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Lighter, quieter, stronger—the future of waterproof is here.
In 2024, we updated our lineup of bestselling shells with GORE-TEX ePE technology, the most innovative waterproof protection yet.Free of intentionally added chemicals called PFAS, the ePE membrane (the thin layer that blocks water within a fabric) has a much lower environmental impact compared with membranes of the past.Even better: GORE-TEX ePE is half the thickness and thus lighter weight — which means Arc’teryx, and now you, can do more with less.
We led the development of two durable laminates (made from a membrane, a backer underneath, and a face fabric on top) — GORE-TEX PRO ePE and GORE-TEX ePE — to keep you covered during every type of activity. Both use the same ePE membrane, but they have different face fabrics (the outermost layer) and backers (the innermost layer touching your skin). Discover what goes into each and find out which one is right for you...
For extreme or extended missions in the most severe conditions, using our lightest weight and most durable backer.
For everyday and ambitious mountain travel and sports.
Every hardshell we make gets vetted in the lab and in the field. But GORE-TEX PRO products must pass even higher standards.
Water pressure, abrasion resistance, tensile strength for stretch, and torsional stress for repeated movement: These are just some of the stringent lab tests that our hardshells undergo to ensure performance in extreme mountain environments. If the jacket passes, we send it to the GORE-TEX Rain Room.
While our GORE-TEX ePE hardshells are subjected to 3 inches (7.62 cm) of rain per hour, our GORE-TEX PRO ePE hardshells must be able to withstand the Storm Test. This test simulates hurricane-level wind and rain (22 inches of rain per hour, for one full hour). If the jacket passes, it heads out into the field.
What lab tests can’t catch, field testing will. We work directly with our athletes and mountain guides to push our gear to failure in the harshest environments — with over 150 hours spent out in the mountains. This closed-loop testing system ensures our gear is dialed, durable, and reliable when it matters most.
GORE-TEX PRO is the only GORE-TEX fabric that must pass the Ruggedness Test, a rigorous examination of durability against rips, tears, and abrasions as well as waterproofness over time. One test uses the Martindale, a machine that mimics abrasions via “stamping” the material over and over. The PRO backer must withstand at least 20,000 abrasions, compared with 5,000 for the backer on GORE-TEX ePE laminates.
We approach the creation of every hardshell with a drive for cutting-edge thinking and obsessive design.
Driven by an obsessive design ethos, we invented our own construction methods as a way to optimize our usage of GORE-TEX materials and make more functional gear. Every stitch we make reflects our dedication to quality and performance.
Since 1995, we’ve worked with GORE-TEX to develop and refine their materials to create high-performance outdoor gear. As one of the only manufacturers that has continually met all of our exacting standards over the years, our longstanding partnership with GORE-TEX has meant we work with nothing but the best.
A seismic shift in construction, the move to micro seams reduced the width of seams by half, meaning less weight, bulk, and material usage while increasing the flexibility and breathable surface area of our jackets.
This reverse coil design reorients the more tightly spaced inner surface of the zipper to instead face out, providing better protection from the elements. This eliminated the need for bulky double flaps and shed grams from traditionally overweight construction.
The ergonomic design of the hood ensures a snug fit, even over a helmet, and features a laminated brim that provides both protection from the elements and unrestricted visibility when swinging an ice axe or searching for the next hold.
Eight stitches per inch had been the outdoor standard until we designed a manufacturing process that tightened the gap to about 15 stitches an inch. By adding 50 percent more stitches per linear inch, there is more strength and extra suppleness in your gear that lets you move with confidence through the toughest terrain.
Our laminated component technology minimized seams that needed to be sewn — reducing weight, bulky seams, and the dreaded “water sucking” of thread — while streamlining seams for significantly improved durability.
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