I had the chance to test the Arc’teryx Sabre Jacket during a trip to Switzerland. I liked it so much I bought the demo for this year (a perk of being in the industry).

The Sabre has been in the collection for a few years now. It is the reference to anyone looking to make a ski jacket. It is blessed with all the important traits of an Arc’teryx shell: articulated shoulders and elbows, 3-way hood adjustment, huge pit-zips, and most important the unsurpaseed build quality. The jacket also is adorned with the Recco avalanche system, and a snow skirt that can clip itself to certain ski pants from the brand.

Arc’teryx went with GORE-TEX Pro, the top of the line membrane from the waterproof-breathable kingpins. Inside the jacket there is a thin fleece liner which adds a certain softness to the jacket as well as a small addition of warmth. It also rids you of that feeling your shell is just a plastic bag.

In terms of style, the Sabre follows Arc’tery’s idea that the more non-offensive a model is, the more timeless it will be. Yes it is a flashy colour, but it is tone on tone and I’m not worrieds about it going out of style in a few years, and we all know that style and skiing go hand in hand all too often. From what I have seen, the Sabre comes in a selection of colours which will only be seen in competitors line ups in 2016-2017. Ahead of the game… The cut is loose but not exaggerated. I don’t usually wear baggy clothes, but this jacket did not upset me in the slightest. In fact, it leaves the perfect amount of space for my Arc’teryx Cerium LT. I’m 5’10”, 165 pounds and went with the medium.

In conclusion, the Sabre is a jacket that will excel as much on the resort slopes as it will in the backcountry. The price can seem elevated, but when you look at all of its qualities you may realise that it is worth spending in the short run to save in the long run.