Cotopaxi Trico Hybrid Vest & Verso Hike Tight – Look Good. Do Good!

Cotopaxi Spring 2023 Line

Devan Michael

Do you call yourself an adventurer who is looking for a vest that will keep you warm and toasty on those chilly mornings as you are climbing mountains (that may also get you multiple compliments as you visit your favorite local coffee shop or brewery for a post-hike beverage)? 

Or are you a weekend warrior looking for that go-to pair of medium-weight tights that can keep up with the rugged terrain & weather you seek out week after week (because, let’s be honest, you get a few more bragging points if you brave the bitter cold rain compared to a warm, pleasant sunny day)?

 

Well Cotopaxi heard you in their 2023 Spring Collection. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Trico Hybrid Vest & Verso Hike Tight this month and I was thoroughly impressed after putting these two pieces to the test in the Colorado Flatirons!

 

As a 5’3” (on a good day), 135lb female, the Women’s Small fit perfectly for both of these items. The Trico Hybrid Vest, in Greenery & Kelp ($145), is made from repurposed and recycled materials and gets the name “Hybrid” from the combination of high pile fleece and quilted insulation beautifully brought together to form this perfect layering staple.

The Verso Hike Tight, in Iron ($115), is also sustainably sourced from recycled materials, with a stand-out abrasion-resistant front panel that really stands out from the competition. We’ll dive a bit deeper into what I liked the most about each, but before that, I felt it would be a disservice to Cotopaxi if I did not take a moment to use this as a platform to share about their brand. 

 

Cotopaxi was founded in 2014, as a group of like-minded individuals came together to create a mission that articulates what many of us have been trying to describe for years: 

“Adventure inspires us to see the world and make it better. That’s why we build gear that fuels both outdoor experiences and global change. To achieve our mission, we dedicate at least 1% of our revenue to nonprofits that help communities experiencing poverty” – Cotopaxi

 

A certified B-Corporation, Cotopaxi has a Gear for Good ® promise to make durable gear as ethically and sustainably as possible, using their company as a way to support communities (and charities) in need. 

 

What stood out most to me, in addition to their beautiful, best-in-class quality gear, is how Cotopaxi is using their products to show that they do not just talk the talk, but actually walk the walk. Giving is at the core of who they are. They tie their earnings to impact through the Cotopaxi Foundation, which provides grants to nonprofits that help communities facing extreme poverty.

 

For those of you that know me, doing mission work in Haiti has been at the core of my identity since 2015. An active ambassador for the Brace for Impact 46 non-profit, our hope is to come together to drive sustainable change in Haiti, following holistic programming. Based in Cap-Haitian, we are able to drive sustainable change through our children’s home, education, feeding programs, hospital & community health programs, clean water & sanitation, and creating jobs for our community. To learn more about Brace for Impact 46, check out our website and feel free to reach out directly to myself if you would like to get more involved! 

 

Although Cotopaxi does not support our work in Haiti (yet), it is because of organizations like Cotopaxi that elevate these incredible people investing their lives to drive change in this world. Their slogan, “Gear for Good,” encapsulates what their products stand for. And because of that mission, to date, Cotopaxi has reached an estimated 3.8 million people through their impact work in Latin America and with 1% of the Planet. 

 

If you identify as someone who seeks adventure, has passion for doing good in the world, and believes there is an opportunity that For-Purpose & For-Profit companies can co-exist in beautiful harmony (like me!), this may be one of your new favorite brands. My hope is you will spend time exploring Cotopaxi’s mission even more as you start to think how your style can be an opportunity to express your holistic brand and what you stand for!

 

So with that, let’s get back to the review. What did I love the most while testing these two pieces out? 

Cotopaxi Trico Hybrid Vest::

Toasty Insulation – I was shocked at how, with only a light baselayer under this vest, I stayed nice and toasty on our chilly (low 40s) morning hike up in the Boulder Flatirons! When getting ready I was really torn on whether I needed to pack another heavier layer to stack underneath the Trico Hybrid vest, but I was pleased with how toasty my core stayed.

Multi-Purpose Use – The coziness of high-pile fleece and the warmth of an insulated vest, in one! As I become more invested in sustainability and functional minimalism, this 2-in-1 vest shows sustainability can still look cute! (Not to mention it is made from repurposed & recycled materials)

Bright Colors that Look Great & also Keep You Safe! – In signature Cotopaxi style, this multi-color vest is sure to have you stand out on the mountains, in the forest or simply in the weightroom. While bright colors are just fun in general, adventure safety is top-of-mind when Cotopaxi designs its gear so god forbid one experiences a (mis)adventure, they will be easy to spot, standing out against their backgrounds.

