Arc'teryx Beta AR Gore-Tex Pro jacket in navy

Arc'teryx Beta vs Beta LT vs Beta AR: which one should you buy?

October 30, 2026

The Beta is the jacket most people mean when they say "Arc'teryx". The problem is there isn't one Beta. There's the Beta, the Beta LT and the Beta AR, they all look similar from across the room, and the RRPs run from £400 to £650. I've handled a lot of all three, so here's the short version.

The quick answer

Beta (RRP £400): everyday waterproof. Tough, simple, no pit zips. Best for town, dog walks, commuting and the odd hill.
Beta LT (RRP £550): the lighter, trimmer one. Packs smaller, still has the proper helmet-compatible hood, no pit zips.
Beta AR (RRP £650): the do-everything one. Gore-Tex Pro, reinforced shoulders and arms, pit zips, room for a layer underneath.

Arc'teryx Beta

The standard Beta is a three-layer Gore-Tex shell with a hard-wearing 80 denier face fabric. Newer versions have a softer, quieter lining (Arc'teryx call it C-Knit), so it doesn't feel like wearing a crisp packet. It has two hand pockets, an inside zip pocket and a simpler hood.

What it doesn't have is pit zips. That's not a fault and it's not a fake sign: the standard Beta has never had them. If you mostly wear a jacket for rain rather than climbing hills fast, you won't miss them.

Arc'teryx Beta LT

LT stands for lightweight. Arc'teryx list the Beta LT at around 345g, and most years use Gore-Tex Pro with a 40 denier face fabric, so it's lighter but still very waterproof. The cut is trimmer, with a longer back, and the StormHood fits over a climbing helmet.

Like the standard Beta, the LT has no pit zips. That's the one thing reviewers always pick up on. It's the one to buy if you want something that rolls up into a daypack and still looks sharp on its own. Arc'teryx have since replaced it with the Beta SL, which is similar but adds pit zips.

Arc'teryx Beta AR

AR means all-round, and it's the one I'd pick if you only ever own one shell. It uses Gore-Tex Pro, the toughest and most breathable Gore-Tex, with heavier 80 denier panels on the shoulders and arms where rucksack straps rub. It has pit zips, a helmet-compatible hood and a regular fit with room for a fleece or an Atom underneath.

It's the heaviest of the three, but it's also the one that copes with everything from winter walking to skiing. The newest version (2025 onwards) swaps the StormHood for a new DropHood. Older ARs, which is most of what you'll find preloved, have the StormHood.

How to tell them apart on a preloved jacket

Check the armpits. Zips under the arms mean it's an AR (or a newer SL). No pit zips means Beta or Beta LT.
Look at the shoulders. The AR has slightly different, heavier fabric across the shoulders and upper arms. You can usually feel the change.
Read the care label. The model name is often printed on the label inside, and the model number on it can be looked up on Arc'teryx's ReBird trade-in search.
Feel the weight. An LT feels noticeably lighter and thinner than either of the others.

Not sure about one you've seen elsewhere? Our authentication service will check it for you.

Which should you buy?

If it's mainly for rain and everyday wear, get the Beta. It's the best value and it lasts. If you want something light that lives in your bag, get the Beta LT. If you hike, ski or just want the one that does everything, get the Beta AR. Preloved, all three regularly go for well under half their RRP.

For sizing, see our Arc'teryx sizing guide. For what the different Gore-Tex fabrics actually do, read Arc'teryx Gore-Tex jackets explained.

Betas in stock now

Every jacket is checked by hand, washed and reproofed before it goes out. See all Arc'teryx in stock.

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