I have now had the Beta AR jacket, stormhood, for almost a year. Right away I could tell it was high quality that would stand up over time. The fit of the jacket is roomy enough for comfortable movement, but also feels flattering.
The pocket placement is spot-on and the hand warmer pockets are extremely roomy. There is plenty of space for a phone, I even was able to carry around my kindle!
The zippers feel heavy-duty, while also being easy to pull. The stormhood is nice and adjustable. I appreciate the brim, it keeps my glasses dry on rainy days.
My first trip with this jacket was out to the caribou during a January cold snap. I was worried I might be cold, even with a layer under, but the wind protection is so stellar I was nice and toasty snowshoeing across Sheridan lake.
This past fall, we spent a week on Vancouver Island. We had some windy and rainy weather and this was the perfect coat to have. It kept me warm when the cool wind blew and also kept me completely dry during the heavy rain.
The extra roomy hood was much appreciated! It was also so nice to have large pockets to keep my phone and wallet dry and secure.
I live in a rural area and have worn this jacket in the bush and while out in town. After much use, it still looks and feels brand new. If you are in the market for a new jacket, I can highly recommend the versatile Arcteryx Beta AR Jacket, Stormhood.