Arc'teryx: Precision, Innovation, and High-Altitude Mountaineering

Discover the Arc'teryx brand

Arc'teryx is a Canadian company founded in North Vancouver, British Columbia, originally under the name Rock Solid, with a clear mission: to create climbing gear of higher quality than what was available on the market.

In 1991, founders David Lane and Jeremy Guard renamed the company Arc'teryx, in homage to Archaeopteryx lithographica, the first known bird in history and a symbolof evolution and innovation. The brand’s logo—a reproduction of the Berlin specimen of this fossil—embodies this ambition: to revolutionize outdoor gear.

Did you know?

The name Arc'teryx is pronounced "arc-te-riks" and refers directly to this ancestor of modern birds. Choosing this name was a commitment to radically transform the design of mountaineering gear.

Product Development and Innovations at Arc'teryx

As early as 1992, Arc'teryx launched its first major commercial success: the Vapor harness. It utilizes 360° thermoforming technology to offer unprecedented comfort and mobility. This same technology would be applied to the Bora series of backpacks, which won numerous awards in the outdoor industry.

The turning point came in the mid-1990s: Arc'teryx obtained a license from W.L. Gore & Associates to use Gore-Tex fabric. From its very first collections, the brand introduced several groundbreaking technologies: waterproof laminated zippers, micro-stitching at 16 stitches per inch, and the world’s first waterproof softshells.

Arc'teryx’s Research & Development center works closely with athletes to continuously improve harnesses, backpacks, footwear, and technical jackets. The brand has also adopted Gore-Tex ePE, a waterproof and breathable membrane designed without PFAS—chemicals long used to waterproof textiles but which persist in the environment.

Products offered by Arc'teryx

Arc'teryx clothing covers all mountain needs: waterproof jackets, down jackets, durable pants, technical T-shirts, hats, gloves, and ultra-lightweight backpacks. The lineup is organized into product families with evocative names:

• Technical jackets and shell jackets form the core of the brand. Available in several lines—Alpha for serious mountaineering, Beta for versatility, and Gamma in a stretch softshell version—they cater to all levels of activity, from trekking to ski touring and multi-pitch climbing.
• Insulating layers complete the multi-layer system. The Atom jacket, in its Lightweight or All-Round versions, stands out as a highly versatile mid-layer, thanks to its Coreloft insulation and high breathability.
• When it comes to backpacks and carrying gear, the Alpha FL, Bora, and Aerios models are renowned for their streamlined design, well-distributed volume, and comfort under load. They feature ingenious solutions: pockets accessible on the move, adjustable straps, and abrasion-resistant fabric.
• The climbing and mountaineering range includes harnesses, chalk bags, approach bags, and technical boots. Rope bags, Konseal bags for climbing, Alpha bags for mountaineering, approach shoes, and Gore-Tex or softshell pants are designed for perfect compatibility with the brand’s jackets.

Finally, Arc'teryx products are also associated with skiing, snowboarding, and trail running, featuring a line of backpacks particularly renowned in these disciplines.

Arc'teryx’s commitment to sustainability

Arc'teryx has structured its sustainability approach around the ReBird program, a platform that centralizes the brand’s initiatives in recycling, resale, maintenance, and repair, including limited-edition upcycled products made from post-consumer materials.

In 2024, the brand submitted its new climate targets to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which validated them. Arc'teryx is committed to reducing its absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2030 and aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its entire value chain by 2050.