Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody - Women's Review

The Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody is a mid-weight down jacket filled with RDS (Responsible Down Standard) certified 850-fill European white goose down, with synthetic Coreloft insulation across areas where moisture tends to build up. It's available as both a hooded (tested here) and a hoodless model. The Cerium's exterior is made of recycled Arato 15D ripstop nylon, and the whole piece weighs just 9.8 ounces. It is slightly longer than average, with a trim fit and subtle drop hem, and comes with a detachable drawstring stuff sack. The fit was updated for winter 2023-24 to be more generous across the chest and hem, for better movement and fit.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The Cerium is filled with high-quality 850-fill down, helping it to maintain loft even within its medium-thick construction. Though it's not a super lofty puffy jacket, it's deceptively warm due to the high fill, with each medium-width baffle densely packed with down. It also layers easily over and under other garments, making it a great mid-layer when you need something extra.

The hood can be worn comfortably over a climbing helmet or beneath a ski helmet, and is warm and adaptable for all the times you're not wearing a helmet. It has an elastic rim to keep it cozy around your face and a single bungee on the back that adjusts the volume, fitting just as easily over a thick beanie with a pom pom on the back as it does your bare head. Dual hem bungees and a drop hem add coverage and warmth options. An elastic band is sewn inside each cuff to help protect your wrists against the cold.

Comfort

With a 20D Arato liner, Arc'teryx claims the inside of the Cerium is “downproof”. We don't yet have years of wearing experience to say that it will never fail, but during our extended testing period over several months, we never found a single feather poking out. The Cerium is subtly tapered at the waist, giving a little bit of extra room in the hips, which we appreciate, and the updated fit is roomier across the chest and shoulders.

The Cerium Hoody has small underarm gussets that add a bit of mobility to the sleeves and a helmet-compatible hood that also comfortably fits over every size of beanie we could get our hands on. Slanted hand pockets are easier to access, and it's easy to layer a shell overtop of this mid-thickness jacket if needed. Though none of these features are particularly flashy, together they make the Cerium a very comfortable and versatile down jacket. We do wish that it had a fleece backer for the chin guard for just a bit more added comfort, but with it's low weight, we can sacrifice a bit of comfort.

Portability

Weighing just 10.2 ounces (women's size small), the Cerium Hoody is one of the lightest models we tested--especially considering the warmth it provides. The few that weigh less are significantly less warm. It comes with a small stuff sack that can stay attached inside the internal chest pocket or be removed if you don't need to keep it with you, though it would be nicer if it packed simply into its own pocket.

Stowed away, the Cerium is a compact model and a great traveling or packable adventure companion. While we haven't yet noticed its durability degrading over time with its incredibly lightweight construction, this is definitely a potential downside.

Weather Resistance

Arc'teryx makes some big weather resistance claims about the Cerium, all of which it lived up to in our testing. Though it's not windproof, its mid-width densely packed baffles do a solid job keeping breezes at bay, while all the adjustable points on the hem and back of the hood add even more protection. The Arato 15D ripstop nylon exterior is treated with DWR, which did a great job repelling all water during both our lab and field testing. Arc'teryx has also placed synthetic insulation in strategic locations around the core, and while they don't specify exactly where those areas are, having synthetic insulation to keep you warm even when wet or sweaty can really come in handy in cold environments.

Breathability

The Cerium lacks many breathability-specific features but performs reasonably well. The underarm gussets have slightly less insulation, which can help — but only if your armpits are getting air, which means moving your arms away from your sides. The jacket also has a two way zipper, which can be a quick way to let air in.

In practice, we enjoyed wearing the Cerium on brisk walks but found ourselves a little too warm on a sunny winter's day out snowshoeing in the mountains, or running in anything less than sub-zero temperatures. For very cold activities, though, the Cerium does the trick.

Should You Buy the Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody?

There are many things we love about the Cerium, but its high price tag isn't one of them. It's a great all-around jacket that's versatile and performs well across the board without being too much of any one thing. If you're hunting for a down jacket that can be dressed up for frigid days or worn alone on milder days, has well-thought-out features that are useful in just about any situation, and is made of very high-quality materials, that's the Cerium. But if you don't need your moderate-weather down jacket to be exceptional quality, there are other far cheaper options that may fit your needs.

What Other Down Jackets Should You Consider?

The Arc'teryx Cerium is a high-performing down jacket that's pretty darn good at pretty much anything. All things considered, the only aspect that edged it out of winning an award is the comparatively high price point. If you want to save some money, the Rab Microlight Alpine is a solid choice and costs a lot less. On the other hand, if you need extra warmth and a jacket that can keep up with the most intense of adventures, the Rab Neutrino Pro is our favorite for serious warmth and serious performance.