A Comprehensive Arc'teryx Beta LT Jacket Review

It’s tough to beat the functionality of the Arc’teryx Beta LT, as it’s built for mountain summits. You can rest easy knowing the lightweight jacket has the mountain cred to withstand harsh elements and climates. It features 3L GORE-TEX® that keeps you light, dry, and comfortable no matter the weather.

The Arc’teryx Beta LT is a hiking jacket that aims to blend a rugged shell and a lightweight, packable rain jacket. It succeeds exceptionally at the task. This is the ideal jacket for a trail runner or ultralight thru-hiker. Granted, the jacket does come with one significant downside, the price. It’s an expensive jacket, but is the investment worth the price?

This review delves into the Arc’teryx Beta LT for an extensive overview.

Arc’teryx Beta LT Jacket

Product Details

MSRP: $450 | Weight: 13.9 oz. | Material: 3-layer GORE-TEX | Style: Hiking/Mountaineering

Pros

Exceptional Protection
Durable
Performance Style

Cons

Expensive
Thinner Build

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Arc’teryx Beta LT Jacket Review

Weather Protection

Natasha In The Faroe Islands Wearing the Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket

What sets the Beta LT from most hiking jackets is the robust build. Arc’teryx’s Beta LT jacket features a standard 3-layer Gore-Tex construction. The jacket provides good weather protection with a 40-denier face fabric and proven Gore-Tex waterproofing.

It has a drop hem for added coverage and includes features such as a highly adjustable StormHood, moisture-sealing zippers, glove-friendly cinches at the hem, and rip and stick-closures at the wrists. The collar offers moderate coverage, although it may not be as extensive as on other alpine-ready shells.

Its flexible and lightweight nature means it’s an exceptionally light and packable 3L shell jacket. It does all this without feeling too crinkly or noisy. The one downside is that it is noticeably less robust for those looking for a mountaineering or ski jacket. However, it’s more than enough for most hikers.

I often wear this jacket with a lightweight hiking shirt and never notice any discomfort. Its interior layer provides just enough softness for reliably next-to-skin comfort that feels good on the trail. The soft fleece liner also does an excellent job of absorbing and dispersing moisture away from your body, avoiding a clammy trashbag feeling.

Element Protection

Arc’teryx’s Beta LT jacket features a standard 3-layer Gore-Tex construction, a change from its previous top-end Gore-Tex Pro membrane. This is likely done to replace the previous Zeta line, a very competent line of hiking jackets.

Despite this compromise, the jacket provides excellent weather protection with a 40-denier face fabric and proven Gore-Tex waterproofing. I’ve spent plenty of time hiking in the rain, sleet, and snow. It’s tough to beat the water protection of a 3 L Gore-Tex. Granted, I have felt some moisture in the shoulders and hood in nasty weather. Pretty standard for all but the burliest of shell jackets.

Wind protection is excellent, and it’s become my go-to jacket for quick alpine ascents and scrambles. However, it feels a little airy in heavy alpine winds due to its delicate nature, as the lightweight jacket cools off easier.

It has a drop hem for added coverage and includes features such as a highly adjustable StormHood, moisture-sealing zippers, glove-friendly cinches at the hem, and rip/stick closures at the wrists. The collar offers moderate coverage, although it may not be as extensive as on other alpine-ready shells.

So if you spend a lot of time at elevation, it’s likely best to look at the Beta AR/SV or Alpha line of Arc’teryx jackets. For those of us that remain on the trail, it’s an exceptional jacket for wind protection. It would be an excellent jacket for hikes in rough regions like Patagonia, Scandanavia, and the Pacific Northwest.

Though, its thinner design makes it a questionable choice for multi-season use. It’s an excellent jacket, but if you’re seeking a jacket for summer hikes and winter ski tours, you may want to invest in the AR model.

Packability and Weight

Arc’teryx’s line of clothing LT is short for “lightweight,” so it’s no surprise the jacket is easy to stash in a backpack. It may not include a stuff sack like some of our most beloved packable jackets, but at 13.9 ounces, it’s easy to roll into the hood and store.

The result is a manageable size that doesn’t weigh your pack down. When packed, it is about the size of a large water bottle, and its softness allows it to squish into the nooks and crannies of a backpack easily.

The weight difference is substantial between the Beta LT and AR at nearly 1 lb. In that stat alone, you can tell how much more robust the AR is compared to the LT. However, the jacket is not the lightest on the market. More affordable hiking shells, such as the Outdoor Research Microgravity, come in several ounces lighter with a slight downgrade in performance.

Temperature Management

You’re unlikely to have any issues with the jacket and temperature management in mild temperatures. I’ve regularly worn the jacket when hiking uphill in cool temperatures and rain in comfort. The liner does an excellent job of dispersing heat and moisture away from the body. Pit zips are a great way to dump heat when the temperatures start rising. This is a welcome feature when jacket removal is not an option in inclement weather.

Fit & Sizing

Arc’teryx describes the fit of the Beta LT as trim with enough room for layers. I’ve effectively worn several different mid-layers with the jacket comfortably, including a Cerium LT Down Hoody and Atom LT Hoody. I am 5′ 10″ and weigh 165 lbs and the medium jacket has enough room.

We have tested many Arc’teryx products and find the size slightly more forgiving than most of their trim cuts. The jacket’s cut is extended and sits comfortably underneath a backpack’s hip belt. It supplies decent coverage over your back, and the long drop hem supplies nice coverage.

Fit is easy to adjust thanks to wrist cuffs and an adjustable hem drawcord. The hem drawcord sits nicely around the hips and provides reliable coverage that doesn’t move in windy environments.

StormHood

The Beta LT features the StormHood, a design feature we love from many Arc’teryx jackets. It offers a secure feeling and plenty of protection from the elements, thanks to a single drawcord on the back of the hood. It has a generous enough cut to fit over a helmet comfortably. However, the design does not leave excess material around the face when worn without a helmet.

It’s very comfortable to wear, and the front adjustment cords are easy to adjust, although they’re pretty tough to grip with gloves. I’m often in a hiking hat, but the jacket also features a stiff bill that hangs over the forehead.

A slight downward angle allows for precipitation to fall away from the face. It is a slightly different design than the Beta AR and Alpha jackets, which have a higher collar and stiffer brim for better coverage. Regardless the jacket hood leaves little to be desired for most users.

Zippers, Pockets, & Features

All of the features you could hope for in a shell jacket are in the Arc’teryx Beta AT. It starts with two hand pockets. The two hand pockets are high on the jacket to avoid a backpack hip belt, a welcome feature on the trail.

Notably, the jacket lacks an interior breast pocket that we like to use for our phones or GPS. This is not a problem when wearing a mid-layer in cold weather, but we find it a little problematic for summertime hikes.

Little touches like the small fleece at the top of the zipper and the back of the collar prevent chafing and provide comfort. Another nice feature is the RS zipper sliders. They are Arc’teryx’x innovative zipper design that saves weight and provides reliable weather protection.

The design is not excellent casual wear, as the pocket placement is too high for comfort. For $450, if you’re after a jacket with more lifestyle versatility, you may want to look elsewhere — this jacket is very much about performance. However, it is an excellent match for windy and cold weather.