– The Backcountry Ski Site
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Site

  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Arc’teryx Women’s Rush Jacket

by Jordan Brozyna February 8, 2023
written by Jordan Brozyna February 8, 2023
Arc'terx's women's Rush jacket.

Arc’terx’s women’s Rush jacket features all the goods: plenty of pockets, Gore-Tex fabric, and and a full spectrum feature set for backcountry skiing.

What one expects from an Arc’teryx shell is a high-quality build, an ample feature set, durability, and, oh yeah, the $$. The women’s Rush jacket is a backcountry skiing dream with some style to boot.

 

What a winter in the Pacific Northwest for gear testing: since our first snowfall in November, we have seen deep, cold powder, wet and sticky snow, heavy winds, and a lot of rain. While this is my third winter living in Central Oregon—and none of this should surprise me—I am always bewildered when we spend Thanksgiving skiing, pow, and Christmas sheltering from the rain.

During this time, I tested the Arc’teryx Women’s Rush Jacket, a light and durable GORE-TEX shell designed for backcountry and freeride skiing. I have very few critiques on this jacket and was impressed with its performance in all conditions. I took this jacket on uphill missions here in Central Oregon, downhill skiing in the Austrian Alps, and on a yurt trip in Wallowas. The old US Postal saying goes like this: “Neither snow, rain, heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” There was no mail delivery on my part, but I’m confident the Rush jacket would be handy in nasty weather mail delivery situations.

Arcteryx W Rush JKT

The performance metric is high and the overall weight, at 540g works to my favor — especially when the snow is deep.

Weight versus Performance

My initial impression, and without knowing any technical specifications, I noted that the Arc’teryx Rush Jacket is light. Compared to the other technical shells in my closet, it feels significantly lighter, thinner, and generally more supple than its counterparts. The shell weighs just over a pound at 540 grams and packs up easily and compactly in backcountry packs. It is noiseless, soft, and generally a no-brainer when adding it to the packing list.


Despite its weight, the Arc’teryx Rush jacket packs a big punch. The jacket is built with three-layer GORE-TEX C-KNIT Backer technology, which is GORE-TEX’s proprietary fabric that promises wind and waterproof performance with less weight and bulk. Think less crinkly than Gore-Tex Pro pieces.

Living up to its promise, I found that jacket extremely resilient, keeping me dry and warm during freezing rain, sleet, and windstorms. Throwing the jacket on atop a windy skintrack, I found the ambient temperature around my core could rise ten degrees. Not to be outdone by its durability, the Arc’teryx Rush is also quite breathable (another by-product of the GORE-TEX C-KNIT technology, which is marketed as roughly 15 percent more breathable than Gore-Tex Pro). While it is rarely my preference to walk uphill in a shell, a poorly timed outing on a very wet December afternoon made it necessary. The Arc’teryx Rush was light, comfortable, and breathable during my skin. I hardly noticed I was wearing it. (On the contrary, my friends did notice—I was much drier than the rest of the group.)

Most recently, I wore this jacket almost nonstop during a four-day yurt trip in the Wallowas. While it performed excellently and as expected, I did notice the jacket began to show its wear in the form of small stains and marks on the face fabric, which is likely the result of normal wear and tear. As the jacket was frequently stuffed and un-stuffed in my pack, I noticed it held wrinkles a bit longer (as you can see in some of these photos). I expect a darker color of this jacket would hide these very minor and nitpicky imperfections.


Front pockets wmn's Arc'teryx Rush Jacket.

Pockets and more pockets. The chest area offers two waterproofed zippered pockets with plenty of volume for accessories.

Interior drop pocket Arc'teryx W Rush JKT

Shown here is the left interior drop pocket with has ample room for smaller sized skins. This pocket also includes a small zip pocket as well. The right side drop pocket does not include the zip pocket.

Pockets and Other Features

The women’s Rush jacket has five exterior zippered and taped (i.e., waterproof) pockets: two hand pockets, two chest pockets, and a sleeve pocket for an RFID ski pass. The pockets are deep, easy to access, and thoughtfully positioned. As an organized and type-A skier, I happily used all five pockets but did not require any more.

Finally, the Rush Jacket also includes two interior mesh pockets without zippers, which can be used to store skins, extra goggles and/or lenses, or pocket pizza (my preference).

The jacket’s hood is helmet-compatible and adjustable. It is easy to pull up and down, even using bulky mittens and fighting the wind while providing full coverage, and does not impact visibility.


The Arc’teryx Rush Jacket also contains a two-way front zipper and waterproof “pit” zippers to dump heat and increase breathability. These features have become standard on most technical shells and are a solid features.

Not present? A powder skirt (thank goodness). Others may disagree, but I find powder skirts add unnecessary weight, bulk, and annoyance. I was happy to see Arc’teryx chose to eliminate this from the design.

