Arc’teryx Beta AR Jacket

The Beta AR has been a staple of Arc’teryx’s hard shell lineup for over 20 years. As the name suggests (AR for All Round), this jacket is built for versatility - hiking, skiing, mountaineering and almost everything in between. It’s a true workhorse, and while there are certainly cheaper alternatives out there, I’ve been really impressed with the Beta AR, and plan to keep it in my shell rotation for the foreseeable future.

Arc’teryx’s Beta line has become a little confusing in recent months. As of this writing in February 2022, there are no less than 6 models available: Beta, Beta LT, Beta LT Hadron, Beta Long, Beta AR, and Beta SV. Of these models, if you’re in the market for a versatile shell, I’d narrow it down to 2 picks: the non-Hadron Beta LT, and Beta AR. The Beta LT (LT for Lightweight) is probably the best bet for most people for moderate use, especially since the brand revised it in 2021 to include pit zips. But I went with the Beta AR because of a few noticeable differences:

1. I wanted a jacket with a separate collar and hood construction (Arc’teryx calls this a DropHood). I find it’s useful and practical when wearing midlayers without hoods underneath, which I do fairly often. It’s also quite useful when you want to easily shield your face without having to deal with a hood. I don’t think a DropHood is better than a one-piece construction (in Arc’teryx terms, a StormHood) overall, but since I have other shells with StormHoods, it made sense to switch it up here.

2. The hybrid Gore-Tex Pro construction. Burlier 80d fabric is used for high-abrasion areas like the shoulders, while more supple 40d fabric is used throughout the rest of the body. It makes the jacket more comfortable and less crinkly through the body. I also think it looks cool, which means it accomplishes both form and function.

3. The Beta AR includes an interior chest pocket, which was removed from the most recent Beta LT revision.

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Like almost all of Arc’teryx’s pieces, the design and construction here is top notch. I love the two-tone, angular design, and the cut is roomy enough to easily allow for a midlayer like a Patagonia Down Sweater underneath. That said, you won’t find me wearing the Beta AR on city streets; I’ll leave that for those in the techwear scene. The only thing I would change about the Beta AR’s design is the same thing I would change about every Arc’teryx piece I’ve ever owned - sleeve length. They aren’t egregiously long here, and I can appreciate that they were designed this way for maximum versatility, but they still look goofy on me unless I’m really packing on the mid layers.

Okay, on to performance. As you may know, I’m not a serious outdoorsman, but I’ve put the Beta AR through its paces this past winter over several hikes and snowshoe adventures. Weather conditions during these trips ran the gamut from sunny to rainy to blowing snow. I’m sure I could have gotten away with standard (non-Pro) Gore-Tex, but regardless, this jacket performed as expected (that is to say, marvellously). It protected me from the elements as well as any hard shell could, and never hindered my mobility. Breathability was good, but there’s only so much you can do with the Most Rugged variation of Gore-Tex Pro used here - you’ll need to make use of the two-way pit zips to dump heat. The hand pockets are well-sized and utilize the brand’s WaterTight zippers, which means they close up as tight as possible to prevent water entry, without the need for a zipper garage. And so far, the DWR has held up through the winter, which has included a couple of washes.

Honestly, if you’re like me and don’t do any serious outdoor mountaineering activities, Gore-Tex Pro is overkill. But if you know you need it, the Beta AR is a standout generalist hard shell. It’s certainly not the value-driven option - pieces like the Mountain Hardware Exposure/2 or Patagonia Pluma are great (and cheaper) alternatives. And if you’re not sold on Gore-Tex, in-house membrane options from Outdoor Research (AscentShell) and Black Diamond (BD.dry) might be worth looking into. But for me, the Beta AR has become my winter workhorse, and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon.

Verdict: Everything you need, nothing you don’t (except about an inch of sleeve length!)

The WaterTight zippers really do get right up there.

The DropHood, fully zipped up.

The hood is highly adjustable - two points at the back and two at the front.

Microsuede lining at the chin for comfort.

Branding includes the Arc’teryx logo and a colour-matched Gore-Tex Pro logo on the left arm.

The hem drops at the back, which is great.

Here’s the interior chest pocket, which is large enough to hold most regular-sized phones.

The cuffs use a simple velcro closure for adjustment.