How to Choose Insulated Jackets

Packing smaller than a grapefruit, this Arc'teryx vest weighs just 6 oz. It's a minimalist alpine midlayer or standalone in dry conditions. It has mapped 850-fill-power down and Coreloft™ synthetic.
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Imported.
View the Arc'teryx Cerium Product LineView all Arc'teryx Women's Synthetic Insulation Vests| Best Use | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Arato™ 15: recycled 100% nylon micro-ripstop |
| Lining Fabric | 10-denier x 20-denier 100% nylon ripstop |
| Insulated | Yes |
| Insulation Type | Down / Synthetic Blend |
| Insulation | Synthetic: Coreloft™ 80 (80 g/m²) 100% polyester; down: 850-fill-power 100% European white goose down (minimum 90% down) |
| Hood | No |
| Packable | Yes |
| Back Length | Hip-length |
| Back Length (in.) | 24 inches |
| Gender | Women's |
| Weight | 6 ounces |
| Sustainability | Fair Trade Certified |
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This vest warms you up immediately, inside the store. However, the right size in the chest, is too small for the hips. Please look at a reshaping to accommodate women's hips. Also, if you had a 2 way zipper on the Cerium vest, it could be left undone at the bottom to accommodate the width of women's hips. Some women are pear shaped, small up top, wide at bottom. Lastly, if you could punch up the black colour to a bold, deep dark black it would add punch when paired with Dynasty, Arctic White and Ray jackets. Please try to update this vest by Fall 2026. I need a vest to go with your Gamma and Beta jackets, otherwise Burrrrr... Thanks so much Arcteryx!
This vest fits true to size. Bought it in black so it compliments any colour i wear underneath. I use it under a 3 season jacket to winterize it. Works well for apres ski when you might be a little chilled from the elements you were exposed to all day too. The Cerium SV version works well over a gortex shell to add extra warmth when the temperature drops unexpectedly during the day.
I bought this vest at the beginning of winter and I haven't stopped wearing it since. I love it for having an extra layer around my core in the backcountry for the ride down on cold days, and even just to wear around town. It's very packable for backcountry adventures and comes with a little stuff sack in the front pocket.
The weight of the jacket is incredibly light - very easy to move in and so light for packing. I also appreciate the tiny stuff sack. The vest is warm and easy to layer under with a fitted or bulkier sweater. I am 5'6" and approx 115 pounds and went with size small (my usual size) and it fits great with a sweater underneath, but it feels baggy and bulky in the stomach region for just a base layer underneath. It has a more boxy athletic fit, and less tailored (perhaps based on previous reviews requesting this silhouette). As a fashion item, it might have more of an outer layer fit but as a technical garment, it is superb. I wore it spring skiing in the alps and it insulated my core without overheating.The material sheen and baffling size reminds me more of my Thorium, rather than the long and narrow baffling in the Cerium. My approx 5 year old Cerium is way more fitted in the body than this vest just for reference; however, style/the cut has likely altered over time.
I wear this vest from September until May. I cannot imagine my life or my wardrobe without it. I can style it with dressy clothes as well as super casual ones. I wish it came in navy or camel.
It is incredibly light and warm. I use it mainly as casual wear, sometimes also for trekking. It has a pocket and can be easily hidden in the backpack as it needs small space.
This is a light weight and warm vest. Black goes with many things. I like the zippered pockets so things won't fall out. The pockets also don't add bulk to your mid section.
Comfortable. Good dimensions in shoulders, bust and hips.