Cotopaxi is another Do Good goods company that we’ve been admiring ever since they established themselves in a humble Salt Lake City office park in 20xx. Since then, the company has made a splash with their bold (yet highly functional) designs and creative use of color.
We talked with founding apparel director designer Cheri Sanguinetti here.
Its products are guaranteed for 61 years, the average lifespan of someone living in a developing world and the company contributes two percent of its revenue to alleviating poverty around the world. It is a Certified B Corporation.
Pacaya Hooded Insulated Jacket
I’ve been enjoying three standout products, proving useful and fun in a wide array of conditions: the Palmas Active Jacket, the Claro rechargeable headlamp, and the Pacaya Hooded Insulated Jacket. In look and utility, they are the direct opposite of drab.
The Pacaya has become my ‘go-to’ for dawn and twilight chores and their 50-60 degree temperatures. Over a tee, it is simple and easy and has muscled out LL Bean’s Packaway Jacket on the coat rack. I pull the hood on for added warmth.
What I like:
- Soft, durable wrist cuffs
- Sheds hay and dirt
- Navy shell with pink liner is unique and pretty
- Zipper is stylish and never gets caught in jacket fabric
- It’s warmer (with Polartec Alpha insulation) and stretchy-er than it appears
What I don’t like:
- It’s pricey. But has just gone on sale, with 80 bucks off!
- Unlike the LL Bean rival, you can’t toss it in a regular, rough ‘n’ tumble wash. Gentle washing recommended.
The Palmas jacket rivals Patagonia’s Houdini jacket for packability and function. Think saddle bag no-brainer. Made of recycled polyester, it is the jacket you whip out when the bugs get nasty, when the temperature drops, or, when the wind picks up. It is the jacket you start your ride with, knowing you can practically pack it in a pocket (or its own pocket, sewn into the garment) at a moment’s notice.
What I like:
- Lovely colorful design is feminine without being prissy
- Stretches well with active movement
- Back vent is hidden yet effective
- Weighs a few ounces. Super packable.
What I don’t like:
- Not sure it could handle my frequent, scrappy bushwhacking through scrub oak and juniper
- Gentle or hand washing
Palmas jacket
Back when I was a single mom and helping my sons pack for camping trips (at the last minute, of course), we were always scrambling to find the headlamps. Then, we were scrambling to find batteries for said headlamps. AA? AAA? Two of them? Three?
Oy.
The Claro headlamp eliminates that fuss and extinguishes the need for batteries altogether.
It’s USB rechargeable. Plug it into your computer or wall or car charger. Voila! Fully-charged headlamp. Thus far, I’ve used the Claro while camping and when the power’s out. I’ve even used it to scrutinize a tiny splinter in my dog’s paw. The charge lasts for ages; I’ve yet to recharge it.
What I like:
- Easy to toggle between floodlight and spotlight
- Easy to adjust the angle for reading, walking, dog booboo inspecting
What I don’t like:
Nuthin.
Adjust the Claro angle for book reading or night hiking