Arc'teryx  Beta AR Jacket - Women's

After multiple years of non-breathable and pathetic rain jackets, this jacket feels like a 5-star hotel after the trailer park. It breaths and stays dry inside even when my pulse is at 190 and I'm pushing through wet blueberry bushes. The cut is wonderful and it looks great. The hood is the perfect size to fit over my big, round skiing helmet but it sinches down to stay put over my bare head when braving the howling mountain winds. I usually wear a size M in jackets, but I got a Large for Arcteryx because they run a little small and I wanted plenty of room to add down jacket layers underneath. This jacket is well worth the money and has pleased me every time I put it on.

This jacket falls under the "you get what you pay for" adage. I felt incredibly guilty initially after buying it - I've never spent so much on a jacket - but had no regrets after trying it on and hiking in it on one of our frequent cold, wet days. It fits very well, especially the hood, which is the reason I replaced my old Gore-Tex jacket (whose hood never kept the rain out of my face). A fleece fits very nicely underneath for cold days. I've gone through 3 other rain coats in the past several years, so I figure this one will end up paying for itself since it is definitely a keeper!

I love this coat because it's breathable and waterproof. I live in a rainforest; it rains an unimaginable amount here! I just got this coat but so far its holding up very well. The hood is comfortably adjustable to fit a helmet or just my head, without slipping down onto my face and obstructing my vision. Overall the jacket fits great; the gusseted underarms and articulated elbows provide a wide-range of motion without reducing rain-protection. This coat is breathable too. I ride my bike home 4 miles from school; I'm in Hawaii and I don't suffocate. I thought the fuschia might be too pink but it's really more of a deep red. I was happy about that because I don't wear pink. I got this coat on sale, so it was totally worth what I paid for it. The chest pockets instead of hip pockets are a little different but I lose less things so I like them!

I had this jacket for about 18 months. It performs extremely well while I climbed at the Sierra Nevada. It stands the gusty high wind superbly. I typically layered a primaloft jacket under for colder winter days. Also used it for rainy days. No complain. The hood works better than any other jackets I have ever owned. Defintiely a more solid product than Alpha (which I also own)for its intended use.

Anywhere-Anytime jacket! Super functional and even looks great by its self or with clothes layered underneath! I bike with this, hike, ski, and even just take it out on a rainy day! Very dynamic jacket- waterproof, windproof, and has every adjustment/zipper to make it fit any situation. Hard to find a jacket that fits so comfortable, looks awesome, and ultimately works so well!

I needed something more sporty to add to my outerwear collection. This was a beautiful addition. Most athletic wear jackets seem poorly made. Range of movement is surprising. Well thought out construction- great pockets and fabulous closures at the wrist. Am dropping hints to my husband for a second color.

My old winter coat was a Marmot, which served me very well - but I have to say that the Beta AR jacket has won me over to the Arc'Teryx brand. I've worn this in wet conditions and the pit zips are a godsend when you need to cool down a bit and vent the interior. In cold and windy conditions, I wear the Beta AR over a fleece and some good baselayers. The pockets are up high (which I prefer) so they serve more as handwarmers. The jacket is slightly fitted so you'll look good wearing it casually around town, even if you need to go a size larger to accommodate the times you'll wear a fleece or layers underneath. Plus it's pretty lightweight - easy to stuff in a pack. I was concerned that the fuschia color would be too glaringly pink, but the amount of compliments I've received in this jacket have put a rest to those fears. The cuffs feature a velcro closure, not elastic. And FYI, the hood is not removable, but it is adjustable and hangs low enough to cover your hat or helmet. Overall it's a fabulous jacket and worth the price tag. [...]

I wore this on a 3 day canoeing trip in the Boundary Waters and LOVED it. It was worth every penny. I never got wet and was warm and comfortable the entire time.

I love this jacket.

This jacket is the nicest Gore-Tex I've ever owned. I originally bought the Beta SL because I wanted something as light as possible, but I ended up exchanging it for this one: the AR is a better jacket, it fits better, and unlike most of the SL line, it is still made in Vancouver, Canada (my hometown -- check out Arc'teryx's factory store in North Van if you are in the area, although to be honest it is often possible to get stuff for the same price by shopping around online in the US). This jacket is somewhat tailored, but is cut fairly wide and large for layering. I am a M according to Arc'teryx's size charts, and my M allows me to wear a down vest/jacket underneath in that lovely NW Coast rainy-freezing hypothermia weather. But the jacket looks a little big without bulky underlayers, so for 3-season use, I think I could have sized down, except possibly for the length. I love the pocket placement; you can still get into them under a climbing harness. I would say this jacket is best for medium-output backcountry trips in fairly harsh weather; it's bulkier and less breathable than anything I'd want to wear running or cycling, and if you are resort-skiiing/boarding you can just wear something cheaper and heavier. I would be interested in knowing how it compares to the Alpha SV (which is supposedly more bomb-proof, but I don't have any complaints about the Beta AR). As with almost all Arc'teryx products, this jacket is so well made that it will probably make your other outdoor clothing look a bit shoddy.