Very little to complain about

By ordinaryda1572005 Ranked #1153 - Men's Technical Shells March 4, 2010

I have not had the Arc'teryx Beta LT Jacket long enough to do extensive field testing, however yesterday I took it out for an hour and a half in snowy and windy blizzardy conditions -- you know the kind where it comes down frozen, but then melts on you because the air is not quite freezing. From my limited experience, I am very happy with this shell, and I think I made the right decision to go with one of Arc'teryx's lightest models. My only grip is that there is no way to tighten up the collar and in it extends a bit farther forward than I would like in such conditions, providing a way for some blowing snow to enter and stick to underlying clothing in the sternum area. I was wearing a midweight fleece sweater and smartwool midweight thermal underneath. I was impressed with how dry the shell kept me in those conditions, however I did notice a slight dampness in the sternum area due to the collar. The hood is excellent and provides a couple of cinches on each side to tighten it around the face, which is a necessity in wind. I do wish there was a similar mechanism of adjustment for the collar as well. It would be nice to really be able to tighten it up around the neck to seal out the elements a bit better. It's not that it's bad, it's just that it could be better. In terms of fit, I am 190 lbs and 5'10" tall (with a bit longer torso and bit shorter legs than most people my height). I ordered the XL, which provides just the right ammount of internal volume and mobility to wear a fleece sweater or reasonably puffy down jacket underneath. For me, the length of the shell is perfect, not too short and not too long so it doesn't catch on my rear. I was considering another model of Arc'teryx shell which is basically the same thing, except this one has arm pit vents. I am definitely glad I got this model. Even in the storm I found I was sweating and it was feeling bit humid in there with them initially closed. Unzipping them made a noticeable difference, yet I was still sufficiently protected from the driving snow.

View Details: Arc'teryx Beta LT Jacket - Men's

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes