Arc'teryx Cassiar Jacket - Men's for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

9.1
out of 10
12 Positive, 2 Mixed & 0 Negative
from 14 Reviews
Retail Price:
$799.00
Used Value:
$479.40
Sale Value:
$719.10

Gore-Tex waterproofing and 4-way stretch make the Arc'teryx Men's Cassiar Jacket a winner for the ski resort. By bonding a Gore-Tex membrane to a stretch fabric, this jacket offers unparalleled freedom that allows the jacket design to be slim and refined without hindering your mobility on the slopes.

The Cassiar features a protective powder skirt that seals out snow on days when the snow is deep, and it can be removed when not in use. Underarm zippers provide quick ventilation after a strenuous run on warmer days. A helmet-compatible DropHood offers additional protection when the weather turns stormy, or it can be removed on bluebird days. The WaterTight external zippers provide additional water-resistant protection when it's nuking and everyone else is huddled in the lodge, leaving you free to plunder the freshies.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Skiing and Snowboarding

Snowsports-specific features for effective protection, layering, and movement.
Gore-tex

Gore-tex

Waterproof, windproof, and breathable materials that provide complete environmental protection.
Waterproof Material

Waterproof Material

These materials, which are impervious to water molecules, give shelter and protection.
Windproof Material

Windproof Material

Windproof and offers great weather resistance while being reduced in weight.

Specifications

Brand:
Center Back Length:
29.3in
Claimed Weight:
1 lb 13.3oz
Fit:
semi-fitted
Hood:
yes, helmet compatible, removable
Length:
hip
Manufacturer Warranty:
limited
Material:
[membrane/laminate] Gore-Tex (3-layer), [face fabric] N40s
Pockets:
1 internal mesh with goggle wipe, 1 zippered interior, 1 zippered chest with pass sleeve, 2 zippered hand
Powder Skirt:
removable
Recommended Use:
skiing, snowboarding
Seams:
fully sealed
Venting:
underarm zipper vents

