Its all I wear, had other clothing brands but Arcteryx last for decades, I have a SV jacket that is a good 20 years old that I use for mountain biking, its starting to fall to bits but still is waterproof, I have only reproofed it about twice in the 20 years too.
Totally agree with you, Arcteryx is just top notch. I have an alpha AR jacket that has been battered to within an inch of its life and is about 4 years old and literally still works amazingly. I like their tolerances on things like micro seam taking and stitching to, just really worth the money in my opinion.
@@OutdoorIntrigue I’ve never regretting buying top of the line, ever. In fact I always regret buying low-end things, it costs me more money/headache in the long run.
Love arcteryx stuff, have an alpha sv jacket and an alpha fl jacket. Had both for at least six years and look, perform great. Yes expensive but I think Arcteryx really care about their products.
Hey Paul, happy new year! We absolutely agree, you do generally get what you pay for and the Arcteryx stuff we’ve had over the years has always been top notch.
Great video. Stumbled across it looking for a review after I found a Beta SL Hybrid in a shop next to the campsite I just stayed at this week! Managed to grab it for £170 due to a pinhole that I’ve now repaired - I think I got a steal! I’m now a subscriber too so I’ll work my way through the rest of the videos. Cheers!
Thanks for that one Ben, I thought it was a really helpful gear review. Personally I do need/ or at least would like new waterproofs but am trying to hold off until I can actually go into a shop again. In the meantime I have finally learnt how important it is to re-proof and revitalise waterproofs, as you indeed emphasise in your video. I know we are in lockdown so travelling is out but hopefully you have managed to get out & about in your local hills and have been enjoying this good spell of winter weather we are having. I think we live pretty close by and pretty much share the same local climate and yes it is pretty darn wet, but then again when its good it is really good. Its a bit late for Merry Christmas but here's wishing you both a very safe and happy new year, cheers.
My pleasure Stuart, thanks for watching! Always good to try stuff on, I order most of my bits online normally anyway because you tend to find the best bargains online, sizing is always a pain though. Indeed reproofing regularly is a game changer right! Nothing like that lovely sight of water beading off your jacket! We are out in the hills most days, lucky to live right in them. You in the Southern Highlands? We love it, weather and all! 🙌🏼 Merry Christmas and happy new year mate.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Hi, Yep I stay just down Loch Long in the village of Ardentinny, moved here from England over forty years ago now so can't be too bad. Happy New Year.
Really close to us then! I run to ardentinny pretty regularly. The pub there does good pizzas to, when it’s open.. We are so glad we moved here! Just love it.
@@OutdoorIntrigue I thought you may stay in Arrochar but that would be quite a run to A'tinny, maybe you are closer, Carrick perhaps. given the pace you two set on your hikes I imagine you run pretty fast too but I will def' give you a shout if I see you flying by. ATB
Quick update. Arcteryx would not publish the same review that I posted on this site. While the review was on balance negative regarding the durability of the product and the firms service, it was polite and fact based. I guess that tells you all you need to know about the firm and their business ethics.
Yeah they did and I have no idea why. They relaunched their Beta range at the beginning of 2022 (I think, this is from memory) and removed the SL Hybrid. They have the ‘Beta’ which is a bit lighter but has no pit zips and that’s a real let down for breathability in my opinion. Seems like they’re leaning into their snow sports range quite heavily at the moment 🤔
@@OutdoorIntrigue Yeah so far as I can tell they haven't really replaced this... from your video the pit zips were a big seller for me. They have the BETA LT which looks to have pit zips but I'm not sure if this is a different jacket to the one you have? ie. non-hybrid Thanks for the quick response mate!
Great video, guys! I'm desperately in need of a new wterproof. I've been using a North Face one for a bit toooo long and I think it's really coming to the end of it's life but more so, it's not great for extended hiking - a bit too 'bin-bag-sweatfest' if you know what I mean. Think I might take the hit and get an Arcteryx hardshell. I agree their stuff is very pricey compared to other brands but so far the gear I do have from them has lasted and lasted.
Hey mate! Highly recommend the Arcteryx shells, as with a lot of things you do get what you pay for largely. Have had many of them over the years and they are always top notch. Their running jackets look tasty too, I fancy trying a Gortex shake dry jacket. The amount of waterproofs you need in our area is hilarious!! Wales isn’t exactly dry either! Cheers for commenting btw. ☺️
Hi! Do you think i could use zeta sl pants for skiing? Maybe combined with a good base layer. Thanks! (I already bought them and in some weeks i'm going to skii),
Really glad you found it useful! I am confident it will do you well on the WHW. Enjoy the hike, it’s a brilliant trail. We live not too far from it. Thanks for watching and for the lovely comment. 😊
I would also suggest you add the terms 'Beta SL' and 'Zeta SL' trouser to the title or description. This way you will also get search traffic from people looking for a review on those pieces.
Great video homie winter is coming and needed a light waterproof jacket that will do it’s job 100% and keep me dry and this review was perfect, sending love from NYC❤️🗽
Hey, Im new to arcteryx jackets. I've recently gotten attention into the beta SL and I was wondering if it provides any warmth under winter conditions? Im located in Hong Kong and I'd say its about 10 degrees celsius in winter. Thanks, excellent video!
