Arc'teryx Sirrus SL jacket - do you have one?

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Em
26/10/2004 at 08:05
Hi everyone,
I need some help in dealing with Arc'teryx customer service - as I said on another thread, I bought one of these and was very happy with it until wearing it in reasonably heavy rain, whereupon it let water through the material (not the seams, definitely the Paclite).

I've contacted Arc'teryx customer service, and initially they said I could send it back and they would check it out. The guy I'm speaking to now seems to think that I would be better off with an XCR jacket and that 'these jackets (Paclite) are designed to spend 95% of time in a pack'.

This is why I bought one! Mine has spent most of the time in my pack, which is why it's taken me 4 months to find out it leaks! What I do expect is that the 5% of the time I do need it, it will be waterproof!

So, to get to the point, has anyone with one of these jackets worn it in proper rain and been satisfied with the waterproofness and protection? Could the jacket's reviewers (OM or users) help me out?

Many thanks in advance,
Emma
John Corteen
26/10/2004 at 09:30
Check this out Em, Guy/Jon see to hold this jacket in high esteem:

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article.asp?SP=&v=1&UAN=2263
tom van wauwe
26/10/2004 at 09:50
Hi Emma,
I do own a Sirrus jacket and I have no complaints about. I have even used it with a backpack without problems.
My contacts with the Arc'teryx customer service are quite positive. I contacted them several times about some technical specifications and in the majority of the cases they replied although it could take several weeks.
Have you tried to contact the store where you bought the jacket or the UK distributor for Arc'teryx ?
Em
26/10/2004 at 11:32
John - thanks, I did read the reviews by OM before I bought the jacket - in fact, it was one of the main reasons I did - and why I'm still sure it's the right jacket and I shouldn't need a full-on XCR.

Tom - many thanks. The store were excellent (US website), and have said to return the jacket to them if Arc'teryx wouldn't back their warranty. Arc'teryx have been OK so far, I'm just a bit taken aback by them seeming to think that a Paclite jacket advertised as 'storm protection' won't fullfill my needs. Sounds like they think Paclite is only showerproof, which seems to disagree with Gore's 'Guaranteed to keep you dry'...

Any other experiences greatly appreciated...
Lost Details
26/10/2004 at 11:52
I've not got this jacket, but I do have Paclite trousers and jacket by a different manufacturer, and they're definitely not meant to be simply 'shower proof'. It sounds as though the person you've spoken to at Customer Services doesn't understand what Paclite is. If it were me I'd ask to speak/write to someone else. Good luck.
Jon Doran
26/10/2004 at 11:57
Hi Em, I've been using and reviewing various Paclite jackets and none of them have leaked. Is the jacket still beading water on the surface when it rains? Have you washed it at all? Do you throw yourself regularly down granite slabs ;-)

Generally Paclite's designed for lightweight use, but we actually gave our Sirrus SL to the Wasdale Mountain Rescue guys who used it a lot in conditions it's not really intended for without any leakage problems, so I don't think it's a generic problem with Paclite fabric.




OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

Em
26/10/2004 at 12:31
Hi Jon, the jacket beads water initially but then water soaks through after a few minutes and you can wipe it off the inside of the jacket. I'm pretty sure this is a fault with a batch of Paclite material, and have told Arc'teryx that.
I haven't washed it at all, it's been pretty lightly used - a bit of scrambling but no sliding down granite :o).
I may send the bloke I'm dealing with the link to the Wasdale test and see what he says....
Actually they seem to have dropped the Sirrus SL from their range, so maybe that's why they are stalling at replacing it.
tom van wauwe
26/10/2004 at 12:32
Hi Emma,
I wouldn't worry too much about their reaction. Paclite is a bit more delicate to use so they propably first want to find out if you used the jacket properly. And if the jacket was 90 % of the time in your pack, I don't see a problem.
Who were you talking to at Arc'teryx ?
Alan Kendall
26/10/2004 at 12:44
I have a Sirrus SL that's spent a lot of time packed away, but I've also worn it for long periods in heavy rain with a heavy pack. I have some Berghaus Paclite pants too - both the SL jacket and these overtrousers have been waterproof, in my experience.

I've no doubt they won't last as long as heavier waterproofs, but they're certainly supposed to be better than showerproof.
Em
26/10/2004 at 12:44
A guy at customer service with the fantastic name of Sig Wiig. He's been pretty good, a bit slow to respond but seems to be willing to help (apart from trying to make me get an XCR jacket). I've let him know how much I've used the jacket and what kind of activity I do, now waiting for his response. I'll keep you posted.
Jon Doran
26/10/2004 at 13:23
Technically your first point of recourse should be the retailer. What generally happens with something like this, is that the jacket gets sent off to WL Gore in Germany who test the fabric and decide whether it's faulty or not. It does sound like it's not behaving like it ought to.

Paclite's definitely aimed at lightweight use, but it's not actually super delicate IME. If it were, I don't think brands like Berghaus and Mountain Equipment would be producing lightweight alpine shells using the fabric. XCR is definitely tougher, but nowhere near as breathable and more expensive too. Check out the new Lowe Alpine Ice Light, which is almost as light as lot of Paclite tops, but 70 or 80 quid more expensive than the equivalent in Paclite.

OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

tom van wauwe
26/10/2004 at 13:30
I've been in contact with the same guy. I had a question about the beading effect of my jacket. The answer came 3 weeks later (with apologies for the delay).
If they agree to take the jacket back, make sure you get a return authentication (RA) number.
Em
26/10/2004 at 17:15
Many thanks everyone for all your advice and help, I'll let you know how it goes.
tom van wauwe
26/10/2004 at 17:56
@Jon:
the lightest weight 3-layer XCR jacket afaik, Mont Bell Torrent Flier, weights less then 350 g, which is a lot lighter then the Lowe Alpine one.
NEVIS1344
01/11/2004 at 09:16
I have had paclite trouble too . This year I returned a jacket to the manufacturer (in this case Berghaus) who were very good and sent me a replacement. Sadly this was faulted too and I was refunded my purchase price . WL GORE seem to think that a duff batch of paclite is out there so it is possible your sirrus is faulted too . Good luck with your jacket Emma.
Berghaus were very good with me I hope arcteryx are just as good to you .
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