Arcteryx Nuri Review

Weighing less than a pound, this was the lightest jacket we tested. Arc'teryx's Teprine 100% nylon shell is water-resistant and tear resistant. The knee-length cut looks sophisticated and sleek with a satin sheen finish and refined quilted lines. There are four colors to choose from: Black, Smoke, Banyen, and Mandala.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

Arc'teryx uses Down Composite Mapping to strategically place down in the core and the sleeves for maximum warmth, while the inner arms, hem, and collar are filled with Coreloft synthetic insulation. While the jacket is lightweight because of the lack of down, it is also noticeably colder in the spots with Coreloft insulation, especially the inner arms and shoulders. We liked how cozy, and form-fitting the hood was, as well as having enough room to wear a beanie underneath it. We were extra toasty when we did this.

When we were in temperatures below 25F we began to feel cold in the Nuri. The Patagonia Downtown Parka, or the Marmot Montreaux are both warmer and longer options. There is space to fit a fleece or a sweater underneath the jacket without it looking bulky or frumpy, which helped extend our time outside in cold weather. In stormy, or windy conditions, the Arc'teryx Sylva Parka outperformed the Nuri.

This jacket would better in a moderate cold/mild climate, where the average temperatures range from 32F and up. It wasn't the warmest jacket we tested, but it did a better job than North Face Thermoball Parka and the Columbia Mighty Lite. The Canada Goose Camp only reaches mid-thigh, but the windproof fabric and plush down did a better job keeping our core warm in cold weather than the Nuri.

Weather Resistance

Even in heavy snow this jacket became saturated. The outer shell is Arc'teryx's Terepine 100% nylon water-resistant and tear-resistant fabric. It's durable, but not meant to be worn outside for an extended period of time in bad weather. The hood is adjustable and that came in handy in windy and stormy weather - even though the hood is form-fitting, it was nice to be able to make it an even tighter fit. There are no internal cuffs in the sleeves that would normally help keep out rain and cold air. We didn't find this to be that much of an issue, but we would prefer to have them.

A great jacket for a moderately cold climate, but not a jacket you want to get caught in a downpour or heavy snow in. If you are looking for a more waterproof option, check out our Top Pick for Wet Climate award winner, the Patagonia Tres 3-In-1 Parka - Women's or the Helly Hansen Long Belfast. The Marmot Montreaux is a better option with its water-resistant Defender Down insulation.

Style

This is one of the top stylish, form-fitting parkas we tested. Everyone we encountered in this jacket loved wearing it, with the strategic quilting creating a refined and striking look. Paired with the mid-thigh length, this jacket is very flattering. We loved the satin sheen look of the nylon fabric and the only other jacket we tested that may be more stylish is our Editors' Choice award winner, the Canada Goose Kensington Parka.

If a smooth and sleek jacket is more your style, check out the Arc'teryx Sylva Parka or the Helly Hansen Long Belfast. The Sylva is slightly warmer, despite its mid-thigh length, but offers a whole different look. The Belfast isn't as warm, but it's a mid-thigh length waterproof jacket that has a sporty, athletic look.

Comfort

Form-fitting, cozy, and soft, we had a hard time taking it off. This jacket is very lightweight; we could barely tell we were wearing a jacket. It's very compressible and we had no issues we mobility or comfort in this jacket.

Running errands, or going for a brisk walk was a breeze. We never felt like we were overheating, which was the case sometimes in thick down coats, like the Marmot Montreaux, the Patagonia Downtown Loft, or The North Face Miss Metro Parka. If you are looking for a jacket that's lightweight, warm, and functional, the Nuri is for you.

Features

Lightweight and highly compressible, this jacket weighs less than a pound. This is a great feature for someone who travels a lot because it packs down to more than half its size. The fleece-lined pockets are toasty and warm, but the zippers on the exterior pocket are small. The main full-zipper is double-sided, but the zipper is also small. The hood is adjustable, but not detachable, but we didn't really find this to be an issue.

Unlike the Canada Goose Camp Hooded Jacket and the Marmot Montreaux that offer two interior media pockets, the Nuri did not have any. We found it a bit odd that there is no interior media pocket; this may be because the jacket is so lightweight, that anything in the pocket will sag it down too much. The Nuri is highly compressible and about half the weight of the Patagonia Downtown Parka and The North Face Miss Metro. This is a great feature for someone that travels a lot, or is simply looking to own a very lightweight and compressible winter jacket.

Durability

The outer shell is Terepine water-resistant and tear-resistant nylon fabric. While it's not as durable as the Arc'teryx Sylva Parka, the Nuri's fabric is soft. The refined quilted stitching is great, but there's a lot of it - we see potential for possible snags. Some reviews of the Nuri said that down feathers were escaping at an alarming rate.

Over the two months that we tested the Nuri, we did notice some feathers escaping, but not a significant amount. We didn't see as many feathers escaping from the Marmot Montreaux or The North Face Miss Metro Parka, but we did see the interior down layer of the Patagonia Tres Parka lose some of its feathers.

Best Application

This is a great lightweight coat for someone that travels often for work or pleasure. Ideal for temperatures of 25F or above, it's flattering, form-fitting, and functional, as well as a head turner that is favorable among our female testers. It's the right weight and warmth for a brisk walk, or for running errands around town.

Value

For $399 you may not feel like you are getting much for the price since it's so lightweight. For someone who travels often, or is looking for a form-fitting, warm, lightweight jacket, this is a great option.

Conclusion

Overall, we found that the Nuri is lightweight and stylish, capable of handling moderately cold temperatures with ease. We like that it's form-fitting, but that there's still room to fit another layer underneath without making the jacket appear bulky. It's a sporty and functional jacket for someone who lives an active lifestyle and maintains the versatility to dress it up for a night out on the town.