We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.
The Arc'teryx Beta SL is a burly rain jacket built for comfortable, non-restrictive movement while keeping you dry in the gnarliest of storms. This high-end shell excelled in all water resistance tests, with a top-tier 3-layer Gore-Tex fabric that held up to the heaviest precipitation, sealed seams that keep essentials dry in pockets, and a fully adjustable helmet-compatible hood. The cut is flattering and offers a full range of motion thanks to a dropped hem, gusseted underarms, and articulated elbows. This jacket is truly hard to beat when it comes to water resistance and coverage. It is also one of the only jackets we tested to feature an internal chest pocket. Get the scoop on how it ranks next to competing jackets in our review of the best rain jackets for women.
REASONS TO BUY
Highly effective waterproof design
Great fit
Helmet-compatible
Sealed zippers
Substantial pit zips
Quality construction
Great mobility
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Main zipper isn't sealed
Lightweight focus sacrifices some durability
Arc'teryx Beta SL Replaces the LT
Formerly known as the Beta LT, the “SL” (or "superlight") is the next iteration of this reliable, top-tier rain jacket design from Arc'teryx. It is a premium outer shell now featuring 70D Gore-Tex fabric in high-wear areas to enhance its durability and a PFC-free ePE membrane, making it their most lightweight option in the Beta line.
Although this jacket is a hefty investment, it will not disappoint you when you need waterproof performance for an extended period of time
A quality rain jacket offering exceptional water resistance and performance that will hold up to the wildest weather
This super lightweight rain jacket focuses on water-resistant performance within an ultra-light, stretchy design that's perfect for fast and light alpine missions
A reliable rain jacket that offers great value and solid performance at a reasonable price
A highly wind and waterproof design that is perfect for urban commutes or low-output chores during inclement weather
Rating Categories
Arc'teryx Beta SL -...
Patagonia Torrentsh...
Black Diamond Finel...
Marmot PreCip Eco -...
Helly Hansen Moss -...
Water Resistance(45%)
9.5
8.5
8.0
7.0
8.0
Breathability(20%)
7.0
7.0
7.5
7.0
4.0
Comfort and Mobility(15%)
9.0
7.5
8.5
8.0
7.0
Weight(10%)
8.5
8.1
8.9
8.8
5.1
Construction Quality(10%)
9.0
9.0
7.5
7.0
7.0
Specifications
Arc'teryx Beta SL -...
Patagonia Torrentsh...
Black Diamond Finel...
Marmot PreCip Eco -...
Helly Hansen Moss -...
Measured Weight (Size Small)
10.6 oz (medium)
11.8 oz
8.6 oz
9.0 oz
24.3 oz
Number of Fabric Layers
3.0
3.0
2.5
2.5
1.0
Waterproof Fabric Material
3L Gore-Tex ePE waterproof/breathable membrane
3-layer 50D H2No Performance Standard ECONYL (proprietary material) with a PFC-free DWR finish
BD.dry 2.5L waterproof/breathable technology
2.5-layer PFC-free NanoPro (proprietary material)
100% polyurethane
Pockets
2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest (internal)
2 zippered hand
2 zippered hand
2 zippered hand
2 hand with button closure
Pit Zips
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Pit Zip Length
11 in
11 in
11 in
10 in
N/A
Stows into Pocket
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Carabiner Loop in Stow Pocket
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Helmet Compatible Hood
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Hipbelt Friendly Hand Pockets
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Additional Features
RECCO reflector, articulated patterning, adjustable cuffs with hook-and-loop closures
Dual adjustable and stowable hood, microfleece-lined neck, external and internal zipper storm flaps, chin zipper guard, adjustable Velcro cuffs, drawcord hem, carabiner clip-in loop
Adjustable cuffs and hem, Waterproof YKK AquaGuard center-front zipper, stretch fabric for increased mobility
Back yoke with ventilation holes, front placket with hidden snap button closure and YKK zipper, welded waterproof seams
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Arc'teryx Beta SL is a premium rain jacket. This garment separates itself from the pack with an exceptionally well-thought-out design that features a two-way zipper, an internal chest pocket, gusseted sleeves, articulated elbows for a full range of motion, and an oversized, fully adjustable, and helmet-compatible hood. The PFC-free 3-layer Gore-Tex fabric excelled in every water resistance test we threw at it, making it hard to beat when the weather gets truly gnarly. “This is the rain jacket I'll be packing for Cochamó,” says lead tester Trish Matheny, who believes this jacket is equipped to keep her dry in the very worst conditions.
