Hardshell Jackets
Product 2026
Woman, Man
The Arc’teryx Rush Jacket is one of the benchmark pieces in the world of free-touring and freeride skiing. It gets straight to the point, with proven technical solutions and total efficiency in action. With this jacket, there are no snagging zips, no hood blocking your view, no inaccessible pockets. Everything is designed so it disappears from your mind when you’re on the move.
The Arc’teryx Rush shell is first and foremost lightweight, weighing in at 500 grams on our scale in size M. It can be easily packed into a backpack, including during other seasons for hiking or outdoor activities where gear weight is essential. The Rush Jacket does not feature a snow skirt, making it a versatile piece, even though Arc’teryx does offer dedicated models for that purpose.
Back to the Rush Jacket—its finishing quality is exemplary and fully in line with the brand’s DNA. Waterproofing is excellent, although we were unable to test it in wet snow. It remains to be seen whether the thin Gore-Tex Pro ePE membrane is as effective as the previous version (which was less environmentally friendly), but it is now free of PFAS chemicals. In any case, this membrane is twice as thin, allowing for a more supple fabric and, as noted, lower overall weight.
On this 2025/2026 version, the Rush Jacket’s pockets have been widened and are quick and easy to access. They sit well above a potential harness. Even when full, these large pockets still leave a clear view of the harness tie-in point. As with the rest of the jacket, the watertight zips run smoothly. A thin pull tab allows them to be operated with gloves on.
Breathability is what you would expect from this type of waterproof shell. During intense effort, your temperature rises and using the underarm ventilation zips becomes essential.
One of the many highlights of the Arc’teryx Rush Jacket is the hood, which works flawlessly with a helmet, whether for skiing or mountaineering. The three-point adjustment is classic but effective. The excess elastic is offset to the side of the neck so it won’t hit your face. The collar height is perfect, providing full wind and moisture protection.
Worth noting: the hem at the bottom of the jacket is not only bonded but also reinforced with a very fine seam. This area is prone to friction, so it gains extra durability. In the past, some Arc’teryx jackets have shown wear there.
The cuff Velcro is strong and allows for adjusting the sleeve volume to fit over a large GPS watch or gloves. As for the Recco reflector, it’s so thin that we weren’t even able to find it on the jacket.
The cut extends nicely over the lower back.
A true benchmark for free-touring and freeride. A lightweight shell built to withstand the elements. Well cut, robust, meticulously designed, it offers solid protection and a high-performance fit. Award First TEST4OUTSIDE.
Jacket tested with the matching pants.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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