Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket

Summary

This jacket never leaves my pack in the fall, winter and spring. It is a little too heavy for summer so my Beta SL goes with me instead.

It has served me well for everything from backpacking to backcountry skiing. The outer fabric is extremely tough yet it still breathes well. The three pockets are the perfect amount without adding too much weight.

I am 5'11" and 180 lbs and a large provides room for a softshell underneath in the winter without being too large without.

As a disclaimer, I am affiliated with Gore for product testing of Gore-tex products for the purpose of product review and recommendation. I do receive items from Gore for these purposes.

Summary

Well built, but noisy.

If you are willing to pay the extra $$$ for a very well made jacket that will last, then look into this one, or Arc'teryx in general.  This jacket is one of the best tools in my arsenal! Breathes well, water tight, lightweight, and might I say, very slimming yet well fitting. 

Also, this jacket crams to the size of a baseball when storing it in a backpack, but not long-term.

Overall i give it an A+.

I thought that the Arc'teryx products would be priced out of reach until I recently found this jacket on sale. While only color the store had remaining (black) would not be my first choice, the fit and finish looked awesome. The zippers work well and the hood has lots of adjustments for a tailored fit. The inside chest pocket is very handy and the whole thing stuffs down very small.

The Gore-tex Pro shell is very light and although a little on the stiff side. The few times I've had it in the rain, it has performed perfectly.

Although I will kayak with my other shell due to its brighter color on the water, this will be my backpacking go-to shell, as well as what I will probably throw on for just running errands around town due to it being stylish.

Quality appears to be top-notch, but I'll need to report back after I've broken it in a bit.

Very happy with my purchase.

I have had this jacket for a couple of years now. Its only exposure to the conditions was from the house to the store. However, today I decided to use it on my hike at the Congaree National Park.

It was a complete downpour and the jacket kept me dry. I wore it over my fleece and trucked through the swamp without feeling a drop on me. However, when I got back to my vehicle I noticed that some water by the seams of the jacket. Not sure if this was my own perspiration or water that had leaked in.

I also don't know the normal limitations of the Goretex Paclite fabric under a constant downpour. If you're looking for a great backpacking shell that packs really well and is rugged enough not to tear when exposed to rocks/hanging branches, I would recommend this jacket!

This hard shell is sick. Don't go with any other brand if you want quality, dependability, and performance. Teryx is ahead of their time and their stuff is well thought out. I don't give perfect ratings because nothing man-made is perfect.

The Beta AR is simple and doesn't have all of the unnecessary frills that do nothing but add weight. Please note that this jacket is hip length and is a low profile fit...so if you need something longer and looser for boarding, go with a different model.

Elbows and shoulders are reinforced for added durability. The only other brands I trust are Mountain Hardwear and Marmot...but Teryx makes the best waterproof gear that is relatively affordable.

I used mine first time last weekend during a night at the "Pico Oriental" (Venezuela) summit. You do not feel hot inside however the jacket deals temperatures about 35 ºF. using only a T shirt inside.

I like the weight (492 grams) easy to pack. I recommend this product only if you don't have problems because of the noisy material..is like constructed with heavy paper.

Very resistant, light, and fits well. I use it for hiking, sea kayaking and winter camping. High quality product!