Performance Comparison
The Arc'teryx Beta SL offered outstanding performance during the extended downpours that we experienced during our month-long climbing trip Cochamó, Chile.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Water Resistance
The Beta SL has outstanding water-resistance capabilities and performed fantastically in all lab and field tests in this category. It outlasted all others in the shower test and blew us away with its performance in a Hawaiian tropical storm, where it kept our tester dry all day in a windy, torrential downpour. The PFC-free 3-layer nylon Gore-Tex continued to bead water without any absorption. Out of all the jackets we tested for this category, this is the jacket our lead tester plans to bring on her trip to Cochamó Valley in Chile, a location known for being very wet and rainy, with only the occasional weather window for adventure activities.
The sealed zippers did an exceptional job keeping underlayers, including the pocket paper towels we stashed inside for testing, as dry as when we started. The large hood will fit over a helmet for those seeking helmet capabilities in a jacket. The oversized hood and visor offer good coverage, keeping rain off the face. The open neck kept water out better when tucked under the chin rather than when the chin was tucked inside the collar. For those who can afford a premium garment, the Beta SL is a top choice when you know you will spend extended periods outside in heavy rain.
The PFC-free, 3-layer, Gore-tex fabric prioritizes weather protection thanks to a combination of a laminated nylon face and DWR finish.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Breathability
Built of a 3-layer Gore-Tex with an ePE internal membrane to produce durable waterproofing without perfluorinated chemicals, there is limited breathability inherent to the material itself. In testing, we found moisture collected as we worked harder and heated up. On our route test, we got sweaty in the Beta SL (walking the same steep mile in each jacket). However, this is a trend we couldn't help but notice in all jackets that feature a stiffer, more rigid design with high degrees of stormproofing. A lack of breathability is ultimately an expected caveat in products that demonstrate superior waterproof performance.
Fortunately, the 11-inch pit vents performed their duties quite well, venting excess heat whenever it built up. We rapidly returned to a comfortable temperature during our set route test as quickly as they were opened. Plus, the vents have dual zippers, so you can dial in airflow exactly where you want it, partially or fully open.
The 11 inch pit vents on the Arc'tery Beta SL helped with internal airflow and overall breathability, which was limited by the stiff and waterproof outer shell.
The design features an adjustable drawcord at the hemline of the jacket near the waist.
The adjustable wrist cuffs fit beyond the wrist for additional coverage while the velcro could be tightened or released to suit your preference for water resistant or breathability.
11-inch pit vents combine with an adjustable hemline and adjustable wrist cuffs that maximize breathability when fully open or waterproof performance when tightened down.
Comfort and Mobility
With stiff fabric, we often expect to see more restrictions on our ability to move. However, Arc'teryx cleverly designed the Beta SL to ensure a full range of motion, and we found it quite comfortable and easy to layer with. The gusseted underarms and articulated elbows offer great mobility through the shoulders and arms. A tailored torso provides a flattering fit yet ensures room to move and layer. The back of the jacket has a dropped hemline for full coverage even when reaching overhead or bending over.
The oversized hood is helmet-compatible and has dual adjustments so it can be cinched down snuggly and comfortably with or without a helmet. We docked a point in our scoring for its stiff, somewhat crinkly fabric. The neck is rigid and fairly tall, offering great coverage, but the cut hits right at the chin, which we found slightly uncomfortable, sometimes requiring adjustment.
