Saturday, November 27, 2010

Fit Shots of the Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover


Sometimes it's hard to figure out how an item is going to fit.  I've checked out some Patagonia items before on their website, then have gone into their store and actually tried it on, only to find the fit is different than what I had originally thought.  Zappos.com has some good "fit shots" of various Patagonia items so they're a good place to visit. 

One item that has been extremely popular for Patagonia has been the Nano series.  It started with the Nano Puff Pullover, and now Patagonia has branched out with the Nano Puff full zip jacket and the Nano Storm Jacket.  I came across this Patagonia video about the surfer Kohl Christensen and in it he's wearing the Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover.  It gives a good idea of the overall fit of the garment.  However, keep in mind that this dude is a big time surfer so your physique may not quite match up with his....

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Patagonia for Apolis

Images from apolisglobal.com
Patagonia has teamed up with Apolis to sell the Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket.  It makes a lot of sense as both companies conduct business with a conscience, an eye toward making a positive difference.  Here's Apolis' philosophy from their website:
"Apolis is a platform for a network of global citizens empowering people through opportunity. Apolis co-creates products with manufacturers and directly allows the market to determine the future of each item we produce. Donating proceeds can be effective, but we believe that giving people access to opportunity is even better. As the line between development and business is becoming blurred in the marketplace, consumers are beginning to see their integral role in the process as they demand to know how, where and by whom their products are made. With select products, Apolis connects developing economies to the global marketplace through seasonal stories and ensures tangible social results."
You can pick up the Patagonia Torrentshell from the Apolis website for $148.

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Friday, November 26, 2010

Real Cheap Sports: The Patagonia R2 Jacket for a Steal

Looking for a nice holiday gift that won't break the bank?  Real Cheap Sports just may have your solution.  They have the Patgonia R2 Jacket for almost half off.  Everything you need to know is in the graphic above and the big bonus for those of you who live out of California: they take phone orders!

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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Best Patagonia Gift You Ever Gave/Got?

Image from carsrcoffins.com
Another day, another apology for poor photo quality.  But this time, it's kind of not my fault.  I was on the look out for a picture of the old Patagonia Critical Mass.  And this was one of the only ones I could find.  I have a special affection for this bag as it was the first Patagonia item I ever owned, some 13 years ago.

It was a Christmas gift to me from my mother-in-law, though mine was a dark grey/silver/blue color that I loved.  It had the toughest fabric, was BIG so it held everything, and was almost like that trophy wife that you could hold on your arm.  Except the Critical Mass lets me watch football on the weekend.

Anyway, that was the best Patagonia gift I ever received.  What's the best Patagonia gift (Christmas or other) you ever gave or received?  See more stories about my past Critical Mass bags here.

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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

PAT COM REVIEW: the Patagonia Talus Jacket

Alright, let me just apologize right now for the horrid pictures.  I was trying to get this done quickly and didn't have the decent camera around, so let this be an indictment of the camera on the iPhone 3GS.

I've owned my Patagonia Talus Jacket for almost a year now.  I was on the look-out for a great softshell and had been using a decent one from the North Face called the Apex Magic Jacket and I got it for a great deal on backcountry.com.  Eventually though I returned it because I just found the fabric to be really rigid.

I then got a nice deal on the Patagonia Guide Jacket from 6pm.com.  They have some great deals on Patagonia from time to time, though their stock right now is pretty low.  I liked the Guide, but it didn't offer me enough insulation.  The wind flowed right through and while I don't live in the coldest of climates (nights might fall to high 20s in the coldest parts of winter), I did want something warmer.  So back it went.

I saw the Talus on the Patagonia site, but at $250, it was out of my league.  However, during one of Patagonia's sales I saw that it was discounted to a reasonable amount.  I saved my pennies and splurged.

