I had a few pieces of Patagonia in college. My friend Victoria (aka Little V!) loved the brand and would get items for our crew gear. It wasn’t until I was going to Alaska that I started to dive into the brand on my own. I actually bought a jacket and left the tags on because I wasn’t sure that I’d even wear it during the trip. It turns out that I wore it nearly every single day. I was hooked ever since– I knew the quality was well-worth the price.
Whenever I’m wearing a piece on my Instagram story, I get flooded with questions about sizing and quality and if I recommend it. I’m writing this post so I’ll have something to link to (saves me a lot of time! ), but I also thought it would be generally helpful since I do get the questions a lot.
How is the sizing?
I would say that almost always the sizing is “true to size,” with a few exceptions. I buy my Patagonia almost exclusively through Backcountry now because of their quick shipping and ridiculously good customer service. I rely heavily on their reviews and double check what people have said about sizing based on that. Nordstrom reviews are also spot on too. If you’re in between sizes, you can go down if you want a more fitted look or up if you want a more relaxed look (or plan on layering). I wear an XS.
Is it worth the price?
YES. A large part of the price is because Patagonia cares about its supply chain and employees. That alone makes it worth the higher cost. The quality of the product reflects the company’s ethos. I may not be climbing mountains or hiking the PCT, but I wear all of my Patagonia pieces quite a lot. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I wear something Patagonia at least once a day. I’ve never had an issue with quality.
Where to get it?
So even though I have a bunch of pieces, I try to find them on sale as much as possible. I’ve been lucky to have friends who have access to the friends and family sales. Backcountry has sales now and then (which I do my best to share on here when they happen!) and Patagonia has one or two sales a year. If you’re a Nordstrom girl, they also carry a bunch of the popular styles there!
Here are my favorites:
Nano Puff // This was the jacket I bought for Alaska! I wore it every single day. Even though it’s a “puffer,” it’s super lightweight which makes it perfect for traveling. It has a lot of warmth for being so thin, especially when layered well. It’s my go-to for summer nights when it starts getting chilly after the sun goes down. I can roll it up in the bottom of a tote in case I get cold!
Down Sweater Full-Zip Hooded Jacket // I have this jacket in both black and navy. I wear this jacket all the time in the winter. If it’s between 30 and 50 degrees, chances are I’m reaching for this. It’s what I wear to and from the gym, running errands, and on the weekend when I don’t want a wool coat. It’s super warm and a great all-around option. The hood comes in handy a lot too. I zip myself up on cold walks with the dogs and use it to protect my hair when it starts to snow.
Quilted Patagonia // The quilted snap is so comfortable. I mostly wear it with jeans or leggings instead of a sweatshirt. This particular one was a birthday gift from my friend Julia; she added my logo* so it’s extra special to me. I wear this a few times a week, mostly when I’m working from home and just want to be comfortable.
*You can embroider a monogram/logo on yours if you take it to a local embroiderer. You can scout one on Yelp or ask friends and family for references.
Los Gatos // I don’t want to play favorites, but I think this might be mine. It’s so cozy. I bought mine this fall and I wish I had gotten it sooner. It’s very soft and can be worn on its own over a t-shirt or layered under another jacket. (Here’s how I layered it with a Barbour.)
Retro-X Fleece // This has a little bit of a retro vibe with the colors (and frankly, the colors they have right now are a lot cuter). It is a great option when it’s warm enough outside and you debate whether or not you need a coat. It’s in between a jacket and a sweatshirt. Unlike the other fleeces, it does a good job of blocking the wind which gives it an extra layer of warmth. The reviews describe it as stiff, but it gets more comfortable over time– the stiffness (in my opinion) is what adds to its warmth anyway! Also, I feel like its worth noting that whenever I wear this, I end up getting a ton of compliments and everyone wants to know where to buy it.
Better Sweater // I am going to categorize this as a “best buy.” If you’re going to get one piece, I’d make it the Better Sweater. I wear this under jackets. At the gym. Dressed “up” and down. I wear it skiing and runs when it’s cold outside. I. Love. It. It comes in a full zip (that’s what I have) and a quarter zip.
LL Bean’s Sweater Fleece // Okay so below is LL Bean’s version. I have it an absolutely love it as well. Whenever I wear it on my Instagram, people always ask me to compare the two. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with either. I happen to have both and would say they’re pretty much exactly the same, so it would come down to your personal preference. One difference, the LL Bean 1/4 snap has a “handwarmer” pockets and the Patagonia 1/4 zip does not, but the full zip does.
Anyone else love Patagonia? I could pretty much live in it.
