I tested Arc’teryx's £1,100 circular jacket on a melting glacier, and it changed how I think about outdoor gear

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Arc'teryx has decided it's time to put its money where its mouth is on sustainability. The first product created using its System 0 approach is the Sperro SV, a waterproof jacket designed for mountain adventures. It's an amazing shell with plenty of innovation, but its high asking price might deter some people. Nevertheless, it's a good start, and let's hope Arc'teryx (and other companies) produce more outerwear like this in the near future.

Arc'teryx Sperro SV review

Price and availability

The Sperro SV - 0 was announced in August 2026 and is available now at Arc'teryx UK , Arc'teryx US and Arc'teryx EU for £1,100 / $1,200 / €1,200. AU price and availability TBC. The Sperro SV is expensive, even by Arc'teryx standards, which says a lot. As the company puts it, the Sperro SV is an "alpine-ready shell with pro-inspired feature set." Think of it as workwear for people who spend a lot of time above the treeline.

Specs and build quality

The Sperro SV is built around a rugged 70-denier, three-layer GORE-TEX PRO ePE fabric, developed with recycled ECONYL nylon. The material is waterproof, windproof and breathable, with a PFAS-free membrane and FC0 durable water-repellent (DWR) treatment.

Despite its heavy-duty construction, my men's medium jacket weighs a relatively modest 514g. It features a helmet-compatible StormHood, WaterTight pit zips, harness-compatible hand pockets, a baffled chest pocket and an internal zipped compartment. There's also a RECCO reflector for emergency search and rescue.

Arc'teryx says it redesigned common failure points for easier repairs, including a replaceable zip slider. The jacket is eligible for over 80 types of repair through Arc'teryx's ReBIRD programme, with complimentary repairs for the first three years.

It's also designed for disassembly and material recovery at the end of its life. Arc'teryx says the jacket can be chemically broken down and rebuilt. Like melting ice cream and refreezing it, only the end result here is perfectly edible ice cream.

Performance

I first tried the jacket in Chamonix, taking the cable car up to Aiguille du Midi and then going on a glacier walk with a glaciologist. We spent a few hours traversing the glacier, looking down into crevasses and listening to the scientist tell the group that by the end of the century, the Aiguille du Midi might have no snow left in summer.

Even though the dreary forecast put me in a bad mood, the jacket performed excellently. There is always a slight fear when trying circular gear that it might not perform as well as its non-eco-conscious counterpart, but the Sperro SV is one of those examples where you can have your cake and eat it too.

The fit is excellent for a mountain shell, allowing you to add multiple layers underneath. It has adjustable hems and cuffs, while the pit zips let you dump heat when needed. (Sadly, I had to use this function on the Aiguille du Midi in July because it was sweltering at the top.)

The Stormhood is as good as ever. I think it's one of the best hood designs, and it works well with the helmet both on and off. I found the hand, chest, and arm pockets well placed and the right size.

I have used the Sperro SV since my mountain experience, in more urban settings. Admittedly, it's not where the jacket is designed, but as expected from an Arc'teryx shell, it works well there, too. It kept me dry on a walk in Germany when I visited the GORE-TEX factory in Putzbrunn (near Munich).

Verdict

The Sperro SV is an impressive outdoor garment that showcases Arc'teryx's innovative approach and proves it's possible to make sustainable outdoor products that work as intended in demanding environments.

I would recommend the jacket for those planning to use it in the mountains, though I appreciate the Sperro SV might also catch the eye of fashion-focused individuals with cash to burn. And, to be fair, you can use it on the streets; it's just overkill.

Regarding the company's System 0 approach, I would like to see it expand into more areas before I get too excited about a fully circular approach. The Sprerro SV is certainly an impressive product – let's hope Arc'teryx leads the way by launching more circular products soon.

Also consider

The Arc'teryx Beta SV offers much of the Sperro's mountain-ready performance without the circular design premium. It uses rugged 100-denier GORE-TEX PRO ePE, weighs 480g and features a helmet-compatible StormHood, pit zips and harness-friendly pockets. It's still expensive, but considerably more accessible than the Sperro SV.

At £180, Patagonia's Torrentshell 3L proves environmentally conscious waterproof jackets needn't cost a fortune. It features a three-layer H2No waterproof construction, 100% recycled nylon face fabric and a PFAS-free membrane and DWR treatment. It's not an alpine shell like the Sperro SV, but for everyday adventures, it's a brilliant, affordable alternative.