Full Reviews

10
Arcteryx builds for a use case. This jacket is not bullet proof but it is by far the most comfortable resort jacket I have 80 days on my Cassiar and many other Arc jackets to compare to. The Alpha Sv, the alpha comp, the beta Ar the beta SL the zeta Ar. I live in the north east so I’ve used my Cassiar in literally pouring rain for a full day. Zero leaks and I was very comfortable. We were actually pond skimming on the runs down. Yes the DWR needs more maintenance on this material but it is still waterproof. Yes the material is more delicate than more climbing or backcountry focused jacket, but tree branches do no™t leave a mark. The only damage in three years was from a fall on a plastic park feature that made a small burn in the face fabric of the elbow. It is still waterproof. When it is below -10 F I will switch to a bigger fitting jacket to allow for a thick puffy layer. Id buy another Cassiar. It sure would be nice if they offered more interesting colors.
john.k, backcountry.com
December 6, 2020
8
By now, everyone knows Arc'teryx makes some of the best outdoor products in the world and I walked into the Cassiar expecting no different. As other reviews mention, the quality is evident the minute you hold the jacket - construction is top notch, materials look/feel excellent and each design decision appears to be thoughtfully considered. After about 20 days of use, I feel capable of writing a review that speaks to my experience with the product and hope it helps others make an expensive decision. FYI: My use of the Cassiar has been exclusively while snowboarding, otherwise it's on a hanger in my closet due to my warm home climate. 100% of its use has been on a resort (Verbier, Snowbird, Vail/Beaver, Jackson Hole) and I do not wear a backpack during these trips. Right out of the gate, I was underwhelmed by the water repellency of the face material. In my first use of the jacket in Switzerland, we were graced with a foot of powder while on the mountain and the Cassiar became quickly drenched. I will say, the water didn't permeate past my mid layer, but the splotchy sleeve image shows what the Cassiar looks like on a snowy day.. Obviously, DWR coatings require maintenance and I used a Nikwash technical detergent after 5 days of riding and sprayed Granger's DWR before throwing it in the drier, hoping to avoid another soaked jacket day. My following trip to Snowbird where we received 24" in 24 hours left my $725 coat wet again. Since I wasn't getting wet, just appearing drenched and feeling the weight of a heavier jacket, I looked past this issue. However, when I started to notice the face material peeling back from the underlying layer on my trip to Colorado, I was concerned about long term quality. Photo attached shows outer material revealing white beneath. As I mentioned, I don't wear a backpack while riding and am not skilled enough for backcountry riding, thus the Cassiar is surely not having its limits pushed in my ownership, nor being abraded from a backpack strap/shovel/gear. I took the jacket to Arc'teryx in Denver where a staff member patched the problem area with Tenacious Tape and assured me this would prevent any spreading. I just returned from Jackson Hole where I used the taped up Cassiar for the first time. The glorified band-aid has not detached completely, but it's on its way. We received another heavy snow day while on the mountain and I was unimpressed with the water repellency, but most concerned that a jacket of this price point needs the occasional band-aid to prevent from coming apart at the seams. I will update this review after additional trips, but please know that the stretchy fabric that makes this a very comfortable jacket may not be ready for prime time when it comes to durability.
Colin, backcountry.com
January 21, 2019
10
The Cassiar is a great resort skiing jacket. I live in CO and mostly ski Summit and Eagle Counties. I've used the jacket primarily in cold to very, very cold conditions - from storm skiing to sub-zero bluebird pow days to near spring conditions. It's been excellent at keeping the outside out while enabling a good range of motion through some moderate stretch and a thoughtful fit. It does run pretty warm and the pit vents don't open as much as some of the other Arcteryx products - so I layer less under this than I would my backcountry jacket/shell (Arcteryx Sabre). The large Cassiar fits more trimly through the sleeves and waist and runs longer through the hips than the Sabre, which is the fit I was looking for. Now at 40 days on resort (and a couple days in the backcountry for when I forgot my touring shell), I have a little more experience and perspective to give it a review regarding durability and longevity. The resort-specific features are nice, like the integrated/tethered goggle wipe and removable hood and powder skirt. I haven't had a need to remove either yet, but that might come in handy for someone. The durability has been excellent on my product so far. I've taken branches to the shoulder seams, snagged the hood on brush, and have put 40+ days of transit in addition to some everyday wear (when taking it traveling), and there isn't a stitch out of place. I must have gotten a better sample than Colin above, because I haven't had any issues with seams coming apart. Also, as Colin above mentioned, the DWR isn't extremely strong. I've had two huge storm days in this jacket where the jacket started to look soaked. However, this isn't a out-and-out hardshell - it resides somewhere on the soft-shell end of the spectrum for me; so in those cases, I should have grabbed a full Pro jacket - and even those would have collected some moisture on the shoulders. Since then, I've reapplied Nikwax, and things have been beading perfectly again. TL;DR - awesome features, much warmer than just a shell (you can wear less under it). I chose "runs true to size", but know that it will be a little more fitted through the sleeves and chest. Most Arcteryx shells run large (I wear the medium Sabre), but the fit for this is more along the lines of the Atom jackets.
Jonathan Epperson, backcountry.com
December 4, 2018
10
As someone who's 5'10" 170 lbs. with a 43" chest and 32" waist, I always seem to be compromising between a jacket that's too tight in the chest/shoulders or too long/loose in the midsection. On this jacket, there is definite taper from the shoulder to midsection (not feminine in any way). With an Atom LT underneath, the fit is dead center on the spectrum of park rat - skin tight jerry. I doubt a world class tailor could've fitted this any better for me.. The Cassiar large is an inch (or a little more) longer than the Atom LT large, so they layer perfectly. For length, the Cassiar just covers my @$$, which is perfect IMO. The hood seems a little overkill for anything below 20,000 feet. If you enter a civilian establishment with it up, people might think you're part of an outbreak containment unit. I'll probably just remove it and use the hood on my Atom LT 90% of the time. It is highly adjustable though..Plus, I would rather have it be overkill (in case of severe weather emergencies) than have something that isn't adequate. It'll be stored in my pack just in case. The only things I would add to this jacket are a zippered pocket on the forearm with a D ring attached to a stretchable cord. A secondary zipper to open it from the bottom.. And a greenish color option.. If you're wondering about Arc'teryx products being worth the money.. My answers is a big YES. I've had about a dozen TNF jackets and 3 or 4 Helly Hansen jackets. Within a few hours of use, the difference in quality will become blatantly obvious.
