Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket

I live in Squamish BC; temperature at sea level average out around -5c to 5c in winter. Not terribly windy in winter but it rain almost everyday. Spring and fall average around 0c to 10c and very windy. I walk 5 miles everyday after work and hike on the weekend. I purchased the Beta AR early this fall and been using it ever since. It rains all the time where I live and it is fairly warm at sea level. What is the one thing most wives or girlfriends ask you? "Honey... Do you want to go for a walk?" I never liked walking aimlessly in the past and discovered the reason why not long ago: Because I never been properly dressed for it. I have had the pleasure of discovering liking going for a walk now that I can stay dry and warm. This hard shell is amazing for a few reasons: It actually got my off my butt and made me want to go play outside would probably the best part of it all. It also give me a chance to reminisce about when I was a kid fishing on the lake while wearing this god aweful rain jacket that made me sweat like crazy. It also reminded me of some of the most wonderful days spent in camp with a tin roof listening to the rain and feeling warm and protected in my sleeping bag. this is the feeling I get when I wear the Beta AR. I feel protected and it inspires me to be a better person, corny isn't it? well it's the truth. Some people have bought this shell to stay dry and save their lives while in dangerous weather environment. On my side it's been more about a psychological improvement about the way I think about myself and the environment I am in. It opened my eyes to the beauty of the nature where I live in Squamish, BC. It also gave me a chance to go and scout mountain bike trails when it is too wet and greasy to bike. Whether you want physical or emotional protection, this shell has a funny way of opening your eyes to the environment you live in.

I have owned this jacket for a few months now, and it is great for everything. I'm in Edmonton, so the cold weather is a killer. In -30C i wore this over my down puffy and was warm as can be. Having it out on the trails is great too. Took it snowshoeing in a heavy snowfall and didn't notice at all. Walking the dog, shoveling the sidewalk, going to and from work, it handles it all like a champ. As far as fit goes, I'm not sure where some of the complaints come from. I am 6'1, and an athletic 200-205, with big shoulders and long arms, and a medium fits like a dream. There is enough to throw one mid layer underneath it at that size, which suits my needs great. The arms are a great length for me as well. The drop hood might be my favourite part of the jacket. I find with most full zip hoods where the zip comes above your chin, the hood will be too tight around the chin/neck, but with the drop hood built in collar its very comfortable, and makes layering up for the cold that much easier. The pit zips also allow you to use this jacket for running, which I did a few times on top of my baselayer in -15 to -20 weather with no issues. While I wouldn't recommend it for running all the time, it does work great in a pinch for those cold days.

Excellent Jacket: This is my second one as i like the New Labyrinth color. Very breathable, packable with out adding excessive extra weight to your backpack. Used it on my hike to the Scotland highlands.. Came up super handy and i remained dry during humid moisture and rainy days in Scotland. It was a great companion and as usual the Arc'teryx quality and style stood out. Thanks Arc'teryx for keeping me dry in such wet conditions.

I was skeptical to spend so much on a rain jacket. After wearing this jacket in a storm in Patagonia I am happy I did. As the others in the groups rain jackets soaked through the Beta AR kept my dry all day. The jacket feels durable and strong. My only complaint is it could be taller in height.

I live in a coastal rainforest next to the ocean that can see well over 100mm of rainfall in a month. I've had shells from other brands and they've either had the goretex wear out or layers delaminate and flake away over time. I've had this as my full time, all season, everyday main jacket for about 2 years now. And I've never had a single issue with it. It repels all water that hits it and can dry in less than a half hour. I really like the durability of it and not having to think about going easy when pulling the zippers. The draw strings on the hood allow it to be custom fit to whatever type of headwear I happen to be wearing. Which is impressive for a hood that's sized for a helmet. I also do a fair bit of surf photography and this does great when standing against onshore winds for hours. I always thought Arc jackets were too pricey but stumbled across a 50% off sale and couldn't say no. Not only was it worth what I paid, but I'd consider it worth every penny of it's regular price now that I've put it through its paces. I normally wear a size L in most clothing. I got a size L as the M felt a tad too snug for my preference. (Although M wasn't actually too small). The size L easily allows room for a hoody or fleece underneath and feels totally non-restrictive and doesn't feel bulky at all. Can't recommend this jacket enough.

I'm 6'0 185 lbs 33" waist. For me this All-Round jacket fits perfect. It's not trim, but also not a bag around your body. I own slimmer jackets that I just in the late Spring, Summer and early Fall. Being an AR jacket I wanted a jacket that I wear without layering or with. In the Bend Oregon area the only real time this jacket is not required is July-August. Obviously it's great a rain jacket as well as ski jacket layered the trim down jacket of vest. It's well "sized" for the perfect all-around jacket. In terms of moisture and wind protection, 2nd to known

I am 6'2" and wear a 18 1/2 / 37 tailored fit dress shirt. I'm wider at the top than at my waist(Think upside down triangle). The sleeve length in a XXL is perfect, but the rest of the jacket is a bit bulky. I wish there was an XL Tall option, but the XXL does the trick. The fit allows me to layer up underneath without motion being constricted. Five stars b/c jacket keeps me dry and comfy when weather gets rough.

I love my Beta AR coat! I had a previous version of this jacket for 10 years and just got a new one! This jacket has amazing durability with a bit of care. I love the cut of the jacket as it is a bit longer with good room to layer underneath. I usually wear an XL in most of Arc'teryx's clothing, but this one I did size down a bit to a L, as it still fits my layers underneath well. Arc'teryx gear is well worth the investment!