I called directly to a few of their stores and found one in black, size small in the Pasadena, CA store.  They were really nice, shipped it quickly, and as far as I know, my credit card isn't being hit with fraudulent charges by the person who took my order (note to person who took my order:  THANKS!).
Anyway, this jacket has been a great piece for me.  One of the reviews on the Patagonia site said that this was a warm jacket, and the person is right.  It is not one of those breezy soft shells.  This thing keeps you nice and toasty inside.  The exterior is supple and quiet.  It definitely feels thicker than the Patagonia Guide Jacket and has a warm, brushed interior.  For athletic pursuits, the Guide is probably great, allowing the air to flow.  My acitivities, I'm sad to report, aren't quite as strenuous.  I just use it as a knock-around, walk-around, play-outside-with-the-kids kind of jacket.

The shape, as you can see above, is somewhat trim in the waist.  It narrows, somewhat like a women's jacket which is not really my preference.  However, it's not too severe, and I think the fact that it's black helps to make that less pronounced.
It has two hand-warmer pockets and two chest pockets.  The shell holds up nicely to rain, even strong rain.  However, I wouldn't personally go stand in a downpour in just the Talus.  This past March, I did take it with me on my trip to Europe (see my Twitter profile pic!) and for the unpredictable pre-spring weather of London, Paris, Florence, and Rome, the Talus was perfect--warm, flicked rain, and in black, low-key.  I did have to pull out my Mountain Hardwear Typhoon hard shell (got that one for less than $100 at REI!) a few times though.  I was walking down Savile Row in London (snooty, I know) and it started coming down cats and dogs.  I put the hard shell on over the Talus, b-lined for an awning and waited the downpour out with a young chap who also was heading my way, though the poor laddy didn't have a Talus and hard shell like yours truly.  Okay, no more British terms.
One thing I don't really love is the lighter grey trim around the neck and zipper.  The neck part is starting to show some light dirt (I shower everyday, I promise!) and I don't feel good about tossing it in the washing machine.  The cuffs are hook-and-loop and function nicely.  The zipper pulls are great though I noticed that the older Patagonia jackets had the same pulls with little nubs to give a little more grip and this jacket doesn't.  Another sign of the recession?
Overall, very happy with this purchase and plan to use it for a long time.  In fact, I broke it out this morning for the 40-degree temps and the light but steady rain.  I'd recommend the jacket to anyone looking for a warm, comfortable softshell that has a supple, quiet fabric.  Patagonia is also offering a hooded Talus this season for $30 more, so if you're going to pick one of those up, please don't get the Pasadena guy to charge my card.

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Monday, November 22, 2010

Patagonia Community is now on Twitter!

Image from bioweb.uwlax.edu 
That's right, the Patagonia Community is now on Twitter, @patagoniablog.  Now, I'm not trying to confuse anyone here.  Like the Patagonia Community blog, my Twitter account is NOT affiliated with or sponsored by Patagonia at all.  It's just that when I registered for a Twitter account, "PatagoniaCommunity" was too long for a name; Twitter would not accept it.  So, since my blog is about Patagonia, I called it patagoniablog.

So, to be EXTRA clear:
  • the official Patagonia Twitter account is @patagonia.
  • the official Patagonia blog Twitter account is @cleanestline.
  • the official Patagonia customer service Twitter account is @patagonia_cs.
  • and for good measure, the official Patagonia blog itself is at thecleanestline.com.  See widget in the sidebar of this site.
Phew!  There you have it!  Follow us all--there's enough room for all of us on the internet!

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Results of the first Patagonia Community Poll!

Image from onenewsnow.com
I posted first Patagonia Community poll recently and had a nice turn-out!  Here are the results (though you can still place your vote!).
  • The question was, "What do you like most about Patagonia products?"
    • 10% said "highly functional products"
    • 17% said "the way their stuff looks"
    • 30% said "their focus on being a responsible business"
    • and the top response at 43% was "product quality"
Frankly, that was what first attracted me to Patagonia products about 13 years ago.  What I've found is that for the most part, that famous quality has continued through the years, even as the company has grown.  I'm curious if other people in the Patagonia Community have had a similar experience.

Thanks again for the participation and feel free to keep the votes coming!  Here it is again:

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