The new Gamma SL Hoody is the soft shell you’ve been looking for

Arc'teryx has nailed it with its latest iteration of softshell design

The new Gamma SL Hoody is the soft shell you’ve been looking for

The Gamma line of Arc’teryx’s clothing is super-popular and for good reason – it’s their range of softshell jackets and pants that perform brilliantly. 

If you’re not familiar with Arc’teryx’s naming scheme, they have Alpha, Beta and Gamma ranges, with Alpha being the most technical range, the Beta being for all kinds of mountain activities and the Gamma being the softshells.

After the name of the range you then see two letters, with SV meaning Severe Weather, AR meaning All Round, LT meaning Lightweight, FL meaning Fast and Light, MX meaning Mixed Weather and SL meaning Superlight.

There is already a Gamma MX and Gamma LT jacket, but this Gamma SL Hoody is the lightest and slimmest – a mens medium weighs just 295g while a womens small is 260g.

The Gamma SL Hoody is aimed for wearing during a number of outdoor activities and gives some light weather protection in changing conditions.

It’s made from a fabric called Fortius™ 1.0 and while it’s a double weave, it remains light, but is strong and breathable. It resists wind and water while still providing a four-way stretch to move with the body. The StormHood™ also moves with your head, so you can keep your peripheral vision.

It has a trim fit, articulated elbows and gusseted underarms to keep it streamlined.

Overall it’s a lightweight softshell with good stretch, durability and weather resistance, exactly the kind of thing ideal for wearing in UK mountains during the summer season.

On sale now at £140.

www.arcteryx.com