I am comparing Arc’teryx vs Canada Goose jackets, parkas, and hoodies in this post. These are two of Canada’s most well-known (and most renowned) outdoor clothing brands. Born in the Coast Mountains, the Arcteryx brand offers technical performance and minimalist style, successfully answering the needs of both urbanites and athletes.
On the other hand, Canada Goose provides its customers with exceptionally warm and polar expedition ready-garments that are just as stylish as the ones offered by Arc’teryx.
So, which one of these two Canadian brands manufacturers the best outdoor jackets? Whose apparel should you go for? If you’re looking for an answer to that question, you’re in the right place – my thorough analysis of these brands and their most popular products should help you determine which one of them is a better choice for your needs. I have also written a comparison of Canada Goose and Moncler which is a very similar type of brand.
Arc’teryx – A General Overview
The Background
This famous Canadian company was founded three decades ago in North Vancouver, British Columbia. The brand was established under the name Rock Solid but changed its name to Arc’teryx because Jeremy Guard, the company’s CEO at the time, wanted a name that would go well with the brand’s “evolutionary innovation” image.
In the early 1990s, Arc’teryx wasn’t selling just quality outerwear but backpacks and climbing gear. Once the company obtained a license for Gore-Tex technology, it quickly established itself as one of the world’s most esteemed outerwear brands and still holds that status today.
The Manufacture
Regarding the technologies Arc’teryx uses in manufacturing its jackets and other products, most of the brand’s technical garments rely on the already-mentioned Gore-Tex. However, the brand has also developed a number of its proprietary technologies, such as the AC2 technology used in Arc’teryx backpacks.
Furthermore, all of the raw materials used by Arc’teryx are Bluesign Certified, and the brand also takes environmental sustainability quite seriously – all of its animal-based materials are sourced ethically. The result of all this is some of the market’s best-performing garments, not just regarding wearing but also for style and longevity.
The Prices
Arc’teryx is an expensive brand – it’s as simple as that (but so is Canada Goose). Most of their winter jackets start at about $150, with the best and most feature-packed models costing as much as $400. Are these garments worth their price? As far as I’m concerned, they are. Their price is completely reasonable if we consider their quality and performance.
Popular Arc’teryx Jackets
Arc’teryx Men’s Gamma SL Hoody
- Material: 56% nylon, 34% polyester, 10% elastane
- Weight: 19.2 oz
- Fit: Regular
- Versatile
- Great crafsmanship
- Breathable
- Stylish
- Could be more water-resistant
As far as I’m concerned, this particular Arc’teryx garment is an ideal example of how a softshell jacket needs to look and feel. While the model favors breathability over weather protection, it can withstand light rain and moderate winds. This is because it’s made of a sturdy fabric called Wee Burly, combined with a standard DWR coating. The model’s hood is adjustable and helmet-compatible, while the jacket allows excellent freedom of movement without feeling too bulky. It is available in six colors.
Arc’teryx Men’s Beta AR Jacket
- Material: N40p-X 3L GORE-TEX Pro; N80p-X 3L GORE-TEX Pro
- Weight: 1 lb
- Fit: Regular
- Great storm collar
- Adjustable storm hood
- Great weather protection
- Durable
- Bulky
The next model in my short roundup of the most popular Arc’teryx products is an excellent hardshell jacket that you can obtain in five different colors. The Beta AR winter Jacket provides its wearer with an all-around (“AR”) mountain performance due to its set of convenient features, including a spacious fit, a deep hood, and an incredible collar design.
This jacket offers decent weather protection, manufactured from 40D and 80D face fabrics and enhanced with a Gore-Tex Pro membrane. It has a small internal zippered pocket, two exterior hand-warming pockets, and an adjustable storm hood.
Arc’teryx Men’s Zeta SL Rain Jacket
- Material: GORE-TEX PACLITE Plus (40-denier ripstop)
- Weight: 10.9 oz
- Fit: Trim
- High-quality DWR treatment
- Exceptionally breathable
- Allows for great freedom of movement
- Comfortable
- Pricey
Here we have a versatile, storm-worthy Arc’teryx men’s jacket that offers a truly stellar performance. Besides its being expensive, the only downside of the Zeta LT is that it comes without ventilation options – everything else about it speaks quality, convenience, and elegance.
This jacket is water-resistant and breathable thanks to its Gore-Tex Paclite Plus material. It’s a feature-packed model, too – it comes equipped with Velcro wrist closures, a watertight front zipper, a DWR coating, an incredibly well-designed hood, and many other convenient features. It’s a fantastic function-focused jacket in every sense of that term.
Arc’teryx Women’s Atom LT Hoody
- Material: 94% polyester / 6% elastane
- Weight: 11.3 oz
- Fit: Trim
- Great color options
- Water-resistant
- Breathable
- Stylish
- It could be more wind-resistant
There’s a lot to like about this women’s hoody coming from Arc’teryx. It provides great mobility, is impressively warm but also breathable and comfortable, and has a great fit. What more could one want? Although quite pricey, it is one of the best women’s insulated layers you can buy on today’s market.
