COTOPAXI LIFESTYLE BACKPACKS S/S 2025 PREVIEW

Retail Buyers Guide: Lifestyle Backbacks S/S 2025 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Cotopaxi
Interviewee: Jürgen Henssen – Sales Manager

What are the main current trends in the lifestyle backpack market?
The market for lifestyle backpacks has developed considerably in recent years and is characterized by various trends. Sustainability: More and more consumers are placing importance on environmentally friendly materials and sustainable production methods. Backpacks made from recycled materials or biodegradable fabrics are gaining in popularity. Functionality and versatility: Backpacks are increasingly being designed to be multifunctional in order to meet different needs. Models with special compartments for laptops, tablets or other electronic devices are particularly popular.
Minimalist design: Simple, elegant designs without superfluous details are the trend. Many consumers prefer backpacks that look good in both every day and professional environments. Personalization: Consumers are looking for ways to customize their backpacks. This can be done through different colors, patterns or the option of attaching accessories. Comfort and ergonomics: Backpacks that offer an ergonomic fit and distribute weight evenly are particularly important for everyday use, especially for longer periods of carrying. Urban style: There is a strong trend towards urban, fashionable backpacks that are both functional and stylish. Brands that cater to this style have a competitive advantage. Sporting influences: Many lifestyle backpacks incorporate design elements from sportswear in terms of both functionality and look.
Color variety and patterns: While neutral colors are still popular, many brands are also using eye-catching colors and patterns to appeal to younger target groups. These trends show that the lifestyle backpack market is dynamic and diverse, with consumers placing increasing emphasis on functionality, style and sustainability.

What were your best sellers in SS24?
From the DelDia collection, the “Batac” models in 16L and 24L. As well as the “Chiquillo” model in 26 and 30L. and the Allpa Travel backpack in the 35L size.

How are you segmenting your SS25 lifestyle backpack collection and what are the price points?
The Cotopaxi backpack collection has the following segmentation:
Allpa Travel Collection: Our bestselling durable + versatile packs designed with travel-savvy features. Price points RRP 170,00€ – 320,00€ Cumbre Collection: Made with technical features, ample organization, and recycled materials for the trail and beyond. Price points RRP 110,00€ – 300,00€ CadaDIA Collection: Made with recycled materials + thoughtful storage for every day use. Price points RRP 90,00€ – 180,00€ DelDia Collection: ONE-OF-A-KIND bags made from deadstock fabric that might have otherwise ended up in the landfill. Price points RRP 65,00€ – 300,00€ Each Del Día pack is made from 100% repurposed materials that might have ended up in the landfill, which means it’s sustainably minded and totally unique.

Factory: This product is produced in the Philippines by our principal pack maker—a factory committed to fair labor and environmentally sound practices. Known for producing best-in-class technical items like the Allpa, this factory also partners with us in reducing fabric waste through our repurposed Del Día Collection. Learn more about this factory.

The Process: Each pack in our Del Día Collection is made with repurposed materials that might have ended up in the landfill. Sewers enjoy getting creative with how they assemble these high-quality leftover fabrics. From fabric to thread, no two Del Día packs are alike.

Baked into individual images? At the factory in the Philippines, sewers select rolls of remnant fabric. Designers and sewers creatively mix and match remnant fabrics, zippers, buckles, and thread. The result? Waste-reducing, one-of-a-kind bags for thoughtful adventurers.

Made With (Re)Purpose
Everything in our (Re)Purpose™ Collection is made with fabric left over from other companies’ production runs. By using this high-quality, remnant fabric, these products help keep fabric out of the landfill.

How It Started: In 2015, our first pack designer, CJ Whittaker, heard about an opportunity to give remnant fabric a second life. CJ was excited that by using this remnant fabric, sewers would get more creative control over their final product, helping customers feel more connected to the people who actually created their packs. So, CJ collaborated with a factory in the Bataan province of the Philippines—the same factory we still partner with today—to create a new and innovative line of one-of-a-kind packs that help keep good material out of landfills.

Which style(s) do you expect to grow the most in SS25?
In general, we expect the models in the DelDia collection to continue to grow, as the USP of this collection remains unique. We also see further growth potential in the Allpa Travel collection. Traveling has become “trendy” again and especially for short trips the backpacks from the Allpa collection are the ideal companion.

What are the most important technical features in your SS25 lifestyle backpack collection?
Cotopaxi does not (yet) offer the extreme technical features of backpacks – more those for everyday use.

