Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Cerium LT Jacket

I've used my jacket for 3 seasons over my past year of ownership and it's held up well - I'd even claim it remains in pristine condition. What makes it work for me is it's portability (packs small and weighs a pittance) and it's versality in terms of the various ways I can use it in a meaningful fashion in the backcountry. It fits under my Beta LT hardshell although not many scenarios find me deploying it in such configuration. I often use it under my Squamish (ie windshirt) when taking a rest after a high output hike/climb. When it's really cold, I'll layer it under my Thorium AR or under a synthetic 'puffy' (in my case Rab's Xenon or Generator). It's been used quite often as insulative backup in my sleeping bag and quilt. If I'm moving and it's above ca. -5 C then I find the jacket too warm to wear. Even idly walking around town in the temperature span of 0 - 5 C, I find I start to sweat, and then I'm just wearing a base layer beneath (though I always have a windshirt above it--I never wear the jacket as my outermost piece) To summarize the activities/scenarios where I find this piece to excel in usefulness , I'd say it's for quick deployment (from an unobtrusive presence in my pack) when stationary. In really really cold weather (colder than - 10 C), it's an excellent complemenatary layer to add beneath another puffy, be it down or synthetic. It slips easily under such jacket and offers a remarkable surge in experienced warmth. It's also nice to put on when waking up in a tent on chilly mornings. The zippers are dainty but haven't failed or caused any issues during my year of use. An occasional escaping feather (I doubt true down was ever a culprit) has been spotted piercing it's way to freedom but it's never caused concern of a massive exodus. The jacket's down has a claimed fill power of 850 (US) which tracks rather well with my experience of various down products; I have several products with 850 fill power, though the down's fill power in these pieces is measured in accordance to EU standards. The 850 EU (with Pertex Quantum shells) are definitely 'puffier' than the Cerium LT. Only true down, as opposed to fine plumey feathers, occasionaly sneak out of those pieces. The few feathers/plumes that began migrating from my Cerium LT always had fine and sharp quivers that led the break out. I chose the Cerium LT specifically without a hood since it was intended to almost always be worn under other piece when outdoors, and all these pieces had their own hoods. I also didn't want a hood hanging off the back of my head, gathering rain or snow on occasions a down hood over my head entailed insulative overkill. In summary, it's a sweet and multifunctional piece of gear that tags along in cold climes, offering high thermal insurance per its weight and packability. It's turned out to be a very good purchase. The tailoring/cut is, per many of Arc'teryx's trim fitting pieces, impeccable--it looks almost too good while also tracking comfortably with range-of-motion needs.

I am a fan of Arcteryx as all the clothes I use have delivered: waterproof, durability, fit, etc. The cerium lt is replacing another brands down jacket that served me well. But what struck me here is: Perfect fit Extreme warmth, The latter was so surprisingly much warmer than my previous jacket that I had to strip regularly in our fall weather. It will be great once the real cold starts to set in... Happy camper, therefore!

I've used this jacket for the past year on hiking, skiing, and kayaking adventures and it's performed well for a diverse range of activities, weather conditions, and layering techniques. The jacket dries quickly when under moderate sunlight for about an hour, compresses down to nearly nothing when packed, was a wide comfort range with respect to temperatures. I like to take long-exposure night photos at elevation, and this jacket keeps me and my hands warm when I'm fiddling with the exposure and shutter speed settings to get the desired shot. I have an older red color of this jacket, and the light/dark down feathers can be seen through the lighter colored fabric. Arcteryx may have addressed this in the color refreshes, but something to think about if this matters to you.

I use this jacket every day and I find it both light and warm. I like the fit of the jacket. I also have Canada goose down jacket but I like the fit better of the Cerium. It is fragile so you have to watch out not to tear it. Great jacket with a good fit

Very happy with this jacket. Exactly what I was looking for.

I bought this jacket to pair with my Parsec hard shell jacket and I must say that I absolutely love this piece. Even as a stand alone jacket the Cerium LT is great, fits your body much nicer than other competitors jackets that i have tried on. A major selling point and something that i found very cool is that the jacket is able to fold into itself and be tucked away into a inner pouch found in the left pocket

I just bought this jacket and hope to put it to good use this winter when I go for my daily walk through the woods!

