Washing Guide for Arcteryx Clothing

Arc’teryx is a Canadian brand that’s known for their innovative outdoor products. Based in Vancouver, they sell a variety of apparel from jackets to base layers. In addition to that, they also offer sports gear such as rock-climbing equipment.

About Arcteryx

Arcteryx was founded by Dane Lane in 1989. At the time, the company was known as “Rock Solid.” It wasn’t until 1991 that they changed their name to what it is today to reflect the company’s new vision. From there, it didn’t take long for their popularity to grow.

In 2001, Arcteryx was acquired by the Salomon Group, a Swedish sports equipment manufacturing company. That hasn’t changed the fact that they’re a high-end clothing brand, though. Nowadays, they have more than 30 brand stores worldwide. On top of that, their products are available at over 3,000 retail locations in 40 different countries!

More About Arcteryx Products

Arcteryx sells a variety of outdoor clothing for men and women. To give you a better idea, their catalog includes down jackets, hoodies, mid-layers, rain shell jackets, vests, and more. That’s not all, they also sell shoes and other accessories such as gloves, caps, toques, and more.

Price-wise, their products are on the high side. For example, a jacket can easily run you a few hundred dollars. That’s to be expected, however, from a high-end clothing brand. Is it worth it? Most would say yes. After all, you get what you pay for and with Arcteryx, the quality is definitely there.

Taking Care of Arcteryx Clothing

Don’t want your $500+ jacket to wear out after a year? Then you’ll want to take proper care of it. What does this entail? Proper washing. If anything, most clothes get damaged while they’re in the wash!

Don’t skip on the washing, though—that’s just as bad for your clothes! The last thing that you want is for sweat and dirt to build up on the fabric. Not only would it reek after a while, but all the gunk can also damage the fibers over time!

Want to know how to properly wash Arcteryx products? If so, you’re on the right page—because that’s what we’ll be discussing below. 

About Gore-Tex Fabric

Before we get into how to wash their clothes, let’s talk about the different Goretex textiles. If anything, that’s what they’re known for!

What is Gore-Tex?

Gore-Tex is a proprietary branded fabric that the company developed in the late 90s. Featuring a laminate construction, it’s not only waterproof and windproof but it also offers maximum breathability and comfort. As far as the membrane goes, it’s an extremely thin layer of ePTFE. There are more than 9 billion pores per square inch, each of which is 20,000 times smaller than water droplets. In other words, rain will not be able to penetrate the membrane. What’s more, is that its structure is shaped like a hedge. This allows it to avert wind from the body.

Product Testing

All Gore-tex products are tested rigorously in actual conditions to maintain maximum quality. Not only do they conduct lab tests, but they also have people who wear and judge the finished products in different environments. If the product manages to pass the tests, the prototypes are put through another series of tests before being approved for commercialization.

How to Wash Arcteryx Down Jackets

Arcteryx offers a variety of down jackets that require a bit of extra care compared to regular jackets. Here are a couple of ways to wash them.

Putting Arcteryx Down Jackets in the Washing Machine

It’s perfectly fine to put Arcteryx down jackets in the washer. First things first, check the pockets. Remove anything that might be inside and close the zippers. Velcro attachments should be closed as well before washing.

Open the lid and place your jacket in. As an extra precaution, place it in a laundry bag. Remember, down is delicate! You want to do everything you can to protect it from damage during the wash cycle. Once it’s in, select a gentle cycle. Add a scoop of ACTIVE detergent and run it on cold water. Do not use bleach or fabric softeners.

Note: You can wash your Arcteryx down jacket with other items. Just make sure to separate them with laundry bags. And another thing—watch the colors. That is, don’t put your light-colored jacket together with dark-colored items. Dye transfer can happen.

Let the cycle run. Pull out your jacket when it’s finished. Don’t be too alarmed if it’s a little rough-looking, that’s to be expected with down jackets. Go ahead and transfer it into the dryer and run it on low heat. The tumbling in the machine will help to fluff out the down feathers. Consider using dryer balls for the best result.

Pro-tip: It’s not recommended that you air-dry down jackets. The stuffing can easily retain moisture, which can lead to mold and mildew growth.