Will J., backcountry.com
November 28, 2018
10
This thing is perfect. As soon as you take it out of the packaging you think..."Oh, well this seems really thin, and like it couldn't be warm." Wait until you put it on and wear it outside! take 20% off coupons from coupon-code.info
pray, backcountry.com
October 25, 2018
10
Wanted something totally waterproof. I hate hoods this one is removable. The fabric is soft and stretchy for gore-tex and it is form fitted. Skied two days in blizzard conditions. Stayed warm and dry. Looked at a lot of less expensive jackets but in the end nothing compared. Glad I spent the bucks.
Mack, backcountry.com
December 18, 2017
10
Great outer layer jacket that does everything I need it to do. Extremely waterproof with its Gore-Tex shell yet still flexible. I've worn it in a deep -10 degree blizzard, as well as a 50 degree spring day, and it shines in both. I usually pair it with a nice thermal layer and a down puff on a cold day, and that can hold me over. During the spring months I pair it with a breathable thin synthetic layer and open the pit zips if needed. All Arc'teryx jackets do fit large to size, but with layers underneath I would order true to size. My XL fits perfect! The bright yellow color I have isn't too glaring on the eyes, but definitely is still an attention catcher.
Trevor Livingston, backcountry.com
September 27, 2017
10
This is a great jacket, its very waterproof and durable. I use this as my outer layer and i have a medium weight down puffy underneath and its the perfect setup. im always warm but have layers so i can adapt day to day. zippers are great quality and haven't had an issue yet.
William Krempa II, backcountry.com
January 30, 2017
10
Great jacket for fit feel and performance. Trim and athletic, much more than my Stingray jackets. Best fitting Arcteryx ski jacket I have ever purchased for fit feel and performance.
David H., backcountry.com
February 22, 2016
6
I love how this jacket looks and fits. It's trim, has great features, and has a striking color. I really really want to love it! However, the material it's made of is proof that a "Gore-Tex" tag alone really doesn't mean very much. When I look at a jacket material, I care about 4 things: - Waterproof. A few drips of water from a chairlift on the *first* day using this *brand-new* jacket were enough to leave big "soaked through" splotches. Yikes. That goes well beyond needing to "occasionally refresh" the DWR. - Breathable. At the end of a day of skiing with a thin down mid-layer underneath this shell (in clear-crisp-cold weather), the inside face of this jacket was dripping wet. Definitely not evaporating. - Windproof. The wind just rips through this jacket. Get onto a chairlift and as soon as you're up in the air you get chills. Seriously? - Durable. I haven't had it long enough to create any worn spots, but it certainly doesn't *look* durable. And, the material is so thirsty I'm really terrified that it will stain if it's even allowed into the same zip code as some grease or coffee... Basically this material combines the worst a softshell and a hardshell. It has the poor windproof/waterproof/breathability of a softshell, while keeping a hardshell's lack of insulation. I'm really not sure how Gore certified this material as "guaranteed to keep you dry". But I do like how it looks...
MG, backcountry.com
February 10, 2016
4
I read the reviews, saw the features, solid 3 layer gore tex they said, then I bought it. This coat fits beautifully, I have an extreme build in my upper body and this covers the chest and fits the arms, and hugs the waist in a more athletic fashion than most. At first look, amazing jacket.... but... then you step out on a rainy day, and noticed some severe wet through. Jacob from backcountry said it was most likely a gore-tex defect, however.... before even stepping out, I thought to myself ... no way this can be waterproof with material this soft. Sure enough I was right. Look at the result below, just a small sampling of what became the entire coat in roughly 15 minutes of heavy rain. Called Arc'teryx and did alot of research, goretex 40s doesn't hold onto DWR repellent (which keeps the water beading up and off the coat) very well. I instantly switched to a gore tex pro shell considering although it was a beautiful ski coat, i wanted to also be able to use it in the rain, and for that matter, not have to worry about it in the snow or baby it with constant DWR care. Backcountry's Jacob took excellent care of me, and told me it was most likely a defect in the material. But It wasn't tough to predict this would happen, and for $600... you can't put that right to sleep, no way kid. Considering how nice everything else is on this jacket, id be willing to give it another try simply to see if it indeed was a defect. Just putting this out there in terms of what I've seen so far. I also know they are discontinuing production of the cassiar after a phone call with Arc.
Detail Devil, backcountry.com
December 22, 2015
10
Perfect Fit
CPKJ Y., backcountry.com
August 5, 2015
10
I just got this jacket in yesterday and I love it. The fit is perfect. Nice and long in the sleeves and torso. It also has a slim fit without being too tight in the chest or the shoulders. Of course i haven't used it on the mountain yet (summer time) but it has a durable material while maintaining a comfortable feel to it. I would recommend this product.
Russell W., backcountry.com
June 25, 2015
10
So far this jacket is awesome. It's made with a stretch gore tex material that allows for extra comfort, less noise, without a "cheap" feel to it. This is definitely not a soft shell, but has some advantages of the soft shell while maintaing the waterproof/breathability of a hard shell. Jacket has all the great features - helmet compatible hood, pit zips, powder skirt - but has a simple sophisticated classy look that most technical jackets won't. As far as the fit goes, this jacket is awesome. I bought a Large for the chest size (typically wear a 42L jacket). It's still slightly larger than I imagined it but works great in the chest and shoulders. I'm 6'2" and about 165lbs (very slim build). Upon talking to a representative from Arcteryx before buying, they told me that layering wouldn't work well with this jacket. When i tried it on, I found that it worked just fine over a lightweight fleece and a long sleeve T. I have no doubt I could easily fit my base layer and my atom LT jacket under this jacket and still zip it comfortably. Great all around jacket. Amazing resort ski jacket. I recommend it to anybody looking for a slimmer Arcteryx technical shell.
Spencer Oliphant, backcountry.com
November 4, 2014

Men's Ski Jackets Reviews