Cotopaxi's Outdoor Apparel Now in Extended Sizes
Cotopaxi’s most popular jackets and fleece available in 1X-4X
The Teca fleece is the perfect layering piece for transitioning from winter to spring and milder climates. It's now available in sizes 1X-4X.
Being plus sized often means accepting that some brands of clothing will never be made for me or other folks with larger bodies. I’ve long seen Cotopaxi – a brand known for its brightly colored gear and apparel, being a certified B-Corps, and its commitment to sustainability — as one of those brands of clothing. I often saw their gear on the trail as hikers passed by me and had previously tried on their jackets in stores, always leaving me disappointed as nothing they made ever fit me.
Or rather, nothing they made was for me. Until now.
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The new Cotopaxi Extended Size Line-Up
In late 2023 though, things changed. Cotopaxi released its extended size line. The release felt quiet, as I only learned about it recently due to a random Instagram ad I stumbled upon. Otherwise, I saw no press releases or posts from outdoor influencers and accounts I follow.
I was excited to learn about this move from a company I never thought would make sizes for plus-sized and fat folks, a company whose clothing I have seen out on the trail and on the street. With their new extended sizing, we are looking forward to including Cotopaxi among the brands in our Best Plus Size Outdoor Clothing guide and Best Plus Size Winter Clothing guide.
What's available in extended sizing
A search through Cotopaxi’s women's items shows that the 1X-4X extended sizes mostly encompass their outerwear, like the Fuego Down Vest, the Fuego Down Parka, and the Teca Half Zip Windbreaker. Cotopaxi’s newest offerings, of adorable overall dresses, bike shorts, and bodysuits, do not include the extended sizes. Not every color is available up to 4X on Cotopaxi's website, either.
Furthermore, retailers like REI have up to 3X available, but Cotopaxi's website goes up to 4X.
It’s important to note that Cotopaxi’s extended sizes do not reach all of their items, nor does it include men’s sizing. Men’s sizing goes up to an 3XL in many of their items, but does not include the 1X-4X sizing that women’s sizing has in some items.
How it fits
I was impressed with Cotopaxi’s sizing and it is clear that intention and thought was put into creating a line that actually fits plus sized people.
“In a market where most gear runs small, where a 3X is not often a true 3X, Cotopaxi made clothing that truly fits.”
In a market where most gear runs small, where a 3X is not often a true 3X, Cotopaxi made clothing that truly fits. I have tested many items from other outdoor retailers making extended and plus sizes and often find that my normal clothing size is too small. With Cotopaxi, that is not the case and I’m excited for a line that feels accessible and comfortable.
Fuego Down Jacket
Price: $295, though often on sale and can be as low as $206.50
Weight: 14 oz
Shell fabric: 100% 20D ripstop nylon with DWR finish
Insulation: Down
Hand warmer pockets: Zippered hand pockets
Internal pockets: Yes
Hood: Scuba hood (also available without hood)
Available sizes: XXS-4X
Best for: Camping, hiking, everyday living
The Fuego Down Jacket is a simple and lightweight down jacket made from sustainable materials. On a scale of warm, warmer, and warmest, the Fuego is a warm jacket. The fit, like the tights and the fleece that I tested, is excellent. It is cut with room for layers without being too loose, and I found the 3X to fit me better than any other 3X down jackets I’ve tested.
You can read my comprehensive review of the Fuego Down Jacket here.
WOMEN'S
MEN'S
On a snowshoe hike in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, the author layered the Fuego Down Jacket over the Teca Fleece.
While it is missing some adjustable features that I look for in a technical jacket, like thumb loops, vents, or an adjustable hood and wrist closures, the Fuego is a great addition to my outdoor gear closet because of the thoughtfulness that has gone into its creation in regards to sustainability and the conditions of those who created it.
The color options for the Fuego are also aesthetically pleasing and when layered correctly, the Fuego is warm and a great fit for snowshoeing and skiing in sunny conditions. We will be adding it to our Best Down Jackets guide soon.
On a hike in the Snake River Canyon, the Mari tights are secure and comfortable on a mild late winter day.
Mari Tight
Price: $295, though often on sale and can be as low as $206.50
Weight: 14 oz
Shell fabric: 100% 20D ripstop nylon with DWR finish
Insulation: Down
Hand warmer pockets: Zippered hand pockets
Internal pockets: Yes
Hood: Scuba hood (also available without hood)
Available sizes: XXS-4X
Best for: Camping, hiking, everyday living
A good pair of tights is invaluable. It’s currently still late winter in Southern Idaho where I live, so I’m not frequently wearing pants outside that are non-insulated. Lately though, the sun has been shining, and I’ve been able to test the Mari Tights around my homestead, while practicing yoga at home, and while on short hikes.
* Note that we could not find the Mari Tight in extended sizing at any retailer other than directly from Cotopaxi's website.
Around the homestead just outside of the Sawtooth National Forest, the Mari Tights are perfect for moving and working outside.
The Mari Tights are simple but effective. They lack pockets, which is my only knock against them, but are otherwise lightweight and comfortable. I’ve worn them throughout the day while working in the garden and with livestock, and they tolerate the dirt and sweat well, easily wicking away when wiped with my gloves.
