Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Beta AR Pants

I've had the Beta AR pants for two years now. These pants look brand new, and are astonishingly durable (as I would expect) despite beating up on them regularly during hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing. Fit: I am 5'11, 150 pounds, 30" waist. I take a regular small size in the Beta AR pants. The overall fit is on the looser side, with some tapering in the legs. However, the cut allows for ample room for layering and is very flexible. I have never felt limited in motion for any activity, even when I have the bottom of the pants clipped onto my boots. I would like a slightly more tapered cut in the calves/lower legs. I feel that there is too much loose fabric, even with ski boots. Breathability/Waterproof: These pants are bombproof in any mixed, wet weather. I can hike for 5 hours in snow, wind, sleet, or rain and remain dry and warm. I often wear these pants with a thin wool pair of leggings underneath. I have never felt cold or overheated in any weather condition, be it 0 F or 35 F, with any type of precipitation. The full-length zippers allow for heat dumping in a moment's notice. I've found that even skiing or hiking in deep snow, with a portion of the zipper open, prevents most snow from entering into the pants. I do agree a third zipper for multiple openings would be ingenious and beneficial for high-intensity outputs. Adjustments: The belt system is durable, flexible, and easily allows for layering and motion throughout activities. However, upon getting a pair of gamma lt pants, I question why this pant doesn't have a more study strap and belt buckle. The powderpuff, built-in gators are handy, although I feel as if the internal portion of the gator could use more adjustments. Hiking in deep snow, I often find that snow finds its way through the gator's internal opening. Having another tightening mechanism, or another series of straps to attach to boots would certainly make this pant impenetrable.

These pants come with me on all big mountain exploits. They have stood up to harsh elements with ease. I love the full length side zips, which allow me to accommodate my mountaineering boots without taking them off. On objectives where I am gaining a lot of elevation, I slide this in my pack and start off the approach in a baselayer. When the temps dip and wind picks up, these fit right over everything. The gusseted crotch allows freedom of movement when high stepping and bonus - they are perfect for glissading.

A note on sizing... I am 6'2", 192lbs. I usually wear a 33 waist, 34 length on pants, jeans. A sizing guide on a different website said I would fit perfectly in a LARGE TALL. I'm tall, thought it made sense. When it arrived, the large tall was quite a bit too big for me. I would say you would have to be at least 6'4" for the large tall to fit correctly. I re-ordered a LARGE, and it fits perfectly. I figured this might help people who are debating between the LARGE and the LARGE TALL. These are the best ski pants I've ever owned. I've been skiing for 30 years.

Bought these to replace my Beta LT pants. I guess I have been converted to an AR believer as I had tons of success with the Alpha AR jacket, and now the pants as well. I can't knock the durability of the previous generation Beta LT pant despite the LT category. However, I am definitely all about the AR line now. Since the AR introduction, I have found them to be the ideal shell. They breathe better than the SV, are more comfortable than the SV, Pack better, and are quieter. Not sure why, but they are. The belt sits at just the right spot. The zippers come up high enough you can get your boots through one at a time and not have to take anything off to put these over. Pocket is very usable if you don't put anything too thick in there. I noted they fit true to size as I buy a L (one size up) when I want an over pant, and these fit perfectly in said role. I don't think they are too expensive. I know this is going to sound crazy, but the AR line is saving me money. I used to really feel it necessary to have a LT, and a SV. The LT would always "feel" like they lack the durability and that when the chips are down wouldn't hold up like the tank the SV is, though one never failed me. I always babied them. The SV has always been insanely tough, but too hot, heavy and cumbersome for many activities. The AR has combined that durability and "feel" of the SV, but with the "lightness", almost unencumbered feel that I loved about the the LT. For me, the AR is about all I could ask for. I will probably buy another though I current have, no kidding you, 3 Beta LT pants, 2 Alpha pants and 1 Alpha Bib pant. The AR replaces almost all of them. The two spots I am not 100% sure the AR has you covered, is when you need a Bib (Alpha all the way there) or warm summer rain. Cool temps have been fine, but I find the gaiters keep the heat in, so you need to vent them a little with the side zippers when it's warm. Warm as in no need for a full time shell, maybe when you would be in shorts or a softshell. That is relative to your exertion level, climate and fitness level of course. I tend to run cold.