Washing Arcteryx Down Jackets by Hand

You can also wash their down jackets by hand. As always, the first step involves checking the pockets and closing all zippers and velcro attachments. Once you’ve done that, fill a tub with water. Add a reasonable amount of ACTIVE detergent and combine it until you’ve got a soapy solution.

Carefully put your jacket in the solution. Gently push it up and down with your hands—that’ll help to work in the soap so that you’ll get better results. Repeat that a few times and let it soak for at least 30 minutes. From there, drain the dirty water. Try to get as much of the soapy water out of the jacket by pressing down on it.

Refill the tub with water with your jacket in. The goal is to remove all detergent from the fabric and down. Rinse it several times until there are no more soap suds. This might take a few tries, depending on how much detergent you added. You can also rinse it by placing the jacket under running water (make sure it’s cold).

Gently squeeze out the excess water when you’re done. Be careful as the jacket might be heavy. Transfer it to a clothes dryer and set it to low heat. The agitation will help to fluff it back up so no worries if it seems a bit deflated after washing. Remember, don’t just let it air dry.

Washing Arc’teryx Shirts and Tops

Most, if not all of their shirts and tops are made from synthetic fibers. Here’s how you can wash them.

Can You Put Arcteryx Shirts and Tops in the Washer?

Start by sorting out the tops. Generally speaking, you want two piles—one for light colors and another for dark colors (otherwise the dyes can bleed). From there, turn the shirts inside out. Place them in a laundry bag and put them into the washing machine. If you want, you can wash them with other garments as well. Just avoid items with hardware such as zippers as they can damage the fabrics.

Next, add a scoop’s worth of ACTIVE detergent. Once you’ve done that, set the washing machine to delicate and press the start button. Avoid using fabric conditioners—those products will strip the moisture-wicking finish from your tops. If you want to soften them, use white vinegar instead. Just pour one cup into the washing machine with the detergent. Don’t worry, it won’t leave any noticeable odor. If anything, it’ll help you get rid of odors!

Note: Always use cold water when washing their shirts. High heat can harm the materials.

Wait for the cycle to finish before opening the lid and removing your shirts. Turn them right side out and hang them on a hanger. Allow them to air dry; it shouldn’t take more than a few hours. As with most activewear, you want to avoid using the clothes dryer at all costs. There’s always a chance that the heat will shrink your shirts!

Washing Arc’teryx Shirts and Tops by Hand 

You don’t have to put their shirts in the washer if you don’t want to. It’s perfectly fine to wash them by hand. You can do this by using a sink or a small tub—simply fill it with warm water and add a scoop of ACTIVE detergent. Swish until the detergent’s dissolved and place the items in. The key is to make sure that all of the fabric is fully saturated with the solution. Once you’ve verified that, let them soak for 20 to 30 minutes. Do not use fabric softener or any similar products unless you want to ruin your items.

Rinse the detergent off of the shirts by putting them under running water. Continue until all of the soap suds are gone and the water comes out clear. To get rid of all the debris, you can gently rub the fabric while rinsing. Gently squeeze out the water when you’re finished and lay it flat on a counter. Use a towel to remove the remaining moisture. Avoid the urge to wring out the shirt as that’ll stretch out the fibers, which will cause permanent damage. Let it air dry instead. As mentioned earlier, you never want to use the dryer for their shits as they’re not made to withstand the heat. 

Best Laundry Detergent For Arcteryx Clothing

Arcteryx is a brand that specializes in outdoor clothing. Want your items to last? Then you’ll want to use a laundry detergent that’s specifically made for those kinds of products. That is, you want a formula that’s designed for synthetic fabrics. Sure, you can use a traditional detergent but trust me, they won’t do nearly as good of a job. For one thing, they won’t be able to penetrate deep into the synthetic fibers to get rid of sweat, dirt, and oil—something that ACTIVE detergent is capable of.

Not only that, but ACTIVE detergent doesn’t contain a cocktail of chemicals. Made from plant-based ingredients, it’s much gentler on your skin. Not to mention that it’s better for the environment! It’s not that expensive either. For $20, you’ll get a large bag that’ll be enough to last dozens of loads. It’s easy to use too as it’s a powder. Just add it to the drum or drawer (depending on the kind of washing machine that you have) and you’re ready to go!