Gear Review: Cotopaxi Fuego Down Jacket

Just in time for puffy season, I recently was given the opportunity to test Cotopaxi’s Fuego Down Jacket in the brisk early winter of the White Mountain National Forest.  Featuring a unique, variable baffle-size design, this lightweight jacket is one worth considering adding to your getup.

At-a-Glance

MSRP: $250
Weight: 12oz (340g)
Material: Ripstop nylon
Color: Grass (Green)

Cotopaxi Fuego Down Jacket Overview

The Fuego is made with water-resistant 800-fill goose down, and at just 12 ounces, provides plenty of warmth with not too steep of a weight penalty. It also features a breathable Polartec Alpha underarm panels and DWR-finished ripstop nylon shell. Additionally the Fuego offers a scuba-style hood and elastic binding, with a pair of front zip pockets that provide plenty of space to store a phone, map, snacks, gloves, etc.

Circumstance of Use

As fall continues and winter starts to make its mark in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I figured that this jacket would come in handy for hiking during this time of year. It’s been bitterly cold, temps hovering in the low 30s, and even lower with the wind chill factored in. I’ve worn this coat on numerous hikes this season, and I stayed extremely warm and dry the entire time, every time. I didn’t even feel the need to remove it on the descent, and it didn’t cause my body to overheat on the hike down.

Features

Polartec Alpha underarm insulation: Within minutes of putting this jacket on, I instantly felt my body heat up and the insulation kick in. It does an excellent job keeping in your body heat and keeping the cold air out.

Scuba-style hood: The hood is my selling point. If a jacket doesn’t have a hood, I probably won’t choose to invest in it. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that this jacket did have a hood. The scuba style helps keep it tight around your head, even in windy conditions.

Zippered hand pockets: The zippers on the pockets are easy to use and they don’t get stuck on the fabric. (A major pet peeve.) I absolutely hate when I’m trying to zip my jacket up and it keeps getting stuck on the fabric, but this jacket does not have any of those issues thus far.

Included stuff sack: I love the stuff sack that was included with this jacket. It’s soft, has a string for carrying purposes,, and is the perfect addition to bring extra knick-knacks on a hiking trip. It was definitely a perfect added bonus.

Pros

Lightweight: When it comes to puffy coats, I’m always looking for that perfect amount of “puff.” It can’t be too puffy and it can’t be lacking in insulation. This jacket may just be my happy medium. It’s lightweight and easy to condense into my pack without taking up much space at all.

The hood: I’ve found that a large amount of insulated down jackets do not include a hood as a feature. Having a hood is essential to me, so I was stoked that this jacket had one.

Big pockets: I love how big the pockets are on this jacket. I can fit my cell phone, GoPro, snacks, and anything else inside of them, and with ease. Also, the zippers don’t get caught on the fabric when zipped shut, which is a total bonus.

Breathability: This jacket is extremely breathable without sacrificing any of its warmth. I don’t feel suffocated when wearing it. It is really lightweight, and doesn’t look or feel bulky in any way.

Cons

Nada. This jacket gets a perfect five-star rating from me. I haven’t been able to pinpoint anything that I truly dislike about it. One thing I wasn’t exactly keen on about this jacket is the color. But I must say that the flashy lime green is slowly starting to grow on me.

Overall

After wearing this jacket on multiple occasions, I can truthfully say I absolutely love it. I would recommend the Cotopaxi Fuego Down Jacket if you are in the market for a lightweight down jacket that will keep you extremely warm. I can’t wait to rock it for the rest of the winter season.

Shop the Fuego Down Jacket Here