I bought this pair of pants over 10 years ago and they are still going strong! When I bought them I needed something that I could use year round for a variety of different activities, and could only afford one pair of pants. With a built in gaitor these pants are a do-all piece. In warmer temps you are able to wear these with a pair of shorts or hiking pants, and for winter skiing / mountaineering all that you will need is a medium / heavyweight baselayer. Water repellent, breathable, and durable. If you have one arrow in your quiver, these are the pants to get.

They do all I would want from a high end product. I feel totally confident that I'm prepared for any conditions that I might encounter. I've been exposed to some of the worst weather the Cairngorms can dish out in the past & I would have no worries at all with these. They are very well made and do the job.

I needed functional clothes for a trip to Iceland straddling winter and spring. The weather was certain to be unpredictable. Mid day through my first day (of 14) I put the Beta AR pants on and they never came off for the rest of the trip. I was trudging through snow, climbing lava rock, crossing rivers and climbing waterfalls. These pants are everything I hoped they would be. To stay warm I wore one base layer of long underwear underneath and that was plenty. When I first saw these pants, I scoffed at the price, but I'm glad I took the plunge. Cold conditions are nothing to mess around with and misery can ruin a trip. After washing them once (I followed the web site directions) they look as good as new. On another note, I am 6'3" and I bought the tall size.

I thought these pants would be too substantial and stiff to wear comfortably over base layer and my soft shells. But they slid on easily over two layers and seemed to be sized for that expectation. I do a lot of work on my knees in the snow, setting and digging out deadman stakes, and these kept the wet out perfectly. I could take them off at night, store them in the snow-floored vestibule, and put them on in the morning as pliable as ever. They are tough enough for snowshoeing, but soft enough to be comfortable. I'm very glad I overcame my initial doubts and got them. Acrteryx makes it easy to return items for a better fit, with very fast shipping speeds and included return labels.

Had a chance to test out Beta AR pants in several different conditions in the Oregon area. First trial was in the Columbia River Gorge on a day with non-stop rain and temperatures in the lower 40's, next on Mt. Hood in freezing conditions, then on the Oregon Coast Range with light rain, high winds, and temps in the low 50's. The pants performed great in all conditions. I really like the construction, the articulated knees allow for a great freedom of movement and the reinforced areas around the seat, knees, and instep really allow these pants to stand up to hard wear. I never felt like I was overheating when making an effort, mostly due to side zippers that allow great ventilation. Great pants, highly recommend.

I took these on my summer and fall hikes CO, ski tours, and even took them along on some mountain biking trips. They are very light weight and fit over shorts or even tights. Great product.

I have used these pants in the worst downpours North Vancouver has to offer and I stayed 100% dry. They are pricey but well worth it when everyone else is slowly getting wet and you are bone dry. Hiking in these pants is great. They are super breathable and I love the little clip that holds the pants to my shoelaces. No more water dripping down into my shoes :-) After I come home they are dry in a heartbeat. I have also worn these cycle commuting since the articulated fit is very flexible. Love the side zips for when the rain lets up but I can't be bothered to stop and take them off. I am normally a size 6; the small was a quite snug so I bumped it up to a medium since I wanted to bike with them as well. Medium is rather roomy but the waist cinch helps. They look a bit baggy due to the articulated fit and the fact they are a bit big on me but the fit is extremely functional. Wouldn't change a thing! Great job as usual. You guys rock.

When I bought these I wanted one hardshell pant to rule them all, that is I wanted pants that worked for everything so I only needed to have one. And these are the ones. I've used them for everything from rain protection in the summer while kayak camping to skiing/snowboarding in the winter. But as the true all-rounder they are they don't excel at anything. And now that my beloved pants are starting to fall apart on me after intensive use I will get two different pants, one pair for winter use and one for summer. Simply since in the winter while skiing/snowboarding I miss the warmth and protection at the lower back you get from a bib, and in the summer I would like to have something a little softer to wear directly to skin and to not have to deal with the snow gaiter while getting them on/off with boots/shoes on. But if you only want one pair of hardshell pants to use for everything these AR the ones.

