£99.95
Who says a climbing pack can't have a bit of flair about it? The Tarak might boast some snazzy retro-inspired looks, but it's also a superb technical mountain pack. Designed for multi-pitch lead climbing and back-country skiing, it’s got loads of lash points to attach your gear, plus an unusually fuss-free system for carrying ice tools. Add a comfy harness, a removable waistbelt and a hydration sleeve, and you've got a streamlined, lightweight pack that'll see you through long days on the mountain. The Tarak is part of Cotopaxi's Del Día range, meaning it's made from repurposed bits of fabric that might otherwise have gone to landfill. Every single pattern is unique, so you’ll never come across another pack quite like yours.
The Del Día line from Cotopaxi is a win-win kind of thing. It keeps perfectly good performance fabrics out of landfill, lets garment workers indulge in a bit of creativity, and means that each Del Día product you buy is one-of-a-kind.
So how does it work? Well, Cotopaxi realised that loads of other companies were chucking away odds and ends of remnant material from their own manufacturing runs. So they bought up all these leftovers and the folk at their factory in the Philippines started playing mix-and-match with the repurposed fabric – working up Cotopaxi's fully featured packs and jackets in whatever different colourways they fancied. The only rule is that they can’t use the same colour scheme twice.
The result is that no two products will ever be alike, making each one vibrantly and uniquely yours.
Cotopaxi’s tagline is ‘gear for good’, and before you roll your eyes at yet another outdoor brand making lofty claims about their eco credentials, these guys really do walk the walk. They’re certified climate neutral, with rigorous ethical manufacturing standards and even a grants scheme that supports organisations fighting global poverty.
They also prioritise the use of recycled and reclaimed materials, which includes some imaginative upcycling – like their ‘Del Día’ range made from repurposed fabrics. Other product lines make use of leftover fabrics discarded by other manufacturers. As well as reducing landfill waste, this also means that the vibrant patchwork-style colourways of many Cotopaxi garments and packs are totally unique.
And that’s the thing about Cotopaxi. Their kit doesn’t just tick the good-guy boxes, it also looks great too – with a retro-inspired aesthetic that channels the best bits of the 80s. Whether it’s a daypack, a bum bag, a windbreaker or a zip-up fleece, their range is built to last and stacked with well-thought-out features for conscientious adventure travellers.