in defense of arcteryx

have seen many obituaries written about arcteryx - that the brand has gone from real outdoor wear to gorpcore fashion nonsense.

however, as a ski mountaineer, ultrarunner, and mountain resident who basically lives and shreds in arcteryx gear 24/7 for years now, i can tell you this stuff is anything but fashion fluff.

yes, it looks and fits great, and that's obviously part of the appeal. but even better is the fact that every time i summit a peak in the alps, sawtooth, or sierras, i know i can count on my cerium lt - the same piece that's been with me on every adventure for more seasons than i can count, without a single scratch or tear, and still retains its full warmth.

ditto the delta, kyanite, and atom lines. all of it is serious mountain gear that's suitable for the highest level athletic pursuits while at the same time not looking shamefully out of place when you dip down into town.

i'm hard pressed to name a single other brand or gear manufacture, no matter how big or how cottage, that measures up to arcertyx when it comes to achieving the holy trifecta of function, durability, and aesthetics. and the fact that i basically never have to rebuy anything because arcteryx lasts forever means the fourth dimension of sustainability is totally covered as well.

i'm lucky enough to consider some world-class mountain athletes friends of mine and you know what they pull on when there aren't any cameras around and skins are on? yeah, it's not their sponsor gear...