Cotopaxi Fuego Down Overall: Like a Sleeping Bag You Can Wear

Who is This For

Anyone who wants to stay warm in very cold weather for low-octane activities and for people like me who are always cold. Wonderful for warming up after skiing or skating. Not meant for skiing or sledding.

Field Testing

Scenario 1

Yard work| 15°F | Cascade Mountains, WA state

I usually wear fleece-lined work pants for yard work at my mountain cabin, but they don’t keep me warm for long periods of time. I end up running into the house to warm up within 30 minutes. I’ve been wearing the Cotopaxi Fuego Overalls for all sorts of outdoor chores around the cabin, and they keep me so warm that I no longer need to take “warm up” breaks.

The Cotopaxi Fuego Overalls are super comfortable, provide plenty of freedom of movement, and kept me toasty warm. I wear them over a wool base layer and under a down parka.

Scenario 2

Après-Ski and Snowmobiling | 28°F | Cascade Mountains, WA state

The Cotopaxi Fuego Overalls have become my favorite après-ski apparel because they are so warm and lightweight. By the time I finish skiing, I’m tired, a bit achy, and have damp ski pants from wet snow and chairlifts.

It is luxurious to peel off the active layers and pull on the Cotopaxi Fuego Overalls for instant warmth. Their ultra light weight makes them ideal for the ride home.

I’ve also been wearing the Cotopaxi Fuego Overalls for snowmobiling, and they are so comfortable.

Scenario 3

Leisurely hiking | 30°F | Cascade Mountains, WA state

I like to hike near my cabin, but in winter it gets quite cold in the mountains, especially when temperatures drop below freezing. I’ve been wearing the Cotopaxi Fuego Overalls for low-intensity walks and hikes in the woods, and they have been ideal for me.

The adjustable shoulder straps are stretchy, which allows me to move freely when bending over or climbing obstacles. The straps also make it easy to adjust the fit whether I was wearing a thin base layer or a thick sweater underneath.

I can easily wear my hiking boots with them because the leg zippers allow me to unzip and pull the legs right over my boots, then snug them up with the elastic band.

Scenario 4

Horse training | 20-30°F | Cascade Mountains, WA state

I’ve been training a wild mustang, and I don’t get to take the cold winter months off. He’s always nice and warm with his coat of fluffy hair, and now thanks to my Cotopaxi Fuego down overalls, I’m warm too! It’s been in the low 20’s a lot this winter, and there’s often a brisk breeze that flows right through the arena where I work with him. These down overalls have kept my body so warm that I’m usually outside for two to three hours straight. 

I don’t wear the down overalls when riding my horse, as I need full-seat beeches for that activity, but they work great when I’m working with my horse in hand doing groundwork or even when I’m doing farm chores in cold weather, such as mucking stalls or bringing hay to the horses. What’s really nice about the fabric of my down overalls is that hay doesn’t stick to them like it does to cotton.

Fit

I usually wear a size small, but tested a size medium because that’s what was available. They were big on me, but still functional.

Too small

Slightly small

Fits well

Slightly big

Too big

Materials & Construction

Material/Fabric: The overalls are made with a 20D giant-ripstop nylon shell and 800-fill down. They are super lightweight and packable. While they got a little wet when it started to rain during one outing, the DWR finish helped, and they dried quickly on their own once I was inside.

Sustainability Creds: responsibly-sourced down, recycled nylon shell and lining, no added PFAS chemicals

Bottom Line

These are high-quality overalls with a great fit that keep me super warm without making me sweat. They are versatile enough to work well with different thicknesses of base layers, making them an essential piece of gear for anyone who wants to extend their time outdoors in the winter. I’m quite sensitive to the cold, but the Cotopaxi Fuego Overalls keep me so warm that I can now spend much more time outdoors in very cold weather.

Specifications

• Women’s Sizes: Sizes: Available in XS, S, M, L, XL in colors: Fjord Stripes, Coffee Stripes
• Price: $285 (on sale for less)

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main image from Cotopaxi website