Arc'teryx Men's Beta AR Jacket

BETA is BETTAH!
I'm A GORE-TEX Mt. Tech. Meaning that I get to test a lot of awesome jackets and clothing. And while I do not get paid, I am often able to keep the gear after the testing concludes. Regardless of all that, and in spite of it, this jacket will serve you day in and day out. It's very light weight and it's a good, athletic fit.Not overly baggy. It keeps sleet out all day, and keeps your own little self-climate a nice dry place.
I'm 6-foot, 175 lbs and the large is a good match for me. I have monkey-arms, but the sleeves make it to mid-hand which has been a problem with other jackets. (No cold wet wrists in the middle of a powder day!) The hood is also roomy enough for a ski helmet, but not excessive in size. I skied in the Tahoe area all season, front country and back, in sun and on dump-days and this jacket remained my go-to. Kept me amazingly dry for how light it is, and had room for layers when the temps dropped. I also took a end of March trip to Alaska for some Back country skiing and used the jacket everyday for full days of skinning and skiing. The jacket breaths very well. Wearing it on the ups, with only a base layer,was the right temperature, even when windy.No clammyness. Pit zips help control the temp too. Didn't end up sweating my face off on the skin track. This jacket performed extremely well and kept me comfy. Really can not say enough about it.
Note: This jacket probably is not cut to be a regular ski jacket, more like an ice-climbing or alpine jacket. Comes to mid hip on me. Also, no powder skirt, but works great with bibs-
Get one, you'll be glad you did!

I'm fortunate enough to be in a program that allows me to test Gore products (Gore MountainTech). I do not get paid for this but i do get to keep most products. That being said, i have a lot of jackets (including 4 Arcteryx). And the Beta AR is the one i use the most. The rest aren't even close...
The first thing you are going to notice when you put this jacket on is the weight, as in, where is it? Its very light in construction and has held up to countless hours in the backcountry, including some amazing cartwheels;o). After a full season and a few washes, it still looks brand new. I love how roomy it is, allowing me to easily layer up depending on the conditions and not sport the Michelin man effect. In the Back country i usually only wear a light or mid weight thermal underneath, on the lift, i'd wear a heavy thermal and my down vest. Front pockets are ample enough to store your skins, The hood fits comfortably over a helmet and can be adjusted down to fit on a head. The GoreTex is going to keep the wind and water out, and the Arc'teryx style will keep you looking good on and off the mountain. I even like to wear this jacket walking to the grocery store (which is often, it rains a lot here in Portland)
I'm 6'4 180 and the xl is the fit for me.
If you are thinking of getting this jacket, i have to say go for it. You won't be disappointed

Let me start by saying I'm not affiliated with Arcteryx. Those who are product testers should not be allowed to vote.
I tried many jackets before choosing this one. I bought it for fit, style and color was a big issue for me. There are many other equally good jackets out there, make sure you get the one that fits in a color you can live with for years becuase they will last a long time. This jacket will work for me down to 40F with only a medium weight base underneath. I don't see my wearing it if it's over 65F unless I really need to stay dry. I'm 5'9", 140 lbs. and a 36 chest, I bought the small and it is a nice intermediate fit, some light layering will work without completly filling the jacket out. One thing I'll mention is the jacket comes about two inches below my belt and in the back covers half my butt. You may need to consider a different jacket if you want lower coverage. I have the nightshade and it is gray in low light and changes to a dark blue/gray in sunlight. 4 stars since it is made in China and not Canada.

This Jacket is a durable product that fends off the elements extraordinarily well. Its advertised as a versatile jacket suitable for all activities which I will attest to. I use this jacket for everyday use along with skiing, rafting, hiking, climbing and golfing. It is a good fit for slimmer people and provides sufficient dexterity in the joints for any activity. I will say in really cold temperatures I can't fit enough warm layers underneath it to stay warm, but that is a rare occasion. It is advertised as having a hood that can fit ski helmets but I never can get my helmet inside. Small flaws for an otherwise excellent jacket. I have had mine for a little over a year and have used it hard; It is showing little to no signs of wear and tear. A testament to its durability! Finally, Gore-Tex remains the superior breathable water repellant I have used and this jacket does just that. I recommend it for all people whatever your interests may be.

Great shell for alpine climbing, I've had it up Rainier and Baker (and randomly assorted other smaller climbs) thus far. Amazed with it's ability to cut fairly significant wind down to almost nothing. It breathes well and the zips are sizable allowing for less stops to put on or take off layers. I've also been pleasantly surprised with the toughness - it's been rubbed on sharp rock, had a few brushes with ice tools, and been in constant abrasion with a harness, pack, and rope and it still looks brand new.
I'm 5 10, 175 lbs with an athletic build and the medium fits great. Long enough that it won't keep coming untucked from your harness, but still packs very small. There is enough room for several layers, including down, but there doesn't seem to be any baggy excess material to get in the way.
Growing to be a bigger and bigger fan of Arc'teryx. You get what you pay for.

Ive had this jacket over a year now and put it to the test in a variety of environments. To start, the fit is spot on. I am 6' 195 and wear a large with room to layer underneath but not so roomy that I am swimming in it. There aren't a lot of "frills" on this jacket but it certainly gets the job done. The water proofness has held up really well through repeated usage and DWR still beads up and I haven't even retreated it yet. One of my favorite qualities about this jacket was that it dried out super fast when the precip stops. Rarely have I ever felt clammy in this jacket unless its pretty warm outside.
(Full disclosure: I received this jacket from Gore-Tex as a part of the MountainTechs product testing initiative in which products are received for participation.