Arc'teryx Atom LT Hoody vs Arc'teryx Proton FL

This is a 20 denier shell. With a DWR coating, it is 100 % nylon the side panels of this jacket. They run all the way up to the armpit features, a Pol...

What i find sets this jacket apart from other jack other insulated jackets - i own is just how breathable it is. So this is one of my go-to pieces for...

It's super packable, lightweight and warm. Goes with me on every trip, winter or summer (gets cold in the mtns of NM all year around) But it's WAY to warm for skiing. Or any physically demanding activity. The Arc'teryx Atom LT is not down but for me it's all I need as a midlayer or outer layer for activities

Arcteryx recently released the Proton FL, a soft-shell hoody that moves with you, sweats with you and packs away when you don’t need it. It uses a Fortius Air 20 fabric which gives it light air permeability and has good breathability from the Octa Loft, the 100% polyester breathable insulation. This good looking hoody will make a great addition to a mountain layering system.

For a price tag over $200 it better do at least that. Anyway it does tend to absorb odors pretty easily, after maybe 5 intense hikes/uses it was smelling pretty dank. So I read the tag on the inside of the garment which says simply "DO NOT USE FABRIC SOFTENER / DO NOT WRING / FRONT LOAD WASHER RECOMMENDED". To be safe I put it on gentle/delicate cycle in both the washer and dryer and did NOT use fabric softener

The tightly woven outer nylon fabric is wind-proof and fairly shower resistant when new and afterwards when treated with Nikwax TX Direct. It comes thankfully with 2 side pockets and 2 external chest pockets so is eminently practical to use.

I got the atom lt hoody jacket, size S, just now online after checking out their sizing guide it seems just a tad too large? Anyone else have the same experience? Should I have gone for an XS? Actually I got it on sale so it's probably going to either be I stick with the S or just return it outright since they're out of stock now.

I end up with awkward love handles of insulation on the Proton FL when the waist adjustment is cinched down. I think I might have to return the size large as well and conclude that there is not a jacket that fits me with Proton or Squamish characteristics from Arc.

It's comfortable, breathable, perfect warmth for someone who runs hot, and the logo on the sleeve makes it feel more subtle and tasteful. In my opinion far superior to the heavier better sweater competitors.

With this hybrid construction, the Patagonia gets a boost in durability and weather protection compared to the Proton FL, and the soft interior is hard to beat in terms of comfort. On the flip side, it’s heavier at 11.9 ounces and has less of a packable build (unlike the Nano-Air, the R1 TechFace does not stuff into its own pocket). Warmth-wise, the R1 fleece offers a bit more than the Proton FL’s Octa Loft, and we’ve found its breathability to be top-notch

That said, the ThermoBall Eco is heavier at a listed 15.9 ounces (our men’s medium is a little more at 1 lb. 0.5 oz

Most noticeable are the two interior drop pockets, though functionally more significant is the switch from Coreloft 80 g/m2 to Coreloft Continuous 65 g/m2 throughout. The double-slider zipper is still, unfortunately, conspicuously absent. Thanks to several years of technological improvements, the newer Coreloft Continuous insulation is not only lighter but also warmer and more breathable. As the name implies, the key difference in the fills is the fibre construction: the original Coreloft is a clumped-fibre insulation designed to mimic down, while the newer Continuous version is more akin to a sheet that can be suspended between the inner and outer fabrics of a jacket

If you're here, you want this jacket. It is extremely warm, soft, well featured, and styled well. Buy it.

**Pockets:** The Proton has two chest pockets and I find myself using those a *lot* when traveling. Great for cash, random notes, hotel keys..