This jacket has the warmth of a much thicker jacket without the bulk. Fits true to size even with a base and mid layer underneath. Great jacket to throw on between climbs in the back country, then stow and throw yourself into the powder! And then... My dog ate out the shoulder... Now I have to wait and save for my next one.

I bought this jacket for the fit as I have a competitors thermoball product which didn't fit quite right. I purchased this jacket after reading that the sleeves are a little longer and the down insulation a little warmer. Well, the fit on this jacket was just perfect. The down insulation proved to be a bit warm for downhill skiing, but with layers you can regulate that. It was a bit too warm for spring skiing, but I love it none the less. When I first saw Arcteryx products, I thought they were just marketing a brand, however, these products have proven to be above and beyond a price point market. These products are comfortable and perform as advertised.

Great looking Jacket. Fits well and is very warm...

As described. True to size. Looks sharp. Stands way above The North Face and Cloumbia and Eddie Bauer and Patagonia. Prana cant come close either. Bravo!

Decided to give this a few days in different conditions before posting a review. Wednesday in NYC was around 30F, received the jacket and with nothing more than a tshirt on went for a walk in the fog. The Cerium makes you realize how important it is to cover other parts, my face got smacked by the cold but my chest and arms were fine. Thursday was around 39F and muggy, threw the Cerium on underneath my Alpha FL, great combo. Went out last night at around 29F in Manhattan, handed the Cerium to a friend who couldnt believe how warm it was; with a light sweater on underneath I began to feel too hot. When I left Manhattan I didn't need to sit in the car and wait for the heated seats to work, this coat will warm you up quickly. Few extra things: folks all over the net either love or hate the zipper. Owning an Alpha FL prior to this if you have a zipper issue with the Cerium you must have hands like the Big Show from the WWE. I can palm a basketball and still found the zipper easy to use. The hand pockets are very nice, and the removable pouch to pack the cerium in is a nice touch. For anyone looking for a jacket that will keep you warm and weighs next to nothing you won't find anything better. Still hard to believe this thing is about the same weight as 2 Iphone 5's in 1 hand.

I generally take a medium in Arcteryx clothing, as I am very slim at 6' and 140lbs, but with quite long arms. The medium Cerium LT fits me perfectly. I have used it as an outer jacket in the urban environment, and as a mid layer while skiing below -10C, and at all times it has kept me warm. The only very minor point is that in 3 months of use, two very small feathers have come through the outer layer. Hopefully this is just a bedding in issue, but at least it proves that the down is real.

I was hesitant about writing a review without being able to properly evaluate the jacket, but I felt I could offers some insight into the fit and construction. First of all, I am 5'10" and 160lbs, and I wear a medium in just about everything I own from any brand. This jacket is no exception and fit exactly like I would expect it to. I prefer more of a tailored fit, and I don't like a lot of extra room and bulk. The Cerium LT accomplishes that. In fact, it fits exactly like my Atom LT does which is also a medium. I do not feel there is an over-abundance of room in any one given area. This is one of the primary reasons why I bought this jacket. I have a TNF Nuptse that has too much room in the mid-section, and is a little too michelin man for my tastes. This jacket offers a much sleeker look without being overly bulky. In fact, it fits really well under my Stingray shell which is also a medium. The length is pretty similar to the Atom LT. It's slightly longer in the back, and hangs just below the waist line. The bottom of the jacket does not slide above my paints when I reach over my head. I really love the cuffs on the Atom jacket. It is one of my favorite style cuffs, and at first I wished that this jacket would have the same cuffs. I was pleasantly surprised by the cuffs though. In person the construction is nicer than what it appears like in the pictures. The pictures make it look like it's the typical thin elastic band that you see on a lot of jackets. They constructed the band so that it lays flat against the skin though which is a nice touch. I can't really comment on the warmth, since it is still too warm here to give a good evaluation in that regard. All I can say is that it feels at least as warm as my Nuptse jacket. So far I have no concerns.

I bought this jacket a few weeks ago and I really like the look, warmth and comfort. The only downside for me has been the size. I'm 5'8 with a lean build, and couldn't find a sweet spot with the sizes. I preferred the fit of the Small, but I would've like it to have been around half an inch longer. I liked the length of the Medium, but the fitting was too loose for me.

