Arc'teryx Beta LT vs Arc'teryx Zeta AR

I'Ll go into that in the fabric section, so it's designed primarily for hill and mountain use. It's tough! It's durable! It's lightweight! It's highly...

Arc generally makes the most durable hardshells (as long as one isn't getting paclite), but their fleece or insulation isn't automatically also more durable (especially if one is getting the lightweight options).

So this size large fits me beautifully to keep the weight down. Our Tech's have kept the features down. So don't expect a lot of bells and whistles wi...

So you can stash it in your backpack and just take it out with you when you're not really sure what the weather's going to do. So the zita ar uses a g...

Arcteryx make the best jackets. This is my second Beta LT after giving my first one to a good friend. Excellent product, kept me warm and safe during several mountain ultra marathons.

This means no down jacket, since it doesn't breath well, as well as no Atom AR since you will get too hot.

In all honesty, I’m the type of user who isn’t hard enough on their gear to require the robustness of the Beta AR, I’m currently only doing weekend hikes so being super UL isn’t my religion, I only have hooded midlayers so I was concerned about the Beta AR hood (though I admit it’s cool), I don’t deal with a lot of snow so having something as bomber as an SV would be overkill, I don’t climb so I don’t gravitate to the Alpha line, I like pit zips so I didn’t go with the Beta LT/FL (though I almost did), I really like the quieter/softer C-Knit even if it means I have to wash it more (helps with using this more casually), and it’s actually pretty packable as I compared it to the Zeta SL and found it folds down nearly as much in my pack.

In all honesty, I’m the type of user who isn’t hard enough on their gear to require the robustness of the Beta AR, I’m currently only doing weekend hikes so being super UL isn’t my religion, I only have hooded midlayers so I was concerned about the Beta AR hood (though I admit it’s cool), I don’t deal with a lot of snow so having something as bomber as an SV would be overkill, I don’t climb so I don’t gravitate to the Alpha line, I like pit zips so I didn’t go with the Beta LT/FL (though I almost did), I really like the quieter/softer C-Knit even if it means I have to wash it more (helps with using this more casually), and it’s actually pretty packable as I compared it to the Zeta SL and found it folds down nearly as much in my pack.

However, if you care about every ounce and packability, go for something with down. I like the Uniqlo packable down hoody. It's a few ounces lighter than the Arc'teryx and packs down smaller.

Through hikers wouldnt use them, 400g's is a lot of weight. Which is why they made the zeta fl. but the through hikers are generally frugal af and wouldnt spend 420 on a shell, thus frogtoggs.

I’m a size 36 waist, which sometimes suggests a size L, and I sometimes find myself between Arc sizes with broader cut pieces like the Fission SV or LEAF Cold WX LT fitting me better in a L. Certain fleeces like the Delta LT and Kyanite LT also fit me best in a L, so I had some concerns the Acto FL might be a bit too baggy, but it is a very trim cut piece and ultimately fits exactly how I wanted it to.

I really wanted to like this jacket and received it as a gift. Loved the cobalt blue color, material is great, but the sizing is awful. The sleeves are way too long, even when downsizing to a size Small from my typical medium fit. Other arcteryx jackets fit well

Like nearly every 3-layer Arc’teryx shell we’ve tested, the Beta LT is quite formidable in rowdy conditions: its 40-denier face fabric and proven Gore-Tex waterproofing have effectively blocked everything from wet and slushy snowfall to strong gusts blowing off of alpine lakes. Further, the drop hem keeps the shell in place under a pack and offers just enough coverage for uses like winter and shoulder-season hiking and on shorter and less intensive ski touring days. It did feel lighter, more delicate, and less bombproof when worn back to back with Arc’teryx’s upgraded Beta AR (which uses 40 and 80D Gore-Tex Pro), but I haven’t had any failures to date. To help seal out the elements, the Beta LT comes with a nice array of thoughtful and protective features

Love this rain jacket. The features are very well designed. Wears well without being noisy during movement