Arc'teryx Atom Hoody Review

The Arc’teryx Atom Hoody has a steep price tag and a solid reputation as a versatile jacket that can do it all. We put it to the test for travel, commuting, and cycling to see how it handles, so you know what to expect before investing in your own. Did it hold up? Let’s dive in and find out!

The Rundown

The jacket is crafted from Tyono 20D nylon, which is incredibly lightweight yet durable and wind- and water-resistant. It features a non-PFAS DWR coating, which aids in the latter. In addition to its ruggedness, it also has a sleek appearance. You can wear it on the trail or into work without skipping a beat. The internal lining is made of recycled nylon, providing a comfortable feel.

The jacket contains multiple bluesign® approved materials, so it is sustainably sourced, which we dig, especially for a jacket that should last as long as this one.

The lining is Coreloft™ Compact 60 insulation, which isn’t super thick and is compressible. When you first see it, you wouldn’t expect it to be as warm as it is. If you didn’t know better, you might not even notice that it was insulated at all by looking at it. In testing, we found that it performs well down to around 40°F (4.44 °C) with standard clothing underneath, assuming there is no extreme wind or precipitation. Lower than that, and you’ll want to layer under, over, or both.

The jacket utilizes YKK zippers throughout its construction, which are smooth, durable, and easy to use. The pulls are simple yet effective and hide away to ensure the jacket maintains its sleek appearance.

There are hand pockets for each hand. The material inside is slightly soft and comfortable, and the pocket is large enough to fit hands with travel gloves or mittens inside. If you get the correct size jacket, the pockets don’t bounce around much, even with heavy gear inside them.

The jacket also features an interior pocket on the left side. It’s pretty large, and you can fit the entire jacket inside it, although we’re not sure you’re supposed to, as it doesn’t have a double-sided zipper. Still, you can fit larger items here, such as a phone, wallet, headphones, or other similar items.

Our tester wore this jacket to a bonfire, battling the smoke and embers for three hours. It was hit with a couple of dozen embers and was within a few inches of the flame while adjusting the fire. There are no noticeable marks or blemishes on the materials, though it did smell pretty smoky the morning after. After washing it with cold water, detergent, and a little vinegar through a regular machine cycle with a second rinse, the jacket looked brand new, and the smell was completely gone. We put it into the dryer on low heat for 5 minutes and dried it on a hanger for the rest of the time!

Packability

In testing, this jacket was so comfortable that it rarely came off. It’s breathable enough to wear in moderate weather and insulated enough to keep you warm when the temperature drops. This might not seem related to packability, but if you don’t take the jacket off, you won’t have to pack it.

When you do take it off, you can stuff it into its pocket, but we prefer to fold it and put it into a packing cube or stuff sack. It’s small enough to fit into medium-sized packing cubes and even some smaller compression cubes.

If you roll it up tightly, the Arc’teryx Atom Hoody might even fit into a medium or large-sized sling bag, although it will occupy a significant amount of space there.

Fit Notes

The sides of the jacket are crafted from a stretchy material, which provides comfort and enhances ventilation. It’s still warm, but not stuffy, even when cycling or hitting the trail. This portion of the jacket isn’t as water-resistant, but we haven’t had any issues with it so far. In a torrential downpour, this area will likely fail first.

The cuffs are elastic, which helps keep the wind out and creates a tapered look and feel. They aren’t adjustable, though, so it isn’t as versatile as some travel jackets on the market. Still, it’s comfortable and looks better than a hook-and-loop fastener on your wrist.

The hood tightens using elastic and feels as if it’s grabbing onto your head when you snug it up. It doesn’t feel uncomfortable or claustrophobic—it just feels tight. Kind of like when you find the perfect hat size—it’s tight enough to stay put, but not tight enough to cause pain or discomfort.

Overall, this jacket is incredibly comfortable, especially when sized correctly. It’s a versatile jacket that works well for commuting to work, cycling, and traveling. The insulation feels like a cloud, and it doesn’t bunch up anywhere. The price is steep, but the jacket has proven durable in testing, so you might think it’s worth it.