Hey 👋🏼, with any of these I insulated jackets they provide only limited warmth. However they do pretty much entirely block the wind and create heat through retaining your body’s warmth. With an adequate base and midlayer you’d be warm at 10 degrees, although it is pretty individual as we all differ.
I've heard a lot of people referring to this as an 'emergency shell', would you agree with this statement, or can it be worn as a daily jacket? I've also heard the Beta SL materials are not as durable as others, what have your experiences been with the durability?
So they are indeed referred to as emergency shells by Arcteryx themselves even. I would say after rigorous use and that they are much more than emergency shells. They are full blown capable lightweight waterproofs. They are less durable than Goretex pro, but in general the durability is excellent. The jacket as well as the trousers hold up to scrambling on rock and mountain punishment, not had any issues or failures so far. Happy with them given the trade off in weight versus durability.
@@OutdoorIntrigue I am considering getting the Zeta SL pants for hunting. This means crawling on the forest or mountain "floor" and walking through pointy and hard bushess and trees. Do you think the pants could handle the "abuse", or would they "easily" get damaged by this?
@@The_Northerner They are actually really tough, surprisingly so. You will notice it straight away when you feel the material. I would say they are up to what you want to use them for, but the caveat will be how long they last, with that kind of use they will obviously have a reduced shelf life. So it’s a toss up on weight vs longevity, if you want the weight reduction go for these, if you want something that’s bomb proof the alpha ar’s are top notch. Hope that helps.
I was going to try this out, though at only 110 grams less than my much more stout and strong jacket that I have currently, I wanted it mostly for packability. Does it pack down well? How large a stuff bag would one need for this? I was highly put off however as I read reviews at REI, two themes came through from the people who gave one and two stars to the product. That it was poor quality that does not last, and that it wets out very quickly. The problem with the design I have is that they have not bothered to put a back vent on, as used to be so common. I live in HOT, and HUMID - and those pit zips are only slightly effective. So now I'm back to wondering if it's worth spending 600 bucks USD, for a small weight savings, though I really am most interested in the packability as I mentioned earlier. Watching you in the drizzle, the fabric is obviously soaking up the rain in places. But the gore tex still keep on dry with that happening, or not? Thanks for another good review.
It’s was a very good jacket. I don’t have it anymore, but used it extensively for a couple of years. For pure packability I’d suggest a Gortex Active jacket, there are a number on the market. Annoyingly they don’t make a lot of Gortex active jackets with pit zips, but when you find one that has pit zips and gore active that is ideal. It’s a super breathable material and packs very small and light. I have a Haglofs and Mountain Equipment jacket in gore active for summer or less intense outings.
Awesome! I hope you enjoy using them, I am confident you will, they are top notch. What colours you go with? Appreciate you watching and commenting. Take care, Ben.
Hi mate 👋🏼, those are a very old pair of Rab polartec fleece gloves. They are great and comfy, but not at all water resistant and not touch compatible… so I’d not recommend them for all things. If you’re looking for a good general pair for hiking then the Arc’teryx Venta’s are good, so are the Rab VR’s. Gloves are such a tricky thing really, I find you need loads to meet different seasons, weathers and activities. Appreciate you watching!
@@OutdoorIntriguethanks for this, and going the extra mile and suggesting some other glove options. I’ll defo check them. Right, now back to England getting hammered in India. 😢
Thanks for watching! We are going to do a video on reproofing I think. But basically I tend to use Grangers 2in1 wash and reproof. Wash the jacket on a suitable cycle with a dose of the Grangers, then in the tumble dryer until dry. Hood it under a tap and water should be beading straight off, if not give it a little extra tumble dry to reactivate the DWR fully. Cheers Ben.
Cheers again for another vlog. What treatments are you usingbforcreproofing your goretex? My jacket is starting to wet out, doesn't help that I've slid in mud a few times, so I want to get it nice again ...
Hey mate, thanks for watching me waffle on 😉. I use grangers 2 in 1 wash and reproof for the waterproofs. On a 40 degree wash with spin cycle. Then tumble dry, then an extra 10/20 mins once dry to make sure the dwr gets fully reactivated. Nikwax reproof works alright to, and both brands are good eco wise. I have just found the grangers 2 in 1 great as it saves an extra wash to reproof after cleaning. Hope that’s helpful.
@@srossgower it’s easier with a dryer but you can 100% do it without one. Either use an iron instead of tumble drying. Or I would suggest using a spray on reproofer (I use grangers) and then hang the item to dry on a heater if possible. ☺️
Yeah it’s been discontinued, you can still get them online it seems from some retailers though. The New beta hadron jacket looks like a really good option potentially.
I wouldn’t suggest them for general hiking as your main pant in warm climates. They’ll be very sweaty. They would be suitable as your rain pant option as needed in heavy downpours though, as a shell layer.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Awesome m8! I just got the same color on my way. The photos on the site doesn't seem to do a good job at showing it because it looks a lot more golden from your video. Cheers
Hopefully you like it! It’s a brilliant jacket. It’s definitely got a real golden tone, the website example pictures always tend to look different to reel life I find.
