Cotopaxi came onto the market in April, and since then has released a collection of outdoor gear so large that it seems near impossible for a company so young to have accomplished. I was able to talk to the brand’s founder and CEO, Davis Smith a few months ago for an ActionHub feature about how the company was able to establish itself so quickly, as well as the initial inspiration behind it.

The brand not only provides stylish, technical gear for adventurers, but it also gives back, sporting the tagline, “Gear for Good,” which can be seen on the design of its products. When you purchase gear from the company, a specific humanitarian cause is tied to it. The causes differ based on the product but, for example, if you purchase a Cotopaxi+India water bottle, you can give clean water to a person in India for six months through charity:water, one of Cotopaxi’s partners. When you buy a Cusco pack, you help educate a child in Peru for one week.

The brand recently sent me the Pacaya Women’s Raven Jacket to review for ActionHub, and I was looking forward to receiving it not only because I reviewed one of Cotopaxi’s packs this summer that I loved—the 20-liter Kilimanjaro—but also because I was able to get a sneak peek of the brand new apparel line at Outdoor Retailer this summer, where I was able to meet Davis in person as well as the whole team behind the products.

I’ve been reviewing the Cotopaxi jacket for the past few months, and it’s been great for the fall weather in Michigan. I don’t think I can emphasize enough how stylish this jacket looks—it’s something that works on the trail, yet also a piece I wear to work and even during a night out. Before I go on about the details, let’s take a look at the specs:

• Nylon woven face (DWR coating)
• Alpha Polartec™ insulation
• Very lightweight, warm, and highly breathable
• Polartec power stretch and no underarm seam
• Scuba hood
• Better mobility and breathability
• Clean finish inside, bonded seams
• Size label on side to keep neck itch-free
• Fitted Lycra wrist cuffs
• Internal chest pocket
• Lightweight zippers

I started wearing the jacket on the first day I received it. My initial thought was that it was too lightweight, and wouldn’t suffice during colder morning runs and weekend hikes. After my first few times wearing it, I found out that it was perfect for both of those activities. The jacket also adjusted well to my body temperature and because it was so breathable, I never felt like it was too confining. To note, I was wearing an athletic tank under the jacket while running, and the temperatures were between 45-55 degrees. The shoulders of the jacket allowed for plenty of movement, which has been an issue in the past with other, more confining jackets I’ve worn while running.

The next place I tested the jacket out was on a few days hikes. Because I wasn’t going to be sweating as much as I do while running, I opted for a thin, long-sleeved base layer to wear under the jacket. I hiked during the day in temperatures that were about 10 degrees higher than what it was during my morning runs, and the sun also helped to keep me warm. On the rare occasion that I began to overheat, I simply unzipped the jacket and pushed up the sleeves a bit. Because of the vast range of movement I had in the jacket, especially in the shoulder area, I think it would also be ideal for warmer skiing days paired with a heavier base layer, as well as rock climbing.

Lastly, I’ve worn the jacket everywhere from the grocery store to work to the bar. It’s truly versatile. Also, I’ve received a number of compliments on its look from friends as well as strangers. So, it’s stylish enough to have a stranger speak up and ask where it’s from.

There were only a few negative features of the jacket that I found. First, I’m 5’11” and therefore have a hard time finding a jacket with sleeves long enough. Although it fit pretty well elsewhere, the sleeves were just a tad too short. Also, I found that although there was some give in the waist thanks to an elastic band, it was still tight compared to the excess fabric around my stomach as well as the good amount of room around the shoulders—the elastic band was just a bit tight compared to the rest of the jacket. To note, I don’t have especially wide hips. If I was wearing a belt, this would have been an even bigger problem.

But, the sides of the jacket are made with an elastic material, so the minor issues were never enough to make me stop wearing it. The plethora of other useful features greatly outweighed the few cons and, again, the fit has a lot to do with my specific measurements, so I’d simply suggest doing your research before purchasing one. I reviewed a medium, but in the future would go for a large in hopes of having longer sleeves and more give around my hips, even though that would leave even excess fabric around my stomach and shoulders,

Now, let’s talk price. The jacket retails for $199, which is a bit high considering it’s not great for winter conditions. But when I think about the fact that I’ve been wearing it every day throughout the fall in Michigan, I consider it to be well worth the price tag. Because this jacket not only looks awesome, but performs well, it’s become something I wear to work, to and from yoga class, around town, to the bar, during morning runs, and is absolutely perfect for hiking.

If you’re looking for the same style of jacket but with louder colors, check out Cotopaxi’s Pacaya Women’s Terracotta Khaki. Visit the Cotopaxi website to check out more of the gear, which ranges from 65-liter packs to small day packs to apparel, and stay tuned to the brand’s upcoming events including the Cotopaxi Questival. The Questival is an outdoor adventure race that has teams compete in a number of activities in order to win humanitarian trips as well as gear and cash. Registration is currently open for the event, which will be held in San Francisco on October 24 and 25, and a number of other locations in the coming months.

Images courtesy of Ariel Black/Sara Fritz