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Is arcteryx becoming poser material for skiing? I know it unfortunate but I see too many gapers wearing it nowadays. We need to go back to thrifted jackets
butteryyIs arcteryx becoming poser material for skiing? I know it unfortunate but I see too many gapers wearing it nowadays. We need to go back to thrifted jackets
Honestly it doesn’t really matter people can wear what they want.
Arc'teryx is just a status symbol at this point. Yeah, they make nice stuff, but so does every other outerwear manufacturer. When I see people wearing it, I assume they have money to burn and are probably trying to compensate for their mediocre skiing abilities.
I think it’s maybe one of, if not the least cool, big outerwear brands.
When outdoor brands try to appeal to (or just become popular in) a non-outdoor setting, it lowers their credibility and makes them less relevant in the outdoor industry.
This happened with The North Face and is totally happening with Arc'teryx.
I think Patagonia does a good job of balancing this.
VzxHonestly it doesn’t really matter people can wear what they want.
You can wear what you want until it’s a symbol like the other guy was saying. But once people look at your jacket and start assuming skill and worth is when it gets annoying and when people who’ve never skied before and see all of the rich losers than they think they need to support a corporate company that makes enough money as it is it’s genuinely sad. Take your money somewhere local.
butteryyYou can wear what you want until it’s a symbol like the other guy was saying. But once people look at your jacket and start assuming skill and worth is when it gets annoying and when people who’ve never skied before and see all of the rich losers than they think they need to support a corporate company that makes enough money as it is it’s genuinely sad. Take your money somewhere local.
butteryyYou can wear what you want until it’s a symbol like the other guy was saying. But once people look at your jacket and start assuming skill and worth is when it gets annoying and when people who’ve never skied before and see all of the rich losers than they think they need to support a corporate company that makes enough money as it is it’s genuinely sad. Take your money somewhere local.
Only insecure teenagers try to project skill insecurities to people's fit
ParkingLotPissArc'teryx is just a status symbol at this point.
When outdoor brands try to appeal to (or just become popular in) a non-outdoor setting, it lowers their credibility and makes them less relevant in the outdoor industry.
This happened with The North Face and is totally happening with Arc'teryx.
90% of the kids at my school wear the exact same north face backpack and its so funny because I know for a fact they only buy that shit because they think its cool
ParkingLotPissWhen I see people wearing it, I assume they have money to burn and are probably trying to compensate for their mediocre skiing abilities.
I don't understand this mentality. Popular among poor people. Being able to afford something nicer doesn't mean they are trying to compensate anything.
KungKalmarI don't understand this mentality. Popular among poor people. Being able to afford something nicer doesn't mean they are trying to compensate anything.
Its less of the concept of compensation but more of the fact that people are now wearing it as a way of telling people they ski without actually being good at skiing or skiing at all and not using the brand for what it’s ment for, other than to show it off. So yea pretty much compensation. Like don’t get me wrong it’s a good brand and if you ski consistently throughout the season and get good use for what you’re paying for than I think it makes sense. But when you buy it to make a statement about something when you can just go to the thrift and find a nice jacket for 30-40 bucks than it seems unreasonable.
butteryyIts less of the concept of compensation but more of the fact that people are now wearing it as a way of telling people they ski without actually being good at skiing or skiing at all and not using the brand for what it’s ment for, other than to show it off. So yea pretty much compensation. Like don’t get me wrong it’s a good brand and if you ski consistently throughout the season and get good use for what you’re paying for than I think it makes sense. But when you buy it to make a statement about something when you can just go to the thrift and find a nice jacket for 30-40 bucks than it seems unreasonable.
How is wearing a shell jacket telling people you ski? It's not even a skiing brand lol.
Our sport is full of status symbols. Wearing thrifted jacket can also happen purely because you want to look core. But it doesn't matter. I would like to believe most people buy ski wear they want and not what they think brings the most social credits.
KungKalmarHow is wearing a shell jacket telling people you ski? It's not even a skiing brand lol.
Our sport is full of status symbols. Wearing thrifted jacket can also happen purely because you want to look core. But it doesn't matter. I would like to believe most people buy ski wear they want and not what they think brings the most social credits.
Name one other time you’ve seen someone other than a person who skis, hikes, or is rich that wears one. It’s pretty much a skiing brand atp and as much as u hate it, it’s just a fact that it’s become a status symbol. And wearing a trifted jacket is just better in every way. There’s no “core” involved in it, it’s a cheap price, you get pretty much the exact same thing you would if u got it from retail, and it just makes more sense overall. And love it or hate it arc is becoming a thing that people are buying because they thing it DOES give social credit. If you have gone onto the mountion in the past month the whole place is filled with arc and I’ve seen people get jealous. It’s sad but it’s true, just stating a point with facts.
