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Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket - Women's Review

Even if you live in a maritime climate, this effective and supremely waterproof jacket can reliably see you through the wettest and windiest of storms
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Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket - Women's Review (We enjoyed the Arc'teryx Beta AR for its supreme durability and protection.)
We enjoyed the Arc'teryx Beta AR for its supreme durability and protection.
Credit: Kaylee Walden
Price:  $600 List
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Manufacturer:   Arc'teryx
By Lyra Pierotti, Kaylee Walden  ⋅  Apr 16, 2024
80
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#1 of 9
  • Weather Protection - 30% 9.0
  • Mobility and Fit - 20% 8.5
  • Venting and Breathability - 20% 7.0
  • Weight - 20% 6.9
  • Features and Design - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Arc'teryx Beta AR is an outstanding, do-it-all mountain hardshell. If you're on the hunt for supreme weatherproofing and versatility, this jacket would be a solid choice. It is light enough for year-round mountain use but burly enough for wet winter storms. We would expect this jacket to hold up as a go-to workhorse hardshell for many years. It features a combination of materials—the arms have substantially more durable fabric, and the torso has lighter material to save weight. This jacket is a highly versatile shell that will serve you well on a variety of adventures. See it ranked against other top products in our article on the best women's hardshell jacket.
REASONS TO BUY
Great range of motion
Lightweight for the durability
Great weather protection
REASONS TO AVOID
Shorter torso length
Some features overdone
Boxy fit
Editor's Note: We revised this article on April 15, 2024, to reflect new findings and our opinions of the most recent iteration of this jacket.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Women's Hardshell Jacket
Top Pick Award
Best for Backcountry Skiing
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Top Pick Award
Best for Active Wear
 
Price $600.00 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers
$550.00 at Backcountry
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Check Price at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
$450 List
$449.00 at Backcountry
$320 List
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Bottom Line Burly and still lightweight, with thoughtful features that make it very versatileWith integrated four-way stretch, proprietary breathable fabric and generous underarm zips, this jacket is a dream for uphill movementThe soft feel for a hardshell jacket, delivering comfort and breathability in a comfortable, athletic layerThough not the most affordable hardshell we've tested, its value is high due to its durability and versatilityThis hardshell is rugged and ready for harsh mountain conditions
Rating Categories Arc'teryx Beta AR J... Ortovox Ortler 3L -... Rab Kinetic Alpine... Patagonia Triolet -... Mountain Equipment...
Weather Protection (30%)
9.0
6.5
6.0
8.0
7.0
Mobility and Fit (20%)
8.5
9.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
Venting and Breathability (20%)
7.0
8.5
9.0
8.0
9.0
Weight (20%)
6.9
7.2
7.3
5.6
7.2
Features and Design (10%)
8.0
7.0
6.0
8.0
5.0
Specs Arc'teryx Beta AR J... Ortovox Ortler 3L -... Rab Kinetic Alpine... Patagonia Triolet -... Mountain Equipment...
Measured Weight 13.4 oz 12.8 oz 12.5 oz 16.4 oz 12.9 oz
Material N40d 3L Gore-Tex (body)
N80d 3L Gore-Tex Pro (arms)
100% polyamide outer with polyurethane (Toray Dermizax®NX,) membrane with 100% polyester backer and 85% virgin wool + 15% polyamide details 3L recycled polyester knit face with PU membrane and recycled polyester backer/Proflex 3L 75D 100% recycled polyester Gore-Tex shell with a waterproof/breathable barrier and DWR finish 3 layer DRILITE STRETCH 20D fabric with fluorocarbon free DWR
Pockets 2 handwarmer, 1 internal chest 1 external pocket, 1 upper-arm pocket 1 internal chest, 2 hand 2 external chest, 2 hand, 1 interior mesh bucket 1 internal chest, 2 hand
Pit Zips Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Helmet Compatible Hood Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Category Midweight
regular fit
Midweight
slim fit
Lightweight
regular fit
Midweight
regular fit
Lightweight
regular fit
Drawcords 4 hood, 2 waist 3 hood, 2 waist 3 hood, 2 waist 3 hood, 2 waist 3 hood, 4 waist
Adjustable Cuffs Yes, Velcro Yes, Velcro Yes, Velcro Yes, Velcro Yes, Velcro
Harness and Hip Belt Compatible Yes, high pockets Yes Yes, high pockets Yes, high pockets Yes, high pockets
Two-Way Front Zipper No Yes Yes No No
Length of back, from base of neck to bottom 26 in 27 in 26 in 26 in 28 in
Warranty Policy Practical lifetime warranty - Material or workmanship defects will be replaced or repaired at Arc'teryx's discretion None noted on the website Guarantee covers the original owner with proof of purchase, for the usable lifetime of the product Ironclad Guarantee Fully guaranteed to the original owner against defects in components, materials and workmanship.

