The top 10 new Patagonia styles for Fall 2011

I think it’s fair to call this one an instant classic, even though it just arrived a few weeks ago. 60g Primaloft Eco insulation and a Gore Windstopper shell fabric make for a warm, windproof jacket without the bulk. That Primaloft is thermally efficient, even when wet, and contains 50% recycled material. Lightweight (just under a pound), and the pockets won’t interfere with a climbing harness or backpack! Available for men and women.

Patagonia’s Ultralight Down collection has expanded for fall, and the Ultralight Down Jacket is my favorite. With a slim fit and a low profile, this will fit under a shell jacket for layering… and it’s supremely, incredibly warm. At just 8.3 ounces, there’s no reason to leave it out of your pack! Available as an Ultralight Down Hoody and Ultralight Down Shirt, too. Women’s styles available at rockcreek.com only.

In addition to their Ultralight Down collection, Patagonia is offering a new high-loft version of their popular Down Sweater. With larger baffles than the regular Patagonia Down Sweater, and even more 800-fill down jammed into each baffle, the Patagonia Hi-Loft Down Sweater is the toasty big brother to this annual best-seller. This is the next best thing to actually being a goose. Available for men and women.

I know what you’re thinking… the Synchilla Snap-T isn’t new! What gives? Well, take a look at the image to the left. Look at it!! For Fall 2011, Patagonia is introducing a couple of vintage prints for this time-honored fleece, and we’re in love. Synchilla is Patagonia’s original fleece, and now you can wear an old-school fleece in an old-school pattern. This is available in a men’s version only… sorry girls!

We wrote about the new Patagonia Gore-Tex styles in detail last month, but the Super Alpine Jacket warrants another mention. This thing is absolutely top of the line, with a 3-layer Gore-Tex Pro Shell material and every technical feature in Patagonia’s arsenal. Mountaineering, ice climbing, wrestling polar bears… the more epic your winter plans are, the more you need this jacket. Available for men and women.

A hooded version of the Patagonia Re-Tool Snap-T pullover, the Patagonia Re-Tool Hoody has been in our stores for less than a week and it’s already flying off the shelves. This is an incredibly comfortable and versatile textured pullover, made with Polartec Thermal Pro polyester fleece and available in six colors for Fall. Women only. Also new for this season is the Kids’ Re-Tool Snap-T pullover, which doesn’t feature a hood.

Here’s a ruggedly-styled, insulated hoody with a shell material that looks and feels like cotton but is actually a brushed polyester/nylon blend for windproof performance. Layer this with a Fjord Flannel Shirt and a pair of jeans, and go split wood in the snow or something equally manly. The 100g thermogreen insulation is 90% recycled and highly compressible. Super warm and burly for work or play.

The Pelage Jacket is a cute, vintage-styled jacket with an asymmetrical front; it uses a special polyester “curly fleece” that’s so deep and comfy it’s almost fur-like! This is a seriously warm jacket, though, completely windproof with a double-fleece collar and two hand-warmer pockets. The Patagonia Pelage Jacket proves that you don’t always have to sacrifice retro style for sake of substance!

Using new Polartec Power Shield Pro fabric, the Patagonia Knifeblade was built to satisfy Patagonia’s mountain athletes, who wanted a high-performance and breathable softshell that would be weatherproof in all but the worst deluges. This blurs the line between “traditional” hardshells and softshells, pliable to the touch but durable enough for all kinds of abuse. Available for men & women (coming soon).

We couldn’t pick a favorite from Patagonia’s new Merino 2 and Merino 3 collections, so you’re just going to have to browse these for yourself. Fall 2011 brings a full redesign, with an 80% merino / 20% polyester that is more durable (and manages moisture better) than 100% merino wool. This winter, consider Patagonia Merino 2 base layers instead of Capilene 2, and Patagonia Merino 3 base layers instead of Capilene 3!