KungKalmarI don't understand this mentality. Popular among poor people. Being able to afford something nicer doesn't mean they are trying to compensate anything.
I didn’t do a good job of explaining what I was saying. My point is that there’s a ceiling where the price no longer reflects the quality/performance, and I think Arc'teryx is over that ceiling. A new Arc shell is like $450 on the low end, and they rarely go on sale. In contrast, brands like Dakine, Mountain Hardwear, OR, Oakley, Salomon, Burton, etc., all make very high-quality gear at a lower price point, and it’s super easy to find that stuff on sale.
When you buy Arc'teryx, part of what you’re buying is the logo and the status that comes with it. You’re buying into this kinda "outdoorsy city person" vibe.
I ski in the PNW, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s even more common here, but I see a lot of mediocre skiers with top-of-the-line gear. It’s people who have a lot of money and are spending it to try to feel like they’re more immersed in outdoor culture.
You don’t need a Gore-Tex jacket to get lapped by a 14-year-old in thrift store gear.You don’t need a Tacoma to get up a mountain that’s on a well-maintained paved road.Etc.
I think the communities around most outdoor activities have huge overconsumption problems, and it’s extra bad with skiing, where such a large proportion of the people who ski have money to burn.
Also, I’m all for the baggy pants/new-age park style, but if I’m getting sick of seeing the baggy 5–10K waterproof pants with a Gore-Tex jacket—make up your mind.
Normie skiers buy and wear things that make them feel good, not things that are in line with their skill etc. Every gaper wearing dope would also be wearing arc if they could afford it because it signals that they have a certain level of perceived status, and if they are seriously learning to ski it will last them longer than some stupid dope anorak.
just rock what you got don’t clown people for wearing what they like, even when it doesn’t make sense. Harlaut pants, big strides, wets, arsenic, etc are all also status signals btw…
ParkingLotPissI didn’t do a good job of explaining what I was saying. My point is that there’s a ceiling where the price no longer reflects the quality/performance, and I think Arc'teryx is over that ceiling. A new Arc shell is like $450 on the low end, and they rarely go on sale. In contrast, brands like Dakine, Mountain Hardwear, OR, Oakley, Salomon, Burton, etc., all make very high-quality gear at a lower price point, and it’s super easy to find that stuff on sale.
When you buy Arc'teryx, part of what you’re buying is the logo and the status that comes with it. You’re buying into this kinda "outdoorsy city person" vibe.
I ski in the PNW, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s even more common here, but I see a lot of mediocre skiers with top-of-the-line gear. It’s people who have a lot of money and are spending it to try to feel like they’re more immersed in outdoor culture.
You don’t need a Gore-Tex jacket to get lapped by a 14-year-old in thrift store gear.You don’t need a Tacoma to get up a mountain that’s on a well-maintained paved road.Etc.
I think the communities around most outdoor activities have huge overconsumption problems, and it’s extra bad with skiing, where such a large proportion of the people who ski have money to burn.
Also, I’m all for the baggy pants/new-age park style, but if I’m getting sick of seeing the baggy 5–10K waterproof pants with a Gore-Tex jacket—make up your mind.
butteryyIs arcteryx becoming poser material for skiing? I know it unfortunate but I see too many gapers wearing it nowadays. We need to go back to thrifted jackets
I think the worst is when kids wear the beanie just for the name
Imo it gets this new perception and allure because Arc feels like more of a designer brand than an outdoor brand these days. Like they have the whole valence line or whatever that's just designer clothes that probably have rediculously good margins. It's not that they don't make good shit because they do, it's more than they're a company trying to gain more capital and the designer side pays great. Also people in BC get to feel good about supporting a local brand even though its Amer owned
butteryyIs arcteryx becoming poser material for skiing? I know it unfortunate but I see too many gapers wearing it nowadays. We need to go back to thrifted jackets
skiing fashion is objective. Last season some random kids at my hill started wearing neon safety vests over their jackets and only weeks later there were maybe 15+ people doing it. it stopped being cool after like 2 weeks but it makes a statement about the ski apparel industry right now lol. idk bro just wear what you want and is comfortable :)
My arc baselayers and mid layers are actually extremely functional. I have some from mountain hardwear, and REI… all merino wool…and I genuinely feel as tho it’s an inferior product. The arc stuff does a much better job offloading heat. That being said, all my shells are armada, cuz $900 for a shell is ludicrous.
I feel like arc is defentitly in the poser realm for resort skiing now. Too rich and cringe. Where arc really shines is alpine/ice climbing. You need the strength and durability etc in those envirments. Then you are really using it what its made for.
ParkingLotPissI didn’t do a good job of explaining what I was saying. My point is that there’s a ceiling where the price no longer reflects the quality/performance, and I think Arc'teryx is over that ceiling. A new Arc shell is like $450 on the low end, and they rarely go on sale. In contrast, brands like Dakine, Mountain Hardwear, OR, Oakley, Salomon, Burton, etc., all make very high-quality gear at a lower price point, and it’s super easy to find that stuff on sale.
