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Cotopaxi Teca Calido Hooded - Women's Review

This reversible model has plenty of pockets and a unique style to make up for its decidedly non-technical performance
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Cotopaxi Teca Calido Hooded - Women's Review
Credit: Cotopaxi
Price:  $150 List
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Manufacturer:   Cotopaxi
By Maggie Nichols ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 1, 2022
49
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#11 of 13
  • Warmth - 25% 4.5
  • Comfort - 25% 4.5
  • Weather Resistance - 20% 5.5
  • Portability - 15% 6.0
  • Breathability - 15% 4.5

Our Verdict

The Cotopaxi Teca Calido stands out from the crowd in a number of ways. This non-technical coat is reversible, giving you two different colors to match your style. It also has a far more casual fit that's both shorter and boxier than any other insulated jacket in our lineup. It has puffier insulation than most, good weather resistance, and a plethora of pockets. However, this style is not adjustable, nor is it as protective as others. The Teca Calido is a jacket you buy for its style rather than its performance.
REASONS TO BUY
Reversible
Lots of pockets
Puffier insulation
Good weather resistance
REASONS TO AVOID
Boxy fit and cut allows drafts
No adjustability
Not breathable
Less torso coverage

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Top Pick Award
Most Versatile Layer
Best Buy Award
Best Warmth and Value
  
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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49
45
Star Rating
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Bottom Line This non-technical jacket makes up for its lackluster performance with lots of pockets and a unique boxy fashionAn exceptionally breathable insulated jacket best for high-output cardio, or pairing with other layersThis non-technical insulated model is offered at a great price for wear in the winterThis stylish, high-collar jacket is warmer than it looks due to insulation, and provides a bargain for decent performanceA comfortable, warm baffled coat that isn't our favorite but has a great low price
Rating Categories Cotopaxi Teca Calid... Arc'teryx Atom Hood... Columbia Heavenly H... Columbia Powder Lit... Amazon Essentials L...
Warmth (25%)
4.5
7.0
9.0
5.0
5.0
Comfort (25%)
4.5
9.0
9.0
4.5
4.0
Weather Resistance (20%)
5.5
7.5
8.5
5.0
4.5
Portability (15%)
6.0
7.0
3.0
6.0
4.0
Breathability (15%)
4.5
8.5
3.0
4.0
5.0
Specs Cotopaxi Teca Calid... Arc'teryx Atom Hood... Columbia Heavenly H... Columbia Powder Lit... Amazon Essentials L...
Measured Weight (Size S) 11.5 oz 10.5 oz 22.4 oz 11.2 oz 13.3 oz
Number of Pockets 7 (2 zippered hand, 2 slip, 2 open hand, 1 zippered chest) 3 (2 zippered hand, 1 internal zippered chest) 3 (2 zippered hand, 1 internal zippered chest) 4 (2 zippered hand, 2 internal slip) 4 (2 zippered hand, 2 internal slip)
Hem Type Elastic Dual bungee adjustment No adjustment Single bungee adjustment No adjustment
Fit Oversized boxy Athletic trim Slim Relaxed slim Relaxed slim
Insulation 100% recycled polyester Resilient Coreloft Compact 60 (100% recycled polyester) 100% polyester Synthetic down 100% polyester
Outer Fabric Repurposed polyester taffeta with DWR finish and 600 mm PU backer Dope Permeair 20D (100% nylon) Storm-Lite DP II polyester 100% polyester 100% nylon
Lining Repurposed polyester taffeta with DWR finish and 600 mm PU backer Tyono 20D 100% nylon
Stretch fleece side panels: 94% polyester, 6% elastane
Luscious Pile Fleece Polyester Omni-Heat thermal-reflective lining 100% polyester
Hood Option Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Built-In Stow Pocket Yes; chest No No No No; included stuff sack
Cuff Construction Elasticized cuffs Stretch-knit Stretch-knit wrist-warmer cuff with thumbholes Elasticized cuffs Elasticized cuffs

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Cotopaxi Teca Calido is a midweight jacket with a relaxed-fit hood and a short, boxy, almost-oversized fit. Its exterior is made of repurposed polyester taffeta with an elastic, nonadjustable hem. It's reversible and features a whopping seven pockets — two zippered hand pockets on one side and two open hand pockets, two drop-in pockets, and one zippered chest pocket on the other side. It packs into its own chest pocket.

