ProView – Cotopaxi Fuego Down Vest

I don’t really like vests — I never have. I didn’t own a down vest before this one and wouldn’t have bought one otherwise. They never fit me just right, and I could never justify it over a down jacket. I thought they were an impractical waste of space.

In hindsight, the only thing I don’t like about the Cotopaxi Fuego down vest is that it proved me wrong about all of that. I wore it most of the winter in Colorado; in subzero temperatures as a layer, with a t-shirt on warmer days, and I couldn’t find anything to change about this vest. 

Many of the most positive things about the Fuego vest are the simplest. Cotopaxi clearly values function over flash (although their color schemes are truly amazing), and it shows in the practicality of their design:

Durability/Quality

As far as the construction goes, I have no complaints. Any nylon puffy jacket material is obviously more prone to rips and tears than your average gear, but I’ve bushwhacked and snowshoed throughout the winter without consequence. The 20D giant ripstop nylon held up beautifully against abrasions, and the DWR finish kept snow and even light rain off my core. The zippers seem to be durable, which is usually the weak link in any clothing. The high-quality down fill worked wonders to keep my core warm even with only a shirt underneath.

Features

The vest features zippered hand pockets and two interior stash pockets, all of which have ample room to store necessities. I would still like to see a chest zipped pocket but have been pleased with those it does have. And while in wet climates I would usually avoid with a down fill, the DWR coating, combined with water resistant down, sets my mind at ease that it can keep me warm even when wet. There is an adjustable drawcord at the waist, although I found the fit was perfect enough that I’ve never needed to use it.

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Fit

Having read other reviews of the Fuego vest, I was surprised to see several people complaining that was too wide for athletic fits. I am a lean build at 6’, and it fits perfectly. Not too much room wearing just a t-shirt, but enough to comfortably fit a couple of thin layers or thick hoody underneath without feeling too tight. Vests that extend beyond my shoulders are my pet peeve, so I was delighted to find its design conforms to my shoulder width very well. The shoulders also aren’t so tight that breathability is restricted, and I didn’t end up with sweaty armpits (as is often the case for me with a down jacket).

Eco-Friendly

I feel responsible wearing Cotopaxi’s gear because they have done much to be ethical in their business practices. They are 100% carbon neutral, produce their gear at factories where employees’ well-being is a top priority, use only RDS goose down, and are a certified B-corp. In the future, I’d love the see the Fuego vest made with recycled materials as well.

The Final Word

For me personally, I found this vest to be most useful and geared toward front country and urban use. It’s simple and attractive for casual wear and built with quality and durability for outdoor recreation. Definitely a piece I’ll use for years to come!

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