The main materials used in manufacturing this jacket are Coreloft Compact insulation, sandwiched between the model’s face fabrics and fleece, which can be found in its armpits. Women’s Atom LT Hoody has two hem drawcords and a single hood drawcord coated with a DWR coating.
Arc’teryx Women’s Cerium LT Down Hoody
- Material: Nylon
- Insulation: Coreloft synthetic insulation / European white goose down
- Weight: 9.8 oz
- Versatile
- Comfortable hood
- Very warm
- Great fit
- Lacks water-resistance
Besides its great warmth-to-weight ratio, this Arc’teryx women’s jacket is also super light and provides a fantastic fit. It uses 850-fill power down to keep its wearer warm and is extremely adaptable – it works great when worn under a shell and as the outermost layer.
There’s a single interior chest pocket on Cerium LT Hoody, two zippered hand-warming pockets, and a comfy hood with its drawcord. Its only downside is that it’s not the most water-resistant women’s jacket in its price category.
Arc’teryx Women’s Covert Cardigan Jacket
- Material: Polyester fleece
- Weight: 15.3 oz
- Fit: Regular
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- Great wind-resistance
- Super comfortable
- Lightweight
- Stylish
- Not very technical
Are you looking for a casual but sleek fleece jacket? This model is undoubtedly one of your best options if that’s the case. Women’s Covert Cardigan Jacket offers a decent amount of warmth in an exceptionally stylish package yet surprisingly lightweight package.
As a jacket of this type, the model absorbs water, but it’s very good at blocking the wind. Its Alpenex fleece feels great against the skin, and its pockets are as comfortable as they can be. I think it’s a fantastic option for casual wear, but not something you should go with if you’re looking for technical performance.
Canada Goose – A General Overview
The Background
Canada Goose is a much older brand – it was established on the other side of Canada, in Ontario, all the way back in the 1950s. Once the company created its first down jacket two decades after its foundation and started selling it in Europe, it changed its original name – Metro Sportswear – to Canada Goose.
Nowadays, Canada Goose is among the world’s most renowned outerwear manufacturers. They are especially well-known for the warmth of their winter jackets – these are a great choice for all those who often hike or work in very cold regions. Canada Goose’s jackets are also exceptionally durable and can last for decades.
Much like the contemplation between Fjallraven vs Arcteryx, where discussions often revolve around Fjallraven’s timeless, rugged designs versus Arcteryx’s innovative, performance-oriented gear, another parallel can be drawn with Canada Goose vs Moose Knuckles in the luxury winter wear market.
Both Canada Goose and Moose Knuckles, celebrated for their opulent, insulating winter jackets, have cultivated a dedicated clientele who vouch for their respective abilities to meld comfort and style amidst the frigid winter conditions. These brand comparisons, akin to the Arc’teryx and Canada Goose discourse, originate from the brands’ unique strategies in blending practicality with fashion, each establishing their own specialty in the outdoor clothing industry.
The Manufacture
The main fabrics used in manufacturing Canada Goose apparel are polyester and nylon. These materials are of the highest quality and one of the reasons why CG’s jackets are so long-lasting. How Canada Goose makes its garments is very extensive and rigorous – it consists of 13 separate steps and, as such, guarantees the quality of a finished product.
The company also uses goose and duck down for its down-insulated jackets, with these materials being fully traceable and ethically sourced. The same can be said for coyote fur and Merino wool, despite some controversies about CG’s use of these animal-based materials.
The Prices
Just like Arc’teryx, Canada Goose is all but an affordable brand. Most of their jackets are accompanied by hefty price tags and can cost as much as $600. However, these prices are more than justified in most cases – as I’ve said, CG’s jackets and other garments are long-lasting, well-made, and warm.
Popular Canada Goose Jackets
Canada Goose Men’s Chateau Fusion Fit Parka
- Main fabrics: Arctic Tech (85% polyester, 15% cotton); coyote fur
- Insulation: 625 fill power white duck down
- Weight: 2.2 lb
- Super warm
- Comfortable
- Lifetime warranty
- Great features
- Not the best choice for layering
As its name suggests, this Canada Goose parka was designed to deliver a perfect fit and does that effortlessly. Like most CG-made garments, this one is also quite expensive, but the price is justified here – the Chateau Fusion Fit Parka is packed with convenient features.
On this model, you will find 3 interior and 3 exterior pockets and recessed rib-knit cuffs that successfully lock in body heat. One feature I particularly liked is the chin guard, made out of tricot fabric and feels very soft and comfortable. Not really for tough outdoor use or hiking, more city wear.
