The side zippers are one of the most useful features on the Beta SV pants. Two-way zippers that Arc’teryx calls three-quarter length, but open higher at the hip, make the pant easier to pull on and off over hiking boots or ski boots. That also gives you more control over the ventilation because you can open it from the top, from the bottom, or almost completely depending on how much heat you need to dispose of.
Because the side zippers open so high on the hip, they also work as a seat puller for shower breaks. That means you can open your pants enough to walk without taking them off completely or needing to take off all your layers.
The zippers felt smooth and sturdy in testing, and because they’re Arc’teryx WaterTight zippers, they also help keep rain, sleet, and mud out.
Strength
Durability is one of the main reasons to choose the Beta SV over a light shell pant. We only have a few months of testing so far, so we can’t talk about years of wear yet, but the 100D GORE-TEX PRO ePE fabric feels very durable and hard to damage. It has some durability to it, and you get that swish of a hard shell, but that structure is also what makes the pants feel secure and ready for winter abuse.
Abrasion-resistant kick panels are an added durability feature, especially useful for ski boots, crampons, and sharp ski edges where shell pants tend to take a lot of abuse. So far, the seams and zippers are reliable, smooth, and easy to use, even with cold hands and winter layers. Based on the fabric, construction, and our experience with old Arc’teryx shells, these feel like pants you can keep in rotation for many seasons.
Weight and packaging
Weight and packaging aren’t where the Beta SV pants really shine, but they still make sense given how protective they are. At 15.4 ounces in the women’s version, it’s much lighter than most dedicated ones ski pantsbut they feel much stronger than that lightweight rain pants and don’t fold into a smaller, more resilient bundle. The 100D GORE-TEX PRO ePE fabric has enough structure that you notice it in the pack, especially when compared to soft, thin shells.
But that’s a tradeoff: you give up some packing for a tough, all-weather pant built for winter use, wet snow, wind, and extreme mountain conditions. If you’re after a pair that’s less protective and packable, consider a rugged all-mountain Arc’teryx Beta Pant.
Flexibility
Beta SV pants are more versatile than a dedicated ski pant, but more winter and storm ready than a hiking pant. They make the best sense for cold, wet, mixed mountain use such as ski touring, cross country skiing, winter hiking, wet shoulder season hiking, and for people looking for one tough pair of pants that can go between activities.
Unlike most dedicated ski pants, they don’t have internal snow gaiters, making them feel clean, light, and effortless for hiking and general winter use. The tradeoff is that they aren’t as sealed off as special pants like Arc’teryx Sentinel or Sabre, especially in deep powder. But if you don’t need a full-featured ski pant and want something that can handle winter, shoulder season, rain, mud, and snow without feeling too special, the Beta SV pant hits the sweet spot for multi-purpose mountain use.