Patagonia’s Hottest New Release of 2025 Is Now a Full-On Fan Meme

In a year of standout gear launches, one look in particular has captured the imagination—and obsession—of the Patagonia faithful.

Pattern of overlapping fleece jackets in green, orange, blue, yellow, and light blue with a nature-inspired print.

By Ben Bowers

Published 5 hours ago

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Patagonia’s 2025 release calendar has been packed with hits, from adventure-ready Hydropeak Stretch Thermal pants to versatile EDC bags and even a refreshed Nano Puff jacket.

But as impressive as these new releases are, none come close to the feverish hype lighting up Reddit for one bold, seasonal print—now a runaway favorite among diehard Patagonia fans.

Embracing “Salmon Energy”

Fabric with a colorful fish and abstract leaf pattern on a black background. — Though the pattern differs slightly between garments, every version highlights one of Patagonia’s key themes of cooperation and abundance via focusing on the role of salmon in the Pacific Northwest ecosystem.

It doesn’t take much scrolling through the r/PatagoniaClothing feed to notice a trend: a river of posts with the words “Salmon Energy” in the title.

And while it’s natural to assume Patagonia die-hards would love a good fish discussion, in this case, the term is a nod to one of the boldest prints Patagonia’s released in quite some time, officially known as “Salmon Energy: Old Growth Green”.

Fleece pullover with colorful fish and leaf pattern, tan chest pocket flap, and snap buttons. — A quick scroll through Patagonia’s Reddit communities is full of mentions of “Salmon Energy” in a nod to the bold new pattern.

According to the brand’s own words, its fall ’25 collection was designed around themes of cooperation and abundance. Specifically, prints and patterns took cues from the salmon’s lifecycle and the fish’s impact on nourishing bears, whales, and the lush Sitka forests.

Similar to previous cult-favorite patterns like Trout Tales, the new pattern merges vibrant salmon pinks and reds with earthy greens, bright blues, and yellow tree silhouettes, resulting in an eye-catching pattern rooted in the company’s longstanding love of bold, nature-inspired patterns.

The Hunt to Find Stock

Men's swim shorts with colorful fish and seaweed pattern on a dark background. — Almost every garment featuring the new pattern is sold out, at least in standard sizes. Patagonia offers waitlists for some items and has already restocked some garments this fall.

The new retro pattern immediately caught the attention of some of Patagonia’s most active online fans, though its execution is somewhat inconsistent.

The print’s color shades and sizing vary slightly depending on the material and product SKU. But Patagonia sells at least three adult apparel items in the bold print, including a pair of 5-inch baggies and a snap-t fleece.

Close-up of a Patagonia fleece fabric with colorful fish patterns and a tan snap-button pocket flap.

There’s also a slightly bluer version of the print called Salmon Energy: New Navy, which appears to be a kids’ garment exclusive, at least for now.

Reddit threads chronicle the lengths fans have gone to snag pieces, sharing advice on sizing hacks (“kids XL fits like women’s XS for $100 less!”), documenting rapid sellouts and flaunting salmon energy outfits and selfies during hikes, river trips, and other excursions.

It’s so common that at least one member has dubbed it “Salmon Energy spamming,” albeit in good fun.

Patagonia has also released a few kids-exclusive items in variations of the pattern that at least some adults on Reddit are buying up in larger sizes.

Patagonia

This enthusiastic energy over the print is reflected in the prices of remaining stock via specialty fashion retailers, not to mention the number of listings appearing on popular resale and second-hand marketplaces.

Not surprisingly, the lightweight snap-t fleece is the hottest product in the print. All sizes are shown as waitlisted via Patagonia’s e-commerce site. However, it is available elsewhere through premium fashion retailers, often at a small upcharge.

On the other hand, the Go-To Shirt seems like the easiest garment to acquire, though specific sizes are also challenging to find.

If you’re suddenly enamored with the print, the good news is that Patagonia has restocked some items at least once this fall and may plan to do it again. Otherwise, there’s always eBay.

Short-sleeve button-up shirt with a colorful fish and aquatic plant pattern on a green background.

Patagonia Go-To Shirt (Salmon Energy: Old Growth Green)

$79 at Patagonia

Patagonia

Patagonia Baggies 5″ Shorts (Salmon Energy: Old Growth Green)

Green fleece pullover with colorful fish and leaf patterns and tan snap-button collar and chest pocket flap.

Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Fleece (Salmon Energy: Old Growth Green)

$139 at Patagonia

About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.

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