Sportsister tests: Arc’teryx Atom Lt Hoody

Aside from being eyelash flutteringly pretty, the Arc’teryx Atom Lt Hoody is a super versatile bit of kit and there are essentially two ways of using it to maximize its functionality.

1. You can wear it as an external layer in winter for walking/climbing/hiking/skiing as it keeps you very warm whilst you’re moving in cold conditions. As long as you’re not likely to get very wet and are expending a decent amount of energy, you can actually wear it on its own with just a baselayer underneath.

2. If it is super cold, then get rid of your fleece and wear the Atom Lt Hoody as your mid layer on top of your base and underneath your shell jacket.

Score: 4.5/5

Elasticated cuffs

As a girl who suffers with incredibly cold hands and fingers on the hill, one of the features of the Atom LT Hoody that made the greatest impact on me was the contoured sleeves and elasticated cuffs. They fit so neatly and snugly over the wrists and as most of you probably know, keeping your wrists warm is absolutely key in the ongoing global fight against frozen digits.

Side seams

An interesting feature of the jacket is the fleece sideseams which are ace for breathability and mobility. Whilst you might feel a bit of heat loss in these areas as long as you’re wearing the jacket for the right reasons – i.e. either as an external layer whilst active or as an insulating layer under your shell – then this shouldn’t be a problem.

Compressibility

Although the Atom Lt Hoody doesn’t have a specific pocket to pack itself into, it doesn’t matter too much. It is so lightweight that it compresses down incredibly easily into a tiny package and is easily stowable in its own hood.

Hood

Probably the only bit of criticism that you could direct towards the Atom LT Hoody is that the hood itself does not have a drawstring on it. This means that if it is very windy, there’s no chance of cinching it down over your face to protect you from an icy blast. Having said that if worn with a helmet when skiing or climbing, the fit is more than adequate. The elastic around the edge of the hood means that it doesn’t flap everywhere.

Overall

The cut of this jacket is superb. Sitting on the hips, it is an athletic, fitted and slender bit of kit so it not only layers well under other garments but also looks really good on its own.

Overall

The drawstrings around the base of the jacket help to further customize the fit if so desired or required.

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Bad points
- Only criticism is that the hood doesn’t have a drawstring

Price: £180
Colours: Black, Bondi Blue, Chartreuse, Jacaranda, Magenta, Poppy (the one we tested).
Sizing: XS-XL
Fabric: Polartec® Power Stretch® with Hardface® Technology; Luminara™—Nylon weave fabric with wind and water repellant coating and 60 gm/m² Coreloft™ insulation.
Weight: 365g
Stockists: www.arcteryx.com

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