Intro, product and intended use
Hi, Paul here from Trekitt and I’m writing today about the recently revised Arcteryx Cerium SV Hoody. This beautiful down insulated jacket is best described as a very warm, versatile, lightweight and durable jacket. The clue’s in the name, Arcteryx use the suffix SV to describe their range of Severe Weather products. So, this gnarly, toasty jacket is perfect for just about any outdoor activity where you need an incredibly efficient insulating layer.
Although the Cerium SV Hoody is designed to work primarily as an insulating layer, you could use it as a standalone jacket for less severe conditions. How you wear it will depend on what you’re doing, how much effort you’re putting in, and of course what the weather conditions are. If you need more detailed information about layering check our YouTube video.
What is the Cerium SV Hoody made from?
The outer fabric of the Cerium SV Hoody is made using the new Arato 10 Nylon that has a durable and subtly textured, non-shiny finish, is abrasion resistant and can be packed down nice and easily. The use of such a tough fabric in a lightweight down jacket is pretty rare and is what grabbed our attention. Arcteryx have used a lighter version, Arato 7, for the lining to ensure durability and breathability.
The outside fabric is treated with a DWR (Durable Water Repellant) to help repel light rain and snow, but please note that the Cerium SV is NOT waterproof, so layer it up under a waterproof shell if, and when, it starts raining hard.
I described the Cerium SV Hoody as a down jacket earlier, but to be totally accurate it’s filled with natural down and synthetic Coreloft insulation. Arcteryx call this process “Down Composite Mapping” and it places each type of insulation where it works best. 850 fill-power European Goose Down (about the best there is) is used in the sleeves, the hood and around the core, and Coreloft is used in the shoulders, at the top of the zip, cuffs and under the arms, areas that get exposed to the most moisture and need to dry quickly.
OK, let’s get technical for a moment. The effectiveness of down insulation is measured using fill power, in this case 850. This is a recognised measurement of how “fluffy” the insulation is, or how well it lofts. The “fluffier” down is the more space it can occupy and the more warm air it can trap. So, the Fill Power describes the amount of space one ounce of down will occupy in cubic inches when allowed to reach its maximum loft. Check out our YouTube video to fully geek out on all things insulation.
What are the main features?
Ok, let’s start at the top with the hood. Arcteryx call the design a “StormHood”, this means that it provides full face protection in stormy weather and it can be used over a helmet for those freezing belays or winter mountaineering. The hood is fully insulated with all that lovely down to ensure maximum insulation for the part of the body that loses the most heat…your head! Adjustment is super easy with these glove-friendly Cohaesive adjusters that keep the cords tucked away so they don’t whip you in the face in high winds. Right up at the top of the zip is another one of those Coreloft panels, so when you’ve got the jacket all zipped up the synthetic insulation is unaffected by the moisture in your breath.
A really clever feature is the use of “Down Contour” baffles. Baffles are simply the tubes that encapsulate the down filling. But Arcteryx have cleverly designed these ones to “push” the down closer to your body to really maximise its performance; it kind of feels like the jacket is giving you a nice warm hug…which is nice.
The main zip is another clever feature from Arcteryx, it’s their “No Slip Zip”, a moulded YKK zip with little “speed bumps” placed about an inch apart for the top 4 inches of the zip. These “speed bumps” stop the zip from slipping down and allow you to select the best position for the zip puller to suit your needs.
Storage wise, you get two zipped hand pockets and an internal zipped pocket to keep essentials like phones and GPS safely tucked away. The hand pockets are big enough to swallow hats and gloves and the stuff sack is found in the internal pocket.
Articulated sleeves are finished off with a neat elasticated trim to seal out the cold and the hem is dropped slightly at the back for added protection and can be sealed off with an adjustable drawcord.
How does the Cerium SV Hoody Fit?
One of the best things about the Cerium SV Hoody is its fantastic cut and improved fit, the jacket just feels so good when you’ve got it on. This season, it benefits from a slightly longer body to maximise the insulation.
I’m 6’3”, 42” chest and 34” waist, I weigh around 13.5 stone and I wear a size Large – so as an insulating piece it’s designed to fit pretty closely to maximise the insulation. The last thing you want is a big baggy jacket as you’ll waste energy warming up all that dead air space, and conversely you don’t want it too tight either as that’ll hinder the downs ability to fully loft. With this size large there’s enough room for lightweight layers yet it fits effectively.
The arms are nice and long and don’t restrict your movement if you have to reach when climbing or scrambling.
Where does the Cerium SV Hoody fit in the layering system?
The Cerium SV Hoody is a lightweight, breathable and packable down jacket making it perfect as a hugely versatile and very warm insulating layer depending on your activity level and the weather conditions. It also works perfectly well as a stand-alone jacket on those crisp, dry, frosty days.
Layering is not a precise science and there is no one perfect system that will suit every person, situation or the weather conditions. Some of us feel the cold, others, like me, get hot very quickly, but for more advice on using layers please check out this video.
Summary
So that’s it, the revised Arcteryx Cerium SV Hoody, a superb insulating layer for severe weather that fits superbly, is beautifully made and uses clever Composite Mapping to optimise a mixture of natural and synthetic insulation.
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850 fill power European Goose Down
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Coreloft 80 and 140 insulation (80 g/m and 140 g/m)
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100% nylon face fabric with DWR coating
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Low-profile, down insulated StormHood with Cohaesive cordlock adjusters
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Two zippered hand pockets
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Full front No Slip Zip with chin guard and wind flap
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Low profile, elasticated cuff at the wrist layers easily
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Down Contour baffles to enhance loft
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Adjustable hem drawcord
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Stuff sack included
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Improved fit and longer body.