Home Australian Geographic Adventure Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody: Tested

Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody: Tested

The cold autumn conditions in Canada’s Yukon Territory were the perfect testing ground for the Cerium LT Hoody. Image credit: Justin Walker

A three-day trek in Tombstone Territorial Park, in Canada’s Yukon Territory, meant I would need some warm gear, for both when walking in cold, windy conditions, and for when sitting around the dinner shelters at each of the park’s campsites. Enter the Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody. 

Design

The iconic Canadian outdoor brand is renowned for top-notch gear that combines innovative design with functionality and durability. The Cerium LT Hoody epitomises that ethos, including plenty of innovation into what is, at the core level, a relatively straightforward piece of outdoor apparel. After all, down jackets haven’t changed all that much over the decades; Arc’teryx has, instead, been smart in the creation of the Cerium LT Hoody. 

The jacket features the company’s clever Down Composite Mapping technology. This is where designers have placed Coreloft synthetic insulation in areas of the jacket that are more prone to moisture, whether in the form of sweat and/or rain. So, think the jacket hood, the armpits, the hem and you can see how that would benefit wearer comfort. The 850-fill down offers loads of warmth, and the hood is insulated as well. The outer nylon shell (Arato 10 nylon) utilises a DWR (Durable Water Repellency) treatment for additional moisture resistance (note, it’s not fully waterproof), and the elastic cuffs keep wind out, too. 

The jacket’s trim cut combines with all this warming tech to result in a very light jacket, at just 305 grams. The Cerium LT Hoody also offers articulated construction for easy movement, and plenty of length (ideal for those with longer torsos). When packed in its store-sack it takes up about the equivalent of a 500ml water bottle.

In the field

The three days in Tombstone Territorial Park were a mix of sun, clouds, rain and plenty of chilly wind, with an evening and night of below-zero temperatures. The Cerium LT Hoody was perfect for these conditions when combined with a merino base-layer. For anything short of snow/blizzard conditions in Australia, the Cerium LT Hoody (when worn with base- and mid-layer) should keep you warm. It certainly did for this tester. 

The two pockets are large enough to store a beanie, gloves or other items, while the longer-than-standard length meant no cold wind crept in to chill my lower back when I was bent over or lifting something above my head. The hood can be cinched down tight, too, without inhibiting vision. The only thing I was always careful with was the small front zip. To me, it could be made larger for those with big hands or when wearing gloves. Arc’teryx claims the Cerium LT Hoody is breathable as well – and it is (to a degree), keeping it relatively comfortable in mid-effort activities, such as ascending on a trek. You wouldn’t wear it trail running, of course… 

The final word on the Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody

The Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody offers great performance in terms of its warmth, light weight and compact packed size. The materials used are high quality and the fit and finish is excellent. There’s little to mention in regards to any negatives in terms of overall performance. However, you will need to get your head around the lofty (excuse the pun) price. It’d be easy to say high performance doesn’t come cheap – and that’s true in this case – but you’d have to be sure that you need apparel of this quality and will be outdoors, regularly, using it for what it is designed. For those who fit that description, the Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody offers all the warmth, reliability and assurance of long-term performance you can ask for. It might just be time to start saving…  

RRP: $580 See Arc’teryx for more info.

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