Patagonia Masterfully Disguises a Classic Performance Material It Has Been Perfecting for Decades

Did you know that Patagonia invented fleece? It’s true. The advent dates back to the 1970s, when the brand’s founder sought to create a synthetic jacket that had “the same warmth and strength of wool fibers, but lighter and with faster drying properties.”

Since first pulling on those threads all that time ago, fleece has remained a huge part of the brand’s catalog, and Patagonia has continued to evolve and innovate the fabric.

However, the latest in that long line, the Patagonia Textured Fleece Hoody, doesn’t really look like one at all. But don’t be fooled: this is a tried-and-true fleece at its core; it just has a couple of surprises up its sleeves.

Patagonia

Sneaky fleece

Just like the more traditional fleeces that came before it, this one is still made from completely synthetic polyester. That means it’s lightweight, soft to the touch and can dry off after exposure to soggy weather faster than wool, its natural counterpart.

And, similar to other Patagonia fleeces (especially in recent days), this one is made entirely from recycled materials, keeping them out of the dump and preventing virgin polyester (a petroleum-based material) from entering the brand’s factories.

Patagonia

However, you might notice that the texture of this jacket is a bit different from other Patagonia fleeces. This one isn’t fluffy or fibrous. Instead, it is thin and has a pebbled texture. And that is one of its secret superpowers.

By crafting fleece into a pebbled grid, Patagonia can keep the bulk and weight down while still trapping warmth when you need it, making for an easy-wearing, highly cozy all-weather garment. Thus, this jacket doesn’t look like a fleece, but it does perform like one.

Patagonia

Go-to layer

The fabric isn’t the only thing that grants this jacket cool-weather performance. How it’s constructed also plays a big part.

Take, for instance, the hood. The three-piece design creates a more snug fit on the head, and the cowl neck works in tandem with the hood to better trap warmth inside and keep the weather out, especially when fully zipped.

Similarly, on the other side of the jacket, the hem and the sleeves both have enclosed elastic, further helping the jacket stay snug on your body to keep heat trapped while preventing wind, rain, sleet, snow and so on from creeping in. And if that’s not enough, the jacket has a pair of handwarmer pockets, so you can close the loop further, keeping your digits toasty.

Patagonia

Of course, you’re also going to want to like the way you look while wearing the jacket, so it’s a good thing the brand is offering it in five distinct, smart colorways.

While this isn’t a complete reinvention of the fleece, it is another strong addition to Patagonia’s catalog that will surely speak to the class of folks who want fleece-level performance in a package that looks a little less … gorpcore.

Patagonia

Availability and pricing

The Patagonia Textured Fleece Hoody is now available on the brand’s site in five unique colors for $179 apiece.

Patagonia

Patagonia Textured Fleece Hoody

• $179 at Patagonia

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