Arc'teryx W Rush JKT fit.

As a note for readers, I am 5’3 and about 120 pounds, with very narrow shoulders. I prefer my outdoor gear to fit slightly oversized. I wear a size small (S) in this jacket, which fits perfectly.

Size and Fit

As a note for readers, I am 5’3 and about 120 pounds, with very narrow shoulders. I prefer my outdoor gear to fit slightly oversized. I wear a size small (S) in this jacket, which fits perfectly. The Arc’teryx website estimates my size as an extra small (XS), but I was happy with the extra room in this jacket, which easily allowed for my base and mid-layers, of which there are many.

The Arc’teryx Rush Jacket is also quite a bit longer than other technical shells I have worn (73 cm back length), which I believe further enhances its performance in terms of wind and waterproofness. Nobody likes a soggy bottom. I worried the longer shell may impede my range of motion, especially walking uphill, but I did not have any issues, despite the jacket running a bit longer in the back than I am used to.

Arcteryx W Rush JKT- hemline.

The women’s Rush jacket has a longer hem in the rear for better weather protection. If you prefer a shorter hem line, you can tighten a draw cord at the waist.

Without a doubt, Arc’teryx gear is expensive. Really expensive. But their gear just looks—well, err—cool. While I normally gravitate toward more subdued color choices, I rocked the Rush Jacket in a bright orange (“Phenom”), which I ended up loving. The color is rich, saturated, and stands out in a sea of blue, green, and black jackets. It looks sleek in photos and makes me easy to spot in low visibility. The jacket also has a cool contrast paneling on the back. Early in the testing process, another skier chased me down on the skin track to ask about the brand, model number, and jacket color. The interaction made my day, and I probably skied a little bit better because of it. Is a confidence boost worth $700? That’s up to you.

Bottom Line

With the Arc’teryx Rush Jacket, an old Danish saying holds true: “There is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”

The Rush Jacket is ultimately the best shell I have ever used. Which means this is suitable clothing for really bad weather. It has taken front-and-center in my closet, even compared to my original daily driver, the Arc’teryx Sentinel AR, which now feels too heavy and bulky. The Rush Jacket is versatile, durable, and breathable. It suits a wide variety of conditions and offers unmatched wind-and-waterproof performance. Like other Arc’teryx products, it looks and feels like a high-caliber, sleek, and generally good-looking jacket. If you are in a position to splurge on a high-quality shell, I recommend the Arc’teryx Women’s Rush Jacket without reservation.

Arc’teryx Women’s Rush Jacket Specs

Fabric: 80D 3L GORE-TEX fabric with GORE C-KNIT™ backer technology.
Sizing: Arc’teryx calls this a “regular” fit.
Weight: 540g
Price: $700

Shop for the women’s Arc’teryx Rush Jacket.

Shop for the men’s Arc’teryx Rush Jacket.

Jordan Brozyna

A Midwesterner at heart, Jordan grew up skiing in the cold and icy “mountains” of northern Michigan; experts say this is where she developed her affinity for puffy coats. Not satisfied with the terrain offered by her local ski hills, Jordan moved west to Colorado and subsequently to Bend, Oregon, where she could be even closer to the outdoors. Although she is a healthcare consultant by day, her passions lie with the mountains. Jordan was accidentally introduced to backcountry skiing by her husband Jozef, who regrets suggesting a sport which requires him to walk uphill all day. On any given weekend, they can both be found on skis.

2
Email
previous post
The 120m Flex Scarpa 4-Quattro SL Review
next post
Ski Trab Neve: A First Look

Trip Reports

  • A Small Hut for Big Skiing in the San Juans: Aladdin’s Lamp

    April 23, 2024
  • Revisiting a 2011 Trip Report: Adventure in the Pickets — Thread of Ice Ski Descent

    December 9, 2022

Avalanche Department

  • Ask a Forecaster: Q&A with CAIC’s Andrew McWilliams

    March 10, 2024

Tips & Tricks

  • Transition Efficiencies 101 with Tech Binding Heel Units

    January 6, 2023
  • Visualizing the Backcountry as a Splitboarder: Minimizing the Challenges of Movement by Anticipating Terrain

    December 5, 2022
  • TURBOCHARGE YOUR TRAILHEAD BEACON CHECK

    November 15, 2022

Recent Comments

  • Daniel on Backcountry Ski Boots Buyer’s Guide: The Touring Boots Worth the Money
  • Jim Milstein on Best Touring Packs for Guides and Daytrippers
  • Bergen Tjossem on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review
  • Maciej on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review


  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Terms of Service
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2025 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Polar Star Inn Hut Report: Mellow...

March 7, 2025

Best Touring Packs for Guides and...

March 3, 2025

Moment Wildcat 108 Tour Long-Term Ski...

February 10, 2025