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- Cotopaxi's Teca fleece jacket is made with material other companies left on the factory floor, so every color combination is a limited edition.
- Its line of outdoor apparel made with Teca materials is warm, comfortable, flattering, and under $100.
- All the Teca gear is made from recycled materials and produced in a factory that offers fair living wages and benefits like an organic garden and rideshares to and from work.
Every once in a while, a brand introduces a piece of gear so useful and well-designed that it almost reaches icon status. When I was in college, it was the Denali Fleece Jacket from the North Face, which seemed like the must-have item for brisk autumn mornings. And now, it seems like everyone in the mountain town where I live has the Better Sweater from Patagonia.
As someone who lives an outdoorsy, mountain lifestyle, I have a prediction for what the next must-have piece of outdoor gear will be: the Cotopaxi Teca Fleece. It's more affordable than comparable jackets, is super warm and trendy, and comes from one of the most sustainable outdoor brands on the market.
Cotopaxi makes the fleece with recycled fabric scraps left behind by other companies. That means that there are only so many of each color combination available, effectively making each launch limited edition. If you like it, you'd better buy it ASAP, because once they're gone, they're gone.
But there's more to the Teca Fleece than just good design. Here are the reasons why I love the jackets, and why I'd bet big on it becoming the next wear-everywhere outer layer:
1. They're made from leftover materials that would otherwise end up in the trash
Many outdoor brands have taken very significant and meaningful steps towards sustainable production and environmental stewardship; Patagonia, United by Blue, Fjällräven, and TenTree come to mind, to name just a few. Since its founding in 2014, Cotopaxi has been a certified B Corp and donated heavily to community development programs through its global Cotopaxi Foundation.
But where Cotopaxi really shines is with its unique approach to sourcing the materials for their popular Teca line, which includes the Teca Fleece and Teca windbreaker, each of which come in quite a few color combos. Every piece of material in the Teca line is made from scraps left over during the production of clothing from other brands. These materials, which would otherwise end up in the trash, are recycled into the line of fleece, windbreakers, and shorts.
An independently-owned factory in Tianjin, China makes everything from the Teca line, where production profits go back to the factory employees in the form of benefits like a rideshare program to and from work, complimentary lunches, and an on-site organic garden. I genuinely love that no new materials are created to produce the Teca gear (except for zippers and elastic), and buying it supports skilled factory workers and their families. At this point, I almost feel guilty buying from other brands that don't have Cotopaxi's level of concern for environmental protection and community development.
2. The styles from the Teca line are warm, lightweight, and surprisingly flattering.
The Teca line has a vintage and sporty appeal. Despite the jacket's midweight fleece fabric, which is a bit on the thicker side, I find it quite flattering. It has a slightly longer cut so it doesn't bunch up around my hips, and the straight cut creates long lines down my torso. You'd think a fleece this warm would add some bulk, but I think it looks surprisingly trim. For reference in the photos, I'm 5-foot-7, around a size 8, and wearing a women's medium.
The Teca fleece is quite warm and does a great job as far as insulation goes. When I wear it outside in the early morning, it takes a few seconds to feel what temperature it is outside. On a recent backpacking trip, I comfortably wore it in 50-degree weather around a campfire when everyone else was wearing insulated jackets – and I'm usually always cold.
Of course, I don't always need a heavy fleece jacket, so I usually have the Teca Mira windbreaker in my bag, too. I love pullover-style jackets, and the Teca windbreaker has a vintage look that adds a bit of color to my outdoor photos. The wind protection is excellent, and the inner mesh lining effectively controls perspiration. The large front pocket is useful for holding everything from a phone to a GoPro to larger items like an e-reader or water bottle, and the whole thing weighs 7.5 ounces, or less than half a pound. Tossing it into my daypack during hikes is a real no-brainer.
Possible cons to consider
Depending on your preferences, there are a few design features to the Teca gear that could be considered pros or cons. The largest is, of course, the colorways. When they're gone, they're gone, so if you want to replace your jacket for any reason, the color you have will likely not be available.
Both jackets have fewer features than a lot of technical jackets, which is likely how Cotopaxi can keep the prices somewhat low – the Teca Fleece is $85-$100 while the Teca Mira windbreaker is $95.
The only real features of the Teca Fleece are two large side pockets. They're deep enough to hold phones and keys during walks and hikes, but since they don't zip shut, I wouldn't put expensive items in them for highly active runs or workouts. The front kangaroo pocket on the Mira is also large and useful, but again, it doesn't close. If you're planning to wear either piece during activities with excessive movement and the risk for falling (mountain biking comes to mind,) be sure to store your expensive electronics in a backpack or more secure pocket.
If being light on features is a dealbreaker, comparable buys from other sustainable companies include the Patagonia Better Sweater Jacket (starting at $139) or a fleece jacket from Jackson Hole-based Stio, which makes a large line of fleece from recycled materials. Both Stio and Patagonia make fleece jackets with features like hoods and chest pockets. Men or those who prefer masculine styles who want a fleece with a little more protection against the elements might want to consider Patagonia's Better Sweater Shelled Fleece Jacket, made with Bluesign® approved fabrics in free-trade-certified-sewn factories.
The bottom line:
I'm happy to support Cotopaxi, both for the quality of their gear and what seems like a genuine commitment to impactful and sustainable practices. Testing out the Teca fleece only gave me more reasons to be a fan. It's encouraging to see a brand that creates useful, reasonably priced clothing that rivals the pieces from more established and expensive brands. And the fact that they're doing business responsibly (heck, they even use models of different shapes and sizes on their website) makes me feel good about singing the brand's praises. I have a feeling my Teca fleece and windbreaker will become wardrobe staples – and I'll likely be buying more as gifts for all my active family members.