@@OutdoorIntrigue That's something Arc'teryx needs to sort out on their website! Less studio shots and more outdoors photos so you can get a good image of the jacket in the daytime and being using in the environment it's made for. Arc'teryx should drop the arty farty pics of models just standing in a studio. Would be better if they used outdoors people modelling them instead.
Great review! I see the watch is still going strong? It would be really cool if you did a video about why you started ticking off Munros and how you've approached them (like do you have an order or do you just take whats most convenient or interesting at the time?)
Thanks for watching James! The watch is still going well, really like it a lot. It’s not perfect for sure, but some of the features are just so good. Battery is a pain though.. As to the Munro’s we will definitely do a video about them and planning etc, just still pretty busy doing them! ☺️
Thanks for watching 🙏🏼 It's a good trick and works really well. Arc'Teryx have some helpful videos on how to properly reproof your kit. The main difference is the weight & materials used. They have a relatively similar cut, but the Beta SL Hybrid is a bit heavier, using a tougher GORETEX fabric in high-wear areas like the shoulders. The hood is helmet compatible and it has pit zips. The Zeta is lightweight, but doesn't have the extra ventilation or a helmet compatible hood and just uses the 2L GORETEX fabric throughout. Hope that helps 🙂
Hey, thanks for watching. The LT just uses a the heavier N40 Gortex material through the jacket, where as the SL only uses it in high wear areas and uses the lighter paclite elsewhere. Feature wise there’s not really any other differences. The LT is heavier, personally I round recommend the SL over the LT but both are great. Hope that helps. Enjoy the hills 🙌🏼
Appreciate you watching! You can definitely use the Beta SL in summer in hotter temps. The issue is it will be hot and sweaty in reality, most jackets in summer will be to some degree. If you want something super breathable for summer you could try a jacket made from Gortex active or Gortex shakedry, both Superlite and breathable materials, but not super wear resisted.
Hey Alex, it’s hard to make a comparison because I live in the far north so we are a world away from tropical here 🤣. The reality is any waterproof jacket is likely to get pretty hot in tropical conditions. I wouldn’t say this jacket would be any worse than most others and the huge pit zips will certainly help with venting. Sorry I can’t give more insight, but my experience is in cold climates. Thanks for watching!
Is the jacket durable enough for rucksacks that weigh about 8-10 kilos? (when wearing the jacket occasionally for a few hours - not that much rain in my area)
Absolutely, our latest video out in the Fannichs was a two day, two night trip, with the jacket worn nearly all day on both days. Admittedly our packs are slightly lighter, usually around the 6-8kg mark, but it shouldn’t make too much difference. Thanks for watching 🙏🏼
@@OutdoorIntrigue How do you think - would it still be Ok to wear this jacket with an up to 15 kilos backpack for about a week couple of times a year and the majority of time in the city during the rain or biking. I've luckily got this jacket with a huge discount and also another one from Schöffel with a DERMIZAX®NX membrane (3L Jacket Falun2), that is actually 3 layer jacket. Now I'm totally puzzled - I need to choose one and I personally like the fit and quality of Arc'teryx very much. But I'm afraid, that it's not gonna work that well with heavy loads, as 3l jacket (and I have no experience with DERMIZAX®NX). Thanks in advance)
@@dariakorotenko691 hey 👋🏼, I think the beta sl hybrid would be good for what you are asking. I don’t think the durability will be a major issue for that kind of use. The material is holding up well and the tougher material is used in the shoulders and the high wear areas. I don’t know the other jacket you mention, so can’t make a comparison, but I do think the Arcteryx would be a solid choice. Cheers, Ben.
Paclite goretex is the least breathable membrane gore produces. Tried these jackets but I got to say the standard gore and pro membrane work far better, especially during zone 2 to zone 3 aerobic training. The paclite traps way too much moisture
Yeah I don’t disagree in a comparative nature, gore pro is my fave. It’s all weight relevant though. I had that jacket and used it hard for a good while and it functioned well across a lot of scenarios. Breathability is essentially the number 1 issue across all waterproof materials
@@OutdoorIntrigue thanks for the reply I’ve just brought this for walking my cocker and summer mountain walks. Hope it’s good. 🤞it was on sale for £250
Well you got it at a decent price! Which is half the battle with Arcteryx kit 😂. I am confident you will like it, but let me know once you have used it a bit of you have any feedback.
Their stuff is just way too expensive. You can buy a whole wardrobe of other companies stuff for the same price. The quality is good but theres a lot of good quality stuff out there
Thanks for watching and commenting. As I say in the video the price of Arcteryx is high and not justifiable for everyone. I would say that the price difference to most big outdoors brand is actually only about 20% more at most. Not sure you could get a whole wardrobe for those savings. Certainly a lot of good stuff out there, I do think you mostly get what you pay for though.
