Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody

Luckily for me, when I took it into the mountains—Goulburn River NP and Brisbane Water NP—for a few mid-winter overnight trips, I was reassured to find that the Atom LT doesn’t just look sexy, it’s constructed efficiently and thoughtfully too. The 20d Tyono shell, with its DWR finish, aims to provide the wind and water resistance of a good outer layer; while I haven’t yet tested it in the wet, the moderately windy conditions I found myself in were no match for the Atom—no gusts made it through. Although these conditions were by no means extreme, I’d be surprised if it buckled under the pressure of stronger winds.

What I’ve found impressive about the Atom LT, though, is that it combines these attributes of a solid shell jacket with the added warmth of an insulated fill, making it a versatile addition to the kit. The 60g/m2 of Coreloft siliconised-polyester insulation – designed to maintain warmth even when wet—gives the Atom LT an extra edge without it being an out-and-out synthetic down jacket. I must say that, in fresh temperatures, say mid-to-low single digits, I wasn’t entirely toasty with the Atom LT alone; adding an under-layer like a thermal made a big difference. The insulated Stormhood provides further cosiness.

Some other noteworthy features include the revised cuff design, trim fit, good pockets, primo packability, and materials that make it Bluesign-certified environmentally friendly. All-in-all, an excellent multi-purpose jacket suited to a variety of adventurers.