Arc’teryx has never really been about the relentless seasonal churn. Where other brands live and die by drops, the Canadian mountaineering label has built its reputation on incremental refinement. Case in point: the Beta AR. First launched in 2000, the “all-rounder” shell quickly became the benchmark for alpine outerwear thanks to its balance of rugged weather protection, stripped-back design and obsessive attention to detail that makes sense several thousand metres up.
Over the years, the iconic waterproof jacket has been steadily re-engineered, each update shaving weight, strengthening seams, or adopting the latest evolution of GORE-TEX technology. From slimmer seam taping in 2004, to the introduction of GORE-TEX PRO in 2013, to the embedded RECCO reflector in 2020, the Beta AR’s history is essentially a running tally of material science breakthroughs in mountain gear. It’s no surprise that it has become Arc’teryx’s most iconic shell, worn everywhere from Himalayan base camps to city streets.
Beta AR: A quarter of a century in the making
The 2025 edition marks the 25th iteration, and Arc’teryx is calling it the best yet. The big news is the adoption of GORE-TEX PRO with ePE membrane – a new PFAS-free fabric that manages to be both tougher and lighter, without compromising on waterproofing or breathability. Heavier-duty panels reinforce high-abrasion areas like the shoulders and hood, while a lighter version is used through the body to cut bulk. Patterning has also been reworked to reduce fabric waste, saving the equivalent of 400 jackets in production. Small but telling details have been upgraded too: new cordlocks promise greater durability, pack-friendly pockets improve access on the move, and a helmet-compatible DropHood is now standard.
It is, in short, the latest refinement of an idea Arc’teryx has been perfecting for a quarter of a century – a hardshell that can handle whatever the mountain throws at you, and still look sharp when the gorpcore crowd wear it to the pub. The Beta AR has always been less about reinvention than relentless improvement, and the 2025 version feels like a culmination of everything that came before it.
Next up: Take another look at BEAMS and Arc'teyx's excellent 2024 collab.