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Arc'teryx Beta AR is a burly hardshell for all-around mountain use in wet climates. The Beta series emphasizes versatility, as does the AR subcategory for “All Round.” Not surprisingly, this jacket scored high across all categories with few downfalls, becoming one of our favorite hardshell options.

Performance Comparison


arc'teryx beta ar jacket for women - the beta ar has been a mainstay favorite of our testing team for a...
The Beta AR has been a mainstay favorite of our testing team for a variety of activities in a range of climates, with great mobility for dynamic movement.
Credit: Kaylee Walden

Weather Protection


The Beta AR has consistently been one of the top-scoring jackets in this category, year after year. It is highly stormproof due to both the fabric and construction. The body is made of N40d 3L Gore-Tex Pro, which is slightly lighter weight than the fabric used on the arms: N80d 3L Gore-Tex Pro. This shaves ounces while simultaneously improving durability where it counts.


The Beta AR is exceptionally well designed to withstand harsh mountain weather conditions. The hood adjusts easily and seals well around your head or helmet. The collar provides excellent wind protection when you're not wearing the hood. This was not a feature we felt was necessary in a hardshell, and we thought it added a little weight and complexity, but if you climb often in a hardshell and want to keep the wind out whether or not you have your hood up, this might be the perfect design for you. The hood features four Cohaesive cord lock hood adjustment points, accommodating a variety of head, hat and helmet shapes, and the brim and cinching cord around the face help keep rain and snow out of your face and eyes. The back length is relatively long, ensuring good coverage, and has a drawcord at the waist to keep out drafts.

arc'teryx beta ar jacket for women - the arc'teryx beta ar impressed us across all metrics, but...
The Arc'teryx Beta AR impressed us across all metrics, but especially when it came to weather protection.
Credit: Kaylee Walden

Mobility and Fit


While the Beta is not the lightest or most flexible fabric, it still allows an excellent range of motion, clearly with climbing in mind. The cut of the jacket is generous enough to layer beneath, and the arms are articulated to ensure a good range of motion.


Compared to the other award-winning jackets, this one is a bit stiffer. As such, if you're looking for something that offers a little more burly storm protection and durability yet that still moves well for technical climbing purposes, this might be the right balance for you. Overall, the jacket can feel slightly boxy, with a bit of excess material for most users and most layering systems. But, we did find that the generous fit paid dividends for better movement and the ability to put a down jacket underneath with ease.

arc'teryx beta ar jacket for women - the arc'teryx beta ar is fantastic for hard-won activities like ice...
The Arc'teryx Beta AR is fantastic for hard-won activities like ice climbing, and a true top pick for versatility!
Credit: Lyra Pierotti

Arc'teryx thoughtfully placed the zippered hand pockets high enough to be accessible while wearing a harness. We appreciate that this allows quick access to snacks or navigation tools without slowing down to fiddle with awkward pockets and zippers. Our favorite aspect of Arc'teryx jackets is the way they design the paneling to allow impeccable ease of movement in a type of jacket that otherwise can feel stiff. The Beta AR articulates well in all of the climbing directions we tried, and the hem of the jacket doesn't raise up when you put your hands overhead – a major bonus for continued weather protection while climbing.

