Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket

Have had this jacket for about 6 years. Liked the model, used it weekly, both in town and regular trekkings. Took care of the jacket as recommended by you and your instructions, It`s important to me to have a product that really works, function in bad weather. After 4-5 years, it leaked over shoulders and back, and around my sleeves, really bad. Most seams fell apart during the same time. To bad durability for this price. Not sure that gore-tex is a reliable product over time.

I bought this jacket, expecting I could fit my phone into the inside pocket. But guess what: THE POCKET IS TOO SMALL TO HOLD A PHONE. Unbelievable. The only thing people would likely put into an inside pocket is a phone and they make the pocket too small. Seriously guys? Very disappointed.

I bought this in March '21 and have used it pretty extensively in a variety of contexts, both as an everyday shell and an essential piece of rain gear when in the wilderness. I'd like to say it has performed above and beyond my expectations but it has been rather spotty performance-wise due to the rather short half-life of the DWR treatment it arrived with. However, when I've recently reapplied DWR to it, it is fantastic.

I bought the updated Beta AR last fall for backcountry skiing and ended up selling it this fall. The first time I wore it skiing I had to go between two pine trees whose branches brushed either arm. I ended up with substantial scratches on both arms. I thought this was updated with "Most Rugged" material? I am also not a fan of the drop hood at all. If you have any hooded layers underneath the hoods bunch up around your neck and are very uncomfortable. It is also not as protective as a storm good. Plus, when worn casually the collar does not look good at all folded down. The cut of the Large size has too narrow shoulders and too expansive of a midsection so when worn with a thicker midlayer your silhouette is very round. All that being said it is a very well built piece which strikes many good compromises to be the only shell you need.

I bought this jacket a year ago for a long stomp around Europe (I intended to get the Zeta AR but came out the store with this instead) I was out for a whole winter in this, one week in the worst rainfall I've ever been caught in and I was comfortable, if not pleased, to be out hiking in that. Also came back without a scratch or a stain despite the rough treatment it was given. So when it really counts, this jacket aces it! But on the day-to-day or to take with you just-in-case it's a nuisance. The hood is just irritating, the fabric is noisy and the fit is awful if you aren't properly layered. I ended up buying another 3L in a similar style to the Zeta which is my go-to while this has stayed in a wardrobe undisturbed for several months until conditions made it worth breaking out again recently. The jacket is undoubtably a worthwhile investment for serious outdoor types with frequent cause to be layering up, wearing helmets and getting the use out of the jacket it is marketed for. If, like me, you are mainly out and about in mild but wet conditions and not climbing on anything more challenging than the back of a horse, I'd say Arc'teryx have better products for you to splurge on. The three stars reflect the cast-iron five stars it deserves for the four months of the year I've got out of it.

Bought this jacket specifically to wear for Kilimanjaro climb. On the summit night, it was sleeting with temperatures definitely in below freezing point. Maybe because it was so cold the jacket's waterproofing didnt hold as advertised. The synthetic jacket I was wearing underneath the Beta got wet. Luckily I had on a fleece layer under to keep me warm.

The 3rd outing with my jacket resulted in it getting 'wetted out' I.e. the gortex got so wet by the rain it affected its performance and ability to breathe which in turn made me pretty uncomfortable and susceptible to cold from the moisture inside.The recommendation is that a DWR coating should be reapplied but I find it hard believe that this should be necessary so soon. I would not recommend this jacket especially if you are working hard in the mountains and really need both a very breathable and waterproof shell.

I have worn Arcteryx gear for many years on many outdoor adventures and always loved the comfort and durability, however something odd happens when I layer my Beta AR over a Nuclei Hoody or Cerium LT. The oddity is that almost immediately excessive moisture builds up between the inside of the Beta AR and the outer layer of my Nucei or Cerium. I am not a 'sweaty guy', however, a lot of moisture gets trapped between the 2 layers with no where to go. I have tried opening the pit zips to no but the arms and back or still soaked in moisture (and opening the pit zips defeats the sole purpose of layering up...too keep warm!). Not sure if Arcteryx testers have experienced this... thanks to anyone that can share their thoughts.

Bought this jacket based on so many positive reviews but very quickly was met with sore disappointment at how short this jacket is up front. I have many mid-layers and all but 2 protrude from the bottom of the front of this jacket .... by less than 1". Seriously!? The front of the BETA AR is cut in a weird way that won't cover mid-layer products at the front of the jacket because it's cut and sewn short. The weirdest part is I tried the same jacket - a different L in store and it seemed longer up front but the jacket was much larger in the armpit area. Who cuts the material before the jackets are sewn!!??? The one I brought home was just right, but was shorter at the zipper. Go figure. Nice looking jacket, would be my new go-to jacket for back-country and city outings, but the high cut front is a real shame and a deal-breaker!!! Set my sights on this jacket after a lot of research and reading - won't be wearing it and can't recommend it either, back it goes and back to the drawing board for me. Arc'teryx folks, if you're reading this - make the front 1" lower and leave the back as it is, add a pocket in the sleeve, make the inside pocket larger and you'd have a SOLID winner. Current (2017/2018) colour combinations are great, BTW.

Debating keeping this jacket. I like everything, but the fact that the Internal pocket is not big enough for and iPhone 6 or s8+. That only leaves hand pockets for cell phone, or pants pockets which is too awkward for climbing or skiing. No reason they couldn't have made the pocket entrance bigger. If I hold my phone up to the pocket it looks like it would fit, but as the zipper is only 3/4 of the way across in the middle there is no way to get it in. I'm worried the other models of the jackets would be the same.

