Gear Review | Arc'teryx Sentinel AR Jacket Women

Colour

I received the Sentinel AR jacket in the colour "Elixir" to test. The colour took a bit of getting used to at first, but the more I wore the jacket, the more I liked it. In combination with the yellow zips, it has become a colour highlight for me. However, you can see the dirt after a while due to the light colour.

Size and fit

The jacket is size S. I am 1.64 metres tall and weigh about 55 kilos. It is slightly larger, but I find it quite casual and comfortable, as I always wear something underneath. Even with a slightly thicker down jacket underneath, the hardshell jacket doesn't feel tight. Thanks to the slightly wider fit, it doesn't restrict my movement. The jacket has a slightly tailored cut so that, in combination with the colour, you can tell that a woman is wearing it. The longer cut also kept me warm at the back. I find it practical that the width can be easily adjusted at the bottom of the waistband and at the hands, so the jacket can be adjusted perfectly.

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The yellow zipper makes a beautiful color statement

Material

The inside of the jacket is lined with a thin flannel lining. This provides additional warmth and feels very comfortable against the skin. The jacket impresses with its 3-layer Gore-Tex material, which makes it very robust and both waterproof and breathable. I tested it in heavy rain, snowfall and strong winds and the jacket kept me reliably dry and warm. The jacket definitely impressed me with its robustness, both in terms of weather protection and direct contact with stones, mountain and ski equipment. There are no signs of wear and tear. Compared to other hardshell jackets, it is relatively light. However, due to the robust material, it is a little stiff when folded up if you want to stow it in your rucksack. In terms of pack size, I don't think it's ideal, but I don't have the same expectations of a hardshell jacket of this type.

Pockets, fasteners and hood

The Sentinel AR has two large pockets on the right and left outside, which are fitted with a WaterTight ^TM zip (water-repellent). It also has a lockable pocket on the outside of the left upper arm, which I find very practical for a ski pass. Inside there is a slightly smaller closable pocket, which is ideal for a mobile phone. There is also a larger mesh pocket on the inside. This is ideal for storing thin gloves, buff, energy bars, mountain map, mobile phone, money, thin shirts, etc. I like the fact that I can open and close the pockets even when wearing thicker gloves. However, the hip belt of my backpack runs right over the outer side pockets, so I hardly ever use them with this backpack. I would find a slightly higher pocket between the chest and hip belt practical.

I think the ventilation slits under the armpits are great. There are also water-repellent zips here, which can be opened from about the elbow to the waist. Especially on very windy days I like to wear the jacket on ski tours on the ascent and ventilation slits are simply a must for me.

The hood is helmet-compatible and also has an adjustment option at the back. However, I hardly ever use the hood when I'm wearing a helmet. Without a helmet, it's a bit big for me, despite the adjustment option. I find the reinforced hood peak at the front practical.

As already mentioned, the jacket can be adjusted at the bottom of the waistband, at the hands and at the collar. This meant I could always adjust it depending on the conditions. The Velcro fastener on the hands in particular is easy to use when wearing gloves. I like to wear the jacket over my gloves, which is easy to do with the adjustable Velcro fastener. The integrated snow skirt is also a big plus for the jacket. This can be closed with two extra press studs. There are also fasteners on the snow skirt to attach matching ski trousers to the jacket, which I personally find a little superfluous. The snow skirt cannot be removed. However, I don't see this as a disadvantage as it doesn't bother me when it's not in use. I also often find the fastenings on detachable snow skirts annoying when carrying a backpack.

The slightly fitted waist combined with the color of the jacket create a feminine look

JR

Test conditions

I have worn the jacket in heavy rain on the bike, in strong winds on the mountain, in snowfall and in sunny but cold conditions. The jacket always kept me dry and warm when skiing, ski touring, hiking, cycling and in everyday life. Depending on the temperatures, I also wore a layer or two underneath. The most important thing for me in a hard shell jacket is that it keeps me warm and protects me from the wind, otherwise I get cold very quickly. The Sentinel AR more than convinced me on these points.

Conclusion

The Sentinel AR is a very comfortable and reliable jacket. The light inner lining makes it feel very comfortable against the skin. It keeps you nice and warm in both wet and windy conditions. The wide fit means that layers can be worn comfortably underneath without restricting freedom of movement. The pockets are practical as long as no hip belt is worn. A pocket for small items a little higher up would be practical, but is not a must. The colour is super pretty and unusual, especially with the yellow zips. Unfortunately, you can see some dirt on the jacket after a few uses. In very warm conditions, I would leave it at home as it packs down quite a lot and would be too warm for me. All in all, it's a great jacket that has served me faithfully and, above all, reliably and warmly. The Sentinel AR clearly impresses with its super functionality and delivers what it promises.

Click here to go to the Arc'teryx website for more information on the jacket.

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