Canada Goose Men’s Carson Down Parka
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- Lining: 100% Nylon
- Shell: Polyester 85% / Cotton 15%
- Insulation: 625-fill-power white duck down
- Adjustable hood
- Very comfortable
- Stylish
- Incredibly warm
- Heavy
A nod to the more traditional Chateau Parka I’ve described above, this Canada Goose coat looks a bit more stylish, especially in the “Military Green” color. It’s a mid-thigh length model uses 625-fill power down for insulation and sports a quilt-through design.
Like the Chateau Parka, this model also sports an exceptionally comfortable chin guard and heat-locking cuffs. It has two pockets less, though – there are 4 of them in total and all come with their zippers. The model also has an adjustable hood with a removable fur ruff.
Canada Goose Men’s MacMillan Parka
- Lining: 100% Nylon
- Shell: Polyester 85% / Cotton 15%
- Insulation: 625-fill-power white duck down
- Offers great features
- Stylish look
- Versatile
- Very warm
- Pricey
With features such as the curved hemline or quilt-through design, this hip-length Canada Goose parka for men provides its wearer warmth and style. While it’s available in only three colors, it is, in my opinion, a fantastic option for urbanites who need good weather protection for active city living.
Using white duck down for insulation and sporting most of the features found on other Canada Goose jackets for both men and women, the MacMillan Parka is also very practical. Here, you’ll find 3 pockets, recessed rib-knit cuffs, a chin guard, an adjustable hood, and many other convenient features.
Canada Goose Women’s Chelsea Parka
- Lining: 100% Nylon
- Shell: Polyester 85% / Cotton 15%
- Insulation: 625-fill-power white duck down
- Durable
- Comfortable and warm
- Great weather-resistance
- Fashionable
- Expensive
Fortunately, the minimalist aesthetic of this beautiful women’s parka is not the only good thing about it. Canada Goose’s Women’s Chelsea Parka uses quality duck down to keep its wearer warm. It has many convenient features, such as the fleece-lined hand-warming pockets or the removable and adjustable hood.
The parka is made out of CG’s proprietary Arctic-Tech fabric and easily provides phenomenal performance regarding weather resistance and overall durability. It has a hip-length, quilt-through design and looks attractive in all color variants.
Canada Goose Women’s Shelburne Parka
- Main fabrics: Nylon, polyester, natural coyote fur
- Insulation: 625 fill power down
- Weight: 4 lb
- Exceptionally comfortable chin guard
- Interior backpack straps
- Incredibly warm
- Attractive
- Pricey
The next Canada Goose coat/jacket is a thigh-length model guaranteed to keep you warm while also making you look good – this is a very stylish parka. Like most of the other Canada Goose garments I’ve described, this one also uses duck down for insulation and has a removable fur ruff.
Other features you can expect include interior backpack straps, snap-closure exterior cuffs, a snap-closure back vent, and a tricot-lined chin guard whose softness is pretty much unmatched on the market. The parka also has 4 pockets in total – two interior ones and two exterior ones.
Canada Goose Women’s Rossclair Parka
Specifications:
- Lining: 100% Nylon
- Shell: Polyester 85% / Cotton 15%
- Insulation: 625-fill-power white duck down
Pros
- All-around weather protection
- Stylish look
- Durable
- Convenient features
Cons
- Non-adjustable hem
One of the most popular Canada Goose women’s winter coats, the Rossclair Canada Goose Parka justifies its hefty price tag with the phenomenal build quality and many convenient features. The combination of 625-fill power down, proprietary Arctic Tech textile, and all of the model’s drawcords and zippers keep the wearer warm and the harsh elements at bay, it is a great mix of natural and synthetic insulation.
The last Canada Goose garment I’ll be looking at is their Rossclair Parka, a well-made mid-length coat for the ladies with a sleek look and the ability to protect its wearer from harsh elements. The parka looks particularly attractive in its “Early Light” (white) variant. The Rossclair Parka offers superb protection from cold weather due to its white duck-down insulation and Arctic-Tech exterior fabric. It’s a feature-packed coat, too – expect 4 pockets, a zipper-closure back gusset, recessed rib-knit cuffs, an interior waist drawcord, a chin guard, and a 2-way adjustable hood.
Arc’teryx vs Canada Goose – The Verdict
So, which one of these two outdoor clothing brands is better? Canada Goose rivals Arc’teryx quite closely since both brands design, manufacture, and sell some of the best and warmest jackets you can buy on today’s market.
And while it’s true that CG’s jackets fare extremely well in freezing weather, I consider Arc’teryx a better brand as its technical pieces are simply unrivaled. Read how Canada Goose compares to The North Face on this other post.
I love hiking, backpacking, and camping. From the Camino de Santiago to the West Highland Way in Scotland or simply a great day hike on the weekend. Hiking refreshes me, my mind, and keeps my body reasonably fit. So far I have walked three Camino routes and many other long distance hikes in the UK, Canada, and around the rest of Europe. One of the best was my hike up Ben Nevis.