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 and outfit, not just a nice jacket and a paid 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 is 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!