Arc'teryx Beta AR Pant

My first Arc'teryx hardshell.
Let's see if it fits the bill...

Haven't used it that much on purpose since hardshells are my last resort, especially when it comes to pants. Why?

Well, primarily because of the extra weight and secondly because of the whole process of getting in and out of in the field.

I think of hardshells like a pair of crampons: use them only when needed and not for the whole duration of the hike. Hardshells are the bane for many hikers because they usually don't work the way they are supposed to and eventually get you clammy or even wet if it fails and water finds it's way inside.

Not that case with Beta AR!

I usually go with 32-inch waist and 30-inch inseam (short leg), but this time taking account the rigidity of the hardshell along with the fact that this would be an extra layer over my pants and ordered the 33-inch waist short leg (so 31-inch I guess) and it fit great.

On the outside it seems baggy but functionally it offers me a wide range of movement without hindering me. Maybe I could have gotten away with even less weight by getting the 32x30 inch, but didn't want to get to the whole return process if it didn't fit, especially since I got it on sale.

The pant features a partly elasticated waist for a snug fit and an excellent sturdy belt with aggressive thread pattern and a light plastic buckle to keep the weight down.

The times that I've use Beta AR were with light to very light precipitation, dry weather, sunny weather, and foggy weather with a side of hail to make things interesting.

As far as breathability is concerned I was basically dry! For real! OK not 40% humidity bone dry but comfortable enough to forget about wearing it at all. To get into perspective: If I was to put it on under ideal conditions (indoors) I would probably get 10-15% more humid than without wearing it based on the barely noticeable condensation on the inside. So the Gore-tex Pro did the trick for me.

And when the wind picked up I stayed warm enough with just my Columbia Titanium Pants underneath and a pair of Saxx. Then again I run hot but my experience was positive nonetheless.

I haven't found any documentation by Arc'teryx about this but to further enhance the snow gaiter's performance I used a bicycle break cable along with a stainless steel double barrel cord lock on the holes of the outer fabric alone (not on the snow gaiter, might rip) to keep the pant from riding up when in fresh snow. Now maybe I'm doing this wrong and that's not the correct use of those holes or maybe I should have also used the inner gaiter's holes but some snow gets in sometimes.

The weight is almost 1/2 kilo which is normal I guess given it's a Gore-tex Pro and not a Paclite hardshell.

There is a waterproof two-way zipper on each leg that facilitates easy in and out access and/or venting.

In my opinion this is a plus since you get less entry points for the rain water and you keep the weight down but for some others this might not do.

Background

I bought this Beta AR shell almost three years ago and I've used it on and off for two winters approximately in soft and firm snow, in light rain and hail.

Overall, very happy with it.

These rain paints work well in all conditions. The Gore-tex Pro shell has excellent breathability. The pants are durable and well constructed. The built-in gaiters keep out snow and mud. The coated zippers keep water out and allow added ventilation if needed.

These pants are keep out driving rain and snow and are the best all around outerwear for travel in wet and cold conditions. The pants keep you warm in camp and breath on the trail — layering is easily accomplished as the pants are large enough to permit this. I have traveled through thorns (albeit nervously), however these pants came out without a mark.

Bottom line: A+ best rain pants hands down for trekking in wet mountain conditions.

These pants are great for any wet conditions. The Arc'Teryx Beta AR Pants have articulated knees for easy movement going up or down the mountain. They have performed excellently mountaineering, skiing, and in the rain. Arc'Teryx clothing seems to be the most well built compared to all other outdoor gear. The downfall is you pay for the quality.

Another well made product from Arc'teryx. I'm a 34 waist and bought the large. The fit is good with room for layering and still have room for movement. Zippers are great and plenty of ventilation.

This is a very good product.