Most outdoor lovers will agree that having a down jacket in your gear closet is a must. Down jackets are ideal for throwing over a base layer, keeping you warm on a winter hike and helping you sleep comfortably outside. They even come in handy on warmer days when the temperature drops as you near the summit or an unexpected cold front moves in.
Beloved outdoor brand Cotopaxi, known for its “Gear for Good” mission that dedicates at least 1% of revenues to nonprofits serving communities experiencing poverty, makes a variety of down apparel, including the Fuego collection. All Cotopaxi gear is designed with ethically sourced materials, progressive sustainability standards and loud pops of color.
The Fuego collection spans jackets, vests, pants and even overalls and scarves. Each piece of gear is insulated with responsibly sourced 800-fill down and treated with a DWR finish for extra water resistance. Cotopaxi’s down is also Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certified, meaning the feathers are derived from humanely raised and treated geese and ducks.
On the hunt for the ultimate, staple down jacket this season, I put the Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket to the test to see how it would perform while hiking in shoulder-season weather, keeping cozy around the campfire and staying warm in frigid temperatures. Here’s how the Fuego fared.
The Cotopaxi Fuego is a versatile, lightweight and packable down jacket designed to keep you warm year-round. It’s insulated with responsibly sourced, 800-fill down and treated with a DWR finish that traps in heat even in wet weather. This staple puffy will keep you warm and comfortable on chilly fall hikes, crisp summer evenings and snowy winter trails.?
The men’s version of this jacket is available in 17 colors and sizes XS to 3XL, while the women’s version comes in 14 colors and sizes XXS to 4X. Both men’s and women’s versions have a boxy fit and run true to size.
What we liked about it
You’ve probably seen the Fuego before in town and on the trail — everyone from hikers to city folk to global travelers love this staple puffy jacket. And after trying it out this winter, we see why it has a cult-like following.
Packable and versatile
If packability and versatility are a must for your future down jacket, the Fuego won’t disappoint. Its high loft down holds in an impressive amount of heat with less weight to worry about. At 14 ounces — a bit heavier than other down jacket competitors on the market (more on that below) — you can expect to stay warm in weather around 40 degrees and 30 degrees if you have a base layer on underneath. Bonus: You’ll stay dry in damp weather too thanks to a DWR treatment on the jacket’s outer fabric. This jacket’s ideal for wearing on fall hikes or layering under a heavy-duty shell on winter adventures.
I’ve enjoyed testing the Fuego on adventures ranging from walks around the neighborhood to hikes on trails deep in the woods. The jacket particularly performs well on chillier days where you can wear a base layer underneath to stay warm in temperatures that dip below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Since the Fuego is lined with a soft and smooth nylon interior, you can also get away with just a T-shirt underneath in conditions above 40 degrees Fahrenheit or when you’re exerting more energy on your outings.
On a recent biking and hiking trip in the Driftless region of Wisconsin, I rode and hiked in this jacket in temperatures around 40 degrees Fahrenheit with a long-sleeve cotton shirt layered underneath. Even through shady tree tunnels on my bike and in shallow valleys on my hike, I was warm and cozy the entire time. I did have to unzip the jacket to cool down as my mileage and incline increased while hiking and biking.
I also love that you can pack this jacket in its zipper pocket for convenient and quick storage. In under a minute, I was able to stash the jacket inside its inner pocket. Wrapped up and zipped tight, the jacket is about the size of a Nalgene bottle.
Boxy fit and true to size
I’m pretty picky about the fit of my jackets and tend to avoid traditional women’s fit jackets because of their restrictive hourglass shape. However, even though I most often shop in the men’s section, I dislike the typical thin fit of men’s jackets and how tight they usually hug my waist. With the Cotopaxi Fuego, these fits were entirely different from what I’m used to … in the best way.
I found that both the Fuego women’s and men’s jackets have a boxier shape and fit that’s roomy without being baggy. Both gendered jackets ran true to size yet gave me ample room to layer up underneath without needing to go up a size. I also found the fit didn’t compromise warmth despite the extra bit of space.
