Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket

I recently sold my Beta FL in order to finance the purchase of this jacket. The FL is an absolutely fantastic lightweight shell, but it didn't quite offer the versatility that I needed. Here in the UK we get so much wet weather, that You can expect to wear a waterproof jacket for at least two thirds of the year. Added to that, just about any hillwalking or mountaineering expedition, no matter what time of year it is undertaken, will likely require the use of a full set of waterproofs. For really horrible weather, I have my Alpha SV in reserve. When clinging onto the side of one of the Scottish Munro's in the deep midwinter, nothing else will suffice. For everything else, this jacket is perfection. It is durable enough to be used in almost any situation, yet it is incredibly lightweight and actually very breathable. I found very little difference Between active shell and this ProShell construction in this respect. I do run hot, so breathability is a huge issue. As to the other features and benefits, all the usual advantages apply. Fit and finish, quality and construction is all industry leading. One-handed draw cords, pocket openers, hood adjustments, all present. The high wear protective areas have done a job admirably. In the short time I've had this jacket it has been put through its paces and has passed with flying colours. It still looks like new. Truly an incredible all-rounder. It suits that just about any eventuality, and as such is my new favourite piece of clothing. Very difficult to fault.

I originally had a Beta AR jacket in XL and to be honest it was huge. I lost weight and downsized to a large which is much better. They are made slightly big. I'm 5'11" and 182 lbs and the lareg is perfect for me. I venture out into the Scottish hills in this every weekend. You can get 4 seasons in one day at any time of the year here so you need the gear to compliment this. I pair the Beta AR with the Alpha SL pant when the precip up's a notch. The jacket I have is a Canadian made one but it doesn't matter where they are made as they are all constructed with amzing skill and precision. Yea, the price is high but you only pay for what you get.

I bought this jacket last summer after a camping trip in Crowsnest, AB where it poured all weekend. My rain jacket from another big outdoor manufacturer was soaked through after a couple hours the first day and never fully dried out again during the trip. I had never owned any Arc'teryx gear before this jacket but a friend of mine swore up and down by his Beta AR so I sought one out and bought it. A few weeks later on another camping trip around Princeton, B.C. we had another steady downpour. Standing around outside for several hours nothing other than my hands got wet. This jacket comes with me almost everywhere now since it's fairly light and packable. The chest pockets are also positioned perfectly so if you put your hands in them while it's raining your forearms are angled up a little and water doesn't run down them and into the pockets. The face material is strong enough that it's taken several branch scrapes while hiking with no marks left behind. The jacket also seems to be sized a little bigger so you can layer underneath it, but not so big that you're swimming in it with just a t-shirt on. I picked the red colour so that I'm easier to spot when crossing a street downtown on a grey day. It's a bright colour that stands out without being obnoxious.

I am lucky in that I receive some Gore-Tex products for testing purposes. I do not get paid for this but I get to keep the occasional jacket. So I have had a lot of experience in comparing and critiquing different jackets and the Beta AR is by far my favorite. The Proshell build is bombproof but super lightweight and packable, the hood is perfect and super adjustable, the pockets are in all of the right places, and the fit is fantastic: trim without compromising space for layering. This shell will keep out the coldest wind and rain, but the brushed interior means that it won't feel sticky on a humid day with only a t-shirt underneath. This jacket is absolutely year-round-all-types-of-weather-all-locations-incredible-perfect. Get it.

i adore this jacket. the fit is perfect. It's light and built right.... pit zips and waterproof. i am 6.1 215 pounds and i have a large. the cut seems to be a bit slimmer than other brands but i can still layer a little. I feel the fit is perfect for me. length is perfect. If you like a longer jacket, they have other models that can accommodate. This jackets been hit by trees and bounced off rocks and it's still in one piece. Still waterproof. Enjoy! As a disclaimer, I am affiliated with Gore for product testing of Gore-tex products for the purpose of product review and recommendation. I do receive items from Gore for these purposes.

This is by far the most effecient winter jacket I have owned! This jacket is very light, considering it's a winter shell, and it's entirely waterproof and breathable. As a ski instructor, I worked moer days in the rain this season than snow and this was the jacket I wished this jacket was our uniform! The hood is versatile and can be worn with a helmet, or adjusted to fit just over your head. The pit zips were my favorite feature this winter with such mild to unnaturally hot winter conditions. Also, the wrists are easily adjustable when wearing gloves, which is convenient. Although it looks narrow in the picture, the jacket fits to size. I have wide hips and I never felt like the jacket was not a proper fit for me. In fact, it was less constricting on my hips than other jackets I've previously owned. This is, hands down, the best winter jacket I've come across. Whether it's winter backpacking or shredding down major ski terrain, this is the jacket I will always take with me!

Ich habe nach edlichen Vorgngern anderer Marken nun seit drei Jahren die Beta AR und ich bin rundum zufrieden. Sturz vom Bike . Abrutschen beim Klettern Sie macht alles mit. Nie zu Warm auch bei lngeren Touren mit schlechten Wetter. Segeln auf der Ostsee einfach universel und robust. Wirklich ein Traum Schnitt Passform alles stimmt einfach.

