Skip to main content

Cotopaxi: Ethically Awesome Daypacks

Cotopaxi isn’t your average outdoor retailer: it is a certified B Corporation, meaning Cotopaxi “meets rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.” Cotopaxi believes that through travel and adventure, we all grow and become interconnected. It’s this love of the world as a whole that drives Cotopaxi to invest in it. And this investment takes of the form of  quality-made, stylish equipment, that also ensures quality of life for Cotopaxi employees. Their goods help you, the consumer, to get out and connect with the world–even the people who made your bag.

Most, if not all, Cotopaxi products are made elsewhere in the world, despite being a Delaware Public Benefit Company (PBC)–and that’s deliberate. As a PBC, Cotopaxi is designated, rather uniquely, as a for-profit company that “…is intended to produce public benefits and to operate in a responsible and sustainable manner.” The founders clearly take this mandate to heart.

Recommended Videos

They wanted find ways to truly help solve major global problems like healthcare, education, and economic growth. They found one way to do this is to invigorate foreign communities by bringing in Cotopaxi opportunities. It’s a very deliberate, well-researched decision to outsource. The company will only use factories that have been audited for health and safety and that have also agreed to health and safety concessions. But Cotopaxi takes it a step further. Not only does Cotopaxi personally inspect any proposed factory, but it also hires local journalists to interview employees to get the real skinny on working conditions. This is done partly to ensure their products are ethically made and are actually benefiting communities. But, a lot of it has to do with wanting to forge real, positive relationships with their employees.

Take their Luzon Del Día daypack. The factory behind these brightly colored, repurposed nylon backpacks is located in, you guessed it, Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines. The bag itself is already awesome: it’s easy to pack, the straps are breathable mesh, and there’s an internal hydration sleeve. But that’s not what makes it amazing. What does make it amazing is that each employee of the Luzon factory has complete color design control over the bags he or she makes. Not only does this freedom make your bag truly one-of-a-kind, but it forms a connection between you and the person who created it–you know, that whole interconnectivity thing. Plus, it means that these employees are given the freedom to be creative craftsman rather than just sewing-machine drones. All this functionality, creativity, interconnectivity, and economic sustainability, all for the low price of $49.95.

Elizabeth Dahl
Elizabeth Dahl is a southern girl in the heart of Los Angeles who lived far too long before learning what an incredible food…
Topics
These Xero Shoes saved space in my travel bag—and strengthened my feet
Three pairs of Xero Shoes best suited for travelers
A man wearing Xero shoes while standing on a mossy rock

Zero-drop minimalist footwear was once considered a niche specialty, but has gained popularity among enthusiasts of foot health and natural movement. And I'm one of their biggest fans -- as a full-time traveler, their packability and ability to increase foot strength is a win-win on the road. I've crafted a Xero Shoes review guide based on three pairs I've traveled with, so you can decide if any are worthy of your suitcase.

Why Xero Shoes? They've been in business for over 15 years, have engineered more than 50 unique pairs of shoes, and offer a whopping 5,000-mile sole warranty. In short, they've been in the barefoot game for a while, and balance reliable quality with innovation nicely.

Read more
Gear up dad’s game: The best golf gifts for Father’s Day this year
Got a golf dad? No problem! Score big with one of these golfing gifts
Man holding a golf club

This year, Father's Day falls on June 15, so mark your calendars and start planning your Father's Day gifts! Don't know what to give your golf-loving dad? No problem. We've compiled some of our top golfing gear for the past year, and they might just be a real hit for your golf-loving dad.

Here are a few of our favorite ideas for the golf-loving dad that might just be a real hit. These items are a compilation of some of our top golfing gear for the past year.
Bushnell Tour Hybrid

Read more
This golf brand is breaking into pickleball with high-performance paddles
This golf brand is dipping their toes into pickleball gear
PXG XP1 pickleball paddle

With about 50 million adults in the United States playing pickleball last year, it's been the fastest-growing sport in the United States for the past four years. Brands are starting to take notice. Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG) is well known for its golf equipment, but they are officially breaking into the pickleball market with a series of pickleball paddles, namely with the PXG XP1 and the XP2. Nearly one-third of golfers also play pickleball, so this crossover release has everyone excited.

In the market for a new pickleball paddle? Both the XP1 and the XP2 paddles will feature a polyurethane honeycomb core with 8mm cells for optimal energy transfer and vibration dampening. This will hypothetically make your shots more precise and powerful. On the outside, the hitting surface is made from 3K woven carbon fiber for high tensile strength and lightweight maneuverability. This carbon fiber finish improves ball grip so you'll be able to perform better spins and maintain directional control during rallies. Lastly, these paddles are made with aerodynamics in mind.

Read more