Arcteryx Beta Ar pant

first a question: why the Beta AR ? They are pretty heavy and expensive. How will you use this sort of pants e.g. ?

Those have been my BC ski pants for years. They are pretty stiff and burly and don’t pack down very small. I would consider them more winter use than for summer rain showers. I’m 5’11” with a 33″ waist and wear a regular large (32″ inseam) and they fit well. I normally wear medium in Arc’x pants, but take large in their shell pants for layering.

If you want shell pants with 3/4 side zips, look at the Arc’x Zeta AR shell pants. It’s lighter and basically has the same cut. I assume they still make it though I’m not positive.

I’m wearing the Zeta shell pants in this video: Splitboarding Across Kodiak Island

I have a discount for 50% off thats really the main reason why i am considering these.

Skiing, 4 season backpacking, and i'd like to start doing some kind of outdoor climbing this year.

Ill check out the zeta ar!

They are great for skiing, but they are a little crinkly compared to most shell pants. A touch baggy, which is ok for skiing. Not quite as nice for climbing. Breathability is ok when it's cold. I would rather wear nothing and get soaked than hike in them though. I have eVent pants for hiking.

For $400 Arcteryx could have put three zippers on each side zip. They only have two. My Rab pants have three…

The main diff between the Beta AR and the Zeta AR is the Zeta has a lighter denier fabric, lacks the small thigh pocket (which can be nice for an avy transceiver if you like to carry there), has no real instep crampon patch, and lacks the internal gaiter. If I want to go light for BC skiing, I take the Zeta. Normal day to day BC ski thrashing, it's the Beta. I do like to carry my transceiver in a thigh pocket, so I need to go back to a chest harness on Zeta days.

thanks for all the replys guys!

I'm also planning my gear around a 2 week trip to Iceland in July were I will be up on some glaciers/ with crampons etc. Just was hoping to find a all in one pant and avoid bringing a rain shell for the lower climes that can handle some abuse..

Jeff what eVent pants do you wear for hiking??

Rab Latok Alpine. They have kept the same design for the last 5 years. They work very well with no frills. Just an elastic waist, great side zips, and light instep patches.