What materials are you using in your SS25 collection?
Allpa Travel Collction: TPU-coated 1000D polyester, Lighter weight yet durable 840D ballistic nylon paneling Crumbre Collection: 210D Nylon Ripstop / 420D Recycled Nylon CadaDia Collection: 100% recycled 840D nylon with TPU coating + 100% recycled 630D nylon Lining: 100% ripstop polyester / other models: Main: 100% recycled polyester oxford Lining: 100% recycled polyester DelDia Collection: 100% deadstock nylon & polyester

What silhouettes are you featuring in your SS25 collection? Any construction techniques you’d like to highlight?
In addition to the DelDia styles, the new “CRUMBRE Collection” is moving to the front in the S25 season. A line of backpacks that is equipped with the technical features of a hiking backpack but is also suitable for afterward

What colours and prints are you featuring in your SS25 collection?
S25 COLOR CONTNUES TO BUILD UPON OUR FOUNDATIONAL, SEASON SPANNING COLOR DIRECTION. MILD TO WILD REMAINS CRUCIAL THE GOAL OF LESS, BUT PURPOSFULL, STORIES FOR THE SEASON IS TO PROVIDE A STRONG SENSE OF FUNK, WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING THE THREAD OF F24 CORE, NEUTRAL AND SOLID COLORS THROUGH S25. TOGETHER WE UTILIZE THE NEWNESS DELIBERATELY AND FILL IN THE GAPS WITH CONTINUING COMMERCIALITY. WE MAINTAIN THE COTOPAXI FEEL BY UTILIZING UNIQUE COLORS THAT ARE INSPIRED BY NATURE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ENERGETIC AND SPIRITED AND USED IN COMBINATION WITH WILD, UNEXPECTED POPS.

What efforts are you implementing towards sustainability?
In 2014, we set out to build an outdoor gear company that would serve as a force for good. Today, drawing on best practices from the outdoor industry and sustainable development sector, we build innovative adventure travel gear that empowers people to see the world and make it better. Every year, we dedicate 1% of our revenue to the Cotopaxi Foundation. Launched in 2019, the Foundation awards grants to nonprofits with proven track records of alleviating poverty through health, education, and livelihood, with a focus in Latin America. When it comes to products, we’re constantly striving to minimize our footprint and explore new sustainably minded materials. Our DelDia Collection is crafted from leftover deadstock fabric, which helps keep good fabric out of the landfill. We only use responsibly sourced down. And we make most of our fleece, activewear, and other apparel from recycled materials. To meet the highest standards of supply chain transparency, we share our factories publicly and conduct ongoing due diligence and collaborative initiatives to ensure workers are treated fairly. We also award grants to our major factories to support worker-led programs like organic gardens, university scholarships, and employee carpooling. As part of our Net Zero commitment, we’ve also set ambitious carbon footprint reduction goals. By 2030, we are committed to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42% below 2022 levels. And by 2045, we will reduce our absolute scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 90% below 2022 levels. To fully hold ourselves accountable, we are a certified B Corporation, which means every aspect of our company’s operations is measured to ensure we have a net positive contribution to society. As a B Corp, we extend our mission-first approach across areas like employee experience, community, and governance. We look forward to doing more good together. See the world. Make it better. Lasting gear, lasting impact. Our Gear for Good ® promise is to make durable gear as sustainably and ethically as possible. lt’s also our commitment to donate at least 1% of our revenue to help communities experiencing poverty,

OUR PURPOSE “WE MOVE PEOPLE TO DO GOOD” B Corp Certified We are part of the B Corp community, a group of companies focused on using business as a force for social, environmental, and economic good.

More at cotopaxi.com/bcorp 1% for the Planet® Member We’re proud to be a member of 1% for the Planet, a global collective of companies and individuals committed to donating 1% of sales to causes that support a healthier planet for all. Guaranteed For Good™ Our gear should last a lifetime of adventures. if there’s a problem with a customer’s gear, we’ll happily repair it, replace it, or offer trade-in rewards.

