Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket

I've had this jacket for two years now and I've worn it all year around. It's highly versatile and have never failed me despite all the things, and all the seasons I've put it through. I highly recommend it to everyone who needs a good looking, durable, lightweight and versatile jacket!

Perfect jacket for all your needs. Great for shoulder seasons where you don't know if you will get snow, rain or sunshine but also the dead of winter in the cold. We do a lot of long hikes that take us through different elevations and temps and this jacket adjusts well with venting when you need. I've never owned a jacket anywhere near this for how it is windproof which makes all the difference when you are in the open in the winter. The fit is perfect for a large, no excess through the body but still room to layer when you need to. Can't say enough about this jacket's versatility and durability. I've caught it on tree branches and been worried it would be damaged and it holds up to whatever you throw at it with no pulls or tears. Will last you as long as you need it to.

I just came back from a "testing" walk in the woods. I bought this jacket some weeks ago but it never rained, until today. The jacket performed really well. You probably read a lot of reviews by now so I won't reiterate what has been already said: Yes, it is waterproof Yes, it is built like a tank, it may not look so from the picture but believe me, it is and the materials and the workmanship look/feel very solid and durable. As a result it may be a little stiff and noisy if compared to other materials but it seems to me that after a little of "break-in" it becomes more supple. The noisiness I haven't found to be that bad, I was worried about it when I read other reviews but it's much more silent than I thought. Obviously you can't expect it to be silk (or Atom LT, for who already has one..) I actually like the cuffs to be velcro tightened as opposed to elastic as elastic can give in time and velcro is precisely adjustable and stays tight if you need to. The hood works really well: it has three regulations via draw strings: the top one tightens the hood around your head allowing it to follow its rotation/movement thus guaranteeing uncluttered vision when turning. Right below you have another drawstring to adjust the "height" of the hood, the third comes in form of two drawstrings on each side of your neck and tighten the area around the face reducing the space between brim and collar. One plus note about the hood is that it is quite "high"; I have a very long neck and I consistently find that hoods are too short and as a result I have to keep my shoulders a little razed in order not to have the hood pull down on my head, this does not happen with the Beta AR, yay! I would have liked a way to tighten the collar around your neck in order to minimize the chances of water seeping in with heavy/windy rain. The arms are finally quite long, I have very long arms and most of the time a jacket that fits me well on the shoulders will be short on the arms, not the Beta AR, yay!. I understand that this jacket is meant to be the wore with layers underneath and it surely can, the thing is that it is really quite baggy in the belly area, I think that a different tailoring making it more slim there would make the jacket more appealing without sacrificing the ability to wear layers under it. No big deal anyway... Fit: I am 194cm tall (6'4") weighting about 80Kg, quite lean and I have bought an L size. It fits perfectly. As I said I have the longest arms and this jacket cover them perfectly with room for movement without riding up my forearm. If you need more info comment and I'll be happy to answer if I can.

I wear this jacket all year around, as a standalone shell in the summer and layered for winter hiking. I've had it for going on 3 years now and its still as tough and waterproof as when I got it. This past winter I've walked to work every day wearing it, plus winter hiking, and I wear it fishing in the summer when it rains. fantastic shell and I would buy a new one in a heartbeat if anything happened to it.

Thanks Jesse Robson for introducing me to the Arkteryx product. This is a very well built garment and it can be used equally hiking in the Coastal Mountains or for business casual daily wear in cool wet fall/winter weather. The pockets, pit zips and adjustments are well placed for function and to allow the jacket to be personalized for fit. It is a great weight. Nice work Arkteryx.

Exceptional clothing for all weather conditions. I recommend it to all hikers.

I don't think I've ever been happier with a piece of outdoor clothing. I've owned this jacket for 3 years now, and its honestly as good as the day I got it. Does it carry a hefty price tag? Yes. But is it worth every penny? Absolutely. It's lightweight, robust, and most importantly, it keeps me bone dry in all weathers! I mostly use it for hiking/backpacking around Britain and Arctic Sweden, but have also taken it downhill/cross country skiing a couple of times, and have found it to cope with all situations thrown at it. It weighs barely anything and screws up tiny, yet I have never for one minute questioned its durability. The material feels bombproof, and the construction is incredibly solid. There's no seams or stitching that feels like they may become a weak point. The design is very well thought out. It is a relatively parred back design, yet it doesn't feel like anything is missing. The pockets are well placed, the pit zips easy to use on the move (I've had some previously on a different jacket that were very awkward to zip and unzip while wearing it and walking). The hood is also easy to adjust and fit. If this is alls sounds rather gushing, then its because it is! I really couldn't be happier! In terms of fit, I'm slim (UK 8/10) but tall (5'8"). I'm also a curvier, rather than straight build. The jacket has quite a fitted cut, and is long in the body and the sleeves. I chose a size medium, which for me is near on perfect. I don't worry about the body rising up and leaving my hips exposed to getting damp (which can be an issue in jackets cut shorter!) and the sleeves cover half my hands - meaning no soggy sleeves! Although I could have gotten away with the small, I prefer the roominess of the medium for sticking layers underneath. If I was just hiking in just base layer and fleece wouldn't be an issue, but I do need to layer up the jumpers on occasion, and find the medium less restrictive in that situation - especially under the arm pits. I suppose the one issue that could be found, is if you do prefer a boxier fit, this probably wouldn't be the right jacket. It is fitted, especially round the waist and sleeves. Otherwise however, if you're looking for a lightweight but bombproof waterproof, I honestly can say I'd never use anything else.

