Arc'teryx Gamma MX Jacket

Arc'teryx Gamma MX Jacket - Men's

The Arc'teryx Gamma MX Jacket is an award-winning addition to your outerwear arsenal. Recognized by Climbing magazine and the Polartec Apex Awards do to its all-weather versatility and enlightened design. Molded zipper garages and a welded sleeve pocket identify the Gamma MX as an advanced outerwear piece. While seamless and gusseted underarms eliminate bulk and provide unparalleled freedom for climbing or making turns. The Gamma MX Jacket is highly water resistant and extremely breathable. A dialed fit and multitasking personality have led the Gamma series to be recognized as a pioneer in softshell design.

$298.95

Fantastic Jacket!!
The big caveat: as with all Arc'Teryx products, this is a really expensive garment, but it's worth it... First of all, they claim the jacket is water-resistant, when in reality it's somewhere between water-resistant and water-proof. And in my experience, it is closer to water-proof. I skied all day with the temp in the low-to-mid 30s and a steady light-to-medium rain. With only a body-fitting thin insulating top (one I use for road biking in cool weather)under the jacket. Verdict: at the end of the day I was warm and dry. Although, in a hard and sustained rain you might over time feel a little dampness. But after all, if I am going to be in hard rain/storm conditions, I put on their Theta LT and become bombproof. I also use this jacket to roadbike in cold weather conditions as the range of motion could not be greater. It works for cycling because it fits close and stays out of the way. You can and will wear this jacket everywhere if you get it. From skiing to mountain biking, from work to church, and from fetching firewood to throwing back Guinnes at the pub. If it seems I am a true believer, it is because I am. I have purchased a Arc'Teryx backpack, Theta LT jacket, and now the Gamma MX (and will soon be bankrupt if I keep going!). Every new purhase I make from them further convinces me that they have no peer in the industry (although Mountain Hardware's pack and trail pants are awesome) Hope my mania helps undecideds!

Climbing in Indian Creek
I recently used this jacket on a climbing trip I took to Indian Creek outside of Moab. It performed above and beyond the call of duty. The temperature was at a level where you are cold when sitting around but hot when active. The Gamma MX provided the perfect insulation for time at belay and breathes very well for when climbing. I noticed that is very abrasion resistant as heavy contact with gritty sandstone had no effect. It also provided excellent water resistance for the surprise desert rainstorm. Excellent jacket.

ArcTeryx Gamma MX
Great jacket, lightweight, lives up to everything it is described to be. BackcountryStore.com great for orders outside of Utah, very quick with shipment. One of my better experiences with online shopping.

Water, wind, and puke proof.
This is a great technical jacket that happens to be tres functional in the city. It doesn't fit as close as the Gamma SV, and I'm able to wear a heavy fleece underneath; and that's a great combo for cold weather. It's close to being totally H2Oproof, blocks wind, and has repelled baby puke (don't ask). It's really good for climbing as well as holding onto subway handrails. As such, the sleeves are cut longer, and the wrist closures are pretty tight (you won't be rolling up the sleeves). Plus, it's a smart-looking jacket. Difference between the SV and the MX? The MX is warmer, but the SV repels H20 better. Also, the men's version has blue-greyish colored pockets; the all black version is for women.

Nice but not perfect
The Gamma MX is a nice jacket, but I wished that I had bought something different. I'm a tall man and the coat is styled to be very short-waisted. There were some stitching flaws near the cuffs and there was a seam starting to separate that I'll need to fix soon. Next time I'll look at the Spyder line a little closer. The Arc'teryx line is not a very good value, in my opinion.

Training Tips

Low weight, high rep circuit training combines the best of both worlds: aerobic and anaerobic training. Keeping the rest time in between high repeats low excercises like bench press, leg presses, inclined sit-ups, and upright rows is the key to maximum benefits.

As a long distance runner, a gradual increase in distance each week will allow you to build a solid areobic base. Distance increase should be no more than 10% of the previous week's distance.

When buying a new pair of running shoes, bring your old ones with you. You will get a better fit if you know if you supinate or pronate.

Heart monitors are useful for knowing when you are in the right zone for your training efforts. If you understand what your maximum heart rate is, you can set up your monitor to beep at you when you exceed the high or low range of your heart rate for the type of workout you are doing.