For this review of Cotopaxi’s Toliman Wool Hoodie, we sought out WashingtonOutsider, Natalie Lord. The Toliman is made in Portland, Oregon, just 170 miles south of Lord’s home base.
Cotopaxi Toliman
The 20-something spends more time outdoors than most of us even hope for. The talented skier graduated from St. Lawrence University where she was active in the Outing Club and has enjoyed many outdoor adventures from surfing to skiing. Since landing in Washington, she’s explored much of the state’s western region.
She writes:
I pulled the Cotopaxi Toliman hoodie out of the box, put it on, and got in the car for a weekend trip to the Outer Coast of Washington. The trip was a perfect way to get to know my new layer, as I used it on a rainy hike out to Shi Shi Beach in Olympic National Park, and after a cold surf session in the Pacific Ocean.
During the hike out to Shi Shi, I ended up taking off the pullover because I was too warm, hopping over logs and trekking through giant mud pits. Yet once we got out of the rainforest and onto the beach, with wind whipping and a rainstorm headed our way, I quickly put it back on and was comfortable again.
One of my favorite features of this pullover is the hood. Finally, a pullover with a hood that isn’t too small for my head!
While scrambling over rocks and collecting marine debris, the stretchy fabric allowed for flexible movement without the typical restrictions from layering. The Power Wool portion of the pullover did an excellent job wicking my sweat on the hike.
Photo by Beau Gaughran
It really came in handy the next day after my surf session when I threw it on over my bathing suit for the walk back to the cabin. Normally, I freeze during these walks, but this layer used my body heat to my advantage and the hood made a remarkable difference!
Since I had such a great experience with the Toliman pullover out on the coast, I decided to bring it backcountry skiing near Mount Baker for the next weekend adventure.
When traveling in the backcountry, weight is highly stressed factor. The Toliman is a perfect layer to bring because it’s light, packable, and warm.
Growing up skiing in Maine, I’ve been used to the tight synthetic layers. The Toliman pullover is my first wool layer. It manages moisture and breathability perfectly for ski touring.
On this particular outing, it was a ‘blue bird’ sunny day, though with the wind the temperatures remained chilly. Once again, the hood came into great use, providing an extra level of warmth. For the ski down, I decided to keep on the pullover as my outer layer instead of add on an additional puffy. At the end of a long day of skiing, this is the layer I don’t need to take off immediately.
The Toliman Pullover has become my perfect mid-layer for any outdoor excursion.
Photo by Beau Gaughran