One other note on fit is regarding the spacious hood and large collar on this jacket. I’m a big fan of the ability to fit a beanie or helmet underneath the Fuego’s hood. I also love that the collar sits right between my mouth and chin when the jacket is fully zipped. This provides extra coverage from the wind and weather and traps heat around my neck — a game changer in chilly temperatures.
Fun colors with a retro vibe
Cotopaxi’s head-turning apparel and gear combines retro-inspired designs and vibrant colors across its entire collection. The Fuego Hooded Down Jacket is no different. The jacket stays on brand with 12 different variations of colors, with most featuring a retro striping pattern, across both the women’s and men’s lines. You’re sure to stand out on the trail with vibrant colors that pop against the landscape. If you’re anything like me and love to get playful with the style you sport on the trail, you’ll love the Fuego for this reason alone. Do you prefer neutral tones and colors? Don’t worry, they make those too — like the all-blue or all-black Fuego.
What we didn’t like about it
All gear comes with its pros and cons. Even though there’s a whole bunch we loved about the Fuego, there are a couple of features we have some feedback on.
Delicate fabric
While this statement tends to ring true for most down jackets on the market, it didn’t take long for wear and tear to show on my Fuego Hooded Down Jacket. Specifically, I took a spill on a gravel trail while riding my bike, which resulted in the instant shredding of my coat. Now, this would probably happen with most other down jackets out there, but it was a bummer how quickly the 20 denier ripstop nylon tore open and started spewing feathers out of the gash. The fall also resulted in breaking the zipper, which I’ll likely end up sending in to be repaired by Cotopaxi. If you’re planning to take your down jacket out for more intense adventures, I’d recommend the Mountain Hardware Strechdown Hoodie — a super-durable jacket that features rip-resistant fabric that stretches as you move. Even with a more durable outer, though, accidents like mine will most likely end up with a damaged jacket.
Water resistant, not waterproof
As fellow CNN Underscored contributor Emily Pennington pointed out in her review of the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody, down jackets are lightweight, pack down small and tend to provide the most warmth. That said, unlike synthetic insulation, down absorbs any water it comes in contact with and instantly loses its warmth and fluff as a result. Down jackets like the Fuego have their time and place for use — like layering up while adventuring in dry weather or wearing in your sleeping bag to stay warm on particularly cold nights. If you plan to hike and explore in notably wet climates while wearing the Fuego, keep in mind that this jacket will only repel water it comes in contact with, not keep you completely dry.
I wore the Fuego around my neighborhood on a couple of drizzly walks and even an early-season light snow at the end of October. No water seeped through the jacket, which was a great sign the DWR was working in light precipitation. However, when rain or snow really starts to come down, you will want throw a rain jacket or shell on top of the Fuego so the down doesn’t get wet as water seeps past the DWR coating.
How it compares
The biggest differentiators between other jackets and the Cotopaxi Fuego include price point and weight. What you tend to trade off with a more affordable jacket is a slightly heavier weight, like the Rab Microlight Alpine Down Jacket ($280), which is about an ounce heavier but a bit more cost friendly. A couple of exceptions include the more affordable Patagonia Women’s Nano Puff Hoody ($289), which weighs 4 ounces less than the Fuego, and the REI Co-op Magma 850 Down Hoodie ($249), which weighs 2 ounces less.
If you’re willing to pay a bit more for added warmth or ultra-light weight, a few other options stand out among the pack, including the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 ($325), which weighs only 7 ounces; the slightly warmer Patagonia Down Sweater Hoodie ($329); and the ultra-warm Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody ($400), which is tried and tested in fending off extreme chill.
Bottom line
The lightweight and packable Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket combines warmth and comfort in a go-to puffy for year-round adventures. You can stash it away in its interior zip pocket when you want to travel or save space in your pack. Its boxy fit gives you space to move around and extra room to fit a layer underneath for added warmth. Stuffed with responsibly sourced 800-fill down and Cotopaxi’s “Gear for Good” mission, you can rest assured this jacket was constructed with good intentions at the forefront.
While you’ll find warmer and lighter-weight jackets out there, you can’t go wrong with this staple jacket that embraces Cotopaxi’s classic retro look for a respectable price. It’s safe to say all hikers, winter adventurers and even urban commuters will love having this puffy in their gear closet.
