Arc’teryx is a company that manufacturers outdoor clothing and climbing gear, and was started in Canada (specifically Vancouver, BC). The company has changed hands a couple times since and is now owned by Amer Sports a division of ANTA Sports. They still continue to make high quality products that are often designed in consultation with the Canadian military. As such, many of their products are used in the field by military personnel around the world.
The LEAF Atom LT Hoody originally came out in 2009 and has since gone under several changes. The basis however has always been to be a lightweight and low-profile jacket that can bring warmth in cold weather. Starting at the head it features Polartec Power Stretch with Hardface technology that has great breathability and easily stretches to fit your head. In much lower temperatures you may notice some cold air coming through the breathable material but this is easily resolved by layering up. There is also the option to stow away the hood should it not be required.
Moving down the jacket you’ll notice it has synthetic insulation which may not make it as warm as say a down fill. However, it still does a great job of keeping you warm and can always be used as a midlayer in those lower temperatures. The LEAF Atom LT Hoody is filled with 60 gram Coreloft Compact insulation to keep the warmth in except in the side panels where Arc’teryx used a stretchy midweight fleece instead to keep a low-profile design. The shell is weather-resistant and with the synthetic insulation it offers great coverage from the collar down with the hood not in use. The LEAF Atom LT Hoody will repel water well in mild conditions but any heavy rainfall will cause it to soak up water.
It has a good pocket configuration that allows for various items to be stored on the person. There are hand zip pockets (w/media ports) allowing for convenience and the secure carriage of mission essential items. As well it features cable management loops allowing for the routing of communications cables exiting the hand pocket media ports. Finally there are left chest zip pocket allows for the secure carriage of mission essential items.
As far use, I found the jacket to be quite comfortable in even low temperatures. Arc’teryx markets the LEAF Atom LT Hoody Gen 2 jacket as comfortable in temperatures as lows as 40 degrees Fahrenheit. I don’t find this unreasonable and could see it being comfortable with even lower temperatures with some layers. Don’t think that they sacrificed additional weather protection for nothing, as they made the LEAF Atom LT very breathable. This makes the jacket effective when using it for activities like hiking or downhill skiing for example.
Finally, I will talk about the build quality and durability of the LEAF Atom LT Hoody even if Arc’teryx products are never a concern. Like all their other products, the LEAF Atom LT Hoody is designed with precision in mind. The stitching is tight and doesn’t feel like it’s going anywhere. The zippers are all tight and secure, featuring a no slip design which prevents them from unzipping when moving around.
Arc’teryx makes it hard to not like their products which is why the LEAF Atom LT Hoody is one of my favorites when considering a synthetic all around jacket. It is very versatile and adapts to what you need it to do, with simple layers allowing the jacket to outperform tasks it wasn’t even designed to really tackle. I think it’s comfortable, and well insulated to keep you warm. If you’re looking for an all around jacket, I would not look further. There might be cheaper jackets on the market, but they won’t perform at the level the LEAF Atom LT Hoody can. 9/10.
Smooth