Arc’teryx simply launched the model new Arc’teryx Beta SL rain jacket – their lightest Beta rain jacket to this point. This summer time I’ve been testing it whereas mountaineering in heavy thundershowers, and it’s carried out superbly. It’s stored me bone dry, is comfy to put on, and has all the options that I search for in a stable rain jacket.
Arc’teryx can also be making environmental strides with the Beta SL by eliminating the usage of perpetually chemical substances (PFCs) which are nearly at all times current in rain gear.
However the Arc’teryx Beta SL isn’t low-cost. At $500, it’s some of the costly rain shells available on the market. That results in the query – is it well worth the worth?
On this Arc’teryx Beta SL evaluation, I’ll share what I really like, what may very well be improved, and whether or not this is likely to be a sensible choice in your adventures.
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Arc’teryx Beta SL Overview
Specs
The place to purchase
Professionals
Cons
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Technical Options
The Arc’teryx Beta SL has all the technical options I take into account to be important in a rain jacket. Listed below are a few of my favourite issues about this rain jacket.
Building
On the REI web site, the supplies for the Arc’teryx Beta SL are listed as this:
3L 40-denier x70-denier GORE-TEX ePE with C-KNIT backer know-how, FC0 sturdy water repellent (DWR)
If that feels like a overseas language (ummmm sure), I’m going to interrupt all of this jargon down so that you perceive precisely what this rain jacket is fabricated from earlier than I get into my full evaluation.
3-layer GORE-TEX consists of three separate items of cloth – the outer material, a membrane, and a backer (the layer subsequent to your pores and skin) which are adhered collectively.
The outer layer is fabricated from 40-denier x 70-denier GORE-TEX. The denier ranking refers back to the thickness of the material. A decrease denier is lighter and extra versatile, whereas a better denier is thicker, stiffer, and extra sturdy. 40-denier is fairly commonplace for a rain jacket. To extend longevity, the Arc’teryx Beta SL is bolstered with 70-denier in areas which are almost certainly to expertise friction, just like the shoulders that rub towards your backpack straps.
The center membrane layer is fabricated from GORE-TEX ePE (expanded polyethylene). ePE is a brand new materials that was created to part out the usage of fluorocarbons (PFCs/PFAS) – in any other case often known as perpetually chemical substances – which are quite common in waterproof attire. The brand new PFC-free ePE membrane is a extra eco-friendly different that gives the identical waterproofing properties.
Within the Arc’teryx Beta SL, the backer is fabricated from C-Knit. I’ve discovered this light-weight nylon material to be versatile and tender towards the pores and skin. Research present that it has larger wicking capability than different materials generally used as backers, contributing to the breathability of the jacket.
Lastly, the jacket has a FC0 sturdy water repellent (DWR) end. You could marvel why you want a DWR end when the material itself is waterproof. The DWR end helps water bead up on the surface of the jacket so the outer layer of GORE-TEX doesn’t get saturated, generally known as “wetting out”. With no DWR end, you’d nonetheless keep dry beneath, however the GORE-TEX would moist out, compromising the breathability of the jacket.
Just like the ePE membrane, the FC0 DWR end can also be PFC-free, making this jacket extra environmentally pleasant than most different rain gear available on the market.
My Expertise with the Arc’teryx Beta SL
The Arc’teryx Beta SL is a high-performing rain jacket designed for the harshest climate. In my evaluation under, I share some issues which have stood out as I’ve been testing this jacket.
Waterproof Efficiency
It’s been a moist summer time right here in Park Metropolis, so I’ve had an opportunity to check the Arc’teryx Beta SL on a number of wet day hikes. I additionally took it to a music pageant on the east coast the place we received caught out in a torrential thunderstorm.
It’s no shock that this jacket carried out exceptionally effectively even after being out in a heavy downpour for a number of hours. I didn’t expertise any seepage by way of the three layered GORE-TEX, zippers, or the absolutely taped seams.
I instantly observed the water beading up because of the PFC-free FC0 DWR end. It’s necessary to notice that DWR finishes do put on off with time and have to be reapplied. Different evaluations of FC0 DWR, particularly, recommend that it must be reapplied extra often than DWR finishes containing dangerous PFCs. As somebody who is worried concerning the surroundings, this appears to be a worthy trade-off.
The excessive collar and structured brim on the entrance hood additionally did an excellent job of conserving the water off of my face and out of my eyes. The hood is absolutely adjustable with a set of drawstrings on the neck and likewise on the again of the hood. I tightened these drawstrings and received the right match, and the hood didn’t block any of my peripheral imaginative and prescient.
Packability
Within the identify Arc’teryx Beta SL, “SL” stands for tremendous gentle, and it’s one of many main promoting factors of this jacket. Not solely is the lightest rain jacket within the Arc’teryx Beta lineup, nevertheless it’s additionally a number of ounces lighter than the competitors.
The ladies’s model weighs a mere 10.6 ounces. To check with different 3-layer rain jackets, the Out of doors Analysis Aspire weighs 13.93 oz, and the Mountain Hardwear Trailverse, which doesn’t have any pit zips, weighs 16 oz.
One other characteristic I really like is you may flip the hand pocket inside out and stuff all the jacket within the pocket. You’ll be able to’t zip the pocket closed, nevertheless it’s a straightforward technique to preserve the jacket contained in a pleasant, small bundle inside your pack so it doesn’t take up an excessive amount of room.
On a brief day hike, this may not make that a lot of a distinction, however if you’re backpacking or touring together with your mountaineering gear, all of these ounces add up. The efficiency, mixed with the packability of the Arc’teryx Beta SL, I’ll most definitely be grabbing this over my different rain jackets anytime weight issues.
