Atom LT

The Atom LT from Arc’teryx may be my favourite piece of clothing ever. Lightweight, compressible, wind-resistant, rainproof, and warm, this mid-layer or light jacket is always in my bag when I hit the road. The Atom breathes and keeps your body temperature well regulated in cool to slightly cold conditions and makes a fantastic mid-layer when combined with an outer shell like my Beta AR jacket or something a little warmer like a Theta or Fission series coat. In 2012 on a trip to Iceland, the airline lost my luggage and I was stuck for three days with just a fleece under-layer and my Atom LT hoody. I thought I’d freeze for sure since it was cold and incredibly windy but the jacket stood up to the elements with flying colours. OutdoorCrunch recently published a study around the temperature ratings of insulated jackets, and the results show that the approximate lowest temperature an average person can wear a t-shirt + an Atom LT combo without feeling uncomfortably cold would be 23 deg F (-5 deg C). Underlayer it with more and/or thicker garments and you’re able to wear it comfortably even in Iceland weather.

I was seriously stunned at how comfortable I was with such a light jacket. If I liked Arc’teryx gear before my trip to Iceland, I surely loved the stuff once I got there. I would recommend the hooded version if you’ll be frequenting cooler locations a lot. I like the extra warmth of a hood over a hat since my neck stays nice and warm this way too.

Tight cuffs and drawstring at the waist allow you to seal yourself off from the elements perfectly all while looking really cool. I had a hard time taking it off when I first got it, trust me, you’ll know what I mean when you get yours. Leave the front open to keep cooler and zip it up to warm up nearly instantly. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly my core warmed up after zipping up the front. Go try one on and I’m betting that not only will you buy one but you’ll want to wear it as you leave the store. My Arcteryx clothes are so well made and sturdy that in the year that I have had them, I can barely see any wear and tear at all and I have travelled a lot in that year. Can’t say enough good things about the Atom LT and I highly recommend it.