Review: Arc’teryx Ossa Stowhood Jacket

A super versatile jacket that will take you from the summit to the office with performance and style.

Here at the CGR team, we have all owned an Arc’teryx Squamish jacket for climbing, mountaineering, and trail running. It has pretty much been a pack staple—quietly sitting at the bottom of a bag until needed. The new Ossa Stowhood Jacket is this season’s hiking-specific launch, offering increased versatility for casual use alongside all the features you would need for a breezy summit day.

The Arc’teryx Ossa Stowhood Jacket is a lightweight windshell, so it is important to understand that it is not a waterproof jacket. In testing, the PFAS-compliant water-repellent treatment performed well in light showers. However, in anything heavier, the jacket began to wet out due to its high breathability. That is perfectly fine for trail running or short hikes, but for long days in rainy conditions, you would be better served with a proper hardshell. It is also super lightweight, weighing in at just 185g (confirmed on the trusty CGR scales), so you can be sure you won’t notice it while wearing it or carrying it in your pack. It is 35g heavier than a Squamish, but the zips for the hood stow and pockets are the culprit—more on that shortly.

The main fabric for the Ossa Stowhood is Bluesign®-certified, recycled nylon. The ripstop adds excellent strength and durability, allowing the jacket to withstand all the knocks and scrapes of hiking and trail running. I have been using it throughout the spring and into the summer with a pack, and it is showing absolutely no signs of wear. It is also super stretchy, moving with you when the tempo increases on technical scrambles. Finally, on the fabric front, the jacket has an SPF50+ rating, so you can feel confident wearing it on those glaring summer glacier hikes or on the many hot, sunny days that seem increasingly frequent. It is also amazingly breathable, offering decent ventilation on steep ascents and drying sweat quickly once you reach the ridge.

The fit of the Ossa jacket is excellent. I am an “average Joe” with a 40” chest, standing 5’ 8” and weighing 77kg (170lbs), and the fit is spot on. The sleeves are perhaps a little long, but not so much that I would consider the alterations I’ve had to make in the past. It is roomy enough to wear over a lightweight fleece or softshell; my preferred layering has been a t-shirt, a lightweight vest, and the Ossa, which has worked perfectly. I could layer it with a 1/4-zip merino top on cooler days, and I will likely do that later in the season. It is fitted enough to wear casually—it was my go-to layer for meetings in London recently—but not so baggy that it flaps around noisily on windy hikes. It is a good, flattering fit, exactly what I would expect from the designers at Arc’teryx.

I have worn it for breezy sport climbing days, and it worked fine; the fit and the stretchy nature of the fabric offered excellent freedom of movement. However, it is not a Squamish, so the handwarmer pockets are not accessible while wearing a harness. The chest pocket is accessible, however, and is large enough to fit a phone and/or a compact map. The jacket folds into this chest pocket and includes a well-sized loop for attaching it to a harness or pack.

The hood stows into the collar via a zip at the back. It is elasticated, relying on this for adjustability rather than a peak. This is a real differentiator from the Squamish and something I really like. Not only does it tidy the jacket up—meaning no annoying flapping when the breeze picks up—but it also adds structure to the collar, helping it maintain its shape when worn casually. The hood can be deployed on the fly as the zip is easy to reach, but as with all such features, it is best done before the wind gets too strong! It is a brilliant feature, and if you are planning to use the jacket for commuting or casual wear, the stowaway hood is great.

In addition to the zipped chest pocket, there are two zipped handwarmer pockets. These sit flush to the sides, so they are comfortable under a pack belt. They remain about 50% accessible when wearing a pack belt, which is just enough to stuff a pair of gloves into while on the move. All zips are high-quality YKK coil zips. The main body zip features the signature “pull-apart” design—even for a coil zip! I am not sure how Arc’teryx achieved this with YKK, but it has been a feature of their jackets for as long as I can remember. Some might call it a gimmick, but when you need to ventilate quickly while wearing gloves, it’s a godsend.

Finally, the Arc’teryx Ossa Stowhood jacket has some great finishing touches, as you would expect from a premium brand: ultralight, reflective beading on the cuffs, hem, and hood; a reflective Bird logo on the chest; and an Arc’teryx logo on the back of the collar. All seams are double-sewn and flat-locked for superior comfort, and the jacket is manufactured in a certified Fair Trade factory, so you can be sure the workers are treated fairly and paid correctly.

The Arc’teryx Ossa Stowhood jacket is a fantastic option for hiking, trail running, and it is arguably the perfect travel jacket. Its sheer versatility makes it a “must-buy,” and if you purchase one, I am fairly sure it will become your go-to jacket, just as it has mine. If 185g is too heavy for you, you can buy a 1/2-zip version, which shaves off 35g.

The Arc’teryx Ossa Stowhood jacket comes in sizes XS-XXL and three color options. The SRP is £220, and it can be purchased directly from Arc’teryx UK or at their London and Manchester shops.