Overall a good jacket, I wish it was better for the price I paid. I had the Theta AR before it was damaged, Arc'Teryx was unable to repair the jacket and offered me the Beta AR, I accepted. Big mistake! The jacket is much too short around the waist, in casual settings your under layers poke out of the bottom of the jacket and with a pack on the jacket constantly rides up past the waist strap and causes lots of discomfort. I've had the jacket for 3 years now with moderate use and I've noticed the layers separating and causing bubbling around the wrist area. The outer material is quite durable, I've walked through plenty of thick brush and rubbed up against boulder and only experienced one small tear in the outer fabric. This jacket will keep you dry and warm with sufficient layers. Do yourself a favour and get the Theta AR, great jacket, just unhappy about how short the waist is.

Hello!, I would like to know what size is the right one for me in the next model: BETA AR JACKET MEN'S. In Madras color. My height is 1.60 m. I will appreciate you let me know the right size. Also I would like to know how much will it be the final price if you send it to Finland. Thank you very much!, Luis

I bought this jacket last year and used it to hike all year long and in the city as my raincoat. Upon receiving it, I thought the material was a bit weird, kinda like crinkly plastic. I later noticed that a friend of mine had the same jacket, but from 2 or 3 years ago and the finish is completely different, it's smooth to the touch, not crinkly, and frankly a lot nicer. Another thing I noticed is that the fabric marks very easily. My jacket (Admiral) has permanent scratches and marks. I don't think this is normal. None of my other, older shells ever had those. (see photos) The original DWR coating didn't last more than 3 or 4 months before I had to renew it. Considering the price, this jacket should perform far better. I don't feel like I have a top of the line product.

Wann stellt endlich ein Hersteller fest das man Jacken mit und ohne Helmkapuzen anbieten kann. Kapuze fr Alltag viel zu Gro, da passt ein Motorradhelm drunter. Wie bei allen Jacken vermisse ich zusatzlich zu den Brusttaschen noch 2 Taschen darunter fr den Alltag. Es htte die perfekte Jacke sein knnen..............

This coat fits me well,but where I live is very cold in winter,this coat is not thick enough. And the Arc Teryx is Expensive,extremly expensive. As far as I konw,the clothes industry has great profit.Arc Teryx looks like a Luxurary Showing Off,but not a useful outdoor wear.

Sent this back, it was too big, but I think it may not have been right even in the correct size. The cut was a bit funny, and the fabric very rustly and shiny. Shame, I've loved my last two Arc'teryx jackets. The colour was good though!

Very happy to see some bright colors since that is a safety issue when in the alpine. Would love to see Beta AR or Beta AR Stormhood in all over Amaranthus!

Bought this jacket a little over a year broken zip don't know why they changed the zip that was used on Zeta ar

I've had two of these jackets (one I bought in 2017, one that got replaced under warranty in 2019). Both of them started wetting out frequently despite following the specific care instructions for washing/drying the jacket and spraying with DWR spray. They also started coming apart near the shoulder area (2 layers of the jacket separating). Once they wet out, they take forever to dry! I was told my jacket can't be replaced under warranty a second time, which is fair, but I'd expect better performance from such an expensive jacket, especially when I don't use it for super intense activities. I use it for light cycle commuting in the city as well as day hikes in the mountains when I'm on vacation. It's frustrating that these jackets (that cost a significant amount) require such frequent high maintenance care to continue working well (or unfortunately not so well, as has been my experience). I've spoken with people who have other brands of gore-Tex outer layers who say their gear maintains the waterproofing with much less care and washing than I've put into my beta AR. Especially after the first one having similar issues, I washed and sprayed my second one religiously, likely every 10-15 uses. And I rarely use it for any heavy activities- it's never gotten properly dirty or sweaty because I wash it so often. I hope arc'teryx can use this feedback to improve its gear so issues like this no longer happen.

I bougth this piece cause a I needed something rough for high mountain activities. Very dissapointed, it is actually no waterproof at all.

I'm a huge arcteryx fan and have owned several items. Unfortunately after three months of not wearing this jacket to much the hood adjustment broke.

I was real Arcterix fen for many years and I have bought several products Venta AR (great jacket, used for more than 10 years), Alpha SL, t-shirts, caps, accessories and more. This is my second Beta AR jacket for the last 7 years and probably the last, because the quality literally decay. The first one was too large for me /size L/ and I sold it after 2 years, still looking like brand new. The second one is the right size (M), it also looked very quality made. I have used it several years for skiing and hiking, relatively rarely (one or two times in a month, in the late autumn and the winter). Great fit. I love it and I have used and kept it very carefully, washing it not more often than once a year, according the instruction. It looked like brand new till the last week, when I washed it as usual machine wash, the jacket only, into a big laundry bag, closed zippers, delicate cycle, 30 degree and using Grangers for Gore membranes. But, afterwards the entire adhesive tape at the bottom of the jacked have been fully unglued and torn. Really disappointed with the durability of an expensive jacket, manufactured by Arcterix.

Purchased the green because the grandma lipstick pink and the fire engine red were vomit worthy. Turns out the green is more of a decomposing pine-bow color suited more for a lumberjack than a ladies coat. Let's get with it Arcteryx and get some colors that make a girl look good while getting it done in the outdoors! Hopefully I can sell mine to a forester, then wait for something better to come along.

This is a great jacket but you have to wash it and clean it every 2 weeks to really be waterproof and for the Gor-Tex to actually work. The neck, when tightened down all the way is still way too big and sticks out from under the hood and lets a lot of rain and cold air in. Overall a good looking jacket but requires a lot of care and maintenance.

Great design and functions for this jacket, but some very problems with it 2nd Beta AR jacket (replacement) with the exact same problems as my first. the seal for the seams peels the goretex has debonded from the shell material waterproofing on the zips seem to be cracking (but not leaking yet)