Arc'teryx Jacket fabric

[Richy]

Anyone know anything about this. Arc'teryx Sirrus SL Jacket made from Gore-tex Paclite and XCR from last year 2004. I've read on some internet sites it has the very light 290NR (dernier weighting) paclite fabric on body and the heavy weight 530NR Gore-tex XCR fabric on shoulders. Whereas on other pages I've read it is actually 300NR Gore-tex Paclite and the 'lighter' weight 420NR weight XCR fabric on shoulders. If anyone knows the Theta AR or Alpha SV Jackets, the 420NR fabric is used on both these for the body fabric and the sturdier 530NR fabric is used for reinforcement on the shoulders/arms etc.

Do Arc'teryx even know which fabric they used on this Sirrus Jacket? Did they vary the fabric from year to year. I've found it hard to get a decent reply from them - any of you guys got a definitive answer rather than just looking at different web page stories on it? Anybody got one or know some answers?

[Chad_A]

I own a Sirrus SL, and although I can't vouch for the technical weight of the XCR, I can say that it's definitely of the lighter version. Makes sense; I think the jacket weighs 11 ounces.

[Potlicker]

I own the Sirrus SL, purchased in Sept. 03. The colour is Sangria, not the Molten that they use now (the jacket is now the Alpha SL). It does seem to me that the fabric changed slightly, the newer version has a "heavier" hand. The old version is just one type of fabric, the 290N paclite. The upper portion is not reinforced with a heavier fabric, which is probably why mine is getting full of holes from errant picks and general wear and tear. I like the jacket for it's lightness, great fit, and great breathability. I have a Beta AR and don't like it as much, but it is much more durable.

[tomtom]

There are two versions of the jacket, the earlier with the lighter fabric and the later with the heavier fabric. Overall weight changed from 10.8 oz to 12.4 oz. But you can't tell by the hang tag which is which, though.