Arc'teryx Relaunches Iconic Sidewinder Jacket

The technical outerwear brand brings back its signature curved-zipper design with updated GORE-TEX materials.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Accessories

Bold vector editorial illustration of a technical mountaineering shell jacket with a curved zipper, against a stylized, flat-colored mountain background.
Arc'teryx has relaunched its iconic Sidewinder jacket, featuring a signature curved zipper design and updated GORE-TEX materials for modern alpine performance. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Arc'teryx has released a new iteration of its iconic Sidewinder jacket, featuring a distinctive curved front zipper designed to prevent chin chafing. The technical shell is available now in the US and UK markets.

Why it matters

The reintroduction responds to growing consumer interest in archival technical clothing and classic outdoor designs from the early 2000s. By updating the model with modern performance fabrics, the brand bridges the gap between historical aesthetics and current outdoor capabilities.

The contemporary Sidewinder jacket weighs 681g and is constructed from three-layer GORE-TEX ePE with 100-denier ripstop reinforcement. It is available for $850 in the U.S. and £750 in the U.K.

The players

Arc'teryx

A high-end Canadian outdoor clothing and equipment company specializing in technical apparel.

The details

The signature curved zipper shifts the closure away from the face to enhance comfort during prolonged outdoor use. The construction utilizes high-durability fabrics across the shoulders and sleeves to withstand rugged mountain conditions.

Timeline

  1. The original Sidewinder jacket was first released in 2001.

  2. The contemporary Sidewinder jacket became available for purchase on October 26, 2026.

  3. The Sidewinder Archive jacket is scheduled for a global launch in November 2026.

Culture Shift

The move reflects the resurgence of early-2000s outdoor gear by reissuing a classic model updated with modern fabrics. This release follows the broader industry trend of mining archival designs to capture market interest in vintage technical silhouettes.

Shoppers can purchase the updated jacket at Arc'teryx retail locations in the U.S. and U.K. Consumers interested in the specific heritage colorways should prepare for the global launch scheduled for next month.

The takeaway

The re-release highlights how heritage outdoor brands are successfully modernizing legacy designs to appeal to both long-time fans and new customers. Enthusiasts looking for specific archive styles should monitor upcoming November releases for the return of iconic colorways.

What happens next

The Sidewinder Archive jacket, which will feature original Citrus and Chili colorways, is set for a global release in November 2026.

Further reading

Learn more about the latest developments in Accessories.

Source note: This article includes information reported by T3.

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