The modern design features articulated patterning along with a generous fit that allows for easy layering along with a full range of motion.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Weight
Weighing in at 10.6 ounces, the new and improved Beta SL dropped nearly 2 ounces from its previous weight. Even with such a lightweight construction, this jacket packs many extra performance features. The smart use of ounces means a burly, protective fabric with plenty of bells and whistles, like dual zippers and durable velcro adjusters at the wrists. For those aiming to travel ultralight, there are better choices in the review. But for those planning to spend a lot of time in the backcountry, these extra few ounces deliver a top-of-the-line waterproof performance worth its weight in gold.
Surprisingly, the Beta SL is not designed with a stow pocket. It easily fits into its oversized hood but is still relatively bulky compared to other more slim-fitting designs in the review. If space is not the top concern, we still think the excellent performance is worth the additional space it takes up for those traveling in wet environments. It also easily rolls into its hood for additional space savings when packed in your luggage or backpack.
Weighing only 10.64 ounces, the Beta SL is one the lighter jackets that we tested, receiving a competitive score of 8.5 out 10 for this important metric.
Although the Beta SL doesn't pack into its own pocket, it packs down easily when rolled into its own hood, measuring about the size of a one liter water bottle.
Weighing only 10.6 ounces, this competitively lightweight rain jacket packs smaller than our favorite water bottle.
Construction Quality
The heavier Gore-Tex fabric maintained integrity throughout the duration of our extensive testing period, holding up to months of frequent wear. The jacket even endured a day of work on a first ascent in the Owens River Gorge, where sharp rock and dust were prolific amongst heavy raindrops in a passing storm. The rugged fabric is resistant to abrasion from rough surfaces. “All components are high-end and built to last, and I found they functioned well throughout continued testing,” says one of our testers.
The zippers felt stiff and needed a little more force to use. We found it particularly challenging to unzip pit vents with our non-dominant hand. However, after a break-in period of a few weeks, we found the zippers generally ran more smoothly. We expect this jacket to hold up through many adventures, even if you're a bit rougher on your gear.
The Beta SL was one of the only rain jacket designs to feature a protective internal pocket to keep valuables dry.
The Beta SL design features watertight zippers on the hand pockets.
The Arc'teryx Beta SL is a top-of-the-line jacket that has the most features to increase comfort and customize the fit. The articulated patterning is worth every penny.
Every design feature on this jacket is very high quality, from the zippers to the toggles, producing no issues during our testing period.
Should You Buy the Arc'teryx Beta SL?
The Arc'teryx Beta SL is a well-designed, thoughtfully crafted, high-performing rain jacket built of quality construction meant to withstand whatever mother nature throws your way. It also offers a great fit with a full range of motion and helmet compatibility for maximum mobility, making it a great choice for climbing, hiking, biking, or whatever adventure your weekends may hold. When the skies open and an epic rainstorm rolls in, this jacket will keep you dry the longest, no matter how wild the weather gets.
The helmet compatible hood can also be cinched down for a customized fit without the use of a helmet.
Credit: Trish Matheny
What Other Rain Jackets Should You Consider?
The Beta SL is a high-performing rain jacket that offers the very best water resistance and construction quality of all options we tested. But that superior quality comes with a hefty investment. If the price of the SL turns you off but you are still interested in a rain jacket with solid wet weather performance, check out the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L. Although Patagonia's proprietary H2No treatment doesn't perform as well as the Gore-Tex fabric utilized in the Beta SL design, it still provides impressive water resistance over an extended period of time. If you're seeking affordability above all else and don't mind a simpler and more basic rain jacket design, check out the Marmot PreCip Eco. It isn't as high-performing as the Beta SL, yet it still supplies ample protection for active adventures during inclement weather.
The Beta SL is our top choice when we're planning to spend a lot of time in the backcountry with a less than ideal forecast.
