Cheap rain jackets leak, rip, and shed fabric. Arc'teryx weighs nothing, seals completely, and lasts 20 years.
Why Not Just Buy the Cheap One?
Cheap rain jackets use sealed seams that fail because the glue degrades under UV and flexing, and the fabric itself rips because it's thin plastic. Arc'teryx Alpha SV uses Gore-Tex Pro with lab-tested seam integrity that survives 20 years of serious mountaineering, and the shell is laminated so tightly it doesn't rip.
The Buy-Once Math
You'll replace a budget rain jacket every 2–3 years at $80–150 each, spending $400–600 over a decade. One Arc'teryx Alpha SV at $595 lasts 20 years and never fails in the field. You pay $200 more and gain peace of mind plus a jacket that outlasts most gear in your closet.