Breathability
I’ve but to strive a rain jacket that I take into account actually breathable. It doesn’t matter what rain jacket I’m sporting, as soon as it stops raining and the solar comes out, I are likely to get sweaty rapidly.
With that mentioned, the ePE membrane and the C-KNIT backer in Arc’teryx Beta SL have been designed to make the jacket as breathable as a rain jacket will be.
When it was raining and 60 levels, I felt nice and by no means received swampy contained in the jacket. I’ve discovered the Arc’teryx Beta SL jacket to be extra breathable than my Out of doors Analysis and North Face rain jackets.
When it stopped raining, I opened the massive pit zips that helped me air out. Nonetheless, as soon as the solar got here out and the temps rose to the higher 70s, I rapidly overheated and needed to take the jacket off.
In actuality, this jacket isn’t designed to be worn on heat, sunny days. So so long as you persist with its meant function, the breathability shouldn’t be a significant subject.
Sturdiness
I’ve solely had the Arc’teryx Beta SL for a short while, so I can’t but communicate to long-term sturdiness, but when my expertise with my different Arc’teryx items is any indication, I believe this jacket goes to final a really very long time.
I personal Arc’teryx ski pants, a fleece mid-layer, mountaineering pants, and an insulated jacket, and the standard and sturdiness of those items appears far above what’s commonplace within the out of doors business.
The 40 denier x 70 denier material of the Arc’teryx Beta SL is designed to resist plenty of abuse whereas mountaineering, tenting, and on a regular basis out of doors actions. I’ve additionally held my canine on this jacket and her sharp little claws haven’t brought on any harm.
Now, in the event you’re backcountry snowboarding and also you clip a tree, I can’t make any guarantees. If that feels like one thing you may do, then the Arc’teryx Beta AR is likely to be a greater possibility.
The principle zipper is lined to forestall snagging, and the zippers are all steel and simply glide alongside their paths.
This jacket may be very straightforward to scrub since it may be thrown within the washer. I’d advocate utilizing Nikwax Tech Wash which is designed particularly for GORE-TEX merchandise. Simply ensure to comply with the instructions on the Arc’teryx web site – no bleach, no material softener, don’t dry clear, and so forth. Not following directions can harm the waterproofing.
Consolation
I discover the Arc’teryx Beta SL to be very comfy. With some rain jackets, I don’t prefer to put on short-sleeved shirts beneath as a result of the fabric will be scratchy, however with this jacket, the C-Knit backer is tender towards my pores and skin.
Proper the place the jacket hits your chin, there may be additionally strip of soppy material alongside the within of the zipper that stops the zipper from rubbing towards your pores and skin.
The jacket isn’t too stiff, and I’ve full vary of movement after I’m mountaineering. I don’t really feel restricted in any manner.
The 2 hand pockets are sufficiently big to simply and comfortably match my total hand, together with some other necessities I want fast entry to.
I’m docking half a star as a result of the jacket is a bit noisy. It’s not as unhealthy as a few of my different jackets, together with my outdated Arc’teryx Beta AR, however I would really like it if I couldn’t hear it in any respect.
Match
Arc’teryx is understood for making attire with an athletic, slimmer reduce. This holds true with this jacket.
I’m 5’5″ and 140 kilos. The ladies’s medium was a bit too tight, so I made a decision to get a big. The big is a bit baggier than I desire, however I needed to have the ability to layer beneath if I determine to put on it in winter.
There are two cinch cords alongside the underside hem you could pull to tighten the underside of the jacket, in order that does assist compensate for it being a bit large. This additionally lets you regulate the airflow that is available in from the underside of the jacket.
The sleeves are the right size. They’re lengthy sufficient to cowl a part of my palms and have a velcro strap to tighten the hand cuffs.
I’ve talked concerning the hood already, however I really like how the hood is spacious sufficient to suit a helmet or a winter hat with a pom, however it may be cinched right down to the scale of my head too. The hood is certainly one of my favourite elements of this jacket.
Lastly, I really like the size. The again measures 28″ and is lots lengthy to cowl the highest of my pants.
Verdict: Is the Arc’teryx Beta SL well worth the worth?
Should you often hike and backpack within the rain and want a stormproof jacket that may stand as much as the worst sorts of circumstances, then I do assume the Arc’teryx Beta SL is well worth the worth. Sure, $500 is loopy costly, however this ought to be the final rain jacket you must purchase for a really very long time.
It’s lighter than the competitors, permitting you to shave a number of ounces out of your load, and this rain jacket is about as eco-friendly as they arrive. The adjustable hood with it’s stiff brim is considerably higher than your common rain jacket. Lastly, the in-built RECCO® reflector may find yourself saving your life in the event you get misplaced or have an accident within the backcountry.
In case you are a good climate hiker and solely day hike within the rain a few times a 12 months, then I’d recommend one of many cheaper alternate options I hyperlink to under.
The place to Purchase
The Arc’teryx Beta SL is on the market now at REI as an REI Member unique by way of 9/30/24. After that, you don’t need to be a REI Member to buy. Find out about all the REI Member advantages right here.
The good thing about shopping for at REI is you’ll get 10% again within the type of Member rewards. Meaning you’ll get $50 in REI credit score to use in the direction of another gear buy. REI additionally presents a 100% satisfaction assure and a 1-year return coverage. Meaning if the jacket simply isn’t understanding, you may return it and get your a reimbursement.
Arc’teryx Beta SL Alternate options
If the Arc’teryx Beta SL isn’t a very good match for you, listed here are a number of different light-weight rain jackets to contemplate.
Extra Out of doors Attire Suggestions
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Do you personal any Arc’teryx clothes? Do you have got questions concerning the Beta SL? Let me know within the feedback under.
