Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket

I live in the North East where it can be inches of pouring rain one minute and a blizzard the next. I purchased the Beta AR to commute to work in. I ride several trains and walk several blocks depending on which hospital I am working in. I have walked in torrential rain, and snow always remaining, warm and bone dry. The armpit zips help immensely with venting heat in the summer during a storm and layered with the Arc'teryx Atom hoody, I remain warm and dry in the most extreme of snow events. I have done everything from commuting, to hiking, to shopping in the city in all types of weather and have no fear due to my Beta AR!

My previous shell was an Alpha LT. I don't notice any significant increase in weight moving to the Beta AR - but there is a noticeable increase in wind proofness and weather protection. I havent had the jacket for long but it's easy to see that it will be more durable as well. I have the Tui colour which is like a dark navy - it looks great and can do double duty as an urban rain jacket without looking too out of place. But ultimately this jacket is for all season protection in bad weather - and the price is a reflection of the fact you're buying a lightweight fortress that will protect you in all types of weather.

I bought this coat to layer on top of my Cerium LT jacket and it was a perfect match. The material and waterproofing are top notch and better than my Beta SL jacket. I highly recommend it.

This jacket is the most thought through jacket you can buy. Beautifully simple. The large front pockets will hold anything while not pulling down. I did find the sleeves have allot of room from the elbow to cuff, maybe there is a reason for this.

Can't recommend this highly enough. Wear this for skiing, walking, cycling; in the countryside and in the city. Had it since 2013. Great decision to buy a shell so it can be used with different layers depending on the conditions. Sent it off once to be cleaned and the Gore-tex reactivated.

This is the best jacket I have ever owned, I have 2 now and love it for both work, skiing and around town. I work on a golf course in Alberta and the jacket covers every aspect of weather we work in with great style, fit and breathability. I am 6'2 and 190lbs and got a medium, it fits great because i dont like a lot of layering. This is comfortable with a thin down layer underneath.

J'utilise cette veste tous les jours de mauvais temps, par dessus une Proton lt. Coupe parfaite !

Einfach eine geniale Jacke, dank der Lftung unter der Schulter auch angenehm im Sommer und im Aufstieg. Die Jacke habe ich auf jeder Tour dabei, ob als Wetter-, oder Windschutz auf dem Gipfel.

Go to jacket for bad weather use in many outdoor activities. Looks good, too.

As someone who travels abroad frequently, I found this jacket to be the perfect companion. Whether I am stuck in a monsoon in SE Asia, in the jungles of South America, or in an urban city environment, this jacket will do the job. At first I was extremely skeptical to invest so much in a shell... However, within no time, I had zero regrets as I realized this jacket is built to last. No matter where I travel, this jacket ALWAYS comes with me; it rolls up very compactly and easily fits in my messenger bag (Check out the Arc'teryx LEAF Courier bag if you're in "that" market...). ;)

Got this jacket about 5 years ago from REI and it still holds well. I tried many other hardshell jackets and this is the most durable one and has the best fit. I am 5'8' and athlete built (170 pounds). This jacket may be short for the tall guys but fits me perfectly. As I have a big butt, the typical shell jacket with long hip-length feels like a tight, short skirt which constrains my motion.

Overall, a great jacket for any outdoor enthusiast. Solid material, construction and very functional design. Arc'teryx is great at form and function.

This jacket is fantastic, I use this as my main waterproof layer and I love it. It is a bit of a heavier material but this is made up for by the fact that it is very durable and strong. I wear it hiking/snowshoeing in the mountains and during field work and never worry about it getting snagged or ripped up at all. The pit zips are great and allow you to vent heat when working hard. It's a good length and the fit is perfect - I layer it with a down jacket in colder weather and it works fantastic. The hand pockets are a great size and there is an interior pocket (would love it if it were large enough for a phone). I love how adjustable everything is (sides and top of hood, wrist cuffs, hem, pit vents) - it makes it very versatile for a variety of conditions. It is pricey but it is an awesome piece of gear and my favourite waterproof shell I've ever had.

