Living in Tucson, Arizona, I was convinced I had to travel north to Flagstaff or at least to the Catalina Mountains to properly try out the Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody. In early January, Tucson seldom experiences cold weather.
Fortunately, to my surprise (and to the dismay of many locals), we had a stretch of very cold winter days that month. We had some snowfall, and there were even two consecutive nights with a hard freeze. Winds reached speeds of over 20 miles per hour, and eagerly, I put on the down hoody and headed out for testing.
I later brought the Arc’teryx hoody on a camping trip to Ironwood Forest National Monument north of Tucson and wore it on some chilly evenings and brisk mornings.
I quickly understood why this jacket was recognized as the “Best Overall” in GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Down Jackets. The Cerium delivered exceptional performance at every location I took it.
In summary: The Arc’teryx Cerium hoody has been a delightful insulated companion this winter. The combination of down and synthetic loft provided warmth, resistance to moisture in key areas, and effective wind protection. The fit of this latest generation of Cerium felt just right, not loose or restrictive. It also compresses down to the size of a water bottle, making it suitable for backpacking, climbing, hiking, or ski touring, and has a stylish look for urban wear.