So far i haven't used this jacket for much heavy activity, so I can mostly only comment on fit-related items right now. I'm about 5'8 and 155 pounds, so I wear a medium in just about everything, although sometimes i run into problems because my belly is proportionately larger than my skinny arms, but i haven't had any problems with this jacket at all, it fits close enough to not look ridiculous if i am only wearing a shirt underneath (like a dress shirt on the way to work in the rain) but i wore it skiing also and was able to fit a base layer t-shirt, long-sleeved base layer and then a sweatshirt over it with room to spare. also, i wanted a jacket that was not long fitting at all, and that's what i got with the BetaAR, but because of the way the jacket is cut, the bottom of the jacket barely rides up when you lift your arms which is ideal. I have worn it on a couple of bike rides to the grocery store and when skiing on a spring day, and in both situations the jacket was breathable but still kept out the wind amazingly well.

I love the fit of this jacket. Roomy enough for layering, and not too long. Hood is very adjustable and protects well. And the Cardinal colour is awesome. I'm 5'9" and find the sleeves a little long (I wear a large). I have several shells (Arc'teryx and others), and this is my go-to every time.

This is my first Gore-tex jacket, let alone my first 'pro shell' Gore-tex. I can tell you that there is an instance difference when putting this jacket on to others that you may have worn before. I have other jackets but there is a confidence Arc'teryx beta AR give you that is not like anything eles I've owned. You won't be disappointed if you purchase this jacket. Other brands are a long way behind!! Thank you Arc'teryx

This is a great jacket that I typically reserve for summer downpours. For my use I probably would be better off with a Beta SL as the AR is not all that packable. I do stuff it into a bag from time to time and it's very wrinkled when I pull it out but the wrinkles seem to disappear on their own after a few minutes. Doesn't really roll up as well as the PacLite material which may be obvious. I'm 5'8" 150lbs and with a Small it fits well with room to layer just about any mid/insulation-layer including the Atom series. Waterproof? Yep. 8+ hours of hard downpour tested during one hike and dry as a bone. Notepad and phone in the exterior pockets were dry. Durable? Yep. I haven't worn this jacket all that much but it has already taken some abuse against rock and gravel and it still looks brand new. Lightweight? Yep. What does this jacket actually weigh? Feels like nothing. If you need a wearable shelter from the weather don't hesitate to buy this jacket.

This is the best jacket I've ever owned. I've done tons of hiking/camping/canoeing/etc. with mine and it's always kept me dry and with a good midlayer, warm as well. I have the amazon color which is fantastic. The jacket fits a bit bigger than the Beta SL I replaced with this jacket. This allows more layers to be worn underneath, but does make it slightly larger - something to keep in mind, especially if ordering online. The fabrics of this jacket are incredible and I'm glad they went to the new front zipper which seems much more robust and durable than the previous version (which already was pretty bomb proof). I use this jacket to go camping on the weekend and then (as long as it doesn't smell too much like smoke) wear it to work throughout the week. I've never had a jacket this versatile. I use this jacket as a rain jacket all summer, a wind breaker/rain jacket all spring and fall, and as a winter jacket with a thick fleece jacket underneath all winter. Basically this jacket never leaves my body or my pack. My girlfriend has the same one in black and she also agrees that this is her absolute favorite piece of clothing.

I got my Beta AR a few months ago and have been putting it through its paces in the mountains, on long bike rides, with heavy packs, and in a growing variety of conditions. When it's not needed, it can fold down to nothing and can sit in a corner of a backpack or even a large pocket, but when it rains, it's like wearing a thin layer of armor. Arc'teryx has reinforced this where it matters and despite some punishing trips through bushes, brambles, and mud that lasted for hours, it still looks brand new. Dirt washes off easily and quickly. Pit zips are an invaluable, higher-end addition and make a difference in rapidly changing weather or altitudes, something I didn't fully appreciate until I had them for the first time in this jacket. Was kind of skeptical about the waterproofing of the zippers, but after a long hike in a downpour and coming out bone dry (the breathability of the Gore-tex fabric really works too), I'm a believer. Finally, fits well at size and exudes high style, but still leaves room for a decently thick underlayer or two since the Beta AR offers virtually no insulation of its own. If you're sitting on the fence, don't bother. It's a keeper.

I have owned the Beta AR for a little over a year and it is the best fitting, best performing rain shell I have ever had. I am 6'4", 200lbs. and the large fits me perfectly. I have used it in a variety of very wet, very windy conditions and it has performed flawlessly. I have owned the "best" rain shells from Mountain Hardwear, TNF, and others. These jackets don't fit me as well and while they perform similarly to the Beta AR initially, they start having performance issues after six months or so. I am confident the Beta AR will perform exceptionally well for years. This jacket is expensive, but if you consider its quality and the performance guarantee, it is more reasonable.

