Arc'teryx  Zeta FL Jacket - Women's

I have worn this jacket in heavy rain a few times. I love everything about the jacket, except the sleeves. The sleeve in the wrist area is so large that water gets INSIDE the jacket. It's especially bad when I talk or reach up for something when it's raining. Wetness on the inside of the jacket defeats the purpose of the goretex. I have many arcteryx products and love them all. This sleeve design greatly disappoints me. If the sleeves were smaller or adjustable, this jacket would be perfect. But as it is now, I greatly dislike wearing it in the rain, which is its intended purpose, because I know I'll be wet on the inside.

I am so glad I bite the bullet and purchases this crazy expensive ultralight rain jacket. I have yet to backpack with it in a ton of rain, but I have worn it around home in the rain and it had held up. The good keeps your head and face dry (as long as it is not too windy). I also use the jacket as a wind breaker over my down jacket or even my tank at the start of a chilly morning or at the top of a windy mountain. Was afraid that it would tear, but have done a lot of bush whacking this spring (from all the rain this past winter) and no snag or rip. So light! And I roll it up into the hood so it is quite compact. Great addition to my backpacking gear.

I had this jacket for the entirety of my PCT thru-hike and it ended up being my go-to layer for pretty much anything -- rain, wind, bugs, or snow! It's one of the lightest rain jackets I've found and it's impressively waterproof for its weight. I also love that it has pockets with watertight zippers. If there was an unexpected rain shower, I could stash my phone and camera in the pockets until I had a chance to get them packed away in a dry bag. The only thing I would change is how the hood elastic tightens. It tends to pull the hood back from the sides of your face, exposing your face to a bit of wind/rain. I still love this jacket though, and it will continue to be my go-to shell for backpacking!

This jacket is super lightweight, sturdy as it takes crashed on the bike. (speaking from experience here...) And its great for hiking or walking your dog in the rain. The only downside using it mountainbiking is the hood doesnt fit over a helmet. But I never really do that anyways. This jacket is my favorite and wear it all the time. I would recommend it to anyone who does any outdoor sport, it also covers your butt. I use it roadbiking as well. It's a great fit !

This is a fantastic ultralight shell for thru hiking and backpacking. It is slightly less warm than my heavier and sturdier rain jackets, but it’s perfect to layer over a fleece or puffy if you need insulation. And, as always with Arcteryx products, the look is sleek and flattering and the product is great quality. This jacket will be in my pack for every backpacking trip in my future.

Got this jacket May 2019. Great shell, wind resistant, zippers work as advertised. But I wore it on a 30 min bike ride in NYC in the rain (heavier than a drizzle but not a thunderstorm) and it was soaked through. Pretty disappointed. It works fine if you’re trying to stay dry after 10 min in the rain but not so much if you’re in the rain for longer.

To be fair, I love the fit, the color and its light weight. Most of my jackets and pants are from Arc'teryx so there is no shortage of love for the brand here. I took my brand new Zeta FL for a 5.5 hrs hike in North Vancouver. For 3 hrs of the hike there were only a couple brief showers so no big deal. The last 2.5 hrs of the hike, moderate rain hit all the way to the end of the hike. I felt cold even with my fast pace hike and had a feeling that my rain jacket has been compromised. I took my jacket off at the end of the hike and I was right, my base layer was completely wet as well as the inside of the Zeta FL! Contacted customer service was told to buy the Zeta LT or AR instead. Well, Zeta LT seems to have same issue and the LT is to heavy for my fast and light hike. I might have to look elsewhere. For sure, this Zeta FL has no place in my backpack, and definitely not as an emergency gear. Except perhaps if you do an hour walk, close to home. What a shame.

I like the fit of the jacket and how light it is, but wish it had the pit zips because it doesn't seem to be as breathable as I hoped. In general it is a very nice jacket.