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Arc'teryx Seyla Review

A seriously lightweight and stylish looking parka that will keep you warm and looking good all winter long.
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Price:  $425 List | $274.98 at Backcountry
Compare prices at 3 resellers
Pros:  Insulated with 750 fill down, stylish, simple, light
Cons:  Hood doesn’t detach, no internal cuffs on sleeves, not waterproof
Manufacturer:   Arc'teryx
By Liz Williamson ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jan 21, 2020
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82
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#5 of 18
  • Warmth - 30% 9
  • Weather Resistance - 25% 7
  • Comfort - 20% 8
  • Style - 20% 9
  • Durability - 5% 6

Our Verdict

Arc'teryx delivered with the Seyla, an incredibly warm, but lightweight winter jacket. Insulated with 750 fill European grey goose down. One way to describe the Arc'teryx Seyla Parka is simple and stylish. With only three earth tone colors to choose from and no bells and whistles, it's easy to dress this jacket up for a night out or simply wear it to the gym. The exterior material is water-resistant, not waterproof and isn't intended for wet weather.


Compare to Similar Products

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This Product
Arc'teryx Seyla
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Best Buy Award Top Pick Award  
Price $274.98 at Backcountry
Compare at 3 sellers		$251.95 at Backcountry$189.99 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers		$389.98 at Backcountry
Compare at 3 sellers		$995.00 at Backcountry
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Star Rating
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Pros Insulated with 750 fill down, stylish, simple, lightStylish, faux-fur ruff, adjustable waist, waterproof, windproof, breathable, insulated inner collar, six exterior pockets, rounded drop-tail hem on hood for extra coverage.Insanely warm, form-fitting, thick down, removable faux fur ruff, double sided full zipperForm-fitting, sleek waterproof and durable, three jackets, ethically sourced and cozy downStylish, warm, nice features, durable, highly water-resistant, windproof, good quality construction, interior carrying straps
Cons Hood doesn’t detach, no internal cuffs on sleeves, not waterproofRuns large, hood isn’t detachable, heavy, finicky zipper, stiff collar.Heavy, somewhat bulky, limited mobility, some feather loss, not waterproofSleeves are short, uninsulated hood, tight shoulders, no two-way zipper on down jacket, pockets lack zippersExpensive, heavy, feels like a lot of jacket, huge hood, doesn’t detach, boxy fit
Bottom Line We stayed warm while looking good when temperatures dropped down to freezing.We stayed warm and dry in wet snowy weather.An insanely warm jacket that won't break the bank.The Tres Down Parka is a superior waterproof option for winter climates.A high fashion jacket with a high price tag.
Rating Categories Arc'teryx Seyla Outer Boroughs Parka Marmot Montreaux Tres 3-in-1 Parka Canada Goose Shelburne Parka
Warmth (30%)
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
10
10
0
7
10
0
8
Weather Resistance (25%)
10
0
7
10
0
9
10
0
6
10
0
10
10
0
9
Comfort (20%)
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
7
Style (20%)
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
8
Durability (5%)
10
0
6
10
0
10
10
0
7
10
0
9
10
0
10
Specs Arc'teryx Seyla Outer Boroughs Parka Marmot Montreaux Tres 3-in-1 Parka Canada Goose...
Insulation 750-fill European grey goose down 550-fill down 700 fill down with Down Defender 700-fill recycled down 625 fill duck down
Hood Insulated hood Adjustable hood w/ faux fur lining Zip-off, down-filled hood with removable faux fur ruff Removable hood Adjustable hood with removable coyote fur ruff
Length Above-the-knee Above-the-knee Knee-length Above-the-knee Knee-length
Pockets two zippered hand,1 internal zippered security 2 high handwarmer, 2 top-entry front, 2 side-entry front, 1 internal media compatible 2 internal, 2 external 2 zippered handwarmer, 1 internal chest 3 internal, 2 external
Weight (size small) 1.1 lbs 3.5 lbs 2.25 lbs 2.9 lbs 4 lbs
2-way zipper Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Main Fabric Arato 10 (100% nylon) 49% nylon, 33% polyester, 18% cotton canvas 100% polyester with DWR treatment 100% polyester Arctic-Tech (85% polyester, 15% cotton) with DWR finish
Unique Features DWR coated down Water-proof shell, storm cuffs Fleece lined torso, hydophic down Zip-out two layer design Durable outer shell, coyote fur ruff, carrying straps, kick pleats

Our Analysis and Test Results

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.
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.

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 from this jacket. The oversized hood was great, but there is no way to adjust it to have it be 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.
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.

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. With three colors to choose from Whiskey Jack (gray), black, and flux (which is more of a dark maroon, then it appears in photos), 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.
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.

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.
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.

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.

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 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.
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.

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

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.
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.

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


Overall we were impressed with how warm we stayed when temperatures hit freezing thanks to the lofty and comfortable 750 fill grey goose down. Besides being incredibly warm, the Seyla was also one of the lightest jackets we tested. We wouldn't recommend this jacket if you live in a very wet climate, but it is a great option for someone living in an environment that experiences cold winters.


— Liz Williamson