When you buy Arc'teryx, part of what you’re buying is the logo and the status that comes with it. You’re buying into this kinda "outdoorsy city person" vibe.
I ski in the PNW, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s even more common here, but I see a lot of mediocre skiers with top-of-the-line gear. It’s people who have a lot of money and are spending it to try to feel like they’re more immersed in outdoor culture.
You don’t need a Gore-Tex jacket to get lapped by a 14-year-old in thrift store gear.You don’t need a Tacoma to get up a mountain that’s on a well-maintained paved road.Etc.
I think the communities around most outdoor activities have huge overconsumption problems, and it’s extra bad with skiing, where such a large proportion of the people who ski have money to burn.
Also, I’m all for the baggy pants/new-age park style, but if I’m getting sick of seeing the baggy 5–10K waterproof pants with a Gore-Tex jacket—make up your mind.
Seen so much of this around Vancouver. From what I can tell, its lots of tech bro/white collar types, trying to carve out identities for themselves, perhaps in response to the pressures/bs of the tech industry (and adjacent bs jobs, i.e. marketing). These folks are probably seeing people do cool shit on social media, and trying to figure out how to absorb the vibes of that type of lifestyle (remember folks, now it’s about vibes, not what you actually do).
They have the money to buy all the gear and gadgets, right at the outset, but not the skills to match the capabilities of their equipment. Perhaps that doesn’t matter, as its more about showing off your kit than using it. Which is why the streets of downtown Vancouver are lined up with new TRD Tacomas, loaded up with roof tents, jerry cans and maxxtrax, most of which never see more than a dirt road in Maple Ridge.
It’s very similar to what happened to the tactical/shooting industry through the GWOT, as hollywood threw the bearded Navy Seal in the spotlight, and every dude with an accounting job and a mediocre AR decided to deal with his insecurity by growing a beard, buying a large assortment of plate carriers and EO Tech optics, larping on a flat range, and flexing the one time he took a carbine class taught by a “real life special forces guru”.
In conclusion, nothing new, just boring people with money pretending to not be boring.
**This post was edited on Feb 25th 2025 at 6:14:49pm
SendyMcSendyfaceSeen so much of this around Vancouver. From what I can tell, its lots of tech bro/white collar types, trying to carve out identities for themselves, perhaps in response to the pressures/bs of the tech industry (and adjacent bs jobs, i.e. marketing). These folks are probably seeing people do cool shit on social media, and trying to figure out how to absorb the vibes of that type of lifestyle (remember folks, now it’s about vibes, not what you actually do).
They have the money to buy all the gear and gadgets, right at the outset, but not the skills to match the capabilities of their equipment. Perhaps that doesn’t matter, as its more about showing off your kit than using it. Which is why the streets of downtown Vancouver are lined up with new TRD Tacomas, loaded up with roof tents, jerry cans and maxxtrax, most of which never see more than a dirt road in Maple Ridge.
It’s very similar to what happened to the tactical/shooting industry through the GWOT, as hollywood threw the bearded Navy Seal in the spotlight, and every dude with an accounting job and a mediocre AR decided to deal with his insecurity by growing a beard, buying a large assortment of plate carriers and EO Tech optics, larping on a flat range, and flexing the one time he took a carbine class taught by a “real life special forces guru”.
In conclusion, nothing new, just boring people with money pretending to not be boring.
**This post was edited on Feb 25th 2025 at 6:14:49pm
Yeah I see people with Arc’teryx or patagonai jackets with their engineering or law or marketing firm on the sleeve.
Yeah the head to toe Arc and the kitted TRD Tacoma go hand in hand. Definatly trinking a $10 tall boy 13% IPA inthe parkinglot befoe going back to ripping groumers on his bent 110s/120s or Salomon QSTs,
All my Arcteryx stuff is getting old because they stopped giving good pro deals on it. I wouldn't buy it full price when I could get better stuff for the same price or cheaper.
I really do miss the 75% off one item per season. Built a wardrobe around that.
Honestly I think it’s just like everything else. When I was growing up it was really only like ski patrol that would/could shell out for North Face jackets. 20 years ago it was considered totally insane to spend 500 dollars on a hard shell. Now every 12 year old has a thousand dollar pass, thousand dollar outerwear, thousand dollar set up, skiing is fucking embarrassing at this point it’s just a shameless show of wealth
friend of mine got an arc jacket this year black friday sale for like 30% off which was fine but still spent like $480 for it, nice jacket for sure and she'll get good use out of it but deff not worth that price. don't think it was status or anything she just liked the colors and style of it, just has expensive taste I guess
