The Good:
- Pockets are very usable and large.
- The hood really is the most adjustable, form-fitting hood I have ever used. When it is pushed backward, it is nearly unnoticeable.
- Feels like you don't have a jacket on; doesn't restrict arm motion.
- Can definitely be used in the warmer months as a rain jacket. Again, not too heavy and very packable.

The Bad/Surprising:
- Small complaint. Since the jacket does not have a piece of fabric to cover the zipper (i.e. the zipper is always visible), when zipped all the way up, the zipper tends to sway back and forth and can hit you in the chin. I took the nylon-cord-zipper-pull off the zipper and it seems to help, but a less swingy zipper would be nice. I know, small compliant.
- The most surprising thing about this jacket is the size of the neck opening. It is larger than any other jacket I have owned and really necessitates the wearing of a puffy insulating layer to plug up the wind. I have a medium jacket and if I flatten out the neck hole, the opening measures 11.50" in length (about 23" in circumference). The larger neck opening is noticeable when wearing the jacket with a thin polypro underlayer with windy conditions.
- Ski helmets fit great under the hood.

Other Notes:
- The jacket is short, but not super short. To give some perspective for sizing, I am 5'6" and about 170 lbs and I fit into a small, but opted for a medium in order to comfortably fit an insulating layer.
I'm really very happy with this jacket.

Nice jacket, but I did not like the length. All my fleeces would show below the hemline. I don't recommend for skiing.

I think I made a great decision on my first Gore-Tex coat. So far it's kept me warm and dry,

I have had this jacket for a little over two weeks now and I love it. The fit is amazing...the description and some other reviews say that it is a "jacket" fit but I found that it actually has a decent length. I have been using for skiing the worst Mid-West conditions imaginable, mostly rain and 40-50 degree weather and it breathes like no other, I haven't gotten clammy yet. I have also found that all you need is a light insulating layer underneath for perfect warmth, I have a Patagonia R2 jacket and when the two are paired.....nice and toasty even with a 0 dergee wind chill. You really do get what you pay for with this company.

Great jacket. I'm 5-9 and 160lbs. Small fits well even over a light fleece and down vest. I found the med a bit large. Hood fits over my climbing helmet, and packs small and tight. Waist length works out well for hiking. Sometimes prone to powder entry on deep backcounty ski days, but I usually use it for hiking in the winter. No complaints.

I've had my Beta AR for a little over a year now and it is great. It held off weather skiing in Ontario and entire weeks of rain in New Jersey with ease. Arc'teryx gear may be expensive, but it's still made in North America. The Beta AR has all of the standard features of today's all purpose hardshells without superfluous features to get in the way. Every exterior zipper is waterproof and the materials used are more substantial than in other Gore-tex XCR jackets of similar weights. At 18 oz, I have no regrets replacing my less-than waterproof Marmot Precip as weather protection on backpacking trips, the guaranteed weather protection is worth the extra 5 oz.

This jacket is exactly what I've been looking for: minimalist, bombproof, and a thoughtful design. I love the fit and the shorter length. It laughs off rain and wind, so I'm eager to try it out on Rainier this summer. The only downside is the retail price, so do what I did and find one on sale. Thank you BackcountryStore.com!

Excellent hardshell jacket. The fit and make of the jacket is perfect. It's very lightweight and durable, and the shorter length is great for trail running, climbing, snowshoeing, etc. This jacket, a Marmot Sharp Point jacket (softshell), and some Patagonia R series insulation is all I need for year round conditions. Highly recommended!

I bought my Beta AR about a month ago and couldn't be happier. The jacket is very light and seems virtually indestructible. I have used it several times now for skiing, both in-bounds and in the backcountry and it's proven to be everything that it claims. My initial hesitation on this jacket was the shorter "jacket" cut, since I was coming from a longer parka. But, I was pleasantly surprised by the extra length in the back, which honestly is where you need it most. So, it turned out fine in that department. Great pockets, great hood, great fit. Thanks for the great deal and awesome service.

