This article is part of our “Battle of the Brands” series, in which we pit category-leading products against their peers to determine which are actually worth your money.
A warm and cozy down jacket is an essential item for fall hikes, lightweight backpacking in the mountains, or traveling with only carry-on luggage. Unfortunately, it can also be one of the most expensive items of outdoor gear.
If you’re planning on skiing through loads of powder, going on snowshoe hikes, or walking your dog through the vibrant colors of autumn leaves this winter, you’ll need a lightweight, packable, windproof and waterproof jacket for when the weather turns suddenly.
We ordered two of the top down parkas on the market today, at very different price points, and compared them head-to-head in a variety of settings, including fall hikes, nighttime walks around the neighborhood, and measurable controlled tests at home. The goal was to find out whether the $400 down parka from Arc’teryx, one of the most expensive and well-known brands, is actually worth the $300 more than Decathlon’s $100 Forclaz MT100. The results might surprise you.
I personally tested both jackets for a month in the Colorado Rockies, taking them on chilly midnight dog walks, local hikes, and photography trips to observe elk rutting. I rubbed the sleeves against rock walls to test durability, and twirled around in the shower for a minute to see if the baffles would get wet. To gauge the garment’s potential for future rips, I pulled the front zipper up and down 50 times to check for snags or fraying. I also performed a series of yoga poses in each jacket to test stretch, motion mapping, and roominess.
Let’s take a look at these two Puffy performances.
If you want a better jacket, there’s no question that the Arc’teryx is the way to go. It’s expensive, yes, but it performed well in almost every test. If you want more from your Puffy, the Cerium is the way to go.
If you don’t need the highest level of performance, the Decathlon Forclaz is surprisingly good. It’s not as good as the Cerium, but it certainly offers what you pay for. If you’re just walking around town or heading out on short, easy adventures, this Puffy is perfect.
Weight (size M): 10.2 oz. Fill Type: 850 fill down + Coreloft synthetics Exterior Fabric: Recycled 15D Arato (nylon) Pockets: 2 zippered hand pockets, 1 zippered inner pocket Price: $400
Like any savvy down jacket shopper, we made warmth a top priority when testing these two jackets. Luckily, during our testing period, my hometown of Boulder experienced its first series of nights with temperatures above 40 degrees, creating ideal conditions to see how well the jackets would keep you warm on high-altitude hikes and overnight explorations of the city.
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Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody
Given the difference in fill power between the two jackets (850 for the Cerium vs. 800 for the Forclaz MT100), it’s no surprise that the more expensive Arc’teryx performs better in this category. The down itself is thicker, and the sewn-in horizontal baffles are packed with enough fluff to provide warmth in light winds below 20 mph.
For a flat mile-long walk in temperatures below 50°F with only a short-sleeved cotton T-shirt underneath, the Forclaz Hooded Puffer was plenty warm in the shade or sun, unzipped. In the same conditions, the Cerium Hoody was a bit too warm; in the sun, I had to remove the jacket to keep my core warm. So for alpine backpacking or active winter adventures where temperatures drop below 45°F and weight and space are at a premium, the Arc’teryx is a great packable option.
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Decathlon Volclaz MT100
If you’re looking for a warmer jacket, the Cerium is a surefire choice. Though it can feel hot in hot temperatures or during intense exertion, the Cerium is stuffed with synthetic Coreloft in its “moist” areas (though the brand won’t say exactly where). This strategic placement means you’ll stay warm even when you sweat on those tough climbs, because while down loses its insulating properties when wet, Coreloft doesn’t.
Weight and fit
The two medium sizes of these down parkas are remarkably similar in weight (10.2 ounces for the Cerium, 9.7 ounces for the Forclaz MT100), but the fill power and fill volume of their interior padding are dramatically different, causing the two jackets to perform differently in the field. The Arc’teryx Cerium is filled with 850 fill power down, while the Forclaz MT100 is 800 fill power. This means that with the same weight of padding, the Cerium’s padding retains warmth and has less volume than the Forclaz.
