In reply to wbo2:
> Not seeing Arcteryx as climbing specific is, to be fair, a minority position I'd guess. TNF mess around with homemade fabrics a bit too much.
> 300 15 years ago is going to be 465 today before taking currency effects into account so getting there
It's generic climbing gear for sure; shells and insulation, but rather than delve into all the specific forms of climbing like high altitude, even specific ice and big wall like OR, TNF etc do, they have settled on a solid core of classics. No complaints, just they they don't concern themselves with a broader spectrum of ideas.
Agreed that TNF are fickle with fabrics, but then they are not slaves to Polartec and Gore either. Sure, the experimentation goes a kilter at times, but they also get some stuff right. That said Arc'teryx do a lot of brand-only stuff with Polartec etc, variants not available to other companies.
That $300 jacket was still the best I've ever owned and years ahead of it's time. The only jacket I've actually worn out due to it having a wide capability from winter climbing and big peaks to trail running.