@@OutdoorIntrigue You can get a jacket and waterproof pants at wal mart for $20 here, or the jacket for $10. I have a mont bell rain jacket I bought for about $230 and I love it...but is it 23x better? I dont think so and I fear I'm going to tear it every time I go out. Columbia sells a lot of cheap gear now that is a much bigger difference than 20%.
Hi! You mention that your arcteryx jacket dont cover much of your buttocks, and I wonder if thats a problem with the pants, which seams to be low waist. I have a Fjellraven Keb eco shell jacket, and I'm 195 cm tall which can be a problem when leaning forward around camp fire. Whats your thoughts on low waist vs high waist rainpants? Thanks!
It’s an interesting point actually, I wouldn’t consider those rain pants as low waisted. I guess it depends on how high or low you wear your trousers/pants. If you have and wear a higher pair of trousers then the jacket length will be less of an issue. If we are just comparing the jacket to other jackets which have a drop tail then it is objectively a slightly shorter jacket though. Thanks for watching, appreciate it!
@@OutdoorIntrigue Thx for answering ;) I guess the only way of knowing is by trying on with the jacket and see how it fits, but will deffinitly keep these in mind!
All classic waterproofs fail when they wet out which all will. Even the toughest DWR which the military use, not available to civilians as its environmentally bad will fail. Check the research from Leeds University, DWR abraded away in around 50 +/- hours under shoulder straps etc. No point spending that sort of money for expensive brands. Buffalo Paramo should work better.
In my experience the military issued waterproofs aren’t great. I can’t remember what brand my first set were but they are heavy, do not breathe very well at all and are not particularly packable. Credit where credit’s due, they do keep you dry, as long as it’s below freezing so you don’t boil in the bag. They have now moved onto Corinthia, I haven’t used it yet but it is heavy and the cut is absolutely awful. I’m 6ft3 and about 95kg, there isn’t a size available that fits properly, to get the required length in the arm everything else is much too big.
Hey, I agree with Tom that has commented already, in that the military kit is not the absolute best, it generally has to fit into stringent budgeting and be extremely tough. Arcteryx actually sell LEAF kit which is their Law Enforcement and Armed Forces kit, and it’s pretty Damon good, really expensive though. Anyway dwr is certainly not perfect and only some brands are using pfc free stuff, so a lot of it is still environmentally crap. But if you want a layering system and lightweight shell pieces then you have to learn to live with dwr really. Paramo is great and a great brand but it’s heavy. Buffalo is alright but it is also heavy and personally I find single layer style systems a pain. Appreciate your comments though.
I'm very happy with my jacket Beta SL! Wearing it all year round . Durable, light weight, wind proof, water proof and breathable :)
That’s brilliant! It’s a great jacket 🙌🏼😊
Its all I wear, had other clothing brands but Arcteryx last for decades, I have a SV jacket that is a good 20 years old that I use for mountain biking, its starting to fall to bits but still is waterproof, I have only reproofed it about twice in the 20 years too.
Totally agree with you, Arcteryx is just top notch. I have an alpha AR jacket that has been battered to within an inch of its life and is about 4 years old and literally still works amazingly. I like their tolerances on things like micro seam taking and stitching to, just really worth the money in my opinion.
@@OutdoorIntrigue I’ve never regretting buying top of the line, ever. In fact I always regret buying low-end things, it costs me more money/headache in the long run.
Have to agree, I’ve had an Alpha jacket for, I think, around 11 years now and it’s still in near perfect condition, they’re bombproof. 👍🏼
Wow the audio with the rain sounds and your voice still really clear is perfect*chef's kiss
Why thank you, we’re definitely not short of rain here in the Highlands 😂👌🏼
Beautiful video my friend! No sugar coating getting to the point ✌🏼
Thanks pal! Appreciate the kind words 🙌🏼
Love arcteryx stuff, have an alpha sv jacket and an alpha fl jacket. Had both for at least six years and look, perform great. Yes expensive but I think Arcteryx really care about their products.
Hey Paul, happy new year! We absolutely agree, you do generally get what you pay for and the Arcteryx stuff we’ve had over the years has always been top notch.
Great video. Stumbled across it looking for a review after I found a Beta SL Hybrid in a shop next to the campsite I just stayed at this week! Managed to grab it for £170 due to a pinhole that I’ve now repaired - I think I got a steal! I’m now a subscriber too so I’ll work my way through the rest of the videos. Cheers!
Hey Harry! That is definitely a bargain, it’s a solid jacket. Hope you enjoy the other vids! Cheers Ben & Megs 😊
Thanks for that one Ben, I thought it was a really helpful gear review. Personally I do need/ or at least would like new waterproofs but am trying to hold off until I can actually go into a shop again. In the meantime I have finally learnt how important it is to re-proof and revitalise waterproofs, as you indeed emphasise in your video.
I know we are in lockdown so travelling is out but hopefully you have managed to get out & about in your local hills and have been enjoying this good spell of winter weather we are having. I think we live pretty close by and pretty much share the same local climate and yes it is pretty darn wet, but then again when its good it is really good.
Its a bit late for Merry Christmas but here's wishing you both a very safe and happy new year, cheers.
