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Gear reviews | Arc'teryx Proton LT Hoody

Breathable insulating layer for sports in the cold

by Lea Hartl • 02/01/2017
Arc'teryx is adding another component to its insulation elementary particle collection: in addition to Atom and Nuclei, there is now the particularly breathable Proton series.

As usual with Arc'teryx, the jackets are available in AR (all-round - slightly heavier, slightly more robust material) or LT (light) versions, each with and without a hood. I tested a Proton LT Hoody in the women's version. I am just over 180 cm tall and wear the women's model in size L. The jacket is cut relatively close to the body, but not tight. The men's models have a much wider cut. The fit seems to me to be the same as the other Arc'teryx insulation jackets (Atom, Nuclei). Both the men's and women's models are rather large in my opinion. A clear indication of this is the fact that the sleeves of the women's model are not too short for me either.

Features

The Proton LT Hoody has two zippered slit pockets and a smaller chest pocket, also with a zipper. The lower hem can be tightened with an elastic band, as can the back of the hood. The hood is not adjustable at the front around the face, but it fits fairly snugly anyway. The hood fits over my ski helmet. The sleeves have pre-shaped elbows and elastic cuffs that fit well at the wrist.

The main difference between the otherwise very similar Proton and Atom series (here is a review of the Atom LT) lies in the breathability. Like the Atom and Nuclei, the Proton jackets are lined with the company's own Coreloft™ synthetic insulation, but the Proton series uses a combination of Coreloft™ and the more breathable Permeair™ material. The outer material of the Proton series also has a water-repellent DWR coating, but is also more breathable than the Atom series. The Nuclei series is generally warmer and more weatherproof.

The purposes of the different jackets can be summarized as follows: Nuclei is worn when standing around in the cold (e.g. belaying); Atom when standing around in less cold temperatures or moving around but not sweating (e.g. downhill); Proton when moving around in the cold (e.g. climbing in very cold conditions).

Practical test

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The jacket is lightweight and can be easily crumpled up and stuffed into the backpack. Like the Atom LT, it is very comfortable to wear and offers a similar level of warmth. Both the Atom and Proton feel quite warm for how thin and light they are. I used the jacket on ski tours as well as when skiing in the ski area. It goes without saying that you can also wear it in the freezing cold city. After all, high-end outdoor jackets are also the ultimate in fashion in supermarkets and coffee shops in the Alpine metropolises.

While you don't usually break a sweat there, this is of course all the more the case on ski tours. I can confirm the advertised higher breathability of the Proton compared to the Atom. This is accompanied by a slightly higher wind permeability. As a result, the Proton is slightly less warm than the Atom in windy conditions. When you're moving, moisture doesn't accumulate as quickly.

On very cold days, I also wore the jacket from time to time when climbing, usually as a middle layer under a hardshell. I find the Proton very comfortable for shorter ascents where the speed is not exactly at the performance limit. On longer tours or at higher speeds, however, I have always felt too warm at some point, regardless of breathability. In very cold but dry conditions, I can also imagine using the jacket as an outer layer for ascents, but I haven't had such conditions with it so far (when it was cold enough for an insulating layer when climbing, it also snowed).

Conclusion

A more breathable alternative to the tried-and-tested Atom, with more or less all of its advantages. Particularly suitable for people who are often cold on the ascent or regularly go ski touring at -20°. It works well as a mid-layer and can also show off its breathability under a hardshell (e.g. when freeriding in the ski area).

Advantages & disadvantages
+Lightweight
+Breathable
-Slightly more wind-permeable

Details
RRP €240.-

Technical details
Abrasion-resistant
Wind-repellent
Water-repellent
Air-permeable

Construction
Durable water-repellent finish (DWR)
The hydrophobic Permeair™ 20 nylon ripstop lining enables exceptionally good air permeability
.lining enables exceptionally good air permeability

Design
Close-fitting cut for top athletic performance
Women's-specific design for optimum fit and functionality

Cut
Pre-shaped elbows
Underarm gusset

Hood types
Adjustable drawcord
Lined hood
Helmet compatible

Zipper types
No-slip zip™ front zipper
Double cover on main zipper protects against wind

Cuffs & Sleeve construction
Elastic knit cuffs

Heam types
Extended back
Dual adjusters at bottom hem

Pocket features
Two lined slash pockets with zippers
Two zippered chest pockets

Here is the manufacturer's website with further information. Here you can order the jacket from our partner store Bergzeit.de.

This product was provided to PowderGuide free of charge by the manufacturer for testing. You can find out how we tested it in our test statement.

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This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

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