Why we chose it: Waterproof chest panel, innovative fabrics, five zipped pockets.

The Cortazu brand was created in 2017 by a group of skiers based in Amsterdam. Now delivering to 60 countries, their mission is to design innovative outdoor clothing that contributes towards the ‘re-greening’ of our planet.

As its name would suggest, the Mid Layer Recycled is an insulated jacket made from 100% recycled materials. The high performance insulation and many practical features make it a reliable warm layer for all kinds of adventures. 

Who Is The Mid Layer Recycled For? 

If you want a toasty jacket for autumn or winter that can cope with a fair bit of moisture ingress, then you will be keen on the Mid Layer Recycled. It would make a perfect stand alone insulating layer for a range of hiking or climbing activities, and can be paired with a hard shell for the worst of conditions.

“The fill is constructed from recycled plastic bottles.”

The water resistant and windproof fabrics mean that rain showers will not spell disaster, and you can also sweat into the synthetic insulation without killing all of its loft. The plentiful pockets and packable design make it practical for everyday usage and backpacking.  

Materials and Construction:

The Mid Layer Recycled is made from 100 % recycled materials. A lightweight 20 denier polyester serves as the main face fabric and this is treated with a DWR coating to repel moisture. There’s also a waterproof panel over the shoulders to make it more resilient against a bit of soaking.

Combined with the synthetic insulation, it means that you won’t need to throw on a hard shell at the first hint of rain or spindrift. The insulation itself is constructed from recycled plastic bottles. Impressively, its insulating properties are, according to Cortazu, comparable to 700 fill power down. It certainly has the same feel as that kind of fill. 

Features:

The Mid Layer Recycled is designed with a zip-in system that enables it to be easily paired with the Cortazu Mountain Hard Shell. We’ve found it can be paired with some non-Cortazu jackets too – but it’s not a universal thing. 

The jacket is cut with a slightly athletic fit but there’s still room for a fairly thick layer underneath – we found a light fleece fitted nicely with it. Another nice touch is the collar which is very soft to prevent chafing under your chin.

It also features two large zipped hand-warmer pockets, a chest pocket, and two more large inside pockets that will fit winter gloves or even a map. Having so many pockets makes it very practical for everyday usage, when you might not want to carry a rucksack to store your things. Having inside pockets is also welcome in winter, to prevent the cold from eating into your phone or GPS batteries.