This was obviously a well thought out jacket. The quality is no less than what I'd expect from Arc'teryx. The design is simple and streamlined. Wear this shell over the Gamma MX jacket and you should be set for most of your backcountry activities. Thanks to the staff at Backcountry for excellent customer service and quick shipping.

This is the best Jacket I've ever seen. Very light weight and durable fabric can give us to stay more comfortabe at any circumstances. Highly recommended to U!

Our order was exactly what we wanted and at a competitive price. Fast shipping, too.

After having received excellent service and quick shipping, I would have to say that this jacket and website rock! The jacket really does live up to its premium billing. I had the jacket out during a downpour and the jacket just laughed off the rain. I especially like the pit zips. They do a fantastic job of keeping the air moving and cooling the wearer down. The jacket is made to fit close to the body but still have lots of room in chest and shoulders. Anyone looking for an impenetrable and athletically designed piece of outerwear, the Beta is for you.

The Beta is a very light jacket. I purchased this because I was tired of the bulky and heavy parka's. I am currently living in northern Michigan and winters here can be brutal. Wind chills down to -25F. This jacket just laughs at the wind! I love it! I combine it with some long underwear and a fleece pullover,the Beta is the outer shell. It's incredible!

I recently purchased the beta AR Jacket, it's incredibly light and fully functional. Gore-Tex XCR is great! This jacket is a great investment if you want to keep dry and warm. I would recommend this to anyone.

This jacket is super, only the Alpha LT may be as nice. But only few colors available for the Alpha LT – with a warm fleece underneath this jacket is fantastic…so nice that I have three of them! Well, all Arc’teryx jackets and pants are fantastic! The Best!

One of the most advanced jackets on the market. It has an excellent fit and great material!! Arcteryx is not No.1 for nothing!!

I took this shell out to Colorado for several days of skiing, with conditions ranging from clear sunny days to windy white-out conditions (hello, Breckenridge). Fantastic shell, it keeps out the elements and carries all my stuff in well-positioned pockets.

I have had my shell on multiple 14,000ft peaks in Colorado, winter mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies, skiing in the backcountry, and hiking in summer thunderstorms. This jacket is absolutely worth every penny if you are looking for something windproof/waterproof and very light look no further! Can't beat Arc'teryx quality, nothing compares.

This is a great jacket, waterproof zips, extremely tight seam allowances, and Gore-Tex XCR to boot. However I found the fit to be interesting. I got this jacket because it was a shorter jacket, and I’m a short guy. However it has a really pronounced hour glass shape. It is tighter at the bottom and really broad at the top. Almost like it was made for the dad from the Incredibles. Unfortunately I do not have his physique. I would check out the measurements before you buy the jacket, which I ended up returning since it did not fit right. However great company, great philosophy, and great product.

I just put my Beta through the ringer. I tested it for the first time last weekend on a trip up to Sedona, Flagstaff, and then the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Temperatures were into the 20's and winds were moving stiff with gusts up to 50 mph at the rim. I had some Patagonia cap3, a polartec fleece and the Beta. It took all of it in stride and I never once felt chilled. Then when I spilt my coffee, the Gore XCR said, 'get outta here' and it bounced right off. In short...... the best shell thats ever been in my closet. If your thinking about it, just get it and thank me later.

After about a month using the Arc'teryx Beta AR jacket, I must say I'm quite impressed. The waterproofing is incredible (expect nothing less from GoreTex XCR) and the fit is absolutely perfect. I've taken this guy biking several times in the cold rain and havent been let down yet.

Note that this is a shell ONLY (no insulation), is a short cut (by no means close to a parka) and is made to be lightweight. Some might find the pricetag high for what it does, but keep in mind that this jacket does what it does EXTREMELY well, and that the pit zips are a huge bonus (they seem hard to find in jackets of this type these days...)

I've only had this jacket for a month, and have not yet put it through the numbers... but for what I've asked of it, it has delivered.

Bottom line: Only buy this if you're gonna use every penny you pay for it.