Performance Comparison


cotopaxi teca calido hooded for women - the reversible teca calido brings style to your everyday wardrobe.
The reversible Teca Calido brings style to your everyday wardrobe.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

Warmth


The Teca Calido is thicker than most of the other jackets we tested, providing reasonable warmth. However, its less technical cut and fit leave lots of areas exposed to the cold. Most notably, the elastic hem is quite loose and not snug. Depending on your body shape, this can leave plenty of room for gusts to swirl right up inside the jacket. The cuffs are similarly loose, though the sleeves are a touch long, helping them to better seal by falling against the tops of your hands. As a reversible jacket, the main zipper has no wind guard and is a weak point against the cold. The hood is loosely fitted, and it's harder to layer a protective shell overtop of this oversized puffy jacket.

cotopaxi teca calido hooded for women - the calido hood strikes a middle ground of fitted for a bare head...
The Calido hood strikes a middle ground of fitted for a bare head but some space left over for a thin beanie.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

Comfort


The material of the Teca Calido is slightly stiffer than the rest of the insulated jackets we tested, and the elastic material forming the cuffs, hem, and hood rim isn't as soft. Our testing team found there's not a lot of spare room across the shoulders for movement, further solidifying this coat's place as a casual, non-technical layer. We love that the Calido is reversible, giving us more style options than any other jacket. It also has a ton of pockets — seven, to be precise. Two zippered hand pockets adorn one side, while the other side features a zippered chest pocket, two open hand pockets, and two open-top slip pockets.

cotopaxi teca calido hooded for women - the teca has more pockets than pretty much any other jacket we...
The Teca has more pockets than pretty much any other jacket we tested, with some on both sides of this reversible jacket.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

Weather Resistance


Up against water, the baffle-free Calido does a great job keeping us dry. Against the wind, however, it has many weak points. The lack of a wind guard on the main zipper is a big one. The overall looser fit and lack of adjustability leave lots of areas around the hem, cuffs, and hood for breezes to blow in.

cotopaxi teca calido hooded for women - the baffle-free exterior of the teca calido repels water easily but...
The baffle-free exterior of the Teca Calido repels water easily but its lack of wind guard leaves your chest exposed.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

Weight and Compressibility


The size Small Teca Calido we tested weighs 11.5 ounces, putting it around average weight among our lineup. It stuffs into its own chest pocket and has a carabiner loop for easy clipping. The opening of this pocket is plenty big enough to get the jacket inside, but the pocket ends up slightly overstuffed, requiring plenty of squeezing to get the zipper closed.

cotopaxi teca calido hooded for women - the teca calido can be stuffed into its own chest pocket, though it...
The Teca Calido can be stuffed into its own chest pocket, though it requires some effort to do so.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

Breathability


With such weather-resistant fabric and poofier insulation than most, the Teca isn't a particularly breathable jacket. Because it's reversible, all the pockets are insulated as well, eliminating their ability to add ventilation. The only way to let this puffy jacket breathe is to unzip it.

cotopaxi teca calido hooded for women - the only way to let this thickly puffy jacket breathe is to unzip it.
The only way to let this thickly puffy jacket breathe is to unzip it.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

Should You Buy the Cotopaxi Teca Calido?


The Calido is a non-technical jacket that offers a unique style and a lot of pockets at a fairly affordable cost. If you're after a coat your shoulders can move in, one you can layer a shell over, or a wind resistant model, even the offsetting low cost of the Teca Calido is likely to leave you disappointed.

What Other Insulated Jackets Should You Consider?


The Teca Calido is a thicker puffy jacket that offers the wearer two styles in one, with its reversible nature and unique cut. If you're seeking the versatility of style that this boxy coat provides, no other model that we tested can quite match its vibe. If you're looking for exceptional warmth on a modest budget, the Columbia Heavenly Hoody is the same price but far warmer.

cotopaxi teca calido hooded for women - we like the style of this reversible jacket, though its performance...
We like the style of this reversible jacket, though its performance can't keep up with the many more technical coats we tested.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

Maggie Nichols