My pleasure Stuart, thanks for watching! Always good to try stuff on, I order most of my bits online normally anyway because you tend to find the best bargains online, sizing is always a pain though. Indeed reproofing regularly is a game changer right! Nothing like that lovely sight of water beading off your jacket! We are out in the hills most days, lucky to live right in them. You in the Southern Highlands? We love it, weather and all! 🙌🏼 Merry Christmas and happy new year mate.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Hi, Yep I stay just down Loch Long in the village of Ardentinny, moved here from England over forty years ago now so can't be too bad. Happy New Year.
Really close to us then! I run to ardentinny pretty regularly. The pub there does good pizzas to, when it’s open.. We are so glad we moved here! Just love it.
@@OutdoorIntrigue I thought you may stay in Arrochar but that would be quite a run to A'tinny, maybe you are closer, Carrick perhaps. given the pace you two set on your hikes I imagine you run pretty fast too but I will def' give you a shout if I see you flying by. ATB
Quick update. Arcteryx would not publish the same review that I posted on this site. While the review was on balance negative regarding the durability of the product and the firms service, it was polite and fact based. I guess that tells you all you need to know about the firm and their business ethics.
Hi John that’s a shame and also interesting as the Arcteryx site does usually have some negative reviews if you read through them.
Did Arc'teryx discontinue the SL? I don't see it anywhere anymore and I'm unsure what they replaced it with. Great video 👍
Yeah they did and I have no idea why. They relaunched their Beta range at the beginning of 2022 (I think, this is from memory) and removed the SL Hybrid. They have the ‘Beta’ which is a bit lighter but has no pit zips and that’s a real let down for breathability in my opinion. Seems like they’re leaning into their snow sports range quite heavily at the moment 🤔
@@OutdoorIntrigue Yeah so far as I can tell they haven't really replaced this... from your video the pit zips were a big seller for me. They have the BETA LT which looks to have pit zips but I'm not sure if this is a different jacket to the one you have? ie. non-hybrid
Thanks for the quick response mate!
Great video, guys! I'm desperately in need of a new wterproof. I've been using a North Face one for a bit toooo long and I think it's really coming to the end of it's life but more so, it's not great for extended hiking - a bit too 'bin-bag-sweatfest' if you know what I mean. Think I might take the hit and get an Arcteryx hardshell. I agree their stuff is very pricey compared to other brands but so far the gear I do have from them has lasted and lasted.
Hey mate! Highly recommend the Arcteryx shells, as with a lot of things you do get what you pay for largely. Have had many of them over the years and they are always top notch. Their running jackets look tasty too, I fancy trying a Gortex shake dry jacket. The amount of waterproofs you need in our area is hilarious!! Wales isn’t exactly dry either! Cheers for commenting btw. ☺️
Hi! Do you think i could use zeta sl pants for skiing? Maybe combined with a good base layer. Thanks! (I already bought them and in some weeks i'm going to skii),
Hey 👋🏼, yup they’ll work fir skiing for sure 👍
Great video mate! It made me buy this jacket last week and can't wait to wear it during hiking the West Highland Way in september.
Really glad you found it useful! I am confident it will do you well on the WHW. Enjoy the hike, it’s a brilliant trail. We live not too far from it. Thanks for watching and for the lovely comment. 😊
I would also suggest you add the terms 'Beta SL' and 'Zeta SL' trouser to the title or description. This way you will also get search traffic from people looking for a review on those pieces.
Good shout will add these!
Yes this is how I found the video :)
Great video homie winter is coming and needed a light waterproof jacket that will do it’s job 100% and keep me dry and this review was perfect,
sending love from NYC❤️🗽
Glad you liked it! Winter is coming indeed. Sending much love right back from Scotland 🏴 ⛰ Appreciate you watching and commenting. ☺️
Hey, Im new to arcteryx jackets. I've recently gotten attention into the beta SL and I was wondering if it provides any warmth under winter conditions? Im located in Hong Kong and I'd say its about 10 degrees celsius in winter. Thanks, excellent video!
Hey 👋🏼, with any of these I insulated jackets they provide only limited warmth. However they do pretty much entirely block the wind and create heat through retaining your body’s warmth. With an adequate base and midlayer you’d be warm at 10 degrees, although it is pretty individual as we all differ.
I've heard a lot of people referring to this as an 'emergency shell', would you agree with this statement, or can it be worn as a daily jacket? I've also heard the Beta SL materials are not as durable as others, what have your experiences been with the durability?
So they are indeed referred to as emergency shells by Arcteryx themselves even. I would say after rigorous use and that they are much more than emergency shells. They are full blown capable lightweight waterproofs. They are less durable than Goretex pro, but in general the durability is excellent. The jacket as well as the trousers hold up to scrambling on rock and mountain punishment, not had any issues or failures so far. Happy with them given the trade off in weight versus durability.
@@OutdoorIntrigue I am considering getting the Zeta SL pants for hunting. This means crawling on the forest or mountain "floor" and walking through pointy and hard bushess and trees. Do you think the pants could handle the "abuse", or would they "easily" get damaged by this?
