Cotopaxi has become known for its colorful, eco-conscious approach to outdoor gear and apparel鈥 insulated with llama wool, made from fabric scraps. Earlier this month, the brand released a new activewear collection鈥攖he first time the company聽has branched out from its outerwear and camp-gear staples. We got our hands on some key pieces from the new collection and, on the whole, were pretty impressed.
In trademark Cotopaxi聽fashion, everything in the collection comes in bright color-block patterns. This is especially true of the men鈥檚 ($80), which are so loud that our associate reviews editor, Ben, only wears them under his ski pants. Pretty much everything else in the collection is available in more muted tones.
The entire collection features exceptional next-to-skin comfort. The ($50) is buttery soft, as are the women鈥檚 ($70). The Wazimu in particular may be among the most comfortable running tights I鈥檝e ever worn: The upper half is a thicker polyester fabric, and from the knees down is a thinner, mesh-like fabric, resulting in a perfect combo of warmth and breathability. The Haraka tights are thinner and more compressive than the Wazimu, but not as warm. They also cost $10 more.
Aside from the Wazimu tights, which I鈥檇 gladly wear on any mountain trail run, the rest of the collection would be more at home on short bike-path runs or in the gym. The shorts are a little thick, and the men鈥檚 version has side pockets鈥攏ot ideal for long periods of running. The Haraka tights also have quite a few seams, which could be a recipe for chafing.
My main beef is with the ($150), which claims to be unisex but is clearly cut with a long, narrow torso in mind and is not flattering on a petite, curvy woman鈥檚 figure. The thin, waffle-knit fleece is quite comfortable, though. Despite the poor fit, on more than one occasion I鈥檝e found myself pulling it on for low-key trips to the climbing gym.
On the whole, Cotopaxi has done a thoughtful job with the new collection. Flashy, with function to match.