I took them out on a run on a random warm day, and they stayed firmly on my waist. I’ve worn many leggings over the years that roll down with quick movement, but the Maris stay secure on my body without sagging even after a long day of wear.
Details on the stitching of the Mari Tight.
I would recommend using the Mari for everyday wear, yoga, running, and short hikes. The lack of pockets, breathable venting, and the thin fabric that feels like it would easily snag or rip on rocks and branches make the Mari Tights better suited for off-trail everyday use rather than on.
The Mari Tights are best suited for short hikes, yoga, and running.
Not every tight needs to be for hiking though, and I love the 72% recyclable fabric that goes into the tights and the attractive color options. On top of that, they go up to a 4X, which is still novel when most outdoor brands that offer extended and plus sizes stop at a 3X. We will be adding it to our Best Hiking Tights guide soon.
Gabi Reyes-Acosta tests the Teca fleece in Southern Idaho.
Teca Fleece
Fleece jackets are my favorite piece of gear. I use them throughout the year – warming me by the campfire, at night or early morning on the trail, and just walking through the yard. I was excited to try Cotopaxi’s Teca Fleece, with sizes ranging from XS-4X, because I had long wanted to rock Cotopaxi’s distinctive colorful jackets. As much as technical gear is necessary and important to me, so is gear that looks great and makes me feel great. The Teca Fleece, while not the most technical fleece I have owned, is warm enough for most uses and is cute to boot.
WOMEN'S
MEN'S
The Teca fleece features a hood with a high zipper, in Southern Idaho near the Sawtooth National Forest.
When looking for a fleece layer for backpacking and longer hikes, I look for packability, wind resistance, breathability, and adjustable features. The Teca is fairly breathable, but lacks the warmth against the wind that I look for in a hiking fleece. Standing in 14 mph winds, I could feel the chill through my arms and shoulders.
The jacket features elastic at the wrists and the hips that sits securely against the body.
The Teca also lacks adjustable hip or waist cinches, but it does sport an attractive elastic around the bottom of the jacket and at the sleeves that kept the jacket secure against me.
When layered correctly though, the Teca is practical and useful on shorter hikes, walks around town, and everyday use. When paired under the Fuego Down Jacket with wool base layers underneath, I felt comfortable and warm as the snow fell on a short snowshoe hike.
My favorite thing about the jacket is the fit. Like the entire line from Cotopaxi, the jacket goes up to a 4X. With many outdoor brands, I’ve found that sizes run 1-2 sizes too small. With all the items I tested from Cotopaxi, I found their sizes to run true and even slightly roomy. I tested the Teca fleece in a 3X, and found it to be fairly long in the torso and roomy. We will be adding it to our Best Fleece Jackets guide soon.
OUR VERDICT:
Gabi wearing the Teca Fleece from Cotopaxi while working in the garden.
Cotopaxi’s decision to add extended sizes to some of its most iconic and functional pieces feels like progress. Cotopaxi as a brand is often synonymous with being “outdoorsy,” and to see that it is expanding its customer base is a shift towards reimagining what it means to be outdoorsy. It doesn’t have to be a slim body on a trail or in a local park, it can be someone like me, someone who never thought they’d be able to rock a distinctive and trendy Cotopaxi jacket.
With their size offerings going up to a 4X, and their fit being the most accommodating and true-to-size I’ve found with a major outdoor retailer yet, I am excited for Cotopaxi’s move and the moves yet to come.
I hope that the plus size line continues to grow, as companies that expand their sizing to only a small handful of items are missing out on an even wider new customer base. That being said, I’m hopeful and excited about Cotopaxi’s additions and the increased access that plus size and fat consumers have to their apparel.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR / WHY YOU SHOULD TRUST US
The author snowshoeing in southern Idaho.
I have been venturing outside to hike, backpack, snowshoe, ski, and a dozen uses in between for my entire adult life.
As a plus-size outdoors person, I value testing and recommending gear that fits more bodies than what outdoor brands and companies have traditionally seen as their customer base, and I’m passionate about showing the world that the outdoors is for everyone. This starts with clothing and gear made to fit a variety of different body shapes.
There is so much work to be done on making more brands accessible in terms of size inclusion, but I am excited about what’s been done and the moves that companies will make in the future to reach out to people who need comfortable and safe gear to allow them to get outside.
I tested Cotopaxi’s Extended Size line in the ways I will use it throughout the year– keeping me warm while running errands in town, working on my small homestead in the Mountain West, and hiking and snowshoeing in the nearby National Forests. I plan to continue testing this jacket during backpacking trips in the summer as well.
I review gear to answer the questions I have when I’m looking to purchase and invest in an item: will it fit me? Will it keep me comfortable and safe in the conditions it’s suitable for? And, will it fit others in my community? These questions keep me as reviewer and lover of nature centered as I test gear.
I know what it feels like to not find items to fit and to not be able to do the things I want to do, and I hope that reviews like this will help readers not have to be like I once was: stuck in an aisle in an outdoor store and unsure what, if anything, would fit my body.
Gabi Reyes-Acosta is a frequent contributing writer for Treeline Review, and you can find their full bio here.