I gear up to have the lightest weight, durable-enuff, equipment/gear per outing. That means that my equipment list per outing is going to vary a bit depending on the environment I'm heading into, the duration of the outing, and the tasks I envision are ahead of me. For most of my outings, the Beta AR is burdensome overkill, weighing in at over 500+ grams (I own the size 'Long Tall'). My latest 'stay dry' top 'n bottom shells weigh approx. 200g a piece. Perfect for 70% of my outings where they tag along for just-in-case scenarios. Such was their task this summer when I spent 2 weeks hiking about for my first time in northern Slovenia. Their miniscule weight was really appreciated and they tided me over superbly during one single precipitous event - a 4-hour torrential downpour near Blegos mountain. After Slovenia I did 4 weeks of solo sail&hike off the coast of mainland Dalmatia (southern Croatia). My rain gear saw zero action and again I was happy that the shells weighed a pittance and packed down to next to nothing. However, earlier this year I flew over to Bosnia and did a spur of the moment 6-day solo winter-hike in the hills and valleys surrounding Sarajevo. The weather was awful every day and night and I ended up taking refuge in my Beta AR's most everyday. If I never had them on when I set up camp late in the evening then the first thing I did once I found a spot to pitch my Hilleberg Unna was to pull on my Beta AR's. I put those pants through h*ll during that week in Bosnia (bushwacking, glissading, falling, kneeling on mean ground) and the pants came out in onc unscarred piece whereas any of my just-in-case, gram-weeny shells would have been obliterated. Not only that, but the pants (along with my Beta LT jacket) played a significant role in contributimg to my thermal comfort while both moving and stationary (their materials' relative sturdiness compared to a purely wind resitant weave (ie Squamish) better protected the loft of underlying 'puffies' when the wind hammered me). This spring was miserable in the parts of Scandinavia I usually hang out in; being mostly over cast, day temps in the mid-teens, and lots of nagging precipitation day and night. During this crummy spring I was asked out of the blue to be a guest SERE instructor for somebody's armed forces. I brought along my Beta AR's and ended up donning them throughout near each of the course's 6 days--wearing them un-caringly, and at times subjecting them to rather vicious abuse. Normally, I would be squeamish about such abject punishment of expensive equipment. In this milieu and context however, there was little acceptable room to behave as a pamperer of shiny gear (an otherwise quite acceptable and responsible behaviour when going SUL or UL). The Beta AR's held up faultlessly. Only time I had to baby them was when we instructors built a fire and sprawled out about it for some late evening BS sessions- I couldn't lie to close to the warming fire without risk of melting my Beta AR's. (The regulars all wore mil-issued clothes made of a tight cotton weave.) So - the Beta AR's are good for significant abuse should matters come to that. They keep out the wet and wear most comfortably per design/cut, especially considering that they're made out of a robust and relatively unyieldy material (ie 3-L high denier hard-shell). So-called breathability was never an issue when worn in sub mid-teen (Celcius) climes. In Bosnia I wore thin merino lomg johns and Gamma Rocks under my Beta AR's. During SERE I wore just a pair of synthetic long johns under the Beta ARs. I don't know how the Beta ARs would fare in warmer temperatures as I haven't encountered a fair weathered scenario where a pair of lighter shells wouldn't suffice. I'd only pack these pants if I envisoned wearing them more than carrying them. The belt functions 'unimpingingly' in combo with a backpack's waist belt, imo. The built in gaiter functionality of the pant is brilliant and robust--a feature that proved fantastic when ipostholing about through snow storms in Bosnia.

The panta fit great; love them. Took them on a trip and it was awesome!

Perfect match to my Theta shell. Order easy and delivery fast.

While I am primarily a lift skier, I wanted a trimmer-fitting, minimalistic all-around set of shell pants and am very happy with my Beta AR in XXL Short. These fit true to my other brands without the excess bulk of most modern skiwear designs, I don't feel like a thug with my pants down around my thighs. The fit and the craftsmanship - especially the seams - is superior to any of the other top tier brands I've tried. In fact I sold my Patagonia stuff the week after I got this without any regrets, this is pant that does it all, full three-seasons. And I have been a Patagonia zealot since the late 70s.... The cuffs and internal gaiters are especially nice, the fit everything from bulky race boots to my low hiking boots. Be aware the heavier Goretex is not going to be as quiet as a soft-shell but it is more bulletproof. I was out in semi-freezing rain today and was perfectly comfortable with one layer of SV thermals and an Atom insulator jacket.

