You may have seen Cotopaxi on our website a few times over the past few years, as we have fallen in love with their outdoor gear. Their apparel spans the seasons, but we find they seem to have a sweet spot in fall and winter items – which are always great to have access to here in the PNW. In fact, Cotopaxi’s awesomeness-scale is far reaching – from their quality items to their global mission (see the end of this post for information). They really are a fantastic company committing to doing good..
We were recently sent the Teca Cálido.
This core-warming jacket combines recycled polyester insulation and repurposed taffeta for reversible and convenient color-blocked protection. Wear it fall through spring—around town or far from it. The Cálido brings the heat, but it also stows and deploys at a moment’s notice: Pack it into its own chest pocket and whip it out when the temperature drops. Elastic binding on hood, hem, and cuffs keeps the warmth in, and two pockets on both sides of the jacket keep your hands toasty.
The Teca Cálido is extremely versatile. It just fits in in whatever setting you are in and really checks all the boxes. It is stylish enough to wear for a night out this fall and winter (in what I suspect will consist again of a lot of distanced, outdoor, covered dining options). It would also work quite nice for a cold weather hike. And while it isn’t designed as a true heavy-duty winter coat (how many winter coats can be packed into it’s own chest pocket?!), it can still be used to build snowmen in the snow and splash in puddles with your kids. In all instances, it does a fantastic job at keeping you warm and dry – no matter the activity.
Even beyond its technical qualities which we love, we LOOOOVE the other qualities as well. Cotopaxi is a leader in the outdoor industry when it comes to sustainability, and with the Cálido this is all the more present. The jacket is made from100% repurposed fabric and is insulated with a 100% recycled polyester.
It is also reversible, adding to it’s versatility. Each jacket comes with one side made from multi-color panels that cater to a more funky look, and the other a solid complimentary color that is more casual. The pockets are different on each, with two zipped pockets on one the funky side and two-way drop-in patches and hand pockets on the solid side.
Construction (from website):
- Shell: Repurposed polyester taffeta with DWR finish and 600 mm PU backer
- Insulation: 100% recycled polyester
Cost: $150
Spending $150 for a jacket may be something you have a difficult time pulling the trigger on. That is completely understandable, but I feel that this is a solid investment. My last Cotopaxi jacket is coming up on 5 years old now (!), and I still wear it ALL THE TIME. But fear not, you have 30 days of free returns if you decide it’s not for you. Basically, you can sleep free and easy knowing that your investment is going to last.
More about Cotopaxi:
Cotopaxi’s creed, Do Good, touches every aspect of our company. From our giving model to our company culture and sustainable product design, we see our business as a vehicle to make an impact.
Impact starts with how we operate. That means taking into account ethics during every phase of a product’s lifecycle—from its design to its manufacture and sale. We’re into funky; we’re into recycled; we’re into treating those who sew our products with respect. To ensure that anyone who touches our products is well-treated, we work with suppliers to uphold a rigorous code of conduct.
Thank you to Cotopaxi for providing us with a sample item. Please read our transparency page for info on how we do our reviews.
