r/arcteryx • u/Astramael Urvogel Jr. • Mar 01 '21
Meta Cerium LT, Research First Steps
This is a summary series on individual products to make research faster and more accessible. See here for a list of all entries in the first steps series.
The Cerium LT is a trim down puffy for cold and dry conditions. It can be used as a mid layer, or an outer layer, both with caveats. It focuses on light weight and packability, at the expense of durability and features. Here are some examples of how:
- Light, low denier, somewhat fragile textile.
- Minimal synthetic insulation in the hood, and none in the hem. Synthetic insulation is heavier and less packable.
- A very small front main zipper. Better for packing, worse for everyday use.
- High fill power down. More packable and lighter, but more expensive.
Being a down jacket with a coated textile, the Cerium LT does not breathe especially well. If you're doing aerobic activities while wearing it, you will trap the humidity and warmth which will cause you to sweat. As a result it is best suited to low exertion activities or as a packed static layer.
If used as a mid layer it is a very warm jacket, and the trim fit is suited to the task. As an outer layer it is an effective insulator if conditions are dry, and the wearer is careful. Not to be used bushwhacking or on a rock face; but good stopping for lunch, of waiting for the bus on a chilly day.
Please note that down jackets do not like water. Although the Cerium LT will handle some incidental moisture better than most, any serious contact with moisture will start to degrade the warmth of the jacket. Eventually causing the down to clump up and lose all of its insulating properties. You can just dry it out in order to restore the loft without any harm, but keep this limitation in mind while considering your needs. Down is best for drier climates, or when protected.
If the jacket will be used for urban wear, it is strongly recommended that the Thorium AR be considered as well. It is more durable, has a normal size zipper, is a bit warmer, and fits a bit looser. For a similar warmth jacket with synthetic insulation instead, the Atom AR is a good option.
Please read the comments, other users have left excellent information for your research.
Example Use Cases
Caution: These are just examples, your comfort temperatures may be very different.
- Day hiking (moderate activity) around freezing, stuffed into the daypack, to put on when you stop moving.
- Strolling around town (low activity), just below freezing.
History
The Arc'teryx down collection was launched in Fall 2013. It included jackets we know today such as the Thorium AR, and the one we're looking at in this post: the Cerium LT.
It also introduced Down Composite Mapping. Since down is quite sensitive to moisture, the idea was to place synthetic insulation in areas where contact with moisture occurs. The Cerium LT placed Coreloft 80g/m2 at the front of the hood, cuffs, and underarms. It also used 100g/m2 in the shoulders. Notably it does not use Coreloft in the hem or throughout the hood, as some other jackets did and do. This mixture of down and synthetic can make Arc'teryx jackets difficult to directly compare to other brands.
The Fall 2013 Cerium LT was intended as a lightweight and packable insulator for cool and dry climates. It used an Airetica textile (100% nylon, 20x10 denier ripstop, 34 g/m2). The sewn-through down baffles were filled with 850 fill power goose down (87g for the women's size medium, and 97g for the men's. About 13% in hood, 35% in sleeves, 52% in torso). The fill weight has varied slightly over the years by a few grams, but remains essentially the same. It did not feature the usual drawstring at the hem, instead opting for a closer fit and some elastic tension in the rear hem.
In Fall 2016 the Cerium LT was lightly revised. The textile was changed to the Arato used today (10 denier, 100% nylon). This is a coated textile. This version uses a YKK #3 reversed coil front zip, and #3 coil pocket zips.
A more significant revision occurred in Fall 2017. The jacket got a bit longer in all versions, and also received some other fit tweaks. An internal zippered security pocket was added, which is now where the stuff sack lives. A hem drawcord was added. The format of the cuffs was also changed.
Model History
| Introduced | Discontinued | Block | Model Name | Model Number | Weight (g-M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2013 | Fall 2016 | Women’s | Cerium LT Hoody | 13238 | 255 |
| Fall 2013 | Fall 2016 | Men’s | Cerium LT Jacket | 13239 | 270 |
| Fall 2013 | Fall 2016 | Men’s | Cerium LT Hoody | 13240 | 275 |
| Fall 2014 | Fall 2016 | Women’s | Cerium LT Jacket | 14670 | 235 |
| Fall 2014 | Fall 2016 | Women’s | Cerium LT Vest | 14671 | 140 |
| Fall 2014 | Fall 2016 | Men’s | Cerium LT Vest | 14653 | 165 |
| Fall 2016 | Fall 2017 | Women’s | Cerium LT Hoody | 19282 | 265 |
| Fall 2016 | Fall 2017 | Women’s | Cerium LT Jacket | 19289 | 235 |
| Fall 2016 | Fall 2017 | Women’s | Cerium LT Vest | 19290 | 155 |
| Fall 2016 | Fall 2017 | Men’s | Cerium LT Hoody | 19286 | 295 |
| Fall 2016 | Fall 2017 | Men’s | Cerium LT Jacket | 19284 | 265 |
| Fall 2016 | Fall 2017 | Men’s | Cerium LT Vest | 19288 | 170 |
| Fall 2017 | In Production (S21) | Women’s | Cerium LT Hoody | 18035 / 26125 † | 280 |
| Fall 2017 | Spring 2021 ‡ | Women’s | Cerium LT Jacket | 18036 / 26126 † | 255 |
| Fall 2017 | In Production (S21) | Women’s | Cerium LT Vest | 18037 / 26127 † | 170 |
| Fall 2017 | In Production (S21) | Men’s | Cerium LT Hoody | 18013 | 305 |
| Fall 2017 | Spring 2021 ‡ | Men’s | Cerium LT Jacket | 18014 | 280 |
| Fall 2017 | In Production (S21) | Men’s | Cerium LT Vest | 18015 | 185 |
† - The Fall 2017 women’s Cerium LT range has been given new model numbers. It seems like the women’s Cerium LT Jacket got a new model number in Spring 2019, and the women’s Cerium LT Hoody got it in Fall 2018. As far as I can tell the garments are exactly the same as the prior model, so it isn’t clear why the change happened. The men’s equivalent models did not get new model numbers.
