Arc'teryx and CMH heli-ski guides got together to make sure the Men's Stinger Jacket was built with the materials and features needed for serious days of backcountry skiing. Skin your way up with the Underarm zips open for extra breathability, so you stay nice and dry when you reach your line of choice. Pull the Stinger Jacket's helmet-compatible hood out of the collar, close the powder skirt, and stash your skins in the large internal pocket before you drop in for some amazing powder. If nasty weather catches you deep in the backcountry, the waterproof breathable Gore-Tex Pro material fights off the blowing snow to help you get back to the trailhead.
Bottom Line: Arc'teryx gives you professional-grade performance with the Stinger Jacket.
Remarkable in nearly every aspect:
-sky high price
-unmatched attention to detail
-made in Canada
-awesome color pattern (I have the green one)
-amazingly mobile for a hardshell
-the Stow Hood is three way adjustable(!) and big enough for my large helmet. I wish it were a Storm Hood though... pretty much anything Arc'teryx makes with a Storm Hood is worth buying.
-longer length than most Arc'teryx jackets
-simple and functional powder skirt
My main complaint:
I was very, very sorely disappointed to make this discovery: the description of the Stinger implies that it has an internal skin pocket... which it definitely doesn't.
The consensus: four stars due to a variety of amazing qualities, but lacking a skin pocket and a storm hood. The price is also outrageous, but you get what you pay for in this industry.
I went to the Backcountry.Com warehouse and showroom in West Valley, Utah. I was looking for a Jacket to replace my North Face Mtn. Guide Jacket. I did my homework and researched several different jackets all of which had one thing in common... the new GORE-TEX PRO. I tried on the Following jackets: Arc'teryx Sidewinders SV & AR, Mountain Hardwear Beryllium, & North Face Free Thinker. I wanted it to be roomy because I am not your average skinny runt snowboarder. I am 6"2 with 54" Chest 36' waist. This jacket fit the best for my XXL build. These last 2 days 1/29-1/30 2008 have been epic at Snowbird Utah 48" fell in 2 days. (They are saying the best in 20 years) This jacket was bomb proof and it kept me dry. It was waist to chest deep power. I dropped in off of Great Scott and the Cirques with this jacket keeping me completely dry even while cart-wheeling and eating it due to the poor visibility. I ski patrolled on board at The Canyons and got to demo a lot of jackets. This by far is the best jacket I have ever worn.
Killer jacket. Excellent quality superior craftsmanship etc. My biggest/only hang up is the collar. Got Large for sleeve length (snowkite w/ unhooked tricks & really hate when sleeves ride up). The collar is huge , covers most of my face great on snowy/windy days or the deep stuff, BUT it keeps hitting the audio stuff on my helmet and FFW or changing volume. oh ya and the cost, ouch.