I also noticed what appears to be a typographical error on the first page of Forclaz’s description: the jacket weighs 9.7 ounces (275 grams) in a size Medium, rather than 3.52 ounces in a size 2XL as the copy incorrectly states.
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Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody
Both jackets boast a “fitted” profile, meaning they’re slim around the shoulders, waist, and hips, making them easy to layer under a rain jacket or shell. Both tester jackets were size small, and they seemed to fit perfectly true to size. I didn’t notice much difference in how restrictive either jacket was, even as I swung my arms around and performed the same yoga poses in both jackets. However, I would recommend sizing up in either brand for larger-breasted women or those who want to wear multiple layers underneath (like an undershirt and heavy thermals).
Both the Arc’teryx Cerium and Decathlon Forclaz MT100 are light enough to be called ultra-light puffy, with the Cerium being slightly heavier. As for fit, both jackets maintain a slim fit that allows for freedom of movement and is perfect for layering.
Here’s where the testing gets really interesting, because in all my years of backpacking and world travel, I’ve never been brave enough to immerse my beloved down jacket in water to see how well its loft holds up (as I do in gear testing).
At first glance, both jackets performed nearly perfectly after I subjected them to a makeshift downpour in my condo shower for a minute, thoroughly wetting the front, back, and sleeves of both Puffies. The Decathlon Forcra MT100 got a little wet at the top of the zipper, but otherwise stayed dry, no small feat for a jacket that’s merely labeled “weatherproof.” The Arc’teryx Cerium also did great in the shower test, retaining all of its loft and warmth while repelling all of the water I dumped on it.
Emily Pennington/CNNUnderscored
Decathlon Volclaz MT100
To my surprise, after completing my test I laid both pieces out on a wooden floor to dry and noticed that after about 20 minutes the Forclaz had soaked in water through the seams around both pockets, while the Cerium was still nice and dry on the underside.
If water resistance is an important factor for you, then the Arc’teryx Cerium is clearly the jacket to buy. While the Forclaz can withstand the occasional light rain, if you’re heading out on an adventure and want the added peace of mind of stronger weather protection, investing in the Cerium is a must.
Not surprisingly, in the fashion industry, you tend to get what you pay for when it comes to sustainability: While the Forclaz MT100 offered some perks, like a grey lining and RDS (Responsible Down Standard) padding that uses fewer dyes to reduce carbon emissions, it was ultimately produced in a factory in China using cheaper fabrics than Arc’teryx.
Meanwhile, the Cerium Hoody is made in a Fairtrade certified factory in Vietnam, uses recycled materials in the outer fabric and is solution dyed for a more environmentally friendly garment manufacturing process, has RDS certified padding and meets bluesign standards.
Warranty information for the Forclaz MT100 Hooded Puffer is a little unclear. Decathlon states that all Decathlon branded products are covered by a limited warranty against manufacturer defects. But that’s it.
As for Arc’teryx, the brand offers a “substantial lifetime” limited warranty, guaranteeing that the product will be free from defects in materials or workmanship, or will repair it free of charge if no defects are found. I personally needed to replace a zipper on an old Arc’teryx jacket, and the staff was happy to do it for free.
If you’re looking for an affordable, waterproof, lightweight, and sufficiently warm jacket for fall and winter, the Forclaz MT100 Hooded Down Puffer performs surprisingly well despite its affordable price. It’s a great option for winter activities where temperatures will get into the low 40s F (or 30s F if you’re moving around a lot), and a jacket that most people buying for occasional or casual outdoor use should buy.
But if you want a lot out of your down jacket, consider spending your money (or add it to your wishlist) on the Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody. This jacket performed better than the Decathlon Volclaz in basically every test. It’s warmer, more waterproof, and the company that makes this jacket is focused on sustainability and improving worker standards. So if you live in a rainy climate and weather resistance is a big factor for you, or if you’re heading into the backcountry and need a really technical, high-performance down jacket, the Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody is definitely worth the money.
