Arc'teryx Beta Jacket Review

Striking an unmatched balance of storm protection, breathability, and weight, no model can match the overall performance of the Arc'teryx Beta. It's pricey for sure but stands out as the cream of the crop and is our top overall recommendation.

Performance Comparison

Water Resistance

The Beta uses Gore-Tex in a 3-layer construction — a Gore-Tex membrane inside of two thin layers, all sandwiched together. This keeps the rain and snow out while still breathing well enough to expel sweat. After extensive testing, we are confident that this jacket is one of the most stormworthy models we tested.

Even after extended camping trips in the pouring rain, the Beta had the longest-lasting DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating that resisted wetting out more than any other model we tested. In our direct side-by-side comparisons, it excelled in our shower and garden hose tests, keeping us comfortable and dry. It also kept us dry during two dozen days of backpacking, climbing, and ski touring over a very damp autumn in the Pacific Northwest.

The Beta offers an array of well-designed features, which rank highly for their functionality. We appreciate its sleek, low-profile Velcro wrist closures, which minimize the probability that raindrops will go running down your arms. The main front zipper is watertight and sports a minimal but effective internal storm flap to keep water out in even the wettest of storms. The DWR coating holds up incredibly well and is one of the best in our fleet.

This jacket features one of the best overall hood designs with exceptional preservation of peripheral vision. Our testers love its deep hood (which provides more protection) and an extremely functional brim that effectively keeps the rain off the front of the face. The hood design is easy to cinch down. Unlike options with three cinch points (one in the back and two in the front) that tighten independently, this model cinches all three places simultaneously from the same rear cinch.

This basic but incredibly effective hood design performs exceptionally well and is easy to tighten with one hand or two to loosen. The hood easily accommodates most headwear and head sizes, hugging our heads whether wearing a beanie, baseball cap, or nothing at all. The hood is tight to fit over most climbing or bike helmets, though — it can fit, but it depends on the model, and it may not be super comfortable.

Breathability

The Beta uses standard Gore-Tex for its weather protection and is one of the more breathable models in our review. That said, directly comparing the breathability of the Beta to air-permeable models isn't as cut and dry as it sounds.

Air-permeable models have a lower yet static level of breathability. In contrast, the Beta has variable levels of breathability depending on your activity level and environmental factors (like the temperature outside). This fluctuation depends more on how much internal heat gets built-up relative to the air temperature and relative humidity. When we worked hard during hikes, the Gore-Tex breathed better than any model featuring an air-permeable fabric. The Beta takes the cake for general breathability, particularly while in motion and working up a sweat. Still, one potential drawback is that it doesn't feature additional ventilation like pit zips to rapidly dump heat and sweat.

Comfort and Mobility

The Beta has a quiet and soft interior lining that is among the most comfortable in our review. Not all Gore-Tex jackets feel as nice as this one; it is significantly less clammy and sticky than many others and feels great directly against the skin, even when worn with just a t-shirt.

The Beta boasts some of the better overall mobility and range of motion. Our testers love this jacket's slightly longer arm length and nicely articulated sleeves. Even folks who don't have long arms benefitted from this combination of features and design, as the ends of the sleeves don't pull back, even when reaching directly above the head. Though the sleeves are slightly longer than average, all of our testers agreed they never felt bulky or too long, and most folks commented that this aspect made the jacket more comfortable overall.

The Beta is a relatively minimalist jacket that has several small comfort features, like a micro-fleece lining on the top of the inside of the zipper to protect the chin. There is a similar piece of fabric on the back of the neck. This extra material adds comfort and increases longevity by absorbing oil and sweat, reducing the chance of the interior fabric delaminating in an area that gets a lot of wear. We love the slightly more athletic fit, which still allows for effective layering without bunching in the underarms.

The pockets are slightly elevated, so they remain accessible under a pack or while wearing a harness, and their zippers don't pinch while wearing a backpack. However, they aren't so high that they prevented us from using them to warm our hands, making these function-focused pockets among our review team's favorites.

Weight

We weighed the Beta at 10.75 ounces — significantly lighter than most full-featured hard shells — yet it doesn't lack overall weather protection compared to most of these heavier models. This weight reduction is achieved in several ways: there's no additional ventilation besides simply unzipping the primary front zipper. This saves a least a few ounces of materials of zippers and stitching. Arc'teryx also uses a 16mm seam, which is the narrowest in our review.

In addition, the zippers are watertight, enabling this jacket to minimize the size of the storm flap, further saving weight. Even the velcro wrist straps are low profile, minimizing weight without giving up functionality. Though it's not the absolute lightest rain jacket we tested, this model is plenty light enough to satisfy most outdoor enthusiasts. You can buy a model that weighs as little as 6.5 ounces, but you get a lot more performance from the Beta for the additional weight.

Durability

For a sub-11-ounce jacket, the Beta is surprisingly durable. It provides good resistance to tearing and scuffing and is notably tougher than most models of similar or less weight. The longevity of its DWR also impressed our review team; even after a full winter and spring, it's still going strong. Besides the Beta's tight-knit exterior fabric, it offers several features that increase its overall durability. There aren't any seams on the shoulders, which is typically the first place seam tape will pull back due to the pressure of shoulder straps and abrasion.

The inside of the chin area has an additional layer of nylon to combat the wearer's sweat from clogging the pores of the membrane, which can cause it to break down or delaminate prematurely. The Beta is one of the most robust jackets we tested, which is particularly impressive, considering it weighs less than 11 ounces.

Should You Buy the Arc'teryx Beta?

Despite being one of the more expensive jackets in its category, for any demanding or passionate outdoor user willing to spend the extra money, the Beta will surely be worth the price. Offering the best storm protection and among the best freedom of movement, breathability, and comfort, this jacket is tops in our book. From the smaller seam tape, lightweight materials, hood design, and the cut of the garment, it's hard not to be taken with almost any aspect of this jacket, as long as you can stomach the price.

What Other Rain Jackets Should You Consider?