Mark Adams
- July 9, 2007
Best of All Possible Combinations
Trade offs are what we as buyers tend to scrutinize the most. Breathability versus waterproofing & wind blocking is a major one for me, and the Stingray Jacket has just the right balance for my needs. It breathes well enough for some hiking. Stops the wind from cutting to the bone at the top of the ridge you just hiked to, you don't even know its on when you ski down, & if you do stuff your body into the powder you'll come out dry. Water proofing is not an issue with this jacket. At 6"3", 225 lbs the XL fits just fine even with 3 baselayers on. I've got $600.00 Spyder & Phoenix jackets that take in water like a sponge & a Arc'teryx Sidewinder that lets the wind penetrate to the core. I only need one jacket now, i've found "my" jacket with the Best of All Combinations.
Anon. Shopper
- April 8, 2007
Great all around jacket. Light, soft, quiet, great fit, great fe
Great all around jacket. Light, soft, quiet, great fit, great features. Almost replaces the need to have a hardshell.
Anon. Shopper
- January 20, 2007
great shell, but don't expect to wear a helmet with the hood.
Great shell. I took it to Breckenridge with temperatures ranging from 5-20 with gust of 30mph winds. Didn't feel a thing. BUT...The hood is not compatible with a helmet (Giro 9). I was a little bummed about this fact. The wind was so cold, that I would have liked to put the hood over my helmet. The zippers are impossible to work with gloves (Marmot seems to have them beat on this with the little rubber grabbers on their zippers). Still glad I bought it.
Gerard Bu
- November 14, 2006
One of the best shells made
I have been looking for a new shell that can be worn skiing as well as cooler temperatures that was water proof looked good and wore well. There is really no comparison to the quality of Arcteryx clothing so I will concentrate on what this model offers. I tried the shells like beta, alpha and theta and the thicker shells for snow sport. I disregarded the insulated shells since they are warmer and limits their use to winter only. The hard shells like alpha, theta etc felt to thin to wear unless is used for technical reasons. This left the scorpion, the sidewinder and the stingray. The Sidewinder did not appeal to me due to the external material that it is not as appealing, in the opposite end the scorpion does not seem to have the rugged exterior that the stingray has. The stingray has a smooth yet rough exterior that it is very nice to the touch and while providing the jacted with a sense of durability. The sleeves have a velcro attachment that provides a very nice look to it, the linning is thin enough to be worn on srping and fall and ligth enough to layer for warm ski days while it provide the room to layer up for those cold skiing days. Overall is a wonderfull jacket that will provide use over the 3 seasons.
Craig Bokesh
- October 31, 2006
The Kind of Ski Jackets
This jacket is the highlight of my closet. It has a soft feel to it, yet it's built for the harshest conditions that mother nature can throw at you. I've worn this to the top of Mt. Baker during some pretty harsh conditions and it kept the ice and moisture on the outside where it belongs. Arcteryx makes the best quality jackets around...they aren't cheap, but I consider this an investment for life.