Our Mission

We believe the products that get us exploring can make a positive impact in other people’s lives. That’s why we create sustainably designed outdoor gear that fuels both adventure and global change, by dedicating a percentage of our revenues to nonprofits working to improve the human condition.

Gear For Good™

Gear For Good®

Our promise is to make durable gear in the most ethically sustainable way possible and to use our influence to develop and uplift communities. In short, make products that last — and have a lasting impact.

  • Fighting Poverty
  • Ethical Sustainability
  • B Corp
Develop and Uplift

Develop and Uplift

We concentrate our efforts to empower communities in the Americas, focusing on healthcare, education, and livelihood. 1% of our revenues goes to the Cotopaxi Foundation, which distributes grants to humanitarian organizations, including the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Mercy Corps, and United to Beat Malaria. Double-blind studies and proven methodologies help us to ensure that our giving is effective.

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Ethical Sustainability

Ethical Sustainability

As a certified carbon neutral company, we think holistically about both environmental and social sustainability. We know that our biggest negative impacts on society occur within our supply chain and act accordingly. We strive to work with factories that treat people right, and we're committed to fixing problems in our supply chain when they occur.

In addition to our focus on ethical manufacturing, we go the extra mile to source non-virgin and alternative fabrics that are better for the environment. Our goal is to use repurposed, recycled, or otherwise responsible materials for all our products by 2025. We've launched repairs and resale options to extend the usable life of our products.

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B Corp Certification

B Corp Certification

As a certified B Corporation, we use the power of business for social, environmental, and economic good. When you support B Corps, you take part in a global initiative to do business in a better way.

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Our Story

Our founder Davis Smith witnessed first-hand the glaring hardship that stems from unequal access to opportunity while growing up throughout Latin America. He has since dedicated himself to developing business models that use their influence to address the problems he first witnessed as a child.

Listen to How I Built This Interview
  • The Mountain
  • Why Llamas?
The Mountain

The Mountain

One of the world's highest active volcanoes, Cotopaxi (pronounced koh-toh-PAHK-see) is a mountain in Ecuador sacred to native Quechuans. Growing up in its shadow, the volcano loomed large in Davis's life—even his school was named for it—and its glacial streams, wild llamas, and countless trails instilled the spirit of adventure and gratitude that would inspire his entrepreneurship. So when Davis needed a name to best represent his outdoor company’s aspirations, only one mountain came to mind.

Our Work in Ecuador
Why the Llama?

Why the Llama?

Ah, llamas. These headstrong herd animals live in some of the most rugged regions of the Andes. They’re hardy, sociable, fiercely loyal, curious, and eccentric—kinda like us.

Gear For Good™

We’re optimistic about the future, and we believe we can help solve extreme poverty in our lifetimes. We will continue to face challenges, but we promise to be open about our efforts, and we hope you’ll join us in our mission to do business in a better way. Most of all, we hope you’ll make every effort to explore the world, and to leave it a little better than you found it.

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