Women's Beta AR Pants
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beta ar pant
These are my go-to rain pants for hiking in the PNW. I’ve mostly been using them for mountaineering, which they work extremely well for. The reinforced material on the inside of the ankles has saved me from kicking holes in them several times. It adds weight and stiffness, but has been worth it for me.
December 9, 2011
Excellent durable construction.
These are my go-to rain pants for hiking in the PNW. I’ve mostly been using them for mountaineering, which they work extremely well for. The reinforced material on the inside of the ankles has saved me from kicking holes in them several times. It adds weight and stiffness, but has been worth it for me.
Though the side-zips do not extend the entire way up the pant (they end 5-6” from the top of the pant), I prefer this. As winterhiker2 mentions, this does mean you have to step in and out of the waist of the pant to put them on or take them off. The benefit for me has been that the waistband of your backpack does will not rub on zipper ridgelines. Overall, it’s been a compromise that has been worth it for me – I tend to just start our mountain hikes w/the pants on since they need to be layered under my harness anyway.
This pant might be a bit too heavy for summer hikes – I’m sure you could find a lighter/cheaper option, but I wear them all year’round.
As for sizing, I’m 5’2”, 120# and typically wear a 4/6. I ordered these pants in small and still have enough room for several thick warm layers underneath. They are too long for my short legs, but the excess material scrunches above the reinforced inner ankle panel (so it’s not in a place where it’s going to get in the way).
March 11, 2011
Arcteryx Full Zip Pants
I bought these as overpants for winter hiking in the White Mountains of NH. They fit well - running true to size (5'7"/125 lbs - small). A little heavy for everyday hiking, but for very cold, windy and/or wet weather above tree-line, they are just the ticket. My only small complaint is that they do not completely separate so that you are still stepping into the pants. This is not a problem with just hiking boots, but if you happen to have on crampons, you have to be very careful, and with snowshoes, it is not even possible to get them on. I usually use them when I know I will have them on most of the hike. Other than this, they are well made and certainly have kept me very warm and dry. I can't judge durability as I have only used them this season.
January 18, 2011