@@The_Northerner They are actually really tough, surprisingly so. You will notice it straight away when you feel the material. I would say they are up to what you want to use them for, but the caveat will be how long they last, with that kind of use they will obviously have a reduced shelf life. So it’s a toss up on weight vs longevity, if you want the weight reduction go for these, if you want something that’s bomb proof the alpha ar’s are top notch. Hope that helps.
I was going to try this out, though at only 110 grams less than my much more stout and strong jacket that I have currently, I wanted it mostly for packability. Does it pack down well? How large a stuff bag would one need for this?
I was highly put off however as I read reviews at REI, two themes came through from the people who gave one and two stars to the product. That it was poor quality that does not last, and that it wets out very quickly. The problem with the design I have is that they have not bothered to put a back vent on, as used to be so common. I live in HOT, and HUMID - and those pit zips are only slightly effective. So now I'm back to wondering if it's worth spending 600 bucks USD, for a small weight savings, though I really am most interested in the packability as I mentioned earlier. Watching you in the drizzle, the fabric is obviously soaking up the rain in places. But the gore tex still keep on dry with that happening, or not? Thanks for another good review.
It’s was a very good jacket. I don’t have it anymore, but used it extensively for a couple of years. For pure packability I’d suggest a Gortex Active jacket, there are a number on the market. Annoyingly they don’t make a lot of Gortex active jackets with pit zips, but when you find one that has pit zips and gore active that is ideal. It’s a super breathable material and packs very small and light. I have a Haglofs and Mountain Equipment jacket in gore active for summer or less intense outings.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Thanks for that info. So many choices, so little money. :)
amazing review thanks man just bought mine and it’s in the mail can’t wait 👍
Awesome! I hope you enjoy using them, I am confident you will, they are top notch. What colours you go with? Appreciate you watching and commenting. Take care, Ben.
Hi mate, what gloves are you wearing? And how do you find them? Thanks in advance!!!
Hi mate 👋🏼, those are a very old pair of Rab polartec fleece gloves. They are great and comfy, but not at all water resistant and not touch compatible… so I’d not recommend them for all things. If you’re looking for a good general pair for hiking then the Arc’teryx Venta’s are good, so are the Rab VR’s. Gloves are such a tricky thing really, I find you need loads to meet different seasons, weathers and activities. Appreciate you watching!
@@OutdoorIntriguethanks for this, and going the extra mile and suggesting some other glove options. I’ll defo check them. Right, now back to England getting hammered in India. 😢
No problem. I just had a look at the score, that 370 plus lead is not looking good for England 😂
@@OutdoorIntrigue 🤣
Thanks for the video. How do you go about re-proofing?
Thanks for watching! We are going to do a video on reproofing I think. But basically I tend to use Grangers 2in1 wash and reproof. Wash the jacket on a suitable cycle with a dose of the Grangers, then in the tumble dryer until dry. Hood it under a tap and water should be beading straight off, if not give it a little extra tumble dry to reactivate the DWR fully.
Cheers Ben.
Great review. Is that yellow or Yukon?
Yukon.
Cheers again for another vlog.
What treatments are you usingbforcreproofing your goretex?
My jacket is starting to wet out, doesn't help that I've slid in mud a few times, so I want to get it nice again ...
Hey mate, thanks for watching me waffle on 😉. I use grangers 2 in 1 wash and reproof for the waterproofs. On a 40 degree wash with spin cycle. Then tumble dry, then an extra 10/20 mins once dry to make sure the dwr gets fully reactivated. Nikwax reproof works alright to, and both brands are good eco wise. I have just found the grangers 2 in 1 great as it saves an extra wash to reproof after cleaning. Hope that’s helpful.
@@OutdoorIntrigue I don't have a tumble dryer and so I put off re-proofing my jackets... Do you think the dryer is a necessity?
@@srossgower it’s easier with a dryer but you can 100% do it without one. Either use an iron instead of tumble drying. Or I would suggest using a spray on reproofer (I use grangers) and then hang the item to dry on a heater if possible. ☺️
@@OutdoorIntrigue thanks, I’ll try that
@@OutdoorIntrigue awesome thanks!
Hi mate where did you bought jacket? It's sound like they have replaced them with new series
Yeah it’s been discontinued, you can still get them online it seems from some retailers though. The New beta hadron jacket looks like a really good option potentially.
What do you think of using these pants in warmer climates as just like an everyday pant?
I wouldn’t suggest them for general hiking as your main pant in warm climates. They’ll be very sweaty. They would be suitable as your rain pant option as needed in heavy downpours though, as a shell layer.
Thanks for the review! Which colorway is the Beta SL? Love the color!
Hey 👋🏼 thanks for watching, the colour of the Beta SL in this is Nucleus.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Awesome m8! I just got the same color on my way. The photos on the site doesn't seem to do a good job at showing it because it looks a lot more golden from your video. Cheers
Hopefully you like it! It’s a brilliant jacket. It’s definitely got a real golden tone, the website example pictures always tend to look different to reel life I find.
