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Gear reviews | Arc'teryx Beta Shell gloves with Atom liner

High-tech for warmth and grip

by Daniel Schweiss 03/10/2016
According to Arc'teryx, gloves are among the most demanding products in the entire range. This statement is quite understandable when you consider the performance profile of a glove in relation to the complex anatomy of the hand. As usual, Arc'teryx pays great attention to this insight. The expectations of us discerning consumers are correspondingly high. Will the numerous technical features pass the everyday test?

First impression

You don't have to expect any surprises, because with the Beta Shell Glove you get a product that feels robust and very cleanly finished as usual. The seams are all completely sealed and kept to a minimum. The palms and fingertips are reinforced. A drawstring guarantees a clean closure of the glove on the wrist and removable safety straps prevent the gloves from being lost. Arc'teryx recommends the matching Atom Glove Liner. Soft and warm are the attributes that I notice when I first try on this inner glove. The fingers are reinforced and should offer improved grip. This means that they can also be worn solo from time to time.

Test conditions

I primarily wore the glove in combination with the inner gloves on the downhill. Both the overglove and inner glove were used solo on longer ascents. The weather conditions varied from sunshine to rain, as did the temperatures. Only in very cold conditions was I unable to gain any experience due to the warm winter. Thanks to their properties, the gloves would certainly also be ideal for ice climbing. However, the test cannot provide any information on this.

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Material, features, function

I have to rely in part on the information provided by Arc'teryx, because many features of the Beta Shell Gloves are not recognizable to the average consumer. Starting with the materials. Two different GORE-TEX membranes on the palm and fingers as well as on the back of the palm ensure maximum breathability, weather protection and durability. The sealed seams are arranged in such a way that they restrict the movement of the fingers as little as possible. The pre-shaped fingers also contribute to the good gripping properties. Despite all the research and technical sophistication that Arc'teryx undoubtedly put into their development, the gloves feel a little inflexible when you first use them. This is only the case in combination with the Atom Glove Liner, which is hardly surprising as the fingers are packed in thickly. However, flexibility improved the more often I wore the gloves. The little finger felt a little unnatural. However, this could just as easily be due to the individual anatomy of the hand. The Beta Shell Glove remains a glove for tackling hard in nasty conditions. It goes without saying that, despite its sophisticated and well thought-out construction, this comes at the expense of mobility. In terms of waterproofness and robustness, there is no need to compromise. In terms of comfort, a distinction must be made between whether the glove is worn on its own or in combination with an inner glove. In the first case, the glove protects against the weather, but despite the GORE-TEX membrane, the fingers can become sweaty or cold depending on the physical exertion, as the insulation capacity is naturally relatively low. This is where the Atom Glove Liner comes into play. It fits snugly to the hand and provides optimum warmth thanks to three different types of PRIMALOFT insulation. I also found the liner very comfortable on its own, especially on cold, dry days. As soon as it starts to storm and mechanical stress is to be expected, you slip into the Beta Shell Glove. However, it should also be noted with this glove combination that there is no guarantee of warm fingers if you are very sensitive to the cold. However, once your fingers are warm, they stay warm!

Conclusion

The Beta Shell Glove is the workhorse among gloves. Robust and absolutely waterproof, they have proven themselves in tough winter conditions. I like to put my hands in the warm and fluffy Atom Glove Liner and when the going gets tough, I slip into the protective Beta Shell Glove. Although I don't rate the dexterity for precise finger work quite as highly as Arc'teryx, the glove is a pleasure to wear. The clean workmanship and well thought-out construction alone leave a very good impression even after a few days outside. Definitely a high-end glove that will accompany me on many more adventures in the snow. The expected long service life justifies the rather high price.

Advantages & disadvantages

+ High-quality materials
+ High-quality workmanship
+ Robust
+ Warm in combination with the Atom Glove Liner
+ Sophisticated construction
+ High level of comfort
+ Versatile application options
- High price

Details

RP: Beta Shell €170.- Atom Liner €90.-

Waterproof, windproof, breathable & Durable
Sealed seams
One-handed drawcord at the wristRemovable safety loop
Reinforced palm and fingertips
Pre-shaped fingers
2 different GORE-TEX membranes for optimum breathability (Beta Shell)
3 different PRIMALOFT insulations for optimum thermal performance (Atom Liner)

Click here to go to the Arc'teryx website with more information about the Beta Shell and Atom Liner.

This product was provided to PG free of charge by the manufacturer for testing purposes.

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This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

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