October 27, 2009Hardshell showdown! Arc’teryx Sidewinder SV vs. The North Face Free Thinker II

The Arc’teryx Sidewinder SV takes on The North Face Free Thinker II in a battle of the snowsport hardshells.

The North Face Free Thinker II

Arc'teryx Sidewinder SV

Both these jackets are fully equipped to deal with whatever Mother Nature throws at you so you can be one with her. I’ve decided to compare them by going feature by feature. Let’s start with the top.

Hoods

They both have excellent hoods: adjustable and helmet compatible. So the essential stuff is well taken care of. The Free Thinker’s is three-way adjustable, whereas the Sidewinder’s is four-way adjustable and with that a better fit. However, the pull straps for the frontal adjustment are easier to use on the Free Thinker while the Sidewinder’s are hidden thus reducing flappage…hard to tell who wins on the front pulls.

Collars

Both have the hoods attached to the collar rather than a collar-hood one-piece combination. This is a good thing as it means that when the hood is down, as it is most of the time, it does not pull on the front. More comfort, more endurance. But that isn’t what most people would notice about the collar. Indeed, most striking is the front zipper that veers away from the center. I really appreciate this feature. Not only does it make the whole thing more comfortable, it cuts down on the zipper clip flapping. It also guarantees constant wind protection as moving your head won’t cause your chin to push the zipper down. And let’s not forget that it simply looks hot that way. The Sidewinder’s zipper is pushed farther to the side, but that is just a style difference.

Zippers and Pockets

Both have polyurethane zippers, which are pretty standard. The only problem with that is that although they look really cool when new, the test of time is not so kind to their appearance. Pit zips are to be expected and are there. I do prefer the Sidewinder’s as they are deeper at the torso, allowing more heat to be dumped. Finally, when it comes to looks, both are contrasting, but the Free Thinker also has a little futuristic-robotic look to them which will be suitable for some but not for all.

When it comes to pockets, the Sidewinder has a nice medium-large pocket on the right side and a small cell-phone-sized one on the left. The Free Thinker has all its pockets on the right side. I do not know why they choose that configuration but hey, it works nonetheless. The main pocket is smaller than the Sidewinder’s but it does have an earphone port. The smaller pocket is cell-phone specific. Both jacket’s “cell-phone” pockets are only for the small type. iPhones fit easily into the larger pockets. The Free Thinker also has a medium-large stash pocket which can come in quite handy. On the outside, both have very similar left chest pockets. The Free Thinker adds a small left forearm pocket with removable goggle wipe. The Sidewinder counters with a bigger left bicep pocket with a transparent window for ski passes and/or other stuff.

Snowskirt

As would be expected with snowsport specific jackets, both have snowskirts. The Freethinker comes out on top in the domain has it is button-adjustable in two positions and has a two locking mechanisms: pantalock button loops which attach to your snowpants belt loops and a zipper to zip into compatible pants.

Look

Looks can be subjective but that doesn’t mean you can’t compare them. Anyhow, both are obviously well crafted jackets. The Arc’teryx does, however have hidden stitching for a cleaner look. It is also more adjusted, giving a much more flattering appearance.

Various

The Arc’teryx has a superior Velcro cuff in that it is more secure and less bulky. But the Free Thinker replies with interior micro-fleece shoulder patches, giving better protection to the waterproof-breathable membrane from heavy backpack shoulder straps. Speaking of membrane, both jackets are equipped with Gore-Tex Pro Shell.

The Recco reflector used on the Sidewinder SV

They also both have Recco reflectors. They both work the same, but look different. I’m disappointed in both of them. I really don’t see why they can’t be hidden. The one on the Arc’teryx is quite a lot bigger but at least is bland looking. The one on The North Face is definitely sleeker but at the cost of trying a bit too hard, at least according to my humble stylistic opinion.

Bottom Line

The good thing is that you can’t go wrong with either of them. Built for some hardcore activities in the snow, you’ll be well protected. Your biggest problem will be deciding which of the small details is more important to you.

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