Arc’teryx Sentinel Pant

Sizing

When looking at the sizing chart, Arc’teryx recommends that a woman with a 27” waist (like me) wear a size Small pant. But because I really dislike snug fitting outwear and like to layer underneath, I usually wear a size Medium in ski pants. So I also went with a Medium in the Sentinel Pant, and it fits perfectly. If you like a little bit more room, I would recommend sizing up, especially since the built-in belt allows for subtle adjustments to create a perfect fit.

One aspect of the pant I was a little taken aback by, though, was the long length of the leg. At 5’10”, the bottom of the “regular” length leg fell right to the bottom of my boot. This is an ideal length for me, but because I am taller than the average woman, I think it is important to note that a size Medium Regular for someone who is 5’5” or 5’6” may feel a tad long. (Arc’teryx does also offers the Sentinel in a Long, extending the pant length three inches, but I think this size is only necessary if you’re quite tall or have a longer inseam.)

In general, I would say that the Sentinel Pant runs a little bit on the small side when comparing the waist size to other women’s brands. On the other hand, the inseam of the pant leg definitely seems to run longer than most women’s pants. With this discrepancy, it’s difficult to say whether Arc’teryx runs small, large, or true to size.

If you want the option of more room for layering, I’d say don’t be afraid to size up; if you consider yourself petite, I’d be leery of the long length of Sentinel Pant.

Warmth

The Sentinel Pants are designed to be lightly insulated pants, but I think that description can be a little deceiving. Though the pants are thin and light, they provide an immense amount of warmth.

My first day wearing these pants, it was cold and cloudy (negative 20 degrees F). I decided to layer up with three pairs of thin long underwear leggings, and I was really impressed how well the thin insulation kept me perfectly comfortable on such a cold and windy day. While some of my friends were eager to run inside to warm up, I was able to stay outside and withstand the frigid temperatures far longer than I have with any other pair of snow pants. Compared to Quicksilver’s and Spyder’s insulated pants, the Sentinel Pant actually kept me warmer with less bulk.

On more average days, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 25 degrees F, I chose to layer with only one pair of long underwear and the Sentinel Pant kept me warm all day. And even on relatively windy days, conditions in which lesser-quality pants like Quicksilver fell short, the Sentinel Pant blocked the wind and kept me warm and comfortable all day.

Breathability

Throughout the season, I have had no problems with overheating in the Sentinel Pant and have found the breathability and venting to be more than adequate.

While skiing at Bridger Bowl in Montana, I took several hikes along the ridgeline and up to the Fingers, and was grateful for the lengthy thigh vents on the pant. Built with a double-functioning zipper, the outside thigh vents can be zipped open up or down, extending from the hip to just above the knee or anywhere in between. This allowed for generous airflow during strenuous hikes and kept my legs dry and cool.

And on days when it wasn’t quite warm enough to open the vents, or windy enough that doing so would be too cold, I never overheated and found the 3L Gore-Tex was plenty breathable.

Waterproofing / Durability

After 22 days on the mountain, I have had very few issues with the durability or waterproofing of the Sentinel Pant. The DWR finish on the exterior of the pant combined with WaterTight™ zippers has kept me dry on warm, wet, snowy days.

Because the material is so thin, I was initially afraid the pant would get cut up throughout the season, but they remained intact.

Built with a reinforced cuff, the Sentinel Pant withstood sharp ski edges and many days of thrashing through the woods. The only rips I noticed were two tiny (1cm long) slits on the non-reinforced part of the cuff. Since these were so small I didn’t find them to be an issue.

Otherwise, the pants have held up well. I’ve had no issues from a functional standpoint, and have no reason to believe these pants won’t last for quite awhile longer.

On a cosmetic level, however, the Annabelle Green is a very light color and is easily scuffed up. For example, I definitely found that I had to be extra careful to keep my pants away from my dirty car as I placed my skis on the ski rack. Of course, they can always be thrown in the washing machine, and they are extremely easy to clean. But if you’re someone who gets dirty easily, a darker color might suit you better.

Miscellaneous Features

These pants are designed to be extremely simple and are built with only three pockets—two cargo pockets and one hidden front pocket beneath the waistband. The two cargo pockets are extremely large, but they’re built in to the inside of the pant legs (rather than attached to the outside like traditional cargo pockets), which keeps the pant sleek and less bulky.

Within the right cargo pocket is a built-in RECCO® reflector, to increase avalanche safety. This works by reflecting a radar signal from a RECCO® detector, allowing rescuers to more easily pin-point a skier’s location, but it’s important to note that RECCO® does not replace an avalanche transceiver.

Arc’teryx’s revision of the Sentinel Pant this year includes a new Slide n’ Loc™ snap system. This snap is located on the back of the pant and connects your jacket to the pants to keep extra snow from getting in. This feature, however, is not compatible with other brands (at least not with my jackets from First Ascent and AK).

Bottom Line

After wearing the Sentinel Pant for most of this season, I’m impressed. The simple and relaxed women-specific design matched with its lightweight and waterproof material makes this pant desirable for any female skier or rider.

Given the price, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this pant for recreational or fair-weather skiers, where the 3L construction and high-quality DWR features aren’t entirely essential. If, however, you are an aggressive woman skier who needs outerwear that is extremely versatile and designed to withstand any condition, Arc’teryx’s Sentinel Pant would be an ideal fit.