Arc'teryx  Alpha SV Jacket - Men's

This is my 4th Arc'teryx jacket and proudly joins my others consisting of the Arc'teryx Macai, Beta AR, and Atom LT. I purchased the Alpha SV to compliment my aging Beta AR which is now 5 years old. The Beta AR has been my most versatile workhorse. As a professional photographer I've put it through it's paces in Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, and other locations, but as it was requiring repeated DWR treatments I decided it was time to upgrade. After much research the jacket I ultimately decided on was the Alpha SV for several reasons. Since I already had the Macai insulated I wanted a shell because they are so versatile and not limited to winter use only. However, I wanted the most durable shell and went with the Alpha SV for that reason. Compared to the Beta AR, the SV is slightly thicker and more durable, but the trade-off is that the material is noisier than the thinner Beta AR. With that said, I love the thickness of it and I'm pretty sure this thing is indestructible. I will be taking this along with my Macai and Atom to the High Arctic next summer and will really test it. The fit is great, same as the beta AR, but perhaps an inch longer maybe. I'm 6'4" so I need the 2XL and I really like the fit as it's not too baggy around the mid-section which is a huge sticking point for me. I need the 2XL for the length, not the girth. It took me a few minutes to figure out the hood adjustments which were a bit different than the Beta AR. I love the way Arc'teryx builds their hoods, they simply do it better than anyone else. I have a thicker North Face shell as well, which is pretty good too, but the Arc'teryx just seem to fit me better, are more comfortable, and are what I'm always wearing.

ok, so after four years of use, it has been a huge failure. dilamination started in a few spots about a year into it, but i didn't pay much attention. i made sure to follow all cleaning and drying instructions. finally, in the last year and a half, it started to get quite bad. so, about two weeks ago i walked into the new york city soho store, and was told it was covered by the warranty, and to send it for repair. wel... after sending it, and the assessment, Arc'teryx claims that it is too old to be covered by warranty... i have an REI E1 elements jacket that is getting close to 15 years old... it is a bit worn, but it is fine... "Recently you sent us your Arc’teryx Alpha SV Jacket under RA : 697280 for a warranty evaluation. I can confirm that a full assessment has been completed by the warranty department. They have concluded that the damage on your item is not covered under the Arc´teryx warranty policy and due to the age of the garment repair is not possible. The product has deteriorated over time and the fabric is losing integrity in many areas at once. As a result a repair would not hold and we could not stand behind it. We build our products to last over extended periods of use, but nothing lasts indefinitely. Fabrics will deteriorate and fade over time and moving parts will wear out. Arc´teryx cover products under warranty until such a time that they have been deemed to be worn out and beyond reasonable repair. Nonetheless as you have a keen interest in Arc'teryx products we would like to offer you a 20% discount off your next purchase at www.arcteryx.com but please bear in mind that your old garment will be recycled."