[Review] The Tianjin Down Vest by Cotopaxi

Posted on May 13, 2016

If you live somewhere where there is weather and you don’t have a vest I feel for you. A vest is the most versatile piece of gear and one thing in my closet that gets worn more than anything. The Unisex Tianjin Down Vest by Cotopaxi is no exception to the rule except now you can wear adequate layers and look great doing so.

Most of all, I love the look of the Tianjin Down vest but it is also packed with a lot of great features that make it adaptable to so many different activities. Whether you’re skiing in the dead cold of winter, hiking in the desert in the spring, or walking your dog on a cold fall morning, the Tianjin vest is the perfect layer. Layer it over a sweatshirt, a down layer, or even a lighter long sleeve.

The outer material is a very durable canvas material, so when I’m skiing in the backcountry, I’m not afraid of brushing up against (or hitting) trees and ripping the vest. It’s a polyurethane-backed canvas fabric, which helps with the durability but also makes the vest water resistant. The 600 fill down is a waterproof down, so when you get into the real deep snow, your vest wont get saturated and soggy with water.

I was definitely nervous of the fit of this, mainly because it is a unisex piece. I got my normal size (Women’s Medium/Men’s small) and I don’t know why I was so nervous about it. The snap gussets on the side give more or less room. I find that when I’m really layered underneath it, I keep the snap gussets open. I do have some hips on me though so I can imagine a guy never having to touch the gussets.

Not only is this a very stylish layer, it is functional too! You can wear it commuting during the week, and skiing deep powder on the weekend. I’ve found the canvas material to be extremely durable, while the nylon liner is breathable and soft. The Tianjin Down Vest is something you’ll find yourself wearing year round, and for everything too! Cotopaxi has a bunch of stylish pieces to add to your gear stash so be sure to check them out. If you like style and function, you’ll like the gear that they are creating.