Cotopaxi Bacano Fleece Jacket Review

Irresistibly cozy, high-pile fleece.

Cotopaxi’s Bacano Fleece Jacket, available in men’s and women’s styles, is a fun, stylish, warm jacket for cold weather. 

Made out of high-pile polyester fleece that reminds me a bit of my favorite fuzzy stuffed bear, the Cotopaxi Bacano Fleece Jacket just begs to be worn because it looks so cozy. The jacket has large rectangular contrast-colored matte nylon patches on the sleeves (one of them contains a flat, secret pocket) and covering the shoulders. This material gives the Cotopaxi Bacano Fleece Jacket a casual, sporty appearance and provides durability in wear areas. 

Durable and Soft

One of the things I like best about Cotopaxi outerwear is their use of chunky zippers. The front zipper feels incredibly solid, and so far, it has been very durable. I am in and out of jackets throughout the day, so I need zippers that stand up well to a lot of use. The Cotopaxi Bacano Fleece Jacket uses the same type of zipper for the front pockets. All of the zippers are a bright contrasting color (I tested a purple jacket that had navy contrast matte material patches and bold pink zippers, an energizing color palette I really enjoy.) All of the zippers have thin, corded zipper pulls with rubberized tips that make it easy to locate them just by touch. A small detail, but I appreciate it. 

Versatile Style

For me the Cotopaxi Bacano Fleece Jacket is actually several garments. It’s soft and baggy like my favorite sweatshirt, it’s warm like a fleece, and it’s handy like a cardigan sweater. I throw it on with jeans for errands and running around town, I wear it around the house because my house is quite drafty, and it’s my first layer after swimming in the lake on cold days. 

When fully zipped, the collar is wide enough to provide good neck protection, and the hem has a toggle on each side of the jacket so I can cinch it up to block out the weather. I like the large, zippered front pockets because they are lined with the same soft material that lines the jacket and sleeves and because they provide space for all my essentials. I don’t like carrying a purse or bag, so I need outwear with plenty of pocket space for my wallet, my large iPhone (which lives inside a bulky case), my inhaler and spacer, a wad of tissues, nutrition bars, lip balm, and keys on a long lanyard. The Cotopaxi Bacano Fleece Jacket also has a small stash pocket in the lining inside the front of the jacket. I use that for items I can lose easily like my wallet and parking stubs.

Bottom Line

I like the Cotopaxi Bacano Fleece Jacket because it’s fun to have a jacket that is sporty and versatile. Wearing it is like wrapping myself in a fluffy cuddle. 

Details

The women’s Cotopaxi Bacano Fleece Jacket is boxy and oversized, so you might want to go down a size if you prefer a tighter fit. I found that the jacket was too big for me in my usual size, but the sleeves were still a bit short (not surprising, I usually wear men’s jackets because I’m extra tall with very long arms). I think most women will be fine with the length of the jacket and the sleeve length unless, like me, they are size feet tall.

Available in men’s sizes S-XXL in Atlantic/Carbon, Cotopaxi Black, and Live Oak/Woods. Women’s Bacano Fleece Jackets is available in Lake/Abyss, Chestnut/Coffee, Black Violet/Carbon is sizes XS-XL.

$175 at Amazon with Prime shipping. Men’s jacket. Women’s jacket.