I've had a Beta Ar for years now and I cant say enough about it. I wear it almost daily hiking, walking my dog and wear it skiing with my arcteryx gortex ski pants. The shell can take you through freezing cold, ice rain and rain as you make your way down the mountain. After about 7 years the seam around the elastic waist gave out and i sent it back for repair. In the meantime i bought another. To my surprice they replaced it with a brand new jacket! To me, a company that stands behind their product is worth paying the extra price. I now have a black and blue beta ar and like them both. I find they fit well but had to go to a size up to be able to layer comfortably in the winter.

I recently had to update my outdoor wardrobe, went for this jacket after advice from local store. I tended in the past to run hot when layering and using waterproofs this jacket didn't disappoint when used in the Lake District new year week although we didn't have the rain when I needed the jacket on the rops I didn't feel clammy and sweaty like I had in the past. If I needed to let some air in the pit zips worked great.

Hands down the best! Can be used for everything!! Weather your tracking through Iceland, out and about in the rain, or hitting the slopes. The Jacket does it all!!!!

First Arc-tery jacket and love it. Got for a great price too. Will be wearing for mt biking,hiking etc. just wearing around in the winter now in NJ weather.

All-weather gem. Used it in heavy spindrift, snowfall, waterfall, you name it. Scratched against rock and one year into it, so far the material is still like new. Useful features include inside chest pocket, hem drawcord, helmet compatible hood, and many more. One of the best shells out there. Highly recommended.

My Beta AR jacket has gone through everything, including climbing Kilimanjaro for Make-A-Wish. There is nothing as functional or durable or multipurpose! Hats off to Arcteryx customer service-they stand behind their products like no other company, and customer service are absolutely great! My hats off to Justin Robertson!

I have this jacket for about ten years. It has been my go-to jacket for all the outdoor activities - from climbing to salt water fishing you name it. If I am to decide on the most reliable piece of clohing I have ever seen in my life it gotta be the Beta AR jacket. And guess what - after all these years it is still going strong. The hem drawcord sleeve has detiriorated because of the old age this year and I have sent it to Arcteryx for repair. They fixed it ant sent back with a card stating that repairing clothes is good for sustainability. That was it - the only failure (if you can call it that) in ten years of active use. Amasing. SImply amasing.

I've had this jacket for two years now and I have come to love it. I've used it for rock climbing, backpacking, and skiing. I've worn it all sorts of weather and conditions. From the muddy wet Juan de Fuca trail to a snowy Whistler summit this jacket really is made for everything. I've worn this jacket in pouring rain that's blowing sideways and it's kept me dry. It's seen a fair a bit of abuse (including a mud bath) and still looks like new and has maintained it's waterproof ability. I bought this jacket just a little loose for my body and I've found this to be the perfect fit. This way I can layer all my warm winter layers underneath it when I need too. I especially like the armpit zippers, these are perfect for letting heat and moisture out when you are burning energy. I also really like the adjustable hood, it's easy to cinch up just right so it's not in your line of sight. The hood also fits nicely over helmets. I recommend this to anyone looking for an all mountain jacket, you can use it for just about any activity.

I've had this jacket for about 8 years now and it's still going strong. I took it to college in Boston where it withstood blizzards and being on the water 6 days a week (I was a coxswain back in the day). Now that I'm back home in Seattle I can say this jacket is still performing every time I wear it whether it's around the city or skiing in Whistler. I recommend this jacket above all others. The price is worth it considering it will likely last me 10 years maybe beyond!

I purchased my Beta AR in 2010 and have used it through rainy and ski seasons since. This jacket has lived through Louisiana wet summers and Colorado winters, acting as my lone ski jacket during that time. Although I have not done anything to maintain waterproofness during that time, this jacket has never failed to keep me dry in even the worst conditions. The fabric is durable, even through hard falls it has never shown wear. It looks brand new today!

Beta ar is one fine jacket, I have had the theta ar,alpha sv and a sidewinder jacket. This might be my favorite of out 3 other jackets, I have never gotten wet with any of them and living in the Seattle area you need a good rain jacket. Just buy one already you want be disappointed, they might be pretty expansive, you get what you pay for

This is the best shell I have ever bought. The cost was a little detouring, but not a deal breaker. ARC'TERYX makes the best shells, so if you are looking for any type of shell I highly reccamend them.

