Arc’teryx Just Reinvented Its Rugged All-Purpose Jacket

The brand’s versatile all-mountain hardshell is the latest design to adopt a PFAS-free membrane.

Published 20 hours ago

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Durable, versatile, iconic. Two and a half decades on, the Beta AR has become a pillar of not just Arc’teryx but the outdoor industry at large.

The first iteration, released in 2000, was Arc’teryx’s attempt at a go-anywhere, do-anything hardshell capable of performing across a wide array of disciplines.

Arc'teryx Beta AR — The first Beta AR (pictured) came out in 2000. The design has been a constant WIP ever since.

While it’s more than maintained that reputation — becoming the standard by which many other jackets are judged — it hasn’t done so by standing still.

Over the years, Arc’teryx has tinkered with the design, adjusting everything from the zippers to the hood and now, not for the first time, the shell itself.

Ahead of fall and winter, the brand will be debuting what it calls the “best Beta so far.” It’s easily the most important.

That’s because the jacket will now feature Gore-Tex Pro ePE, following in the footsteps of the streamlined Beta as a next-gen, PFAS-free alternative to traditional designs made with so-called “forever chemicals.”

PFAS-free performance

Really, the revised Beta AR is a combination of two fabrics: 100D 3L (used across the yoke, arms and hood) and 80D 3L (for the body), both featuring a nylon-based face and backer designed to tackle more severe conditions than what’s found in the revised Beta.

According to Arc’teryx, updated patterning here also helps to minimize waste, “saving the equivalent of four-hundred jackets worth of material in the production process.”

But the real highlight is a FC0 DWR treatment that arrives as a PFAS-free solution to water repellency.

Still, sustainability is only half the story.

Both Arc’teryx and Gore-Tex maintain that the ePE membranes are half the thickness of traditional water-resistant solutions, cutting out unnecessary bulk. However, it’s worth mentioning that the weight of the new Beta AR (460 grams) is effectively the same as last year’s design (461 grams).

That said, there are new cordlocks for increased durability, pack-friendly pockets for easier access and a helmet-compatible DropHood with Recco reflectors, should conditions get dicey.

Availability and pricing

The revised Beta AR jacket will be available starting July 31. It comes in a handful of new colorways for fall 2025, including “Blaze” orange on the men’s side and “Glacial” blue for women.

The price increases to $650 — a $50 jump from the previous Beta AR.

Arc’teryx Beta AR

$650 at Arc'teryx

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.