Backside Line
The Cotopaxi Abrazo Half-Zip (males’s / girls’s) is a flexible, colourful pullover that we like for trail-to-town outings. With its true-to-size match, it may comfortably be worn over a long-sleeve shirt and below backpack straps. Its half-zip design makes it simple to drag over your head, even with a hat on. It additionally gives some air flow do you have to generate some physique warmth in your walks. The fleece is that dreamy stage of soppy and comfy that everybody and the whole lot desires to cling to it (together with nature particles, canine hair, and many others.).
Sadly, the chest pocket isn’t positioned for optimum use for ladies, making it a bit awkward to stash objects there. It feels extra prefer it’s there for the aesthetic. The kangaroo-style pocket is good for retaining our fingers heat. Nonetheless, this pouch design isn’t perfect for carrying objects on the path, because of the lack of a zipper and the way in which the fabric would sag and bulge within the entrance when weighed down.
General, the Cotopaxi Abrazo pullover is a high-quality fleece greatest for informal use and day hikes. As a result of its bulkier packed measurement and tendency to cling to clutter, this is able to not be our go-to for backpacking. Nonetheless, it’s a nice worth choice for these looking for a flexible and comfy pullover. To match this fleece to our different favorites, try our just lately up to date information to the perfect fleece jackets.
How We Examined
We examined the Cotopaxi Abrazo on the coastal trails in Northern California, round Mt. Tamalpais State Park, to find out its relative heat, sturdiness, consolation, performance, and packability. We additionally examined the way it match beneath a day pack to find out its versatility for mountain climbing.
Fast Specs
Cotopaxi Abrazo Fleece Half-Zip Jacket
Greatest Pullover Fleece
CleverHiker Score:
4.3/5.0
Worth:
$120
Measured Weight:
13.9 oz.(Males’s M)
Professionals
- Fashionable fashion
- 1/2 zip
- True to measurement
- Layers over a protracted sleeve simply
Cons
- Chest pocket location (for ladies’s solely)
- Kangaroo pocket is not perfect for carrying necessities on the path
- Fleece collects particles
- Cumbersome/heavy
Heat
When mountain climbing within the Northern CA redwoods in Mt. Tamalpais State Park, our gear analyst discovered this pullover to supply midweight heat. It adequately reduce the nippiness on her day hikes, offering a noteworthy stability of breathability and insulation.
The pullover is the right thickness, permitting it to be layered over a long-sleeve shirt or below a puffy outer shell for added heat. We love the half-zip design on the pullover – when totally zipped up, it retains us heat and comfy with the lined excessive collar across the neck. When unzipped, it gives additional air flow and breathability.
Consolation
The Cotopaxi Abrazo Half-Zip suits true to measurement and was comfy when worn over a long-sleeve shirt and beneath backpack straps on our day hikes. We didn’t word any motion restrictions within the materials when lifting or reaching with our arms.
Whereas the outer layer of the sweater was made with cozy, brushed fleece, the inside lining was made with thinner, less-soft polyester. Our gear analyst would have most well-liked the supplies to be reversed, as this is able to have made the outer layer of the pullover extra sturdy and fewer inclined to clutter cling. In distinction, a thicker brushed fleece inside lining would have made the jacket really feel hotter and cozier. With that being stated, we admire how the within of the collar is lined with that thicker brushed fleece, retaining the neck hotter to chop the nippiness.
Sturdiness
The fabric of the Cotopaxi Abrazo feels high-quality and sturdy. One downside is that the plush, brushed fleece outer layer of the pullover collects important particles when it rubs in opposition to moss, rocks, branches, or bushes on the path. Whereas we didn’t discover any put on and tear on the material, we discovered it tough to take away particles that had turn into embedded within the sweater. The pullover lacks waterproof options, making it inclined to absorbing important quantities of water when uncovered to moist environments.
The collar and cuffs function an elastic binding, which gives additional reinforcement and sturdiness. There are additionally no particular washing directions listed, making it a easy and straightforward product to wash after use.
Weight
At over 13 ounces, the Cotopaxi Abrazo isn’t attempting to be backpacking-worthy when it comes to weight or packability. It’s the right fleece for brief and chilly walks, automobile tenting, or hearth hangs. Primarily, we aren’t attempting to interrupt a sweat on this layer, or need to shed it and stuff it right into a backpack.
Options
The Abrazo Half-Zip has restricted options, a few of which we love, whereas others might use enchancment. We admire the half-zip pullover design, which makes it simple to drag the fleece over your head and permits for personalized air flow and breathability when it’s totally unzipped. Whereas the zippered chest pocket is massive and roomy, it’s positioned in an inconvenient spot on the chest for ladies, which impacts its usefulness on the path.
The Abrazo Half-Zip includes a single kangaroo-style hand pouch, somewhat than two separate zippered hand pockets. Our gear analyst discovered that the kangaroo-style design made it cumbersome and awkward to stash away path necessities on her hikes in Northern California – all of the objects would create a sagging impact within the entrance of her sweater. Whereas the pouch works properly to maintain your fingers heat, it’s not designed successfully for pocketing a telephone or snacks.
Ought to You Purchase The Cotopaxi Abrazo Half-Zip Fleece?
The Cotopaxi Abrazo Half-Zip is a superb choice for these searching for a flexible, easy, and comfy pullover for a mixture of informal and out of doors use. It’s fabricated from high-quality recycled polyester and is a superb selection for layering. It’s fashionable sufficient for trail-to-town ventures and affords midweight heat.
Nonetheless, the Abrazo will not be for everybody. In case you are searching for a fleece with pockets to stash necessities whereas on the path, we recommend you search for jackets with separate hand pockets. The Kangaroo-style pouch on the Abrazo isn’t the simplest design for stowing away snacks, keys, or a telephone.
Backpackers could discover the brushed fleece not sturdy sufficient or packable sufficient for multi-day backcountry adventures. The price of this fleece may additionally be a barrier for some, and there are different manufacturers that are available a lower cost level.
What Different Fleeces Ought to You Contemplate?
To match the Cotopaxi Abrazo Half-Zip to different top-performing fleece jackets, try our favorites in our just lately up to date gear information for each women and men.
Patagonia Higher Sweater Assessment: It is a traditional from Patagonia that could be very heat (albeit a bit cumbersome). It comes with a chest pocket and a couple of zippered hand pockets, which we choose over the kangaroo-style of the Abrazo.
REI Trailmade Fleece Assessment: The Trailmade affords light-weight heat with elevated packability, making it an important choice for backcountry and frontcountry adventures, whereas the Abrazo pullover is best fitted to trails nearer to residence.
Patagonia Synchilla Snap-T Assessment: That is one other highly-rated pullover choice that’s delicate and comfy, with a partial snap closure that’s shorter than the lengthy ½ zip on the Cotopaxi Abrazo. The Snap-T options buttons somewhat than zippers and lacks hand pockets.
