Winter hardshell? ME Lhotse? ME Tupilak?

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harok11a

Ultralighter
I am looking for a winter hardshell. I have an Arcteryx Beta LT Hadron for the warmer months when I need very minimal layers and lightweight. It’s not suitable for winter though.

ME Lhotse and Tupilak seem to fit well. Does anyone here have an opinion between these? Or similar alternative options?

Thanks
 
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Thedragonsfather

Thedragonsfather

Ultralighter
I've used my Arcteryx Alpha AR for at least 5 years - including in tough Winter conditions. It stands up to everything and still looks like new.
The key for me is layering - using a Rab down jacket and merino layers underneath that. Maybe you just need to go up to the Alpha from the Beta?

Arcteryx describe the Alpha range as : Heavy coastal rain, deep mountain snow, chilling wind. These are the men’s shell jackets built to manage the elements’ harshest realities. With the Alpha SV range offering the highest protection : GORE-TEX PRO shell is designed for severe (SV) alpine conditions. Alpha Series: Climbing and alpine focused systems. | SV: Severe Weather.
 
SteG

SteG

Thru Hiker
What does imager mean? I can't find any definition that's relevant to Imager hardshell
 
tallest of pauls

tallest of pauls

Section Hiker
Had a lhotse for afew years. Hated the hood no matter how I adjusted it, so sold it on in the end.

Thinking of getting a rab kangri. Seems a solid jacket - 70d throughout and resonable length. Hood sounds a good fit too!
 
SteG

SteG

Thru Hiker
I didn't like the hood on the lhoste either , there was no side face coverage if I remember correctly, and also the sleeve cuffs weren't wide enough to accommodate big winter gloves and quite short in length. I had problems with delamination and sold on the repaired item. I went with a paramo after that and much happier all round.
I may buy another hardshell in the future for faster activities, but I would be going to a shop and trying a few on for best fit next time and not going on reviews and recommendations. Most reviews of the Lhotse I read said it had the best hood in the business. I take these reviews with a pinch of salt now.
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
Several friends have Lhotses of various ages. From the outside, the hood with wide laminated brim look quite comically rubbish to me when cinched tight - like a bonnet (Maybe better with a Helmet taking up volume?). Possibly newest version is better. Pity as the rest of the jacket looks great.
 
Thedragonsfather

Thedragonsfather

Ultralighter
Jackets built to go over climbing helmets are never a good fit for me. I hate having to cinch them down. Those that are designed to just cover a beanie (but with a good peak and side coverage) are perfect.
 
S

sherpa

Section Hiker
EDIT - it was the RAB Latok which had leaky chest pocket zips :shamefullyembarrased:

Apologies to the ME Lhotse
 
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H

harok11a

Ultralighter
Thedragonsfather said:
I've used my Arcteryx Alpha AR for at least 5 years - including in tough Winter conditions. It stands up to everything and still looks like new.
The key for me is layering - using a Rab down jacket and merino layers underneath that. Maybe you just need to go up to the Alpha from the Beta?

Arcteryx describe the Alpha range as : Heavy coastal rain, deep mountain snow, chilling wind. These are the men’s shell jackets built to manage the elements’ harshest realities. With the Alpha SV range offering the highest protection : GORE-TEX PRO shell is designed for severe (SV) alpine conditions. Alpha Series: Climbing and alpine focused systems. | SV: Severe Weather.
Click to expand...
I don’t like the fit of the AR hardshells. They are regular fit and I’m tall and slim so it’s not ideal for me. I am also trying to break from from Arcteryx (I have 10 of their jackets…!).
 
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harok11a

Ultralighter
sherpa said:
The Lhotse's of a couple of years ago had faulty chest zips - at the base of the zipper, there was a small gap of 2-3mm; they were not waterproof, pockets leaked in heavy rain!

ME must have known about this, so hopefully it will have been resolved on a subsequent revision of the model. But best to check if considering the Lhotse.
Click to expand...

They put a card in the pockets now saying they’re not waterproof… (not a joke).
 
random_watcher

random_watcher

Trail Blazer
harok11a said:
They put a card in the pockets now saying they’re not waterproof… (not a joke).
Click to expand...

There are very few jackets that will actually have waterproof zips, that's why there are storm flaps behind the main zip.

This is taken from the Arcteryx website for example

1670746693727.png
 
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