ProView – Cotopaxi Men’s Lagunas Jacket

In my line of work as a climbing guide, having layers that are multipurpose is a must. Cotopaxi’s Lagunas Jacket is an all-season workhorse that still has a sensible crag-to-bar style.

Winter is in full swing here in Colorado where I guide. The beauty of the Front Range is that we can get a taste of each season almost every week (and sometimes in a single day). I put this jacket through the wringer on warm cragging days at Shelf Road, blustery multi-pitch climbs in Eldorado Canyon, and cold approaches to ice climb in Vail. 

Performance

First things first, this jacket is warm! It has an incredible warmth-to-weight ratio, and I was glad to have it in my pack or on my back. That being said, I don’t think this jacket shines as an active layer – and it’s not meant to. 

In all but the coldest (<15℉) of uses, the Lagunas was simply too warm to be moving around in. The Lagunas’ utility became apparent when I stopped moving, though. Whether we were on a break on the approach or I had just gone off belay, the jacket was quick to unpack and did a spectacular job holding in the hard-earned heat I had just created. 

The DWR finish did a great job repelling small amounts of snow and ice, and I imagine it woud hold up just find during a light sprinkle. While synthetic insulation does retain much of its insulative power when wet, I wouldn’t rely on the Lagunas as my ultimate outer layer in any sort of truely inclement weather. 

Fit/Comfort 

I am 5’10” and the men’s medium fit me perfectly. Like all good insulation layers, it doesn’t fit tight, but rather it allows for room to layer beneath it. I was able to comfortably fit a base layer and two thin midlayers beneath the Lagunas.

Importantly, it also never restricted my range of motion. During tasks that require a lot reaching around and over things (like belaying), I never felt hindered in any way by this jacket. 

Look/Style

Cotopaxi really nailed the style with this piece. While the lack of a hood was intermittently frustrating while at the crag, it was more than made up for when I didn’t have to look like I was going on an expedition to get my groceries.

Features

The Lagunas jacket has several note-worthy features. First, the entire jacket is smartly equipped with drawstrings and zippered pockets. High up on windy faces is not the time to be tempting fate with my phone in a non-closeable pocket. 

Secondly, the interior breast pocket is designed perfecly. It is oversized (becuase the jacket stashes into this pocket), which means I never had to struggle to fit my phone, sunglasses case, or snacks into it. 

Lastly, the zipper garage and insulated, raised collar make for a very comfortable, warm experience.

Weight/Packability

The Lagunas is a tremendously light and packable layer. Uncompressed, it packs down to slightly larger than a 1-L Nalgene, and I measured it at just over 11-oz. With those stats it has become a permanent fixture in the bottom of my pack as it’s easy to forget it’s even there.

Durability/Construction

The jacket’s insulative power comes from a 70/30 recycled/new blend of 60 grams per square meter (gsm) polyester. Both the shell and the lining are 20D giant-ripstop nylon with a DWR finish. While the thinness provided by the 20D nylon makes this jacket comfortable and flexible, it doesn’t do much in the way of durability. 

Because I wouldn’t recommend using this jacket in an active capacity, I don’t view the durability as a true drawback. That being said, this is absolutely not the layer to thrash up offwidths or thrutch through thorny approaches with. 

Friendliness to the Earth

Cotopaxi is a Certified B Corporation, meaning they have made several verifiable commitments to sustainable business practices. The Lagunas in particular is made of 70% recycled polyester, which is a fantastic baseline. 

The Final Word

All in all, the Lagunas is a can’t-miss addition to any climber’s arsenal of insulation. Its lightweight and incredible warmth justify its place on your next adventure. 

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