arc'teryx beta ar jacket for women
Credit: Kaylee Walden

Venting and Breathability


The Beta AR uses Gore-Tex Pro, which is the heaviest and most protective of the Gore-Tex fabrics. It is a little thicker and more durable and provides an even more effective barrier from storms—but it will not breathe as easily as some other materials. We found that for activities, the superior waterproofing of this jacket could be a double-edged sword and tends to trap perspiration.


The fabric is still impressive as a waterproof/breathable hardshell material, however, and this jacket features long and easily accessible underarm vents to expel excess heat quickly. You can unzip the underarm vents from either end and make the vent hole big or small depending on how much precipitation is falling or how much heat you need to let escape. However, we found that these vents weren't necessarily the easiest to unzip, especially with gloves, due to the stiffer fabric.

arc'teryx beta ar jacket for women - even on warmer days with a lot of uphill, we found that we could...
Even on warmer days with a lot of uphill, we found that we could sufficiently vent heat in the Beta AR.
Credit: Kaylee Walden

Weight


This jacket weighs much less than its long list of added features and protection might suggest. It has a storm collar, underarm zips, and 3-layer Gore-Tex Pro fabric. However, it still weighs in at a respectable 13.4 ounces, low enough to justify taking along for long mountaineering trips.


This is an obvious choice as an all-around hardshell for many mountain sports, many seasons, many climates, many adventures, and many years.


Features and Design


Arc'teryx keeps it relatively simple with the Beta AR, but didn't leave us wanting for much. They have included features which improve the versatility of the jacket without paying a high price in added weight. The one element we wished this jacket had was a two-way zipper, but found that the hem was for the most part short enough to access our tie-in point with ease.


The pit zips help manage the thicker Gore-Tex Pro fabric, allowing you to use this jacket in warmer climates (or lower on the mountain) without fear of overheating. The collar provides excellent wind protection even when not wearing the hood, making it a reasonable choice for windy climates, with or without rain in the forecast.

arc'teryx beta ar jacket for women - the high collar of the beta ar helps to add extra coverage in stormy...
The high collar of the Beta AR helps to add extra coverage in stormy conditions.
Credit: Kaylee Walden

The hood has four cinching adjustment points that ensure a proper fit around any head, hat and helmet shape. The hood's highly effective cinch cord and stiffened brim help keep the weather out of your eyes. This jacket features a “regular” fit instead of a trim, athletic fit. This allows you to layer warm clothing underneath, which is a crucial feature of an all-around hardshell—you can adapt more readily to cold, warm, rain, snow, and any odd mixture of all four. This jacket also has exceptional pockets: two high hand pockets, easily accessible while wearing a harness, and an internal zippered chest pocket, which is a little small for some of today's massive smartphones, but excellent.

arc'teryx beta ar jacket for women - we can access the pockets of the beta ar well even when wearing a...
We can access the pockets of the Beta AR well even when wearing a pack and/or harness.
Credit: Kaylee Walden

Should You Buy the Arc'teryx Beta AR?


The Beta AR is an excellent all-around hardshell. Beyond our positive perceptions of this particular jacket, you can have additional peace of mind knowing that Arc'teryx stands behind the high-quality manufacturing and excellent craftsmanship of their products. In our experience, if well cared for, their jackets will last for years and many adventures to come. So, while expensive, we think if you're willing to splurge on this one, you won't be disappointed.

What Other Hardshell Jackets Should You Consider?


For the ultimate protection in rugged mountainous terrain, we recommend the Arc'teryx Alpha SV, but it'll cost you a bit more. If you're looking to spend a little less for an all-arounder, check out the Patagonia Triolet, which is a great performer across our metrics and a solid choice for most pursuits.

Lyra Pierotti, Kaylee Walden