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Who I am: Male, 30s, used to do a lot of outdoor activities but is now usualy too tired after a long day’s work. With a family of three children, it’s rather difficult to test outdoor products.

Hahaha, all joking aside and although there were many elements of truth up there (ok, the only lie was the attitude), when the folks at Altitude-sports.com approached me to test an Arc’teryx product, I did not hesitate before saying yes. I know the brand. Arc’teryx has a stellar reputation, they make genuinely fine products. It was like being asked to test candy. It was, to put it simply, an offer I couldn’t refuse. The good kind of offer you can’t refuse.

I tested the Arc’teryx Theta SL for about a month.

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Read more about Ludovic's review of the Arcteryx Theta SL

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.

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Read more about Arc'teryx Sidewinder SV vs. The North Face Free Thinker II

Everywhere you go, Alpha SL will be your buddy, even at Prague Castle

The Alpha SL by Arcteryx is quite the marvel. I got it expressively for a recent trip to Europe that included some planned hiking in Norway and the Czech Republic. It did not take much time for the jacket to impose itself as a critical element in my travel arsenal. Although I was rather lucky weather-wise, it’s so light and packs in such a compact manner that I always had it in my bag, like a safety net, just in case things got nasty. Where rain or wind showed up, I know I’d be safe in my blue cocoon.

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Read more of Juan's review of the Alpha SL