showcasing a collection of work rather than piece-by-piece. The aim here was to create a campaign so impactful that even when elements of this are imitated, viewers largely recognize what they are imitating ."

Within the (as expected) color-heavy collection, you'll find the Arc'teryx Theta AR in "Volcano," Beta LT in "Menta," Beta in "Smog" and "Dusk," Beams Beta Patchwork in "Dusk" and "Genesis," and the Alpha AR in "Solis."

While this is an unofficial collaboration, it goes the full mile in continuing LORENZ.OG's demonstration of "PATENTED COLORSCHEMES" diversity of applications, like Lorenzo says: "I take pride in design innovation and new ways of working and feel what I offered to sneakers, I can offer to many mediums.

Clearly, brands across the board are missing out by refusing to bring the young designer on board. Virgil saw the vision and, hopefully, the industry will soon follow suit.

Arcteryx Jacket Sale - 14 Practical, Comfy Leggings You Can Actually Wear Hiking

For an activity that’s supposed to be soothing and get us closer to nature, hiking comes with its share of bumps, scrapes, and stumbles. Only the best hiking leggings—ones that feature the versatility and stretchiness we associate with regular workout leggings, as well as the abrasion resistance we expect from outdoor gear—will get us through our outdoor adventures without snagging or chafing.

While we love a good pair of hiking pants, a pair of leggings might be preferable if you know you'll want greater freedom of movement (say, if you have to bend and high-step through rocky terrain). They’re also easier to tuck into hiking boots to keep bugs out and can offer plenty in the way of sun protection and breathability. Plus, you can use a pair of leggings as a base layer under your go-to soft-shell or rain pants during cold weather hikes. 

Of course, the best leggings for hikers borrow some of the technical features that we love about hiking and rock climbing pants, including some degree of weather resistance, tough fabrics that won't rip against rocks or trees, and, for extra points, reinforced panels to prevent wear and tear. They also need to be comfy, but that should go without saying. 

While it may sound challenging for a pair of bottoms to strike the fine balance between stretchy and tough, there are quite a few hiking tights out there that do just that. Here, we've highlighted some of the best hiking leggings from top-rated outdoor brands and retailers like Arc'Teryx, The North Face, Patagonia, and more. Read on to find your faves and gear up for the fall hiking and backpacking season.

Arc'teryx Essent High-Rise Leggings 26"