First off, as a proud Cotopaxi Local Ambassador for the PNW, I’m grateful to be able to test and review Cotopaxi’s awesome and innovative gear.  I’ve recently been testing the performance of  the Paray Lightweight Jacket during runs and hikes.

From city street runs, mountainous trail runs or backcountry hikes, the Paray appears wherever wind blows! I'm always happy to have this jacket on me to whip out whenever brisk breezes blow. It really is the jacket for all year long, especially here in Seattle. It is now my goto jacket for when there is dense fog, light rain, and chilly mornings. I layer it with a simple synthetic base layer due to it’s rockin’ athletic fit that provides unrestricted mobility. Also, because of it’s DWR-finished 20D mini-repstop nylon, it is surprisingly durable for its light construction. 

​I tested the jacket on a several 5-10 mile runs with and with light rain as well as half day hikes with elevation change.  When hiking, I didn't even notice it when stowed in my pack or clipped to my backpack, but once I felt a windy chill, this jacket really came in handy. I can' t wait to take it alpine hiking this summer and on windy trail runs. As far as rain is concerned, it does great in light showers, but I wouldn't recommend it for heavy rains or intense snowfall.

I’m beyond honored to announce that I’m now a Cotopaxi Local Ambassador for the Pacific Northwest. For those of you who are not familiar with Cotopaxi, get ready to be excited, inspired and fascinated by this incredible company that creates high-end, innovative outdoor products and experiences. Cotopaxi funds solutions that address the most persistent needs of those living in extreme poverty. Giving is core to their model. Cotopaxi strives to lift humanity in all they do and believe in 'Gear For Good'. 

​Cotopaxi has made a commitment to creating positive social impact by focusing their efforts on global poverty alleviation. Checkout their partner organizations. Cotopaxi gear is only sold directly from their website, which helps deliver exceptionally designed and fairly manufactured gear without the traditional retail markups. They make their gear with ethics in mind, focusing their efforts on global poverty alleviation & give targeted grants to advance health, education, and livelihoods initiatives around the world. As the Local Ambassador for the Pacific Northwest, I will be sharing updates, wonderful news and events through my blog and social media channels. (Instagram, Google +, Facebook, Twitter)

As an avid outdoor enthusiast and adventurer, my personal experience with Cotopaxi products has been fantastic! The quality is top notch, the designs are forward-thinking and the durability is superb! I will be writing reviews and sharing my feedback on many different products in upcoming posts and via my blog and social media channels. The Cotopaxi designers previously worked at companies such as Nike, Columbia, Marmot, Dakine, The North Face, Black Diamond and Gregory. Because of their direct-to-consumer model, it allows them to take that additional margin, which would normally go to a retailer, and put it back into product. Cotopaxi uses the finest factories in the world, the highest quality materials available, and some of the most award-winning designers from the outdoor industry.