Hey Chicago, Have you heard about Arc’teryx??? This store is your one stop shop for all things running, but especially for high quality, weather resistant, clothing ideal for Midwest winter running.
Located at 1630 N Damen Ave, this store was founded by climbers that believe in the design and durability of every product they carry.
“Arc’teryx Chicago has a curated selection of our relevant designs, for urban and active life,” explains the Arc’teryx website. “Use our space to find the gear you need and ask our staff for input. They know the equipment and hear feedback from customers; take advantage of their knowledge and experience. Inspiration comes from people, the places and things they want to discover.”
It is true that Arc’teryx puts people in their staff positions that know their stuff. Assistant Store Manager, Ten Junk Miles Podcast Host and experienced ultrarunner, Rachel Ingle, is quick to assist customers in finding gear that will do exactly what they are hoping it will.
“Running in winter conditions is challenging. Maintaining comfort for optimal performance in cold and wet environments requires protection from all the elements.”
A Chicago native, Rachel knows the importance of lightweight, insulated gear, that is waterproof and can hold up to the challenging winter weather of Chicago.
I asked Rachel to help me find a piece of outerwear that would be durable, would keep me warm in the sub-zero wind chills, would guard against snow and rain, and would not overheat me on my long runs. I figured there was no way she’d be able to find an Arc’teryx product that would all of my demands, but I was sure wrong.
“The Norvan SL Insulated Hoody is a minimalist, superlight, packable jacket for running in the inclement weather of winter. GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY™ product technology eliminates the need for a face fabric and does not require DWR treatments. Arc’teryx designers developed innovative design solutions to insulate the jacket with highly breathable and packable Coreloft™ Compact 40 insulation. The Dope Permeair™ 20 liner allows excess heat to escape and manages moisture.”
Check out this super cool video featuring the jacket.
This jacket is no joke. I’ve had the opportunity to try it out over the last few weeks through rain, mist, and windchills in the single digits and I’ve been overly impressed with its performance. Not only does the jacket perform well, but it looks super cute too! You can easily finish a run, stop by a Starbucks, and hit a grocery store, without looking like a typical neon-soaked runner!
With just the single city location, Arc’teryx is a breath of fresh air as compared to some of the commercial offerings which can be found in every neighborhood of the city. Staff gets to know each customer and works to find products that will assist in each person’s athletic endeavor. In a time when smaller running stores keep shutting their doors, Arc’teryx is doing something different and serving the individual needs of Chicago athletes.
Stop by their Damen location and see for yourself what makes this community store so unique and a true part of the Chicago athletic community.
Arc’teryx Chicago 1630 N. Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 (773-697-7381)