I had an older pair of Beta AR pants that finally gave up when I went sliding across some wet granite. I did some repair and lamented having to shell out for another pair of these high quality pants. Once I did my research I realized these were a totally redesigned pant and almost all for the better. I have been snowshoeing and hiking in some brutally cold conditions and with proper layering these pants perform spectacularly. The snow cuffs have kept me snow free while post holing in 1m+ drifts. I have been on long snowshoe hikes with no scrapes or catching of the pants on the snowshoe. They have been warm and dry on rainy days and generally lived up to their performance targets. I find them to go on and off easily. Nice zips and the added fly helps a lot compared to the older version. Pockets are available but low profile so don't look to load them up with bulky gear. Roomy in the waist but the belt cinches nicely without bunching up the waistband. You will not sneak up on anyone in these pants. The material is comfortable but firm so it makes quite a noise when walking and generally moving around. After one and a half seasons of wear they still make noise so I don't think they're relaxing and mellowing out anytime soon. Solid product!

I day hiked in intense rain, wind and 40 degree temps in the pants and was completely comfortable. Very solid feeling. Then I backpacked for 6 days in the Wind River Range and lived in them except for sleeping. Again, cold rain and 45 mph provided a good test - no problems. Finally, some hotter than expected days in the Himalayas this past week (mid-70's) and all I did was vent the legs about 8" with the side zips. I wouldn't want to wear them above 80 degrees, but other than that, I'd wear them any time. These are great pants. I've amortized the cost down to $20 per day already - the rest is gravy! Get a pair. Jeff

I bought these to go with my Theta AR jacket. I use them for hiking and skiing. They are a great all-round pant. The fit is very comfortable, there is no pulling across the thighs or the crotch area, even when climbing/scrambling. The in-built gaiters work a treat for both hiking and skiing. The pants are warm and easy to put on and remove,with boots on. Weight is not really noticeable, but they do rus.tle a bit. Being able to open the leg zips for ventilation is really nice. Great pants, highly recommended.

I use this pant to do everything from snowboarding to hiking. The side zipper ensures easy removal over my crampons when hiking and helps to remove excess heat when my body temperature is up! The powder cuff does an excellent job in keeping the snow out when riding powder on my snowboard. In addition, the adjustable belt helps keep the pants in place (no snow going down by butt!)

Broke in a pair of Beta AR pants with 4 weeks of trekking in the Peruvian Andes (during the rainy season). I really can't praise them enough. First of all, the full length zips on each leg are an amazing feature. Just as you'd expect, they let me quickly pull the pants over my boots when rain came on suddenly, and they let me ventilate effectively when wearing them over extended periods. Fellow trekkers (and guides) using other high-end brands had much more difficulty getting in and out of their pants on short notice, and several suffered small leaks along the length of their zippers, which was not an issue for me. Secondly, the base of each leg has been intelligently reinforced with abrasion-resistant fabric to protect the material from boot scuffs, rocks, and other damage you'd expect to get in rough environments. I couldn't believe how pristine they looked after the punishment I subjected them to. As with everything Arc'Teryx offers, the price is high, but the quality and performance are beyond question.

I purchased these pants for spring skiing and hiking in the back country and just love them. The articulated construction of these pants make it feel like you have worn them forever. With the ability to zip the sides the length of the pant makes them easy to get into and out of even with your boots on. (If you had to!)

Skiing and skinning in the Pacific Northwest can be a little wet at times especially if you perspire a lot as I do. Was tired of being damp and decided to try this pant. Amazingly good, durable, and warm when active on relatively cold days (+10-20F)with a wool base layer. I'm 5'9" and 160 and the medium was actually a bit big but I prefer a fairly slim fit. The Small is perfect.

Beside my Theta jacket, this is my best friend. It is a very well designed product and works perfectly. Been using it for 8 years now and I am very pleased with the product. The long zippers in the legs makes it easy to pull the pants on and off. They are breathing well and even is hot weather is it possible to wear them. The fit is very good and the inserts on the inside prevents wear and tear. Friends of mine using cheaper products are complaining about getting wet and cold due to their pants lack of breathing capabilities. The Beta AR pants are so good I often forget I am wearing them, I just dont want to take them off. Highly recommended! Tom

I'm not easily impressed but I am exceptionally impressed with the Beta AR pants. Extremely well-designed, rugged, and perfectly fitting. Two seasons of primarily on-piste snow skiing and have no doubt they'd excel brilliantly also at mountaineering or trekking. If I were off-piste skiing and/or backcountry in heavy powder I'd get bibs - otherwise these are exceptionally adequate for anything you can do in the snow or rain on or off any mountain. I'll probably have these for life and God willing will replace them if and when the time comes.