Cotopaxi Teca Half-Zip Unisex Review

The unisex Cotopaxi Teca is a pull-over, half-zip windbreaker made of repurposed polyester with a DWR finish. It features double kangaroo pockets and a wide array of bold colors and patterns.

Performance Comparison

Wind Resistance

The Teca's repurposed polyester taffeta fabric is reasonably wind resistant and keeps out most drafts. However, it is slightly less wind resistant than a lot of the other jackets we tested. Plus, because the Teca lacks certain helpful features like an adjustable hood volume or cinching hem, it is difficult to shut out a stiff wind. But for low breezes that are unlikely to chill you too much, the Teca does a decent job.

Breathability

Because of the polyester fabric of the Teca, it breathes significantly less effectively than many competitors' nylon or proprietary blends of fabrics. To combat this, the Teca has a baggy fit and lacks a bottom hem cinch, allowing the breeze to travel right up inside and evaporate any sweat you may accumulate. It also is one of just a handful of models we tested with a back vent. The only drawback to this vent is that it is positioned in the middle of the wearer's back, so if you're wearing a pack, it is completely covered and not venting at all. If you're not wearing a pack, the hood drapes across the top of the vent, limiting its usability a bit. And since we tested the half-zip version, the ability to vent the jacket by opening the front zipper is limited.

Weight and Packability

The Teca is one of the lighter and more packable jackets in our review. At 4.1 ounces, you can easily throw this in your pack and not notice the weight. The problem that our reviewers have with its packability is its Velcro closure system and polyester harness clip loop. Both of these systems are prone to failure, as the Velcro can get snagged on a branch and pop open, and the polyester loop is not sturdy enough to trust hanging your jacket on — especially if it's your only layer.

Versatility

Versatility is not an outstanding metric for the Teca. It has an odd triple-pocket design that features a kangaroo pocket, outer pocket, and inner pocket stacked on top of each other, all on your belly. This is a bit awkward if you fill every pocket, and if you need to clip something around your waist (like a backpack hip belt or climbing harness), you can forget about using any of the pockets altogether. Additionally, each pocket is quite large, yet none of them have a zipper, making stashing small valuables in the Teca a bit of a gamble. And, because the Teca has such a relaxed, loose fit, it's difficult to use it for sports like roped climbing or cycling where you need a more streamlined design.

Water Resistance

Like many of the more technical windbreakers we reviewed, the Teca features a durable water repellant (DWR) treatment, which helps it repel light precipitation. Despite this coating, the Teca doesn't impress us with its water resistance. Though it beads water at first, it becomes quite saturated after a moderate amount of time in light precipitation. Also, because it is made from a thicker material, it takes a bit longer to dry than many of the lighter models.

Value

The Teca is one of the cheapest models in our review. This price point comes with fewer technical features and not the best performance. But if vibrant colors and bold designs are for you, this windbreaker will give you some uniquely stylish coverage.

Conclusion

The Teca is a zany and flashy windbreaker that has considerably fewer performance features than other jackets in our review. However, if you're in love with the color schemes and the price and you don't need a zippered pocket to keep your valuables in, then the Teca might be the one.