Arc'teryx Cerium Hooded Jacket vs Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer

The Cerium Hoody is the warmer, more weather-ready pick for cold alpine starts and ski days, thanks to 850-fill down plus Coreloft synthetic in the shoulders and hood that keeps working when damp. The Ghost Whisperer is the lighter, more packable jacket and the better choice for high-output winter hiking and backcountry skiing where you run hot. Both are premium ultralight down hoodies; reviewers rate the Ghost Whisperer highly for weight and compressibility but call it thin for extreme cold, while the Cerium's hybrid insulation and tougher 15D face fabric make it the more protective of the two.

• Choose the Arc'teryx Cerium Hooded Jacket if you want a warmer hybrid down jacket for cold belays, resort skiing and damp conditions where synthetic insulation in the shoulders and hood matters.
• Choose the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Jacket if you want the lightest, most packable down layer for fast winter hiking and backcountry skiing and will add a shell when it gets truly cold.