I bought this shell for skiing and use it every time I go. The New England weather can dish out a lot of lousy conditions and I've never had any issues staying warm and dry. It's a very comfortable jacket and quite easy to layer underneath, depending on conditions. Buy this jacket, you won't be disappointed. Plus you'll look marvelous. Skiing, hiking, shoveling snow, rainy camping...stay fresh my friends.

bought my mother one about 6 years ago and it is still going strong, no delamination, no discoloration, and no glue breaking down. The zipper coating and are still doing a great job sealing out rain, which is one thing that has in the past been for me the first to go on my older beta ar. She loves the jacket and wears it everyday in the fall and winter in the rain when she is walking the dog. She does not do any mountaineering so this jacket is kind of overkill for her. These jackets are pretty bombproof with the proper care and DWR treatment.

Hi! I LOVE this jacket. It is very durable and great for every activity. What makes it the best for me (I've bought FOUR of these jackets in the past - two for myself as well as some for family/friends!) is the fit. As a rock/alpine climber its very hard to find a company that builds clothes that fit a climbing women's body (developed shoulders and back and narrow waist). t is flattering and accommodates movement very well. I fact Arcteryx is the only company that makes jackets that fit an athletic women's build this well! I was surprised to see the first reviewer did not like the fit. I find the fit is the best and there is nothing like it! Please don't change!! This jacket is the best!

I picked up this shell along with a alpha fl pack prior to a trip i was making up north to the ski resorts in southern canada to some various trekking trips with a few local friends up near alberta a season or two ago. Given that timeframe, my thoughts of the beta line have been revitalized, I had or still own a beta lt that underwent water soaking in short periods of exposure and still is a minor issue with the replacement i got from the company. My thoughts of the lt is that if you are expecting to be stuck in long periods of downpour it will not be the ideal piece to keep you dry. The beta ar purchase for the trip was a gamble and it surely paid off. You can tell off the initial impression that this shell is more ideal for heavy set exposure to the elements, its heavier, burlier, and feature packed. Kept me dry during all of my trip in canada where i was trekking/touring for 14 hours a day in rain/snow conditions. Venting is great in this shell due to the pit zips, something that lacked in my previous LT but features as you will come to know in the arcteryx brand is available with more $$ and surely it is worth spending the additional green if you are in dire need of depending on your gear for long periods of time out in the outdoors. Prior to my lt, i was a heavy alpha shell user but the way the pockets are located and my needs, the beta was what drew me in initially with the LT and back again with the AR. Both great products but it all comes down to the activity and the purposed use and I prefer the design of the beta for most of my needs. I have the two tone gray beta shell and its held up very well and will see more uses to come. As for the lt, ill keep that for light commuting on my bike or treks, this AR is surely something i can depend on for something outside those bounds. For my small con, make sure you try on all of the shells you intend to purchase, arcteryx has a variety of fits and styles that they change between model sets and within those model lines as well. For example the beta lt, I am a medium as its more form fitting, the AR and my Theta, I had to size down. Other than that, arcteryx has done good on this AR, cant imagine if they will release a BETA SV, would be interesting how much better they can improve on this one. I have been wearing arc products since I saw and bought the alpha sv from the movie "Vertical Limit" since than i have been loyal and a follower of their quality products.

My Beta AR was one of my first Arc pieces. As a cross over athlete I had been involved in testing another line of all mountain apparel over the past decade. What origianlly attracted me to Arcteryx was finding an approprate all around fit for myself with the right amount of material in the right places but not too much. My past experiences with other lines is that for an athletic build individual as myself, there was excess material in some places and too restrictive in others of most designs. Im 5'9'' and about 160lbs and come from a multisport / endurance background. What Arc had to offer was unique at least for me because it was highly functional in over all fit and performance for a build like me. I have a number of Arc Gortex Shells from WhiteLine Category but have really discoverd the high versatility of the Beta AR in how it crosses over in its performance into a number of activities and performs exceptionally....out of bounds side and backcountry ski ski recons and descents, climbing, backcountry pursuits, layering and stand alone in the flex of continued changing climate and all mountain conditions. If you need to grab and go one shell piece to cover a broad range ....its a definite Go To piece! Guess thats why its in Essential Category. Keep charging!

Best quality shell I have ever owned and would never consider buying anything else from now on! 100% waterproof and has never let me down in about 4 years... Used for a variety of activities but where it proved its self to me is when I was on my mountain bike, slid off on a piece wood and slid literally 15 ft on solid concrete (this jacket taking the grunt of the fall). Wiped the muddy water away and you couldn't tell the difference between its condition then and the condition straight from the shop! Work Horse!!!