What is the Ceres SV Parka?
The Ceres SV Parka takes the crown for the warmest jacket in Arc'teryx's range. Filled with a whopping 230g of super high quality 850 fill-power european goose down and surrounded by a Gore Thermium outer, it's truly a jacket for some of the coldest and most extreme environments on earth.
What is it made of?
Insulation: When you sit at the top of the Arcteryx tree of warmth, you've got big boots to fill. The Ceres SV features a massive 230g of 850 fill-power european goose down. Down, to this day, is still the warmest form of wearable insulation available for its weight, combining massive warmth with a small pack size and low weight (despite the warmth of this jacket, it only weighs 880g). The sheer amount of insulation is only one half of the story though; how it's stored in its baffles is the other half. Unlike your typical jacket which will be stitched like an infinity symbol, Arc'teryx use a box wall construction to hold the down in place. Essentially, the down is stored in cubes of fabric which are stitched together to form a seamless wall of insulation without anywhere for the heat to escape.
Outer fabric: Surrounding the bulk of the insulation is a Gore Infinium membrane partnered with a tough 40D polyester outer fabric. Gore Infinium is completely windproof and highly water resistant, protecting you and the insulation from harsh conditions. Although we say water resistant, in real-world use you'll find that the chance of water ingress is extremely low. Lastly, layered over the top of the Gore Infinium membrane is a tough and weather resistant 40D polyester fabric.
What are the features?
The Ceres wouldn't be a true Arc'teryx product without a long list of techy features! Starting with what Arc'teryx call 'down composite mapping', this simply refers to the use of down and synthetic fabrics in different areas to maximise warmth. For example, their own synthetic Coreloft fabric is used in the cuffs, around your mouth when the jacket is zipped up, under the arms and on the shoulders. These are all areas which encounter high amounts of moisture, therefore it makes sense to use a synthetic in these areas and down in other areas which require more warmth and less water resistancy. Other features include a helmet compatible hood with easy to adjust Cohaesive cordlock adjusters, a two-way zip to allow you to ventilate or fit the jacket over a harness and adjustable waist and hem drawcords.
Pockets wise, you get two insulated hand pockets, an external chest pocket, an internal security pocket and two internal dump pockets.
How does it fit?
The Ceres features a long, body-hugging fit which maximises warmth by reducing the amount of dead space inside the jacket. Despite the hugging fit, you're easily able to fit a few layers underneath for exceptionally cold conditions.
Where does this fit in the layering system?
The Ceres is the perfect outer layer, whether you're using it as a mountaineering piece at high altitude or a belay jacket when stationary for long periods of time.
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850 fill goose down
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Windproof and water resistant
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Warmest in Arc'teryx's range
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Insulated helmet compatible hood
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Box wall construction
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Long length
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Two way zip
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Plenty of pockets
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Mixture of synthetic and down