This is so close to being the best insulated jacket I've ever owned, but they've cocked it up with the zip!!! The fastener is the fiddliest, oddly arranged and ultimately hopeless one I've ever know. Crazy thinking !

Bought the jacket several years ago an do not regret it. It is impressively warm for a minimal weight. I also own a Proton AR jacket and both will keep you comparably warm under a hardshell. Standalone the Cerrium is much warmer as it is quite wind resistant. It will can withstand some light rain. The zipper might seem flimsy but is still working after several years of usage. It is a nice idea to put synthetic insulation into the shoulders and the cuffs, but especially in the shoulders I noticed that the insulation has lost some of it loft and warming capacity. The collar is to short for my preference so on cold days I wear a buff with the jacket.

It was a good jacket for 1 year, than zipper came off

Love this jacket, I bought it for under my ski shell. Only complaint it the creatures are coming out of the seams.

I've had this jacket for 4 years, and it's become my most reached-for layer. I bring it on every trip because it's so lightweight and packable. Takes up less space than my toiletries bag. It's the perfect layer for in between your wool sweater and your shell. That said, here are my two "but"s. One, it's actually not that warm. It's great for taking the chill off or adding another 10 of warmth to your layering system. This is definitely not a standalone jacket though. I can count on one hand the number of times I had this jacket on without another layer above or below. Two, the outer material is really delicate. Twice now, I've had it on as a belay layer, and then forgotten to take it off before heading up the next pitch. I'm not talking about chimneys and off-widths. I'm talking warming up on a 5.7 to 5.9 vertical wall. The first time, I used superglue to seal up the little puncture holes. This second time, I've got about 4 new holes, and they're more like gashes than puncture holes, so unfortunately I think I'm looking at a replacement jacket this time. (Sadly, Arc'teryx is out of my budget at this point of my life, so I'm gonna have to switch brands.) I'd still recommend this jacket, but with a strong disclaimer to remember to take it off or to protect it with an outer layer if you intend to do anything active in close proximity to rock or ice.

I've had this jacket for 4 years, and it's become my most reached-for layer. I bring it on every trip because it's so lightweight and packable. Takes up less space than my toiletries bag. It's the perfect layer for in between your wool sweater and your shell. That said, here are my two "but"s. One, it's actually not that warm. It's great for taking the chill off or adding another 10 of warmth to your layering system. This is definitely not a standalone jacket though. I can count on one hand the number of times I had this jacket on without another layer above or below. Two, the outer material is really delicate. Twice now, I've had it on as a belay layer, and then forgotten to take it off before heading up the next pitch. I'm not talking about chimneys and off-widths. I'm talking warming up on a 5.7 to 5.9 vertical wall. The first time, I used superglue to seal up the little puncture holes. This second time, I've got about 4 new holes, and they're more like gashes than puncture holes, so unfortunately I think I'm looking at a replacement jacket this time. (Sadly, Arc'teryx is out of my budget at this point of my life, so I'm gonna have to switch brands.) I'd still recommend this jacket, but with a strong disclaimer to remember to take it off -or to protect it with an outer layer- if you intend to do anything active in close proximity to rock or ice.

Nice looking well made jacket. Fit wise I seem to fall between small and medium I'm 5'5 140lb

Excellent warmth from an incredibly light jacket which also looks very stylish. However it is starting to leak down feathers from stitching sites! My order number is 3167203. I hope Arcterx have a good reason for this! One star lossed because of this.

Excellent warmth from an incredibly light jacket which also looks very stylish. However it is starting to leak down feathers from stitching sites! My order number is 3167203. I hope Arcterx have a good reason for this! One star lossed because of this.

My three year old Cerium LT was not purchased as a daily jacket and is exclusively used as a mid-layer with the Alpha AR. I have experienced moderate insulation loss but not excessive and would consider the jacket has performed well over the years. The Cerium LT is extremely lightweight and very comfortable. Warmth vs weight ratio is remarkable and remains impressive every time I wear it. If you are a stocky build, I suggest sizing up as the trim fit in my normal size was too snug in the armpit area.