It's been quite a while since I bought my first Arc'Teryx jacket, the Theta AR, and with good reason: I never needed to buy another! I wore it beneath pack straps, scraped it across the craggy surfaces of river bluffs and once during a sudden rainstorm used it as an impromptu bag for my camera equipment. Recently, though, I updated by purchasing a new Beta AR and I'm really liking the versatility of its shorter length. I'm 5' 8", 190lbs and the large size provides the right amount of room for layering when it's cold and hits comfortably right around my waist. Here's to another decade of wear.

I have this jacket as primary winter jacket with a good down is amazing, resist until -15 degrees, just is loo long of the sleeves

I have owned a previous generation of this coat - I wanted a larger size to layer clothes underneath. I wondered if they made the outer sleeve pocket larger to accommodate the larger cell phones of today - answer: They eliminated it. The other big knock on this is they did away with the elastic cuffs, so you have to adjust them every time you put the jacket on and when you take it off - really annoying. I searched the other jackets from ArcTeryx and none have this feature - so a cost savings for them but a real bummer for the user. They moved the two main side pockets down a bit, which works great for me - but might be a problem for backpack wearers. The inside pocket remains the same - and I use this for my phone. It's also lighter then previous generations - which is def. a plus. Finally they changed the collar area that protects your neck - it's higher and provides better protection against wind and rain, but if you don't need to be "Buttoned Up" it's kind of annoying - so great in horrible weather, a bit much when it's not so bad out. As others notated the waterproof of this jacket does not last - you have to constantly re-coat with some sort of waterproof/repellence product. This is true with all Gore-Tex out there - The fit is excellent - I went a size up to layer winter clothing but even without the extra layers it is not bulky - vents well (pit zips) and the many adjustments on the hood are great.

This is an awesome jacket..but the labrynth colour is not as my computer shows. Was hoping for a dark teal but its distinctly green in person.

I really like my Beta AR jacket. The negative is the fit....runs large. My Atom AR hoody and Atom LT hoody both fit ME perfectly in men's large. The Beta AR Jacket runs large for me....specifically, the sleeves are longer than I am used to seeing in size large. However, the medium is too restrictive in the chest and shoulders. I am 6'0" tall, weigh between 195 to 200 pounds, 33" to 34" waste, 43" chest, 33" sleeves. The medium fits perfect in the sleeves but is too tight (restrictive) in the shoulders (won't accomdate layers). Tweener decision: get the medium and have a limit on layering Vs get the large and just accept the long sleeves and sinch down with the velcro adjustments on the cuffs. I got the large since I must have layers for a range of conditions...sub zero heavy snow to summer rains (farenheit) 4 stars: I love everything except the long sleeves and the high price.

This is a very nice jacket - lightweight and fairly robust. It's well cut and nice looking. If you are long waisted you are going to wish it was just a teeny bit longer. The pockets are great when you are wearing a pack - and very awkward if you don't have a pack belt blocking the natural place to put your hands on a cold afternoon.

I have been wearing the Beta AR now for about 3 months, and am thoroughly enjoying it. I was in the market for a hardshell for a while, and tested out a wide range of jackets. What I really like about the Beta AR is the lenght. I don't like it when a jacket is too long, and this one just fits well. The jacket is tough, and well constructed. The zippers work well and are robust, the hood can be very nicely adjusted so that you can keep looking left and right and your visuals are not blocked. On the downside, the goretex pro is a bit noisy. My kids keep saying, hey there's dad, you can hear him come from a mile away. I guess that's part of the fabric. The sleeves are also very long, something that i've seen with more jackets. With the sleeves being very long, it gives a bit of a bulky look for an overall perfect slim fitting jacket.

Me ha costado decidirme entre el color Midnight Sun y el Tui. Al final eleg el azul oscuro, estoy encantado con ella, las cremalleras, sobre todo la central parecen dbiles.

Great pro shell jacket lighter than my mountain equipment one and more breathable. Not a massive fan of the collar design but the hood is fantastic.

I've loved this jacket for skiing, climbing, hiking, and walking the dog in a snowstorm. I regularly wash and waterproof it and it is going strong three years into use.

I have trusted Arcteryx products to keep me alive and warm for almost 8 years now and it's rare I write a review. I am 6'1" 180lbs with an average size torso to give a reference to the picture. Pros: I have worn the Jacket in the alpine about a dozen times now and it has treated me very well. I've had it on while climbing cracks and rubbing against chimneys and it has not shown any wear at all. Had four hours of heavy rain on an approach in RMNP and stayed completely dry. This is one of the lightest shells I've had that has the durability to handle several days of harsh alpine conditions. It packs down to about 1.5 liters when you tuck everything into the hood and smash it into a pack. The hood is easy to adjust over a around a helmet and not impede your vision at all. Overall awesome lightweight shell that I trust to do its job on heavier objectives. Cons: I would give the Beta AR 5 stars other than than the waist being to short. Not a big issue if you're not a climber. I had the jacket ride up and out from my AR-395 harness a couple times on an 8 pitch route with wind gusts around 50mph. Rapid loss of body heat every time this happened. Also if you are planning on using this shell to ski, I would recommend wearing bibs along with it.