Favorite piece of Patagonia Gear

Knifeblade pullover and Knifeblade pants are the best ice climbing outer layers I've ever used.

The insulated version of the pants (Northwall pants) are also terrific for really cold conditions.

Really too bad they discontinued the entire Knifeblade/Northwall line-up.

OK folks,,,I'd say it's not what is your 'favorite', but what has been the most influential piece of Patagonia clothing you have ever owned. Remember, before they became fashionable to wear, like Eddie Bauer or L.L. Bean were before,,or Abercrappie and Bitch became years later, Patagonia was designed as sturdy FUNCTIONAL climbers clothing with a purpose, not a fashion statement.

You got their Capalene' underlayers; and the first great light fleece jackets; then 'Synchilla fleece; and my pic of all gear has to be the pants. The tremendously sturdy trad/aid Chouinard-Patagonia canvas climbing pants, made for climbing and designed by climbers. Circa 1978 or 79' I think. Double layers in the thighs past knees, and butt,,,very wide open pockets that hold entire guide books easily,,,velcro closures to pockets,,I think a first at that time. Yvon might have made these at first for his own use,,in and about the dusty dirty Great Pacific Iron Works, while forging pitons and carabiners, handling metal all day long.
I got my first pair when they came out, and they cost about 35 bucks, which was a full days pay for me back then. Pics of my originals,,,which I have tie dyed to purple and orange to match my then current Mammut bicolor rope.
My best 'collectors item' that they ever made though has to be the wild Chouinard gear decorated 'Hawaiian' shirt from early 80's. Within a few months after its limited release, I saw that shirt worn on a TV detective show by one of the main characters.
Pants, fleece and shirt, that's my pick for best Patagonia gear ever....' old school style'. Yeah,,I could open an old gear and clothing museum around here, as I've been told many times.

Gonna do another separate thread about the evolution of climbing pants in general discussion area later.

Awesome stuff. Truly priceless. I mean I thought I was a pretty serious climber but dying your pants to match your rope that's a whole new level of fanatic.

I think it was more unique as the Mammut rope I had back then (they only came in 150 f. length) was the first I'd ever seen that was Totally 2 different colors, not a bi pattern. It went from dark purple to rich bright orange..so you definitely saw and felt that mid point where the yarns changed from one to the other color...So figured my tie dye pants should match the rope,,being an ex hippie still wanting the life in late 70's,,,during the anti-disco era.
I had 4 pair of those pants,,and 2 have held out,,just don't fit my 40 extra pounds and 5 inches on waistline!!

Patagonia lotus life jacket/PFD
With front chest pouch

I've got a nice Patagonia kayak PFD,,,and the original 1st.generation BD ava-lung full vest thing too,,,a size too small for me. Both in that strange orange color.

I especially like the new line "Gear for Frat Boy Expeditions Through Campus Brah ". That seems to be where they are focusing these days.

It is quite sad that the brand has gone rather main stream . I guess that's the price you pay for making quality stuff , you never know how popular and successful you'll be. Undeniable that the company is truly based in Climbing tho. However the 300 dollar Cashmere sweaters are a bit over the top, and along way from the Painters pants that sustained the company for so long. Lately I've been picking up more and more RAB stuff.

R1 Hoody, Nano Air, M10, and KB Pullover. Perfect for CO alpine. I wore Alpine/ BC guide pants for years, but they are too baggy/short. Went with Arc'teryx Gamma MX in a medium/tall and will never look back.

Chris Massey wrote:I especially like the new line "Gear for Frat Boy Expeditions Through Campus Brah ". That seems to be where they are focusing these days.

Oh yeah,,they 'jumped the shark' a long time ago. When every goof kid had a Patagonia t-shirt or fleece jacket in the city long ago..I knew we had lost them as just a gear supplier. I do admire their great attitude towards their employees,and record of giving back to the environment and community. The money was there for the taking,,so they ran with it. But as usual,,along comes another fad/name/ fashion by kids to over wear, over price and put on display. A & F a few years back,with their very sexually suggestive catalogs with waaay young models,,,then there was (is?) Hollister' shirts which my then 17 yr. old nephew was insistent on having for gifts..I just never liked to see 'our' gear and climbing clothing lines go and turn into fashion fads. Seems you gotta earn your Chouinard label by climbing,,,so that makes the 'wanna be's' not worthy of our functional gear !!

Pneumatic pullover for sure. It is small, light, and sheds water like mad...for a while at least. I wore it on a descent from the Petit Grepon. My partner didn't bring a jacket; he was soaked and shivering when we got to our packs. I on the other hand was only slightly damp thanks to my pullover. My climbing pack is never without it.

Stone Nude wrote:This is a really weird thread. Just...why?

Why not MR. NEGATIVE? THANKS FOR THE CONTRIBUTION. Some climbers like gear!

Stone Nude wrote:This is a really weird thread. Just...why?

Which is why I tossed it back in the 'general discussion' area,,,all about how some climbing clothes were always about function and were 'invented' to serve a specific need or purpose,,while others came along just to copy and make a fast fashion buck or statement.
Hey,,,just got a notice from MP saying I can't post up any more today,,cuz they now seem to have a limit of 15 comments within 24 hours.....been away so long,,I never knew they began that limitation on forum discussions !! Whatever...

Houdini, DAS, piton hybrid hoody

When I lived in Reno, we had the gucci outlet in town...that thing was a godsend for a poor college kid trying to get into mountaineering at the time...

I love the DAS Parka, the Houdini and the Nano puff...other products of theirs I have had a varying level of dissatisfaction with, but those three are solid gold. Durability is usually the issue...

Free or on sale.

I love my capilene base layer top my dad gave me when I started backpacking and skiing. But my favorite piece must be my R1 hoody. Wore the first one probably 500 days, got a new one and was surprised how much thicker it was!

Grey and black Los Lobos fleece hoody. Accidentally left it at Buffalo Point on Antelope Island last fall. The fleece was matted across my chest where my seat belt shoulder strap used to rest. I think about it quite often... Still looking for a replacement...

The new Cragsmith 35L pack. It is awesome.

Stone Nude wrote: I'm a negative creep, I'm a negative creep, I'm a negative creep and I'm stoned -Kurt cobain

..and,,??,, he's dead....But we climbers live on and do just fine without Curt Cobain in our lives thank goodness.