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Gear Review | Arc'teryx Sabre AR Jacket

The robust all-rounder from Arc'teryx put to test

by Alex Schober 11/21/2019
Arc'teryx Sabre AR
The Canadian manufacturer Arc'teryx has been impressing the European market for many years now with its high-quality outdoor equipment, which shines with high-quality materials and excellent workmanship. With the further development of the Sabre Jacket, the likeable Canadians once again deliver an all-rounder with "one for all" potential. We tested the jacket extensively for you last season.

First impression

I received the jacket in the colour "Yugen" for testing. I like the colour, but it's a little lighter than the Arc'teryx product images show. It tends more towards a dark turquoise colour and goes perfectly with different styles. The cut of the jacket is a little more casual and wider, which I also like.

The jacket has a roughened flannel lining on the inside, which makes the jacket feel a little firmer or stiffer in comparison. In my opinion, the (typical) haptic impression of a pure hard shell is somewhat more pleasant, but the Sabre AR jacket scores points with the additional flannel lining providing a thin, warming layer, which is still quite comfortable even directly on the skin. This lining allows the jacket to be worn directly on top of a T-shirt or short-sleeved baselayer, for example. The three-layer Gore-Tex laminate provides full weather protection, while the slightly longer, pre-shaped cut is designed to guarantee maximum freedom of movement and allows different intermediate layers to be worn. The hood is of course helmet-compatible and can be easily adjusted in width using an integrated elasticated drawstring. An integrated snow skirt with "Slide n Loc" fastening allows compatible (Arc'terxy) trousers to be attached to the jacket.

The jacket has two side pockets, an inner chest pocket and a mesh pocket, also in the chest area, for stowing various small items such as keys, mobile phone, cereal bar, ski resort map (and hip flask).

The cuffs, Velcro fasteners and zips make a high-quality impression at first glance and work without any problems. Apart from that, the jacket is relatively simple, plain-coloured and looks casual.

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Testers and test conditions

I am 1.73 metres tall and weigh around 70 kilos. As a rule, size M is a typical "no-brainer" for me. Compared to European brands, the Canadian cut is usually slightly larger, so the size M fits me well in this jacket and I can still put on enough extra layers underneath as a base and mid-layer. This was usually the case in the form of merino underwear and thin midlayers. On ski tours, I usually only wear the hardshell on the descent or on really cold, uncomfortable days on the ascent. Even in very cold temperatures, the jacket warmed me reliably and the ventilation options made it comfortable to wear even during warmer temperatures. The jacket was tested last season when freeriding and piste skiing in the ski resort, as well as on ski tours in a wide range of conditions in Tyrol.

Test report

The first impression of the jacket is confirmed as soon as you put it on: The roughened, soft flannel lining is comfortable to wear, even next to the skin, and you can literally "feel" the jacket's robustness thanks to the slightly firmer material. Even after numerous days of intensive use in snow, rock and ice, it shows no signs of wear. The robust Gore Tex Pro laminate can withstand contact with rocks with relative ease and looks as good as new after a wash in the washing machine.

The arrangement of the pockets fulfils its purpose and makes it possible to use the side pockets even when wearing a backpack. I rarely used the mesh pocket on the inside, which is perfect for storing a map or similar items and having them quickly to hand. I noticed a small point of criticism regarding the pockets after a few days in various ski resorts: The pocket for the lift ticket is almost at shoulder height on the upper arm, so in many ski resorts it is necessary to bend your knees a little so that the ticket can be scanned by the machine.

The zips all run quite smoothly and are easy to open and close even when wearing ski gloves. I really like the extra large ventilation opening under the armpits, as this ensures sufficient ventilation in warmer temperatures or on ski tours. However, I wouldn't recommend the Sabre AR as a pure ski touring jacket or spring jacket, as it quickly gets a little too warm in plus temperatures due to the warm lining. However, it is ideal for off-piste skiing in the ski resort or ski touring in high winter.

As I hardly ever close the snow skirt on my jacket, I hardly ever use it. I would have preferred a detachable snow skirt, but as it is hardly noticeable if you don't close it, it doesn't really get in the way. On the days I did use it, it hardly slipped and reliably prevented snow from getting in unintentionally. Even after a few (unintentional) turns in deep snow, I had no snow under the jacket.

The elasticated drawstrings for adjusting the hood and the width of the jacket are easy to operate with gloves and work perfectly. The helmet-compatible hood is indeed generously cut and can be worn over a helmet. Without a helmet, on the other hand, it feels a little clunky and bulky despite being adjustable. However, I get this feeling with almost all of my ski jackets with a helmet-compatible hood, so it's not necessarily the fault of the Sabre AR.

The width of the cuffs can be adjusted using the Velcro fastener, allowing them to be fastened flush both under and over the gloves. The Velcro fastener does not start to fray even after intensive use and closes reliably.

Arc'teryx Sabre AR

Conclusion

The self-proclaimed Big Mountain Jacket cuts a fine figure for freeriding and winter touring. The slightly longer cut, the robust material and the soft flannel lining provide unrestricted protection against snow, cold and wet conditions. Only the non-removable snow skirt and the limited use in warm temperatures are two small subjective criticisms of this jacket. However, with the right (thin) base layer, it is possible to wear the jacket for skiing and touring for almost the entire winter without any problems. A softshell jacket is usually the better choice for warm spring tours anyway. The Sabre AR has developed into a classic "one for all" jacket for me and has become a faithful companion. If you can live with going on a ski tour in May/June with a softshell jacket, this jacket is the best choice.

Advantages & disadvantages

+  very robust

+  high-quality workmanship

+  Comfortable to wear thanks to flannel lining

+- helmet-compatible hood

 -  unsuitable for ski touring on very warm days

Details (according to Arc'teryx)

  •     Waterproof

  •     Windproof

  •     Breathable

  •     Robust

Construction

  •     Soft, gently brushed lining for cosy warmth

  •     Fully taped seams for absolute waterproofness

  •     The three-layer GORE-TEX construction ensures comprehensive weather protection

Design & fit

  •     The sports cut offers freedom of movement and space for several layers of clothing

Cutting guide

  •     Pre-shaped cut for maximum freedom of movement

  •     Gusset under the arms

Hood types

  •     Helmet-compatible Storm Hood™ hood

Zipper types

  •     WaterTight™ outer zips

  •     WaterTight™ VisIon front zip

  •     WaterTight™ underarm zips

Cuffs & sleeve construction

  •     Laminated Velcro fasteners on the cuffs do not get caught and do not tear out

Fringe types

  •     Slightly elongated hem

Bag equipment

  •     Laminated zip breast pocket on the inside

  •     Two side pockets

  •     Sleeve pocket with zip

  •     One internal storage pocket made of mesh material

  •     Note: Our WaterTight™ zips are highly water repellent but not waterproof. We advise against carrying items in the bags that can be damaged by moisture.

Snowsports details

  •     Recco® reflector

  •     Slide 'n Loc™ fastening can be combined with compatible trousers

  •     Snow skirt with stretch panelling and adhesive tape finish

Here is the link to the Arc'teryx website with further information.

This product was provided to PowderGuide by the manufacturer for testing. You can find out how we test 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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