What is the Alpha Parka?
The Alpha Parka is a heavily insulated, fully windproof jacket designed to provide huge amounts of warmth in sub-zero conditions. If you'll be standing around in cold conditions (belaying, for example), this is the jacket you'll want.
What is it made of?
Insulation: Arc'teryx use 'down composite mapping' in the Alpha, meaning they've placed both down and synthetic insulation in different areas to maximise warmth and overall performance. Areas prone to wetting out or compression such as the cuffs, hood and hem are given Arc'teryx's Coreloft Continuous synthetic insulation while areas that require maximum warmth (your core) are given a warmer, more packable down insulation.
Arc'teryx use some of the highest-quality 850 fill-power down available. Higher quality down is 'fluffier', allowing it to occupy more space within the jacket without simply adding more of it. This means a lower weight and a smaller pack size but with increased warmth.
Fabrics: Surrounding all this lovely insulation is a fully seam-taped Gore-Tex Infinium membrane — this provides total windproof protection and an extremely high level of water resistance. Although Gore are fairly adamant that this isn't a waterproof membrane, we've found in practice you'd have to try very, very hard to get wet in it.
A bit like the insulation, Arc'teryx use two different weights of Gore-Tex Infinium in different areas to maximise performance. The hood, chest, shoulders, sleeves and rear feature reinforcements to deal with rucksack abrasion, contact with ropes, etc. The rest of the jacket has a lighter fabric to save weight and decrease the pack size.
What are its features?
Starting at the top, the Alpha features a helmet-compatible StormHood, making it ideal for high-altitude mountain activities where you'll most likely be wearing a helmet. Both the zip and hood have insulated baffles to prevent heat from escaping and the cuffs have internal gaskets to block cold wind, snow or other debris entering. This main zip is also two-way, allowing you to unzip from the bottom to fit the jacket over a climbing harness or simply to answer the call of nature. While we're talking about sealing in warmth, you've also got drawcords on the hem.
Storage-wise, there are two hand pockets, one chest pocket and two internal dump pockets — more than enough for all the regular bits and bobs you need easy access to.
Where does it fit in the layering system?
The Alpha Parka is designed solely as an outer layer to provide bucket loads of warmth and protection in harsh, unforgiving conditions.
- Fully seam taped
- Gore Infinium windproof membrane
- Highly water-resistant
- Helmet-compatible hood
- Helmet-compatible StormHood
- Hem drawcords
- Two hand pockets
- One chest pocket
- Two internal dump pockets
- Draft collar and cuff gaskets
- Reinforced high wear areas