The Arc'Teryx Women's Sentinel Review

For the Mom who spends as much time chasing pow as she does kids!

After many, MANY  years in the same ski outfit, it was time for me to upgrade. The gear budget for the past decade or so has been largely allocated to the annual rotation kids gear. After looking back at photo albums, I quickly realized that I have the same outfit in almost every picture!  So began my journey looking for a new jacket and pants. 

It was important to me to find an outfit, not just a nice jacket and a pair of black pants. I wanted something that was designed to go together. To move together. Almost like a one-piece suit but in two pieces of you catch my drift. Durability and style are important (likely because I will own this for another 10 years!) but above all, the critical factor is warmth. After investigation into fully insulated pieces, I felt like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. These options didn't seem to fit quite right or move fluidly. It was recommended to me by the kind staff and VPO to explore a layering system all wrapped up in a higher quality shell. They hit the nail on the head and after some in-store fashion shows, I landed on the Arc'teryx Sentinel Jacket and Pants. 

Why I chose Arc'teryx

Over my years as a skier I have had a number or higher end outfits, but never Arc'Teryx. Going to university in Vancouver during the early 2000's I was witness to the birth and explosive growth of the local brand. Aside from a few 'around town' pieces, I have not owned any outerwear from the brand. Cost back then was definitely a factor and it still is today (see child budget comment above). But, after looking back at how long I keep my equipment in active duty, I decided that splurging on a high end Arc'teryx kit was a smart decision. 

The Sentinel Jacket and Pant combo instantly felt right to me. As soon as I put it on, I could tell it was specifically designed and cut for a female body. The pants sat on my hips in the right place and the jacket moved seamlessly over the pants. The bib rises to where it should be and the straps lay over my shoulders comfortably. Speaking of straps, these have a wide and easy to adjust strap set up making getting the right fit a breeze but more importantly, going to the bathroom an easier process!

Fit and Features

Finding the right balance between fit and features is always a challenge. On top of that, finding features that actually make sense rather than check the boxes is even more challenging. One of the first things I noticed about the Arc-teryx Sentinel Jacket is the cut. It is purposely deigned for the female body. Previous jackets of mine have had the female colours but not the cut that shaped nicely around my body. The jacket drapes over my hips nicely hugging all the right places and giving me a bit of room to move in the others. The Sentinel Bib Pants come up nice and high and have a built in stretch panel at the base of the back making movement feel seamless.  

Plenty of Pockets for Chairlift Snacks

 When my husband and I first started skiing with our kids, we were given some valuable advice from an old local skier: bring treats. Many skiers like pockets for supplies, tools and the like. Not parents! We fill our pockets with kleenex and candy. The pockets on the Arc-teryx Sentinel pants are very spacious and easy to open with my mitts on - which is paramount for me as I get ice cold fingers. I can easily open and close the zippers and get what I need to incentivize my little ones for a few more runs. 

Tough Cuffs Keeping The Cold Out

There is nothing worse than buying a top line ski pant only to have the cuffs get cut up by the end of the season. Well, there is one thing worse - cuffs that let all the blower snow fly in! These cuffs are built tough but not so tough that they don't flex. I have tried on pants before where the cuffs are made out of such a strong material that it feels like a piece of cardboard between my ankles!  

Just a Girl in Da Hood

A hood that feels like it belongs, not just a add on. I make use of my hood almost on the daily. I like to stay warm and pulling up my hood on the chairlift ride up tends to lock in the heat. And on those blustery days, I used the discrete toggles and lock this baby down! It is big enough to slide right over my helmet and just like the zippers, I don't need to take off my toasty mitts. 

When the hood is not in use, it tucks around my neck naturally without any sort of bunching or binding. There is a soft lining on the backside of the zipper so when it is chilly out I can be like a little snow turtle and tuck my neck down and let the Gore-text do it's job. 

Bibs are Always in Style

Ever since I grew out of my white and neon Sun Ice ski suit as a teenager, I have always worn bibs. I just like feeling sealed up all warm and dry. There is nothing like a little dribble of snow down the backside to really turn a girl off of a day of skiing! The Arc-teryx Sentinal Bib Pants are cut to come way up in the front and then settle in intently into my lower back. On the lower back, there is a stretchy, breathable material that makes movement flawless while wearing these pants. You can tell that this jacket and pants combo was designed to go together. When all geared up, this kit almost feels - and looks - like a one piece.  

The Verdict: Arc'teryx Sentinel for the Win!

There aren't really any draw backs to the Arc'teryx Sentinel kit that are worth mentioning. I am really looking forward to having a purpose built ski suit designed for a Woman's body that will last me many, many years. Arc'teryx has become a timeless brand with styles that can last through trends.Which is another reason why I decided on the Sentinel. High quality gear never goes out of style!