@@OutdoorIntrigue That's something Arc'teryx needs to sort out on their website! Less studio shots and more outdoors photos so you can get a good image of the jacket in the daytime and being using in the environment it's made for. Arc'teryx should drop the arty farty pics of models just standing in a studio. Would be better if they used outdoors people modelling them instead.
@@Legionnaire7777 completely agree!!
Hi,
Can you fit a puffy jacket underneath comfortably?
Thanks!
Thanks for watching! Ben is 6’2” and 75kg, he wears a medium and can comfortably fit a base layer and down jacket under the Beta SL Hybrid.
Great review! I see the watch is still going strong? It would be really cool if you did a video about why you started ticking off Munros and how you've approached them (like do you have an order or do you just take whats most convenient or interesting at the time?)
Thanks for watching James! The watch is still going well, really like it a lot. It’s not perfect for sure, but some of the features are just so good. Battery is a pain though.. As to the Munro’s we will definitely do a video about them and planning etc, just still pretty busy doing them! ☺️
What's the sizing in these, do they fit big or small?
They were mediums and they fit true to size.
Bonsoir, j’aime beaucoup le rendu de la veste sur vos avant bras, avez-vous pris une taille au dessus de celle habituelle ? Pour un côté oversize
Hey thanks for watching. I took my normal size (a medium) and it naturally has a slightly looser fit.
@@OutdoorIntrigue merci à toi pour la réponse 🙏🏻
@@yeezyfoamiste5610 It’s a pleasure. ☺️
Didnt know the dryer trick to reactivate the DWR. What is the main difference between the Beat SL and Zeta SL top?
Thanks for watching 🙏🏼 It's a good trick and works really well. Arc'Teryx have some helpful videos on how to properly reproof your kit. The main difference is the weight & materials used. They have a relatively similar cut, but the Beta SL Hybrid is a bit heavier, using a tougher GORETEX fabric in high-wear areas like the shoulders. The hood is helmet compatible and it has pit zips. The Zeta is lightweight, but doesn't have the extra ventilation or a helmet compatible hood and just uses the 2L GORETEX fabric throughout. Hope that helps 🙂
Nice review! I’m looking for a Beta Sl hybrid but I dont know the fit.
Can you help me with the measures pit to pit of your size M?
Hey, just checked it and it seems to be about 19 1/2 inches or around 50cm pit to pit from what I can tell. Hope that helps.
Hi pal, what is the difference between the SL and LT? I’m looking at the the Beta LT for hikes in the Lakes, Peaks and wherever the fells take me lol
Hey, thanks for watching. The LT just uses a the heavier N40 Gortex material through the jacket, where as the SL only uses it in high wear areas and uses the lighter paclite elsewhere. Feature wise there’s not really any other differences. The LT is heavier, personally I round recommend the SL over the LT but both are great. Hope that helps. Enjoy the hills 🙌🏼
Thanks for the great video.
Do you think the Beta SL can be used as a rain jacket during summers (for e.g. at temps around 20°C)?
Appreciate you watching! You can definitely use the Beta SL in summer in hotter temps. The issue is it will be hot and sweaty in reality, most jackets in summer will be to some degree. If you want something super breathable for summer you could try a jacket made from Gortex active or Gortex shakedry, both Superlite and breathable materials, but not super wear resisted.
@@OutdoorIntrigue I see. Thanks!
No probs!
Hey, how tall are you and what size are you wearing?🤔
Hey, I am 6ft 2 and weigh 76 kg, wearing a size medium. Hope that helps. Cheers for watching.
Does this get too hot in the summer? I am considering this jacket for summer hikes in tropical weather (on top of fall/winter use)
Hey Alex, it’s hard to make a comparison because I live in the far north so we are a world away from tropical here 🤣. The reality is any waterproof jacket is likely to get pretty hot in tropical conditions. I wouldn’t say this jacket would be any worse than most others and the huge pit zips will certainly help with venting. Sorry I can’t give more insight, but my experience is in cold climates. Thanks for watching!
I live in Oahu, Hawaii (tropical weather) and I use an OR Helium. Super lightweight, very thin. Anything more is overkill.
Is the jacket durable enough for rucksacks that weigh about 8-10 kilos? (when wearing the jacket occasionally for a few hours - not that much rain in my area)
Absolutely, our latest video out in the Fannichs was a two day, two night trip, with the jacket worn nearly all day on both days. Admittedly our packs are slightly lighter, usually around the 6-8kg mark, but it shouldn’t make too much difference. Thanks for watching 🙏🏼
@@OutdoorIntrigue How do you think - would it still be Ok to wear this jacket with an up to 15 kilos backpack for about a week couple of times a year and the majority of time in the city during the rain or biking.
I've luckily got this jacket with a huge discount and also another one from Schöffel with a DERMIZAX®NX membrane (3L Jacket Falun2), that is actually 3 layer jacket. Now I'm totally puzzled - I need to choose one and I personally like the fit and quality of Arc'teryx very much. But I'm afraid, that it's not gonna work that well with heavy loads, as 3l jacket (and I have no experience with DERMIZAX®NX).