What marketing stories do you have in your SS25 collection?
S25 Marketing Strategy DIVERSIFY CATEGORY REVENUE By strategically supporting emerging programs (models like Coraje, Yermo, Impermeo) alongside key programs (Allpa, Del Dia, Capa,etc.) ESTABLISH OURSELVES AS A TECHNICAL PLAYER Through use case specificity in authentically Cotopaxi ways (style forward, technically competent, approachable)

H1 2025 Marketing Calendar
-Feb.
Hero Campaign – Travel Bags Secondary Campaign – Insulation Product Focus – 1.Allpa Duffles + Rollers 2.Insulation: Fuego + Capa / Fleece Abrazo, Amado, Envo
-Mar.
Hero Campaign – Outdoor Active: Rain + Wind Secondary Campaign – Travel Bags Product Focus – 1.Rain: Impermeo, Ciel 2.Fleece/Softshell: Yermo 3.Insulation: Capa. Hybrid Capa
-Apr.
Hero Campaign – Travel Apparel + Buttons sub-story Secondary Campaign – Travel Bags Product Focus – 1.Travel Apparel: Cambio, Trevida 2.Pants: Coraje, Ambato 3.DelDia Packing Cubes 4.Viaje Weekender 5.CadaDia Packs
-May
Hero Campaign – Outdoor Active: Hot Weather Hike + Buttons sub story Secondary Campaign – Travel Bags Product Focus – 1.Hike Apparel: Cambio, Trevida 2.Hike Packs: Arenal, Eiqui, Lagos 3.Wind Jackes: Vuelta 4.Shorts: Persisto, Coraje 5.Tee’s
-Jun
Hero Campaign – Outdoor Active: Sun + Water Secondary Campaign – Outdoor Hot Weather Hike Product Focus – 1.Sun: Shorts Brinco, Tolima dress 2.Accessories: Sun Hats 3.Cada Dia: HipBags – Sling Bags 4.Allpa: Gear Hauler
Jul.
Hero Campaign – Back to School Secondary Campaign – Outdoor Active: Sun + Water Product Focus – 1.Back to School: Chiquillo, Mente, Tasra, Torre 2.Logo / Graphic wear In addition to the campaigns/activities mentioned above, which are played centrally on the social media channels, there are of course also customer-specific campaigns at the respective point of sale. One example is the campaign from last year, which we organized at ENGELHORN SPORTS in Mannheim.

Key Products:

Batac 24L – DelDia:
Our best-selling Batac 24L Backpack is a streamlined pack for fast-and-light daytrips, hikes, and other excursions. It’s unstructured for easy loading and features a main zippered compartment along with a front vertical-zip pocket and two mesh water bottle pockets. Available in two sizes; the 24L is the b Internal sleeve divider & hanging pocket for organization Front zippered pocket with quick-access phone or camera sleeve Ultralight mesh shoulder straps Adjustable sternum strap Dual mesh side pockets 15″ padded laptop sleeve One-of-a-kind Del Día color

100% deadstock nylon & polyester
24L (1465cu in)
20 x 11 x 7in (51 x 28 x 18cm)
17oz (482g)
Batac 24L_Del Dia_f

Chiqullo 30L – DelDia:
When the school year starts you need a pack that can survive being stuffed in a locker, used as a pillow in the park, and dragged onto the bus. Designed with durable recycled fabrics, a padded laptop/tablet sleeve, and zippered accessory pockets for organization, the Chiquillo can handle all that and more. Also available in 26L and Cada Día. Dual water bottle pockets Interior organizers 16″ padded laptop sleeve Front zippered pocket with key clip Webbing attachment loops Also available in 26L One-of-a-kind Del Día colors

100% deadstock nylon & polyester
30L (1830cu in)
20 x 11 x 7in (50 x 28 x 18cm)
1lb 13oz (830g)
Chiquillo 30L Backpack Del Dia_F

Allpa Travel BackPack 35L – DelDia:
A rugged pack built for adventure travel, our bestselling Allpa 35L Travel Pack is ready to explore, from week-long trips abroad to small town getaways. This lightweight yet durable pack is perfectly sized for carry-on convenience, loaded with features, and tough enough to last a lifetime of adventures. Identical to our standard Allpa 35L Pack in features and function, this Del Día version uses high-quality remnant fabrics, making each pack one-of-a-kind. Carry-on compatible 35L capacity (most airlines) Weight-distributing, low-profile harness system for a comfortable carry Suitcase-style, full-wrap zipper opening on main compartment makes organization easy Stay organized with 2 internal mesh compartments: 1 large compartment on right side, 1 subdivided compartment on left Padded laptop & tablet sleeve Shortcut zipper to main compartment for easy access Top zippered pocket to store essentials or a smaller bag, like our Allpa X Hip Pack Security anti-theft YKK zippers Carabiner lash loops for clipping on extra gear Tuck-away straps during transit/storage 4 reinforced grab handles Included rain cover Removable waist belt for transit/storage One-of-a-kind Del Día colors

35L (2135 cu in)
22 x 12 x 10 in (56 x 30 x 25cm)
3lb 2oz (1417g)
100% remnant nylon and polyester
Del Dia 35L Allpa pack