Like the energizer bunny, its just keeps on ticking. My jacket is over 6 years old and still performs as well as when new. I thought about retiring it this year, and took it in to compare with a brand new one, and there was hardly any difference. Will just have to keep it longer.

Have had mine 3 years and like new. Have worn the jacket during the three colder seasons in upstate NY with layers. Great fit and great look! Wouldn't hesitate to invest in this shell again!

I spent a lot of time in this jacket this year, including 1 canoe trip in the Yukon and 2 trips in Northern Ontario. It rolls up nice and compact and is very comfortable to wear. The hood is really well designed - I usually find a hood to be a pain but it was no problem to paddle and portage when it was on. In spite of the heavy usage, there does not seem to be any sign of wear.

Beta AR is the perfect jacket for hiking. The Gore-Tex Pro material offers excellent protection from rain and, with adequate layering, cold.

Great shell - so far works for any temperature (with layers). Didn't realize how non water-resistant my old shell had become until I experienced first downpour in this one. Lightweight and (so far) durable.

Couldn't be happier with this purchase. This jacket is everything I could ask for in a shell. Have been out in torrential rains and I have stayed dry and comfortable. Sizing is perfect as is freedom of movement. Have work with an insulated mid layer in cold temps and have stayed quite war,

I own four goretex jackets and this is the one I like most. It is great for all round use and the material feels super durable as Arcteryx always is. What I like most is the collar design on this piece. It separates from the hood so I can always zip it all the way up to block wind with or without putting the hood on, which is nice as I don't always want to use the hood. And it looks better this way to me, too. Another great product from Arc'teryx!

This jacket is my favorite outer layer when the weather is wet, snowy or windy. It comfortably fits over a warmer down jacket on cold days or is perfect on its own when the temperatures are warmer. Love the venting zips and the cut of this jacket. Love the blue color I got!

Love my AR, it is very versatile and follows me on hikes, climbs and walks to work. Planning to use it this winter for cross country skiing too. I am wondering what might be the right synthetic insulating layer to pair it with? Any suggestions ? Thanks guys!! Jude

My first Arcteryx jacket bought as a replacement due to the demise of a trusty old but now worn out Rab Event jacket. I had to breathe deeply as I shelled out a fortune for the updated 2018 Beta AR jacket in a smart Tui colour. I invested the time to try out a number of competitors jackets but did not think they came anywhere close to the Beta in terms of well thought out design, fit and finish. The Beta just appeared to be "better" in every department. I first tried out my new jacket hill walking for around 2 hours in a steady downpour with humidity at 90% and temperature around 16-18c. Under the jacket I only wore a long sleeved baselayer. After around 30 minutes exertion I started to become quite hot and sweaty and had to partially open the pit zips which immediately made things more comfortable. As an experiment I had placed a paper tissue inside each pocket to investigate if they became wet. At the end of the walk the tissues in the outer pockets remained bone dry and the one in the internal chest pocket had become a little damp I presume from the sweat and humidity building up inside the jacket. Needless to say I and my baselayer remained bone dry which is exactly why I shelled out so much for this jacket. I have subsequently worn the Beta AR for walking the dog in much cooler weather being happy that it was roomy enough to accommodate a warm light down jacket. I felt very comfortable and movement was still pretty much unrestricted due to the excellent cut and fit. The various volume adjusters around body and hood all work brilliantly as do the excellent zips. I look forward to taking it to northern Nepal next month to use as a wind proof layer over a down jacket and to put it through it's paces with some tougher Alpine tests next summer. hoping that the material will stand up well to abrasion. All in all it's quite a hefty price to pay to remain reasonably comfortable in hostile conditions but it's plain to see that it's probably a price worth paying in comparison to the majority of existing similar products. I just hope I don't break it!

Bought this jacket as a go-to hard shell and it has performed amazingly. It performed to and excelled my expectations. Usually, use to it get to school in the rain or just hiking, and camping. I would definitely recommend!

I was on a canoe trip on the Great Whale River and we dumped. I had my coat on and when I got out of the water my entire upper body dry besides my wrist which was damp. That saved me from hypothermia that day because the water was about 40 degrees Fahrenheit and I was swimming for a while.