Cotopaxi Fuego Vest Review

Down vest for cool and cold weather.

My new Cotopaxi Fuego down vest arrived just in time for a beautiful fall weekend filled with plans to be outdoors at my mountain cabin east of Seattle. 

The Fuego Vest is lightweight, made out of a water-resistant recycled ripstop  polyester shell with a DWR finish, and filled with 800 fill RDS certified water-resistant down. It’s a nice option for all the times a coat is too warm and bulky, and it provides plenty of warmth depending on how I layer it. I first wore the vest over a long sleeve t-shirt during the day while the sun was out, then, once it cooled down in the evening, I wore it over a sweater.

I most often wear the Cotopaxi Fuego Vest when I ride my horse, who likes to nuzzle me with his carrot-encrusted lips. I like that I can easily brush off his slobber with a wet cotton rag. I also toss the vest into my day pack when I leave the cabin; it easily packs into its inner zippered pocket. So convenient. 

The Cotopaxi Fuego Vest has a large zippered exterior pocket on each side of the jacket. I stash my large cell phone in one and a handful of horse treats in the other.

I like the large, layered inner pockets. The open pocket on the bottom is big enough to hold my small tablet or a folded up maps, and the zippered pocket on top is ideal for my wallet and keys. There’s a waist cinch in the vest’s bottom hem that allows me to get snug fit to block the wind. I like the elastic binding that covers the arm holes for its neat appearance and added durability.

I spend a lot of time outside, and I’ll be wearing my Cotopaxi Fuego down vest as a top layer for another week or two until winter arrives in the mountains. Then the vest will become a mid-layer under a rain shell and other winter jackets. I like Cotopaxi’s trademark retro color block styling, which is highly recognizable. I get a lot of compliments when I wear this vest, and most of my friends who admire my vest are familiar with Cotopaxi’s reputation for style and quality. 

I’m happy that Cotopaxi uses recycled materials and responsibly sourced duck feathers/fill from white ducks in China. My Fuego Vest came with a tracking tag that allows me to learn more about the ducks! I appreciate Cotopaxi’s transparency.

The Fuego Vest is stylish enough to wear out to a casual dinner when I’m in Seattle and warm enough to wear while chopping wood at my cabin in the crisp early hours. It’s lightweight, it doesn’t feel bulky, and it’s easy to move around in when I’m active. I also love that this vest has plenty of pocket space for my essentials.

Available in women’s sizes XS-XL and in men’s sizes XS-XXXL. Both men’s and women’s styles are available in several colors combinations, as well as in black.  Read our other Cotopaxi reviews.

$185 available at Amazon and Prime Shipping eligible.