Cotopaxi Verso Hike Tight

• Abrasion Resistant Front Panel – Although I now live in the sunshine state, this would come in handy if you are biking, trail running, or hiking in the rain. However, living in Oregon for four years, biking from practice to class and back, these would have been LIFE SAVERS! Honestly, if you do not have the fortune to live in a state with less than 300 days of sunshine, I’d recommend adding these to your wardrobe so rainy weather does not slow down your AOTDs! 

• Invisible Zipper Pocket – One pain point our trail runners may be able to relate to is where do you securely keep your keys during a run that won’t either fall out, bounce around or stab into your back or side pocket. Well, these pants have you covered! With an invisible zipper mid-thigh, trail runners can worry a bit less about if that car or house key may be in jeopardy falling along the trail, allowing more opportunities to stay present, taking in the magical views in their surroundings!

• Sustainably Minded & Thoughtful Design – Cotopaxi really lives its values of being a Certified B Corporation, creating these high-quality tights from a recycled polyester blend, which keeps all body shapes in mind. Always having an athletic build (shoutout to my gymnastics and collegiate lacrosse days), there is a slight fear when I have to try clothes on, specifically pants, on if they will fit or not. I was pleasantly surprised that the thicker layer of the abrasion-resistant front panel comfortably contoured my stronger thighs without having that obnoxious waist gap that results in yanking up your tights every ten steps! 

 

In short, the Trico Hybrid Vest & Verso Hike Tights got my approval and will be staples in my spring AOTD wardrobe moving forward! 

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Devan Michael

Growing up in Massachusetts, Devan has been an athlete all her life. Starting at the age of 4 as a competitive gymnast, she learned quickly the joy that comes from hard work, determination, and a jammed packed schedule. Eventually, gymnastics led to competitive lacrosse, which resulted in her growing some wings and going to the PNW to pursue a DI College Lacrosse opportunity at the University of Oregon. 

 

On the single off-day each week, she quickly learned to see Mother Earth as her playground and wanted to use every second of free time to find chase AOTDs (Adventures of the Days). These AOTDs were the inspiration for her blog Dabbling in Traveling & youtube channel. 

 

From waterfalls, to snow covered mountains, to sand dune hikes – one thing was certain, something always went awry on these AOTDs. But hey, memories were always made! Not only was UO an incredible college experience, Oregon sparked her love for the outdoors & traveling across the country for games helped introduce her to Colorado in 2014. Staring up at the Flatirons on CU Boulder’s campus, she knew one day she would call Colorado home! 

 

After returning to the east coast upon graduation, Devan’s heart never stopped longing to live in Colorado one day. But luckily the pandemic brought a newfound acceptance for remote work and in Nov. 2021 her dream came true!

 

By day, Devan is a Product Manager at Capital One. By afternoon, she is a personal trainer, coaching group Crossfit classes at Axistence Athletics (the best Adventure gym you will ever find!). By evening, she pours her heart into nonprofit work, specifically focused on driving sustainable change in Haiti through the Brace for Impact 46 organization (Fun fact – she has been traveling to Haiti since 2015, accumulating 7 trips and 7 months of living down there!). 

 

Brace for Impact works in Northern Haiti to provide sustainable, multifaceted approaches to support child development, education, medical care, job development, and implementation of clean water & sanitation across the community, which touches 40,000 people each day! (Want to learn more? Check out their website www.braceforimpact46.com )

 

As her friends would tell you (despite trying) Devan does not slow down and is always trying to fit AOTDs into each open moment. Whether it be hiking, paddleboarding, road-biking, running, Crossfitting, weight-lifting, snowboarding or simply exploring different parts of CO with her favorite furry friend Bailey, it’s safe to say Devan has found her “Home” here in Colorado!

 

Fun fact – Devan had reconstructive hip surgery in 2016 (actually called a Periacetabular Osteotomy… but that’s a tongue twister), where doctors said she may never run or walk again. After a 22 month recovery period, she proved doctors wrong and uses that motivation to encourage everyone she interacts with to truly treat movement as a gift and to never take it for granted. With that being said, to keep her body active, she needs to make sure her gear can support her so she can remain #PAOStrong! 

 

Devan is excited to join the Engearment team!