Arc'teryx Seyla Review

Performance Comparison

This is one of the stylist parkas we tested. Simple and sweet, the cut of the jacket hides the plush 750 fill grey goose down. Reaching just above our knee we had no problems wearing this jacket on chilly morning walks or running errands.

Photo: Sierra Purcell

Warmth

Insulated with 750 fill European grey goose down, this jacket is intended for some seriously cold temperatures. We had no problems wearing this pleated style parka with a light layer underneath during cold winter days.

There were some features to this jacket that helped keep us warm, and there were also some things lacking. The oversized hood was great, but there is no way to adjust it for a tighter fit on windy days. We were able to fit a beanie underneath the hood, which allowed for a snugger fit. One feature that always helps with keeping us warm in the winter is the internal cuffs in the sleeves. The Seyla has elastic cuffs that make the fit around the opening a bit tighter.

The hood isn't detachable like some of the jackets we tested. We didn't find this to be a problem because of how light it was. It's insulated with an ample amount of down. There is enough room to wear a beanie underneath.

Photo: Sierra Purcell

One thing we noticed about the Arc'teryx Seyla is that it does run a bit big. We originally ordered a medium and had to return it for a small. When we tested the medium, we noticed that cold air got in at the bottom of the bell shape and loose fit. You may want to try this jacket on at the store if you are concerned about the sizing.

Weather Resistance

Water-resistant, but not waterproof, this jacket isn't intended for heavy wet weather. When tested in light snow and rain, it held up, but then became saturated after an extended time outside. This jacket is warm, but we wouldn't recommend it for someone that doesn't live in a very wet climate like Portland or Seattle.

Style

Instant style points go to the Arc'teryx Seyla for its simplicity, while still maintaining ample warmth on some below-freezing days this winter. We easily wore this jacket to the gym, out to dinner, or running errands around town. The pleated exterior with no bells and whistles makes this jacket highly versatile.

Front view of the form-fitting Seyla. Simple and sweet is a great way to describe the jacket. There are three earth tone colors to choose from: whiskey jack (gray), flux (pictured above), and black.

Photo: Sierra Purcell

From all angles we found this model to be an attractive parka. Form-fitting, lightweight and highly flattering, we enjoyed wearing it out and about.

Photo: Sierra Purcell

Comfort

More often than none we forgot to take of this jacket when coming inside the cold. Comparable to a lightweight sleeping bag, this jacket is lightweight, warm, stylish, and very comfortable.

There weren't too many issues with the Seyla parka but, we wish there would have been micro lined fleece in the pockets like the Marmot Montreaux. Having lined pockets makes all the difference.

Photo: Sierra Purcell

Features

The main feature of this jacket is its warmth to weight ratio. Being one of the lightest, wet warmest jackets we tested, Arc'teryx nailed it with the Seyla. The exterior pocket doesn't have any fleece inside them, which is a common feature on the jackets we test. This small feature is a game-changer on cold days. Slipping your hand into a cozy pocket makes all the difference, especially on chilly days.

There are two exterior pockets and one interior pocket. The interior pocket has a zipper and is perfect for keys, phone or a wallet.

Photo: Sierra Purcell

There is a double-sided zipper that allows access from both ends and is also nice to use on days that were a bit warmer, and we needed more airflow or even more mobility.

There is a double-sided zipper that offers access from both ends of the jacket. This came in handy when we wanted better mobility or were too hot and need some cool air to enter the jacket.

Photo: Sierra Purcell

Durability

Over the two months that we tested this jacket, we didn't see many feathers escaping at the stitching. The outer material is made of nylon and is quite thin. It's important when wearing this jacket to keep that in mind. We did get snagged while wearing this coat in a heavily treed area and it caused a tear.

The outer material has a DWR water-resistant coating and isn't intended to be worn in heavy wet weather. When we tested it in light snow, it handled well.

Value

This jacket falls towards the more expensive side out of all the jackets we tested. Yes, it is incredibly warm and insulated with 750 fill grey goose down, it's lightweight and very comfortable, but for the price, you don't get a ton of features. We did enjoy testing this jacket, its simple style was easy to dress up or down depending on what we were doing, but keep in mind, it's not waterproof and isn't intended to be worn in wet weather.

Conclusion