Outdoor Wear

It was a foggy, windy day at Muir Beach just north of San Francsico. Typical weather — and perfect for testing out a couple of outdoor-wear items from Patagonia. Out of a tiny stuff-sack I pulled the company’s new Ultralight Down Shirt, the lightest-weight insulation clothing the company has ever created. Literally as light as a feather, the “shirt” quickly warmed me to a pleasant degree. My companion and I decided to hike the coastal trail for a few miles. Along the way, the temperature rose and fell as the path became exposed and then receded between hills. The Ultralight was brilliant — not too hot, with a zipper to the middle to adjust for climate changes.

Toward the end of the hike, the fog turned to light rain, which allowed me to try out another Patagonia item — a Torrentshell Pullover. Waterproof and breathable, the Torrentshell was a great complement to the Ultralight. And like the Ultralight, the anorak-style shell folds up tiny. Light enough to wear during a warm spring shower, the shell — combined with the Ultralight — would have also been a perfect pairing even if the weather had turned harsher.

Patagonia also has a slick, durable duffle in the offering, which is great for the adventure traveler. Called the Black Hole Duffel, it is water-resistant, comes in three sizes, and converts into a backpack.

To check out all of Patagonia’s clothing, visit patagonia.com.