Cotopaxi Privacy Policy: Safeguarding Your Trust on Every Adventure

At Cotopaxi, we’re just as committed to protecting your personal information as we are to creating durable, sustainable outdoor gear. When you browse our website, create an account, place an order, or share details about your outdoor preferences, you’re trusting us with data that matters—and we take that responsibility seriously. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it (only to enhance your adventure experience), how we keep it secure, and the choices you have to control your data. By using the Cotopaxi website (www.cotopaxi.com) or engaging with our services, you agree to the practices outlined below.

1. What Personal Information We Collect

We only gather information that helps us deliver a seamless, personalized experience—no unnecessary data, no hidden tracking. The information we collect falls into two categories: what you share voluntarily, and what we collect automatically.

a. Information You Choose to Share

Account & Order Details: When you create an account or place an order for outdoor gear (e.g., backpacks, tents, jackets), we collect personal identifiers like your full name, email address (the same one you’d use to reach us at [email protected]), phone number, shipping/billing addresses, and payment information (e.g., credit card details). Critical note: We never store full payment data—this is securely processed and stored by our third-party payment partners (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) who comply with global security standards (like PCI DSS) to protect your financial information.
Adventure Preferences: If you share details about your outdoor activities (e.g., “hiking,” “camping,” “backpacking”), gear needs (e.g., “waterproof,” “lightweight”), or fit preferences (e.g., “torso length for backpacks”), we collect this to personalize recommendations (e.g., suggesting a 30L backpack for day hikes) and tailor your shopping experience. You can update or remove these preferences anytime in your account settings.
Communication Data: When you email our team, fill out a contact form, or reach out with questions (about gear care, order status, or trail tips), we collect your name, contact info, and the content of your message to respond thoroughly and track follow-ups. This includes feedback you share about our products—your insights help us improve gear for future adventures.

b. Information Collected Automatically

Browsing & Device Data: When you visit our website, we automatically collect non-identifiable technical data to make your experience smoother, such as your IP address, browser type (e.g., Safari, Chrome), device type (e.g., phone, laptop), operating system, pages you visit (e.g., “waterproof jackets,” “camping tents”), time spent on each page, and how you found us (e.g., a search for “lightweight backpacks” or a social media link). This helps us fix slow-loading pages, highlight popular gear, and ensure our site works well on all devices—even when you’re planning a trip from a remote area.
Cookies & Similar Tools: We use cookies (small, harmless text files stored on your device) and tools like web beacons to:
Keep you logged into your account (so you don’t have to sign in every time you shop for gear).
Save items in your cart (even if you close the tab and come back later to finish buying a tent).
Remember your adventure preferences (e.g., “waterproof gear only”) to avoid retyping them.
Measure how our content performs (e.g., whether a blog post about “backpacking essentials” is helpful for your trips).

You can manage cookie settings in your browser (e.g., block non-essential cookies), but note that disabling certain cookies may limit features—like saving your cart or getting personalized gear recommendations.

2. How We Use Your Personal Information

Every time we use your data, it’s with a clear, adventure-focused goal—never for random or invasive purposes. Here’s how we put your information to work:

Fulfill Your Orders: Verify your identity, process payments securely, coordinate with shipping carriers to deliver your outdoor gear (e.g., a sleeping bag for your upcoming camping trip), and send order confirmations/tracking updates so you know when your gear will arrive.
Personalize Your Adventure Journey: Use your activity preferences, order history, and fit details to recommend gear that fits your needs (e.g., a 4-season tent if you mentioned winter camping). We also tailor website content—like showing you “new lightweight backpacks” if you previously bought a hiking jacket.
Answer Your Questions & Fix Issues: Use your communication data to respond to gear inquiries (e.g., “Is this jacket warm enough for sub-zero temps?”), help with returns (e.g., “How do I send back a backpack that’s too big?”), or resolve problems (e.g., a missing tent pole).
Improve Our Outdoor Gear: Analyze browsing and feedback data to make better products—for example, if many users ask for “more durable hiking boot soles,” we’ll use that to develop sturdier options. We also use technical data to fix website issues (like a broken product page for our best-selling waterproof jacket).
Share Relevant Updates: Send essential info (e.g., “Your order is delayed due to a shipping carrier issue in mountain regions”) or optional marketing messages (e.g., “20% off camping gear—perfect for your summer trip!”) only if you opted in to receive promotions. You can unsubscribe from marketing emails anytime via the “unsubscribe” link in the email or your account settings.
Keep You & Our Brand Safe: Use data to detect fraud (e.g., unusual payment activity on your account when ordering gear) or unauthorized access, and ensure our website complies with outdoor industry regulations (like product safety standards for camping equipment).

3. How We Protect Your Personal Information

We protect your data with the same rigor we use to test our outdoor gear—no shortcuts, no compromises. Here’s what we do to keep your information safe:

Encrypted Storage: Your account details, shipping addresses, and non-payment personal data are stored on encrypted servers with restricted access. Only authorized Cotopaxi team members (who complete regular data security training) can access this info—and only to process orders or help you with gear questions.
Secure Payment Processing: As mentioned, we never store full credit card numbers. Our payment partners use end-to-end encryption to protect your financial data during transmission, so your info stays private between you and the processor—even when you’re buying gear from a public Wi-Fi spot.
Regular Security Checks: We run frequent security audits on our website and servers to spot and fix vulnerabilities (like potential hacks or data leaks). We also update our security tools regularly to keep up with new threats—important for protecting your data when you’re planning adventures from different locations.
Limited Data Retention: We keep your information only as long as we need it—for example, we’ll store your order history for 3 years (for warranty claims and tax purposes) but delete your adventure preferences if you haven’t used your account in 12 months. When we no longer need your data, we securely delete or anonymize it (so it can’t be linked back to you).

4. Who We Share Your Personal Information With

We never sell, rent, or trade your data to third parties—especially not for random marketing. The only partners we share your info with are trusted teams that help us deliver your outdoor gear and enhance your experience, and they’re legally required to protect your data:

Payment Processors: Companies like Stripe or PayPal that handle your payment securely (we share only the info needed to process the transaction, like your billing address).
Shipping Carriers: Providers like FedEx, UPS, or USPS that deliver your gear (we share your name and shipping address—nothing more).
Email Service Providers: Tools like Mailchimp that send order updates or marketing emails (only if you opted in—they can’t use your data for their own purposes).
Analytics Tools: Platforms like Google Analytics that help us improve our website (they collect non-identifiable data, like how many people visited our “backpacking gear” page).
Legal Authorities: We’ll share data only if required by law (e.g., a court order) or to protect our rights, your safety, or the public (e.g., investigating fraud related to gear orders).

5. Your Rights Over Your Personal Information

You’re in control of your data—just like you’re in control of your outdoor adventures. Here are the rights you can exercise anytime by emailing us at [email protected]:

Access Your Data: Request a copy of all the personal information we hold about you (e.g., your order history, adventure preferences).
Correct Mistakes: Update inaccurate info (e.g., a wrong shipping address for your next gear order or outdated torso length for backpacks).
Delete Your Data: Ask us to erase your account and personal data (we’ll keep only what we’re legally required to, like order records for warranty claims).
Opt Out of Marketing: Unsubscribe from promotional emails (you can also do this via the “unsubscribe” link in any marketing email).
Restrict Processing: Ask us to stop using your data for certain purposes (e.g., “Don’t use my adventure preferences for recommendations anymore”).
Port Your Data: Request a copy of your data in a simple format (e.g., a CSV file) to use with another service (though we hope you’ll stay with Cotopaxi for your outdoor gear needs!).

To process your request, we may ask you to verify your identity (e.g., “What’s the email linked to your account?”) to keep your data safe. We’ll respond to all requests within 30 days—faster if it’s urgent (e.g., fixing a wrong shipping address before your gear ships).

6. Children’s Privacy

Our outdoor gear is designed for adults and teens, and our website isn’t intended for kids under 13. We never knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn we have data from a child under 13, we’ll delete it immediately and notify a parent/guardian if possible.

7. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy occasionally—for example, if new data privacy laws require us to adjust how we handle info, or if we add a new feature (like a “gear wishlist” that collects preferences). When we update it:

We’ll change the “Last Updated” date at the top of the page.
We’ll post the new policy on our website (linked in the footer).
We’ll email registered users if the changes are big (e.g., “We’re now collecting gear fit data—here’s how we’ll use it”).

We recommend checking this policy every few months to stay in the loop—especially before planning a big adventure where you might order new gear. Your continued use of our website after updates means you agree to the new terms.

8. How to Contact Us

If you have questions about your data (e.g., “What adventure preferences do you have for me?”), want to exercise your rights, or have concerns about privacy, email our dedicated team at:

Email: [email protected]
Subject Line: “Privacy Policy Inquiry”

We’ll respond within 24–48 business hours (Monday–Friday) and make sure you get clear, honest answers—no jargon, just like our gear instructions.

Thank you for trusting Cotopaxi with your outdoor adventures and your data. We’re honored to be part of your journey—and we’ll always protect both with care.