Thanks in advance)
@@dariakorotenko691 hey 👋🏼, I think the beta sl hybrid would be good for what you are asking. I don’t think the durability will be a major issue for that kind of use. The material is holding up well and the tougher material is used in the shoulders and the high wear areas. I don’t know the other jacket you mention, so can’t make a comparison, but I do think the Arcteryx would be a solid choice. Cheers, Ben.
@@OutdoorIntrigue Thanks for the answer, Ben! Now I feel relieved and can keep my favorite with a clear conscience 😉
Is there a guide for maintaining the Gore-tex on the Beta SL?
Arcteryx do have a guide in their site, but I did just reply to a comment on here with how I reproof mine if you want to take a look.
Paclite goretex is the least breathable membrane gore produces. Tried these jackets but I got to say the standard gore and pro membrane work far better, especially during zone 2 to zone 3 aerobic training. The paclite traps way too much moisture
Yeah I don’t disagree in a comparative nature, gore pro is my fave. It’s all weight relevant though. I had that jacket and used it hard for a good while and it functioned well across a lot of scenarios. Breathability is essentially the number 1 issue across all waterproof materials
What reproofer do you recommend thanks
Hey Paul, personally I use Grangers 2 in 1 which washes and reproofs in a single wash, then tumble dry after. Hope that helps. Cheers for watching!
@@OutdoorIntrigue thanks for the reply I’ve just brought this for walking my cocker and summer mountain walks. Hope it’s good. 🤞it was on sale for £250
Well you got it at a decent price! Which is half the battle with Arcteryx kit 😂. I am confident you will like it, but let me know once you have used it a bit of you have any feedback.
What boots do you have on
Those are the Altra Lone Peak 4 RSM mids. 👍
Their stuff is just way too expensive. You can buy a whole wardrobe of other companies stuff for the same price. The quality is good but theres a lot of good quality stuff out there
Thanks for watching and commenting. As I say in the video the price of Arcteryx is high and not justifiable for everyone. I would say that the price difference to most big outdoors brand is actually only about 20% more at most. Not sure you could get a whole wardrobe for those savings. Certainly a lot of good stuff out there, I do think you mostly get what you pay for though.
@@OutdoorIntrigue You can get a jacket and waterproof pants at wal mart for $20 here, or the jacket for $10. I have a mont bell rain jacket I bought for about $230 and I love it...but is it 23x better? I dont think so and I fear I'm going to tear it every time I go out. Columbia sells a lot of cheap gear now that is a much bigger difference than 20%.
Just buy a used/new milsurp Gore-tex jacket, it's what Arc'Teryx uses anyway.
Nope, you’re 100% wrong on that.
Hi! You mention that your arcteryx jacket dont cover much of your buttocks, and I wonder if thats a problem with the pants, which seams to be low waist. I have a Fjellraven Keb eco shell jacket, and I'm 195 cm tall which can be a problem when leaning forward around camp fire. Whats your thoughts on low waist vs high waist rainpants? Thanks!
It’s an interesting point actually, I wouldn’t consider those rain pants as low waisted. I guess it depends on how high or low you wear your trousers/pants. If you have and wear a higher pair of trousers then the jacket length will be less of an issue. If we are just comparing the jacket to other jackets which have a drop tail then it is objectively a slightly shorter jacket though.
Thanks for watching, appreciate it!
@@OutdoorIntrigue Thx for answering ;) I guess the only way of knowing is by trying on with the jacket and see how it fits, but will deffinitly keep these in mind!
@@Mads1693 No problem, and agree it’s hard to say without trying it on.
jackets wetting out needs repair
You saying my jackets wetting out? As I say in the video. Or you saying in general?
@@OutdoorIntrigue as you mentioned in vid, nitwax
@@diorocks5858 got ya.
All classic waterproofs fail when they wet out which all will. Even the toughest DWR which the military use, not available to civilians as its environmentally bad will fail. Check the research from Leeds University, DWR abraded away in around 50 +/- hours under shoulder straps etc. No point spending that sort of money for expensive brands. Buffalo Paramo should work better.
In my experience the military issued waterproofs aren’t great. I can’t remember what brand my first set were but they are heavy, do not breathe very well at all and are not particularly packable. Credit where credit’s due, they do keep you dry, as long as it’s below freezing so you don’t boil in the bag. They have now moved onto Corinthia, I haven’t used it yet but it is heavy and the cut is absolutely awful. I’m 6ft3 and about 95kg, there isn’t a size available that fits properly, to get the required length in the arm everything else is much too big.
Hey, I agree with Tom that has commented already, in that the military kit is not the absolute best, it generally has to fit into stringent budgeting and be extremely tough. Arcteryx actually sell LEAF kit which is their Law Enforcement and Armed Forces kit, and it’s pretty Damon good, really expensive though. Anyway dwr is certainly not perfect and only some brands are using pfc free stuff, so a lot of it is still environmentally crap. But if you want a layering system and lightweight shell pieces then you have to learn to live with dwr really. Paramo is great and a great brand but it’s heavy. Buffalo is alright but it is also heavy and personally I find single layer style systems a pain. Appreciate your comments though.
basically a very expensive trash bag..lol
What makes you say that?