Cotopaxi Teca Half-Zip Unisex Review

The Cotopaxi Teca is made of a repurposed polyester taffeta with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish. It has a back vent, and we tested the half-zip version. The jacket has one internal, one kangaroo, and one front flap pocket. It stows into the front pocket and has a loop to clip it to your harness. It weighs five ounces and comes in a slew of colors. The Teca is unisex, though there are men and women's specific sizes.

Value

At $80, this is the cheapest model in our review. When we compare the scores in the price performance chart, we see that there are better models for your dollars. But, if colors and the price point are your thing, we salute you. If you have an extra twenty spot and need a high-performance windbreaker, we recommend the Patagonia Houdini, which is a bit more pricey (not much) and well-worth the extra money.

Performance Comparison

The Teca was outperformed by nearly all of the other models in our review, due largely to its larger fit (the jacket is unisex), and lack of technical features. However, it didn't have any truly low scores, and it if you're looking for a quirky model and don't mind the absence of techy features, it might be for you.

Wind Resistance

The Teca's polyester taffeta fabric is wind resistant enough and keeps out drafts, but reviewers found that it was slightly less resistant than jackets made of ripstop. Plus, because the Teca lacked features like an adjustable hem and hood, it as difficult to lock out the wind while wearing the Teca. We'd recommend the Arc'teryx Squamish or Patagonia Houdini if you need a model that can hold up to higher winds.

Breathability

Because of the larger fit of the Teca, it breathed significantly less efficiently than more streamlined models, like the Black Diamond Alpine Start or Outdoor Research Tantrum. However, this model is the only one in our review that features a back vent. The only drawback with this vent is that it is positioned in the middle of the wearer's back, so if you're wearing a pack, it is rendered virtually useless. Since we tested the half-zip version, the capability of venting with the full front zipper open was not an option.

Durability

The Teca was towards the middle of the fleet when it came to this metric. None of the jackets showed significant signs of wear throughout the three-month testing process, but we were able to identify areas where jackets might suffer in this category. Although the Teca's minimalist feature set (no zip pockets, no drawcords) means that it has fewer moving parts that can break, it has more seams than any other jacket in our test, which can break down over time. If you're looking for a more streamlined, and therefore more durable jacket, we recommend looking at the Patagonia Houdini or Black Diamond Alpine Start.

Weight and Packability

The Teca was not the lightest or the most packable jacket in our review. However, it was not the heaviest or bulkiest either. At five ounces, you can easily throw this in your pack and not notice the weight. The problem that our reviewers had with its packability was 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 open, and the polyester is simply not durable enough to trust hanging your jacket on, especially if it's your only layer. Pieces like the Eddie Bauer Uplift and Patagonia Houdini were both lighter and more packable, as well as having zipper closures and more burly clip loops.

Versatility

Versatility was the Teca's Achilles heel. Because of the zany pocket design of this jacket, with a kangaroo pocket, outer pocket and inner pocket all on its belly, our reviewers felt that it would be difficult to streamline your pocket system. Each pocket is also relatively large, and none of them have a zipper, making stashing small valuable things in the Teca pretty scary. Plus, because the Teca has such a bulky fit, it's difficult to use it for sports where you need a more streamlined fit, like in roped climbing. For more versatility, we recommend the Black Diamond Alpine Start or Rab Windveil.

Water Resistance

Interestingly, although the Teca was relatively low performance, it features a DWR finish, which was lacking from three arguably more performance-focused pieces. The Teca shed water relatively well, but the piece will become saturated after a moderate amount of time in light precip. Also, because it is made from a heavier material, it takes much longer to dry than lighter models like the Patagonia Houdini and Eddie Bauer Uplift.

Best Applications

Because of its non-technical design, the Teca is best used for mellow missions and around-town use.

Conclusion

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