Finally a jacket that keeps me dry and is so comfortable that I don't mind wearing it. I have owned many other rain/shell jackets and not only did they not keep me dry but I just did not like wearing them so I would avoid it at all cost. I love my Beta AR jacket so much that I find myself wearing it as an outer layer even when it's not raining. I wear it with my Atom LT and it keeps me warm and comfortable in 40 degree weather. If it's around 30 degrees I would wear a warm base layer too. I did a short 3 mile hike in steady rain to test it out and I was completely dry. The water just shakes right off of it. The hood has many adjustments to make it fit just right. At first I did not like the stiff collar but now I appreciate how it keeps the wind out. I am 5'5 and 127lbs and the small fits just right. I had a hard time deciding on the color but I went with Labyrinth and I love it. I love the contrasting color on the zippers too. I can't wait to try it for snowshoeing.

Great Jacket. Very durable. Use it all year. The hood is fantastic for incorporating a helmet under. Lots of pockets make for great storage.

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.

I have owned lots of Arc'teryx gear over the years and treated myself to a new Beta AR this year. I'm sorry to say that this jacket was a very expensive disappointment. There is one thing I expected it to do -- keep me dry -- but it absolutely failed from its very first use. Since I have had Arc'teryx rain gear in the past and just assume it works, I didn't hesitate to pack this jacket for a Kilimanjaro climb as soon as it arrived. Bad move. We had a few days of rain on the mountain and, though it wasn't extreme or torrential, I found my inner layers consistently got wet. The arms of this jacket soaked through especially quickly, and the only part of me that wasn't wet down to the base layer after a couple hours of hiking in steady rain was the area of my back covered by my pack -- starting from its very first wear!! I so, so wish I had tested this jacket in rain before relying on it as an essential piece of gear. Because I hadn't, I was wet and cold and uncomfortable for much of my climb. If you're going to just wear this jacket to and from the car on drizzly days, it might be fine. But if you're looking for actual rain gear that will keep you dry in the great outdoors, I'm sorry to say you'll have to look elsewhere.

Purchased this jacket in Electra this weekend. It arrived today and the quality is superb. I ordered the Electra colour and it really is as stunning as shown here in the pictures. I"m so pleased I took the leap of faith and bought my 1st Arcteryx garment.

Ordered the Beta AR and have taken it out on a very rainy 3 hour hike in the PNW. It kept me super dry and I love the pit zips to help with temperature regulation!

The Beta AR is technical, breathable waterproofing, windproof, all-season technical shell jacket and continues to earn the top spot in my closet as a primary go-to shell I use more than any other jacket year-around in low and high exercise activities outdoors, travel, or casual wear use. Over 15 years, I have owned multiple Beta AR jackets in different colors and on average it lasts over 7 years before replacing with no seam, zipper, or waterproofing issues. The jacket has traveled with me on many adventures around the world. The Beta AR is lightweight, packable, and is exceptional for layering underneath or as a stand alone shell. I am 5'1" and the size small is perfect for a slightly oversized fit for layering. Highly recommend!

I honestly love all the Beta jackets from Arcteryx, with this one not being the exception. Highly recommend it for anything outdoors in any weather.

I've had this shell jacket for over 10 years and it's been an incredible piece of gear. It mostly lives in my pack as a standby for bad weather as I do better in softshell jackets (I get warm very easily) but when I've needed it to withstand harsh cold winds or a winter storm, putting it on felt like entering a cozy protective shelter. After a decade of use, the only 2 issues I've had are: the lower back pull-string (no sure how it's called) which I asked a friend seamstress to take off and seal/sew flat. It must have been rubbing against backpacks I wear or something. And the inner cuffs, which started fraying and I had to trim off. They could benefit from being taped or sealed on the inside. As for the fit, I wish the back was a little longer for better coverage, especially in wet conditions and the cuff velcro a tad longer as I often wear it over multiple layers and my wrists area is "thicker" than wearing a simple sweater under. (if that makes sense?) Overall, this has been an amazing purchase, reliable and of impeccable quality with the durability speaking volumes about its craftsmanship. If you want a jacket that lasts, this is it. Highly recommend!

Best winter shell I've ever had. Take care of it (re-waterproof when you need), and it will take care of you! Has kept me dry hiking in many downpours, and it's breathable enough with good pit zips to keep me dry when ski touring. Fits a bit big, like they already accounted for you to put it over mid-layers. I'm 5'0, athletic build, 120lbs and have a Small Beta AR which I've used for the past few year, but wish I had gotten a XS for the Beta AR (I wear an XS Atom that is a perfect fit). Sleeves are long for me, but that is true for most brands and jackets at my height. Even a bit big, the size still works great and isn't cumbersome. Nice touch that the hood fits over a helmet and can be cinched. Never had any leaks or quality issues, even after a few years - zippers are actually waterproof!

I love this jacket for hiking, skiing, and daily living. The only tweak I would make is that the collar/neck tube sits a bit too high around the mouth and it's a bit uncomfortable.

Love the fit, color, and quality. Wish there were attachments at the cuffs to hold a liner jack but otherwise is perfect!

Great jacket, i wear mine almost anywhere, shopping or out for a walk. If it's wet out no problem, water proof, on colder days an extra layer and I'm good to go. This jacket is worth the money,

Amazing jacket, love the fit. Fabulous for a multitude of activities from hiking in the inclement weather, skiing and still stylish enough to wear in town. The pit zips make it very breathable during strenuous activities. Definitely worth saving up for

Couldn't be happier with this jacket. Perfect for the west coast. Cut to layer underneath. Great weight.

It's used for every sport, down hill racing, free skiing, walks with family and just day to day running around. Just love everything about this jacket both my daughter and I have one.

I have been using my jacket now coming up two years and still absolutely love it. Its easy to store away and beads rain perfectly. I went for a size up from my normal size to fit layers underneath when camping and the fit is perfect. The hood adjustment also makes wearing the jacket very comfortable in heavy downpour and fits well under a harness.