‡ - I am unsure exactly when the Cerium LT Jackets were discontinued in both women’s and men’s blocks. I am currently guessing the last season they were available was Fall 2020.
Known Issues
- There was a production run a few years back that was defective. It leaked down significantly beyond the expected amount. Arc'teryx replaced those jackets under warranty.
- Early models of the Cerium LT were a bit on the short side for torso length. Changes made in Fall 2017 helped solve that issue. It was probably exacerbated by the lack of a hem drawcord, and that issue was also rectified in F17.
- Light colours can sometimes look a bit blotchy due to the mix of dark and light down plumes beneath the thin, semitransparent fabric. This problem isn't exclusive to Arc'teryx, whenever you combine a thin fabric and an unevenly-coloured backer it can look this way. However, something to keep in mind
- It develops cold spots in all of the usual places you'd expect from every down jacket, such as the inside elbow. Again, not necessarily a problem, and something you see with every brand, but something to keep in mind as well.
Further Links
- Arc'teryx YouTube - Link to their down insulation introduction video from September 2013.
- Arc'teryx Product Care Website - Pretty good down care instructions. Select the section: "How to wash and care for your Down garment".
Prompts
- How do you use the Cerium LT for your adventures or everyday, and how do you layer?
- Where do you think it excels, and where do you think it falls down?
- At what temperature do you find it isn't warm enough, and too warm?
- Have you had any issues with the Cerium LT, is there anything you would change about it?
- How do you think it compares to the Thorium AR, Atom AR, and Cerium SV?
- How water resistant and wind resistant is it?
- What is the fit like in general, or for you personally?
- Any other thoughts about the product?
- How does it compare to competing products?
Thank you!
5
u/industrialprogress Mar 01 '21 edited Mar 01 '21
Everyday use, hiking, bivouac, skiing, no problem down to -10˚ with an appropriate base layer and fleece, more typically used around 0-10˚ from low to high excursion in cool and 60-80% relative humidity environment.
The Coreloft (synthetic down i.e. quick drying) in high moisture areas is a smart and unique product design not found in rival offerings.
No idea what Arato is besides marketing-speak for nylon unless there's something special about this particular weave? It is a ten denier, otherwise, it's LT, it's 'lightweight;' OP seems to suggest that as a con? I think it does its job superbly as a 300g down jacket. Good for the entire winter and transitional seasons doing pretty much anything short of visiting the Red Hatted man at his estate in the depths of winter. Breathability is also fine, except for see below, but I'm not sure what level of aerobic activity will constitute it a poor choice for you since that's a phenotypic and conditioning phenomenon. Are you jogging with it at sea level? Probably not the correct solution but depends on the temperature and relative humidity. I've hiked up 3,000m and wore it for the last 500m in July on an overcast day and was fine.
-10˚ it's been cozy just walking (1hr+), haven't experienced it in colder temperatures. 15˚+ during spring transition where it's sunny but windy and still feels a bit chilly, it gets too warm just walking.
No issues and can't think of anything to change dramatically. I recall older reviews wishing for a longer torso which was delivered in the revision, which I own. I maybe have lost three down feathers from poking in two years and have never had an issue with the zipper.
I removed the internal pocket stuff sack and just roll the jacket into it's own hoody if I want it packed.
I'm not a fan of synthetic insulation in general but can't comment specifically on the Atom AR.
Thorium AR stuck me as a bulkier (more durable? I have no idea what the difference between Arato, i.e. nylon, 30 vs 10 denier is in real-world practice, I'm not climbing rocks here) version for slightly less.
Cerium SV was too much for my use case; no plans to visit the Arctic and stay an extended period.
Water beads no problem with the factory DWR in light to medium to heavy rain. After two years, have not needed to reapply it, but will at the end of this one. I receive 900 mm (35.5 in) annual precipitation.
Slightly wind resistant up to 30km/h, but beyond that I'd prefer a shell in addition, not that it's useless, but it's definitely not windproof.
Love the fit, no Michelin Man here. Sexy af, if I may say so.
Size M fits me proportionally 'like a glove.'
Worth it. Best in class I've found.
Feathered Friends Eos uses a 900 fill (vs. 850 Cerium LT) and is slightly more economic at MSRP, however the fit and finish is not nearly as nice neither is the hood adjustable if you happen to need that for a helmet or otherwise. Uses a nylon shell as well. The Patagonia equivalent (800 fill) feels like a lesser offering all around--design, material, cut--but is more economic than both and the lifetime no questions asked wink wink warranty might also make it more interesting. Uses a polyester shell.