Patagonia has long been at the forefront of delivering high-quality, no nonsense outdoor gear, and every time we visit their booth at Outdoor Retailer, we come away wishing we could take all of it home with us. This summer was no exception as new shells and insulation layers were on display, ready to be shipped out to stores in the coming months.
New this year and the big headline front-and-center at the Patagonia booth was the M10 Jacket. Patagonia says this sleek-looking shell is the lightest 3-layer waterproof/breathable hard shell they’ve ever built. Made for the minimalist performer in all of us, it has become a favorite among athlete testers who’ve worn it rock climbing in the unforgiving high-alpine. Features include breathable nylon ripstop fabric with a Deluge DWR finish, watertight, coated zipper with Deluge DWR finish, and a single-pull, adjustable helmet-compatible hood with laminated visor. The jacket also stuffs into its own chest pocket for easy stow-and-go.
The other jacket that jumped out at me is the Patagonia Das Parka. They say it’s the warmest insulated jacket they make, as it’s filled with high-loft 120-g PrimaLoft® Synergy insulation throughout, with added PrimaLoft® One insulation in core areas. A lightweight, PU-coated nylon ripstop shell for water resistance and windproof qualites round out the package. Other features include a helmet-compatible hood with visor that has a single-pull drawcord to adjust overall volume and peripheral vision, full-length, 2-way zipper with internal, insulated wind flap and fold-over zipper garage for chin comfort, two zippered, insulated handwarmers, elasticized cuffs and discreet drawcord at droptail hem to seal in warmth, and a stuff sack for when you take it on your travels.
Also on the insulation front is the Ultralight Down Vest, a cozy-looking mid layer filled with compressible 800-fill-power goose down. Patagonia has enclosed all those feathers with what they say is the, “toughest lightweight nylon fabric they’ve ever used.” I can see it being a big hit for anyone looking for that perfect insulation layer that still allows freedom of movement during activities like climbing/belaying or backcountry skiing.
And for you Yoga-types out there, you’ll be happy to know that Patagonia is getting into the game. They will soon be coming out with a line of Yoga tops and bottoms so you can stretch and shed stress while wearing your favorite outdoor brand.
Once again, Patagonia left me panting for more, and making plans to hit the stores this January